Looking for a good, but reliable and cheap power supply

[DarkDwarf]

Hi everyone, I'm am building a PC on a budget of $1400. The computer will be primarily used for gaming, but is also going to be used for various multi-tasking. The newegg link: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=9955428&WishListTitle=Pc

Essentially, I am running a Q6600 and I will be running two Radeon HD 4870s. This is not in the wishlist as they have not been release, but I expect them to be released at $300. This means everything else in the PC must cost less than $800 total for me to reach my budget cut.

If you take a look at my wishlist, you see the problem. The PSU I am currently planning to use is this one:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011. However, I know that I can find a cheaper PSU with the same amount of kick, but I don't know which one is reliable. I have found that I may be able to cut about $30 off of the list by purchasing a combo fan with the Q6600.

I need the fan, as I plan to overclock. I plan to overclock the CPU to about 3.6 GHz-4.0 GHz (I don't expect I will go to four, but just in case...)

 

[SuicideSilence]

Get this Heatsink:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
It perfoms BETTER and is CHEAPER.
As for you PSU problem, it looks like you just might to bite the bullet and spend those few extra dollars. 2 4870's is gonna need a good PSU. The one you selected is excellent. Just buy the cooler I recommened, and buy that 750w PCP&C.

 

[dirtmountain]

OCZ gets consistently decent reviews for their PSUs. Not great, not in the league with Corsair or PC power and cooling (which OCZ now owns btw) but decent. That said 720w modular for $80....$60 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341005
also not sure about the power requirements of the 4870s yet. May not be enough oomph.

 

[nvalhalla]

OCZ gets consistently decent reviews for their PSUs. Not great, not in the league with Corsair or PC power and cooling (which OCZ now owns btw) but decent. That said 720w modular for $80....$60 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341005
also not sure about the power requirements of the 4870s yet. May not be enough oomph.

Won't work, that PSU only has 2 PCI-E 6pin connectors. The PC P&C 750 is a great price at $120 after rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

 

[Noya]

The Corsair TX 750 looks pretty beasty (60amps, 750w, 4 PCI-e 8-pin connectors [6+2-pin]) for $89 at buy.com with google checkout and a $10 rebate, free shipping:
http://www.corsairmemory.com/products/tx.aspx

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-750w-atx-12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178325.html

Newegg wants $120 for it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

And don't worry that it's not SLI/Crossfire Certified, as that's merely a marketing gimmick like THX is for home theater receivers (meaning you pay Nvidia/ATi a license fee to use their "Certified" label).

The 750tx is basically the PPC 750 for $89.


In fact, buy.com has the best prices if you include free shipping and google checkout on all Corsair models:
http://www.buy.com/retail/usersearchresults.asp?store=1&querytype=comp&qu=Corsair+Power+Supply&loc=101&qxt=comp&display=col

Personally, Newegg never has the best deal on PSU's.

PC Power and Cooling regularly has specials on their own website that is cheaper than newegg (when on special).

 

[nvalhalla]

Not that you asked for cooler recommends, but the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro is one of the best.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134&Tpk=freezer%2b7%2bpro

swap out the retail CPU for the OEM as well

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018

You won't need the cooler in the retail package.

 

[nvalhalla]

The Corsair TX 750 looks pretty beasty (60amps, 750w, 4 PCI-e 8-pin connectors) for $89 at buy.com with google checkout and a $10 rebate, free shipping:
http://www.corsairmemory.com/products/tx.aspx

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-750w-atx-12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178325.html

Newegg wants $120 for it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

In fact, buy.com has the best prices if you include free shipping and google checkout on all Corsair models:
http://www.buy.com/retail/usersearchresults.asp?store=1&querytype=comp&qu=Corsair+Power+Supply&loc=101&qxt=comp&display=col

Personally, Newegg never has the best deal on PSU's.

PC Power and Cooling regularly has specials on their own website that is cheaper than newegg (when on special).

Also a great recommend!

 

[jsc]

Not that you asked for cooler recommends, but the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro is one of the best.

One of the best - for the price. Probably will not get past 3.3 GHz with one. Look at the Xigmatek S1283. But he is right about getting the oem CPU if you know that you will be using an aftermarket HSF.

 

[rabidbunny]

I'd have to agree on the xigmatek and looking at an OEM cpu. If you don't need the stock heatsink, why bother? Plus i've heard that sometimes some of the OEM cpu's are of a higher quality?!? Maybe true, maybe not.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Noya]

The Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro if fine for small cache/cooler chips like the e2xxx series, but for a quad I'd want a 120mm tower cooler w/Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste. You may want to lap the heatsink for a better connection to the Q6600.

Another thing I have against the AC Freezer Pro is the price gouging. Before everyone and there Mom bought one you could find them for about $15-17. Now it's $25-27 plus $7 shipping? No, thanks.

I third nvalhallas recommendation of the OEM Q6600 to save another $15.


One other thing about your post, DarkDwarf. You mention multi-tasking, yet you have a single 250gb HD. You can't multi-task on a single HD without tearing it up (reading & writing to the same disk is not good and kills performance). You need at least 2 seperate drives - one for Windows and one for game installs, while 3 is preferable if you do any photo/video editing/encoding or torrenting.

One other thing, what's the point of the old PCI video card at $65+7 shipping? If this is just a card to hold you over until the 4870's are out, spend $80 for a rebated 8800gs as you'll at least be able to resell it on eBay or Craigslist. Also, if you're wanting the 1gb 4870's...I don't think they're going to be here until August.

 

[DarkDwarf]

I have a couple smaller hard drives at home, which I plan to use for multi-tasking, but I bought the 250GB for more storage.

Since I do plan to overclock, ideally over 3.3GHz, what recommendations do people have for coolers?

 

[Noya]

Since I do plan to overclock, ideally over 3.3GHz, what recommendations do people have for coolers?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

 

[SuicideSilence]

^Another vote for the cooler above.

 

[jpbg]

Four things
1. Why do you have 2 q6600

2. Why the Fx 5500?

3. +1 for that cooler I bought it but make sure you buy the retention bracket it makes it sit properly and lowers temps even more

4. +1 for the corsair psu from buy.com