Hastibe

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Hi friends,

I've been really confused about what type of PSU I need--when I built my first gaming rig in 2003, I slapped some $18 dollar PSU in it and never thought about it again. Now, having just built my second rig, I have a spare 430W Thermaltake PSU in it, and am wondering if I need a more powerful PSU...

I've looked around on review sites, for a good recent round-up of PSU reviews, but a lot of the round-ups seem really dated, so any help would be appreciated! One request: please explain your reasoning behind your suggestions--I'd like to try to understand all this important PSU stuff, too!

Here are the specs of my new gaming rig (note: gaming, but I don't plan on overclocking):

Asus M4A79XTD EVO motherboard
AMD Athlon II X4 630 processor
Super Talent 2x2GB Kit of 1600Mhz RAM
Sapphire HD 5770 1GB graphics card
Hitachi Deskstar 1 TB SATA 7200rpm hard drive
■IDE 250GB 7200rpm hard drive and CD/DVD-RW

With this set-up, what power supply should I get? I'm not interested in spending tons, so, though I want to buy a PSU that will protect this investment, and not fry it, I'm not looking for anything fancy, either.

P.S. Additionally, the above just said, if, at some point down the road, when this rig begins to age, I wanted to run a second graphics card in it, then what type of PSU would you recommend, too?
 
Solution


You ask me to pick one that would be good and I pick the OCZ
I read about the item and it also have Typical load 86% Efficiency and Energy-Efficient 80 PLUS Certified . The other OCZ wasn't Certified.
I only pick PSU that have Certified and have good typical 85% or higher efficiency.

I have a XIGMATEK 650W ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V Ver. 2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC at 87% Efficient 80 PLUS Certified. It also has Japan Electric Capacity, Completed protection OVP / OCP / OPP / UVP / SCP / OTP and Multiple +12V Output.
I had this PSU for most 2 years...

Keiki646

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Sorry but the choices that you has pick out is not what I would go for.
Reason why Xion , AzzA and Eagle are not the best. Now that OCZ that you pick out would do nice.
It's 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified switch is not bad at all. Not to sure in crossfire if you're planning in the future.
Now if you are going to do CrossFire, you should be looking into 600 watts and up. I would say a 650 watt like this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 and make sure you pick a PSU with Active PFC

Stick with the OCZ 500watt PSU..why? it's a Modular PSU with a Actice PFC at 500 watts at the price of $89.99 and after rebate of $25.00
you only pay $44.99. Also note that it's 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified.
 
D

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http://thermaltake.outervision.com/Power Check this out. Even including overclocking to 3.6ghz and using my Antec 1200 with 7 120mm led fans and a 200mm top fan as a base to go by your system draws 303w.
This is all you need and is a great power supply. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

The brands you had listed are mostly junk that I would not use. The OCZ is the best of the bunch but not really impressive. Corsair is known for good quality units that are rated very conservatively.

If you later wanted to run 2 5770s you might want to look at the 550 watt version.

You said you looked at review sites and didnt find any good ones.......try here http://www.jonnyguru.com/index.php
 

Keiki646

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I think you need to look at the Price, Rebate, Certified and PSU watts first before replying to this topic.
That PSU that you pick out is only 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC and not 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified.
80 PLUS BRONZE Certified is much better than 80 PLUS Certified.
You're down graded him there. The OCZ 500 PSU 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified $89.99 has a better rebated of $44.99 after a 25.00 dollars rebate with 50 more watts.
To make things better it a it's SLI/CrossFire Ready and a Modular PSU, so he can only use the cables that he needs to use for this system.

Just a friendly reminder that to do your research a little better next time.
 

Hastibe

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Thanks so much for both of your responses! I really appreciate it!

Okay, so no to the weird brands (*sigh*)! If the OCZ is one that y'all would go with for my rig, and if I want two graphics cards via CrossFire to be an option in the future, should I spend the additional money to get one of these?

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W

If I should spend the additional money to get a 600W PSU for CrossFire possibilities, any thoughts between these two or comparably-priced (with the rebates) competitors? Would it be worth it to spend $60 instead of $50 to get the 86% instead of 80% efficiency that the ModXStream version boasts?
 
I wouldn't buy either one of them. If you look at the specs for the SXS, you have no idea what the maximum 12 volt current it can supply is. It's is certainly not not 72 amps (864 watt's ). The MXSP provides a maximum of 42 amps. That's a little light for a truly good 600 watt power supply.

A pair of 5770's needs about 13 - 16 amps. So one of these would work:
Corsair 550VX (41 amp 12 volt rail)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

If I were using a pair of 5770's, I'd go on size larger and use one of these:
Corsair 650TX (52 amp 12 volt rail)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

But then, with my military electronics background, I tend to over spec power supplies.


 
Here are the official ATI power supply requirements for the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and 5750 video cards:


450 Watt or greater power supply with one 75 watt, 6-pin PCI Express® power connector recommended

600 Watt or greater power supply with two 75 watt, 6-pin PCI Express® power connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode

The recommendations are for an entire pc system.


Corsair and Seasonic are two of the brands that have a reputation for high quality power supplies that consistently earn high marks in technical reviews. They are reliable, stable, and come with a 5 year warranty. Some of the newer models come with a 7 year warranty. Lately we've been seeing a few other brands offering some high quality units.
 

Hastibe

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Why the ModXStream Pro and not the other OCZ one? I'm not challenging you, just curious: the +6% efficency will make that much of a difference?
 

Hastibe

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jsc, for the SXS, on this forum, another poster said that the max amps across all the rails the SXS can deliver is 44A. I'm not sure where/how he found that out yet, but on page 3 of the manual for the SXS it does say that the max overcurrent limit for the 12V1 and 12V2 (combined) is 48A and for 12V3 is 20.5A and 12V4 is also 20.5A... Does that mean anything, concerning figuring out what the max 12 volt current it can supply is around?
 

Keiki646

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You ask me to pick one that would be good and I pick the OCZ
I read about the item and it also have Typical load 86% Efficiency and Energy-Efficient 80 PLUS Certified . The other OCZ wasn't Certified.
I only pick PSU that have Certified and have good typical 85% or higher efficiency.

I have a XIGMATEK 650W ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V Ver. 2.92 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC at 87% Efficient 80 PLUS Certified. It also has Japan Electric Capacity, Completed protection OVP / OCP / OPP / UVP / SCP / OTP and Multiple +12V Output.
I had this PSU for most 2 years without any problems.

Now Corsair is another good brand name but I understand what you are looking for. You're on a budget and you need a good PSU. Not quite sure if everyone here is understand why you pick those PSU. You only have enough to pick a good PSU for a very good price but you don't want to break the bank in finding one. You'll like to get one of these PSU because that is what you are looking for. Plus is has a great rebate.

I would pick the OCZMODX if it was me. I'll also told you that is a Modular PSU , you can used the cables that you need.
 
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Hastibe

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Hmm, so, are y'all sure I can't just use my 430W Thermaltake PSU for my build? The PSU provides 18A on the +12V rail...

My graphics card (HD 5770) says it needs a 450W PSU, and these power consumption tests by Xbitlabs indicate that the HD 5770 needs about 7 amps at max load. My CPU (Athlon II X4 930) requires 95W (at least, that's what it lists under "Thermal Design Power" on the AMD site), which translates into 8 amps (right?)... Is there anything else that's going to be on the +12V rails (DVD/hard drives, RAM, or motherboard)?

Because, if not, then the total +12V requirement for gaming on my computer would be 15 amps, which means an 18A +12V rail should be fine, right?

(Or did I miss something or would 15 amps be stressing it an 18A max load too much?)
 

Keiki646

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Ok because that page looked a little fishy but maybe that site is not up to date
Every online retailer has it listed as 80 PLUS Certified
 

Keiki646

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Look at the spec on the OCZ Mod X 600PSU
+3.3V@25A,
+5V@25A,
+12V1@25A,
+12V2@25A,
-12V@0.3A,
+5VSB@2.5A

We are only here to help, it's up to you to make the choice on what PSU is good
 

Keiki646

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I know that was my mistake but the load efficiency is 86% 80 PLUS Certified and Modular
of that 500 watts that we talk about earlier.
But they are all 80 PLUS Certified with Loads of 85% to 86%

He is on a budget and I can tell on the way he he talking. We need to help him make a good choice
with the OCZ he can spend about 74.99 and send in the rebate of 25.00.

But I think his limited is $90 Dollars. He picks out the PSU that are under $80.00.
That is another way you can tell.

I wish I had that when I brought my Xigmatek 650. When I got it 2 years ago it was 149.99
now it's $99.99
 

Hastibe

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No, no, I totally understand--sorry if it seems like I'm being difficult, I really appreciate all the input and suggestions that you and everyone else has provided, and I'm just trying to look at things from all angles.

You nailed it on the head with what you said about me being on a budget, but also not wanting to end up with a PSU that's going to fry my system. This -apparently- makes it hard to make choices, haha.

About looking at the specs on the OCZ Mod X 600PSU, what did you mean by that? What are you pointing out?
 

Keiki646

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I wasn't talking to you about it, I was asking delluser1 to look at it.
but a PSU frying your system is a small chance (only happens when someone doesn't know what they are doing)
 

Hastibe

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P.S. Here's the list of PSUs I'm eyeing now, if my 430W PSU isn't enough:

HIGHER QUALITY

Thermaltake TR2 W0379RU 500W $40 +12V1@25A,+12V2@18A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153113&Tpk=Thermaltake%20TR2%20W0379RU

OCZ StealthXStream 600W $50 +12V1@18A,+12V2@18A,+12V3@18A,+12V4@18A
OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W $50 +12V1@18A,+12V2@18A
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600w $55 +12V1@25A,+12V2@25A


DISPUTED QUALITY(?)

COOLMAX NW-650B 650W $40 +12V1@16A,+12V2@16A,+12V3@16A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159082

RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W $40 +12V1@20A,+12V2@17A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152028

COOLMAX CU-700B 700W $50 +12V1@18A,+12V2@16A,+12V3@16A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159089

COOLMAX CL-700B 700W $50 +12V1@16A,+12V2@16A,+12V3@16A,+12V4@12A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159107

TOPOWER ZU-550W 550W $50 +12V1@20A, +12V2@20A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817101021

Rosewill Green Series RG530-S12 530W $55 +12V@41A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182199
 

Keiki646

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The first one (Thermaltake TR2 W0379RU 500W) is not certified You need to look at Certified PSU

Is certified but not the best of them Rosewill I am not to used about them... the rails and quality

Best Brand name are
OCZ
Corsairs Air
Xigmatek
Cooler Master
XFX