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Please help me choose a PSU with a -5v rail; found these 7.

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Power supply Master

I'm hearing fan noises when my PC starts up that suggest some bearings are dying. Uguru reports no problems with the NB fan speed, my case fans are ball-bearing, and I don't think it is either of my Zalman coolers (7000-series CPU and 700-series GPU). This leaves the PSU, so I may need to replace it.
My mobo requires that old -5v rail, which really limits my choices. I want something better than what I have, preferably with Active PFC. I have found these SEVEN:

1. Spire RockeTeer V SP-500W ATX12V 500W Power Supply 200~240 Vac / 100~120 Vac UL, FCC, CE, CSA, TUV - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...

2. Sunbeam PSU-CGAC450-US-T ATX 450W Power Supply 100V~120V/200~240V - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...

3. APEVIA (ASPIRE) ATX-PFC680W-BK ATX12V/ EPS12V 680W Power Supply 115/230 V CB IEC 950/ TUV EN 60950/ UL 1950/ CSA 950 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...

4. HIPRO HP-P600W/TOP-600P5 ATX V2.01 600W Power Supply 115/230 V - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...

5. ZIPPY HP2-6500P-SATA ATX 500W Power Supply 115 - 240V UL 1950, CSA 22.2 NO/950, TUV IEC 950 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...

6. SPARKLE FSP550PLG-SLI ATX12V/ EPS12V 550W Power Supply 90~265V AC, Full Range Input UL60950, CSA C22.2 NO.60950, TUV, EN60950, NEMKO EN60950 (CB Report), CE - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...

7. PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 510-SLI ATX12V 510W Continuous @ 50°C Power Supply 90 - 264 V UL/ ULC/ TUV/ CE - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...

I'm not sure many of these are a great choice. I'm leaning toward #3, but my rig pulls <180W when idle, so I don't need 680W. I also don't see spending >$200, as on #7. While upgrades may be in my future (January?), I'm not planning to use SLI or otherwise dramatically increase power usage.
Which of these PSUs would you suggest, or would another choice be better? Thank you.

Edit: Found a few more with Active PFC.

More about : choose psu rail found

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Unless im stupid, all psu's have -5v rail.
As long as ur buying a atx 2.0 you should be fine. Plus getting a psu with 24pin motherboard plug (atx 2.0) will make it compatible with upgrades in the future.

Um to be honest with you if you have 100$ even if not, i wouldnt buy any of those power supplys they all suck, anyone will tell you aspire and spire have no repuation and why buy another aspire when the one you own right now is breaking?

Sunbeam is a decent brand but that one looks like one of those cheap flashy ones. I dont know they all looks skippy to me.

Antec, enermax, ocz have decent budget ones.
Power supply Master

No, very few PSUs have a -5V rail any more. My mobo has a 24-pin connector; that has nothing to do with a -5V rail. I believe the extra pins are for additional +12V lines. Unfortunately, I've not found a model by a "quality" brand that has that -5V rail.
The Aspire I have has been solid as far as voltages go, I believe it is only a cheap fan in it that is croaking. Surgery to replace that fan is another option I'll consider, but as I mentioned, I think I'd also like Active PFC.

Upgrades I may consider in the January time frame would likely include replacing my mobo just to escape the -5V requirement, but I would hate to pitch something that works well otherwise.
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Power supply Master

I read that Spire review. Thanks for the link.

I then found a few more, specifically with Active PFC, and added them. I'm hoping to order something soon.
Power supply Master

Quote:
Where does it say your motherboard needs a -5v rail and what does it need it for?

I can't find anything about it any where.


Review comments first mentioned it, and then I found it listed in the manual for my mobo. It doesn't state the purpose, but the pin is there.

jonnyguru reviewed that aspire "beast" 680w here

you would think the high +5v current rating would be great for an old Athlon XP system but check out the "high +5v crossload" test the +12v shot up to almost 13v that's a bit of risk... Maybe they fixed that issue with later revisions but I would probably pass on that one. Not to mention it's rated at "max" with a 10% tolerance...

newegg isn't a ripoff. you just need to look around when buying things other then cpu/video cards/hard drives

-Jeff

PS. newegg will rip you if you buy keyboards, mice, speakers and possibly psu's from them.

but thats what u get for putting all your EGGS in one merchant. </end lame="joke">
Power supply Master

Thanks for the assortment of good information. This weekend, I'll try to track down more definitely which fan is making noise. I have a dl DVD writer to add too, and I may connect another HDD for backup purposes.

...then I'll decide if I need to order, or if the fan itself can be replaced.
Power supply Master

Abit tech support says the -5V rail is needed, and references that manual page.

This weekend, I found this COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power RP-600-PCAR ATX from factor 12V V2.01 600W Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...

...at CompUSA for $99. It has the -5V rail, which you can see in the pic on newegg but not in the specs. I put that in my system. It is more power than I need (APC says I'm pulling 174W), but if I ever get a DX10 card I'll be fine.

This PSU must weight twice what the old one does, hasn't gotten nearly as hot when running, and my system is quieter.

Doolittle had stated above that newegg "again is ripping you off" and to buy the PSU from Directron.

Whoever said all the power supplies suck, PC Power & Cooling make some of the best, if not the best, PSU's available. I would put one up against any other PSU you can find.

JQB45 corrected me, yes I meant to say in that case newegg is not the best deal.
:oops: 

I also meant to say the spire was the best "deal" of the bunch, of course you can't really compare it to the PCP&C unless you are specifically talking about price / performance...
:oops:  :oops: 

Zippy makes some nice PSU's, but they're a relatively unknown brand since they mainly dwell in the server market...

Quote:
During the fall Intel Channel Conference (ICC) near Chicago Illinois, I was able to meet and discuss power supply design, construction, and application with Edward Chang from Zippy. I must confess I had never heard of Zippy prior to this meeting, however I was instantly impressed with Edward's knowledge of his product line and the units they had on display. The Zippy units were somewhat unimposing to look at, as I've become accustomed to fans being strewn about designs and even LED lighting to sell power supply units. However, I have always been one to prefer function over form and once I picked up one of the display units I was very impressed as even their lower end units very heavy and solid. My favorite quick and dirty test of power supply quality is simply to pick up and unit and gauge its weight.


http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&number=2&ar...

From that article... not the exact model, but meh, I'm at work and too lazy to really use google effectively =P Either way, they really liked the Zippy PSU, and I've seen a couple other reviews of their PSU's, all good. I would consider them a Tier 1 PSU maker, they're just relatively unknown.

Also, I like buying from Directron.com also. I think they're prices are fairly good and their customer service is decent. I've been buying there for about 4 years now. Good stuff.
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