OCZ or Corsair for i7 build. Need help picking.

If you plan on or want to allow for running two two enthusiast level video cards you should have a 750w PSU. 650w will handle two mainstream cards, generally, and 500w will handle one card only.

So either is fine if you plan only one card. If two mainstream level cards go with the Corsair.


If you want to allow for faster cards, then

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail - $95 AR with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Although you might be able to get by with this one:

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail -$60 AR with free shipping

I'm actually not planning on running two cards. I'm not a big gamer, so won't be getting the best card out there. I pretty much just encode, CAD, watch movies and use the internet.

I'm leaning towards the OCZ one because of the price. Just nervous about the quality of it. I'm always told don't skimp on the psu. With the $30 price difference though I could put that into the ram.

That is correct - you don't want to skimp on the PSU - but you also don't want to waster money there.

The site linked below ranks PSUs in tiers and you will see the OCZ ranked in Tier 2 with Corsair - OCZ does make some good PSUs or I would not recommend them.

http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

If you are really not planning to run more than one graphics card, you can easily get by with the 500w version of the ModXstream for $40 + shipping - or the 600w for $50.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=E...

Here are reviews on the 500w and 600w - if you are in a hurry you can just jump to the last page of each review and read the conclusion.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/power_supply/ocz_mod...

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/ocz_mxs_pro_600...

http://www.guru3d.com/article/ocz-modxtream-pro-600-wat...

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1401

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/9562/40/

When considering graphics cards, don't forget that they are starting to play a much bigger role in assisting the CPU with processing - something with enormous potential to speed up activities like encoding and CAD.

Have you read about nVidia's CUDA technology that does just that? Here are a few articles I culled about it - you probably don't want to read then all but might find one or more interesting:


Here is an explanation of what CUDA is designed to do – note that the first article is almost two years old and the second one year:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-cuda-gpu,195...
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-cuda-gpgpu,2...

And an overview with FAQ from Benchmark Reviews (almost 2 years old):

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_conten...

Nvidia CUDA 2.0 Delivers Photoshop Plug-in Acceleration
8/22/08
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/nvidia-cuda-photoshop,news-...

Cuda significantly accelerates Photoshop CS4 and Premiere CS4
9/25/08
http://www.overclock.net/graphics-cards-general/389996-...

Adobe announces GPU accelerated Flash
6/3/09
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2009/06/03/adobe-...

NVIDIA CUDA-enabled Applications Roundup
6/12/09
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=719

NVIDIA CUDA video editing application round up
7/8/09
http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_conte...

ATI Stream vs. NVIDIA CUDA - GPGPU computing battle royale
8/07/09
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=745

Adobe Sneak Peek: Major GPU Acceleration for Video
11/27/09
http://blogs.adobe.com/jnack/2009/11/adobe_sneak_peek_m...

Depends on which Corsair Power supply your talking about (Corsair uses OEM Seasonic or Channelwell. vs OCZ uses OEM PC Power & Cooling. Both companies offer excellent power supplies as both their OEM's are top notch.) Make sure the OCZ power supply is from AFTER 2007 (2008 and after for secure). Before 2007 OCZ used a OEM Epilson model based manufacturer, I forgot the name.

Channel Well OEM VS PC Power & Cooling OEM= PC Power & Cooling hands down, of course Channel Well has still been producing good quality PSU's for Corsair.

Seasonic vs PC Power & Cooling= I dare not choose between the two as both are excellent.

rockyjohn, thanks for all the input and links. Have been going through them, and that CUDA tech looks pretty cool.

I do think I'm going to go with OCZ. Just looking between the different ones suggested. Is there a performance difference between the Fatal1ty one and the ModxStream ones?

Sorry but I am not familiar with the specifics on the Fatality PSU.

Just FYI, you have a couple of incorrect statements in your post.

1. OCZ does not use PC P&C as their OEM. They own the company but it is 2 seperate PSU lines and the OCZs are not rebadged PC P&Cs.

2. PC P&C builds few if any PSUs. They use Taiwan OEMs like everyone else.

Seasonic builds the Silencer series for PC Power & Cooling.

Seasonic being one.

Too slow, again.

  interesting. Thanks for the info I will read up more on this matter.