Advice on 450/600W PSU

[adriabb]

Hi, I'm planning to build the following PC:

AMD Phenom II X4 965 (cooled by Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus), 125W version, slightly OC'd
Asus Crosshair IV Formula
4GB DDR3 (haven't decided yet)
Single HDD (haven't decided yet)
ATI HD 5830 or NVIDIA GTX 460 (they are meant to consume no more than 150W)
Cooler Master Storm Sniper Black Mesh Case

I don't know which PSU should I choose. Are 450W enough? Should I go for 550/650W? What brands or models do you recommend? I'm planning to spend 60/80€ on it.

Thanks for your opinion,

 

[Henry Chinaski]

If you are thinking about NOT doing CF/SLI, you should look for a minimum of a 550 Watt power supply with +12V current rating of 38 Amps and two available 6-pin PCI-E power connectors

Here you have some good choices:

ANTEC TruePower New 550W (by Seasonic) (modular)
CORSAIR VX550 550W (by CWT)
ENERMAX LibertyEco II (ELT500AWT-ECO II) 500W (modular)
ENERMAX Pro82+ (EPR525AWT II) 525W
ENERMAX Modu82+ (EMD525AWT II) 525W (modular)
SEASONIC S12II Bronze (SS-520GB) 520W
THERMALTAKE Toughpower Qfan (W0151) 500W (by CWT) (modular)
OCZ Fatal1ty 550W (by Sirtec) (modular)
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M 600W (by Enhance Electronics) (modular)
GIGABYTE Odin GT 550W (by CWT) (modular)

 

[jaguarskx]

You'll be fine with any good quality 500w PSU. Like Seasonic; they also make certain PSU models for Antec, Corsair and PC Power & Cooling.

 

[adriabb]

If you are thinking about NOT doing CF/SLI, you should look for a minimum of a 550 Watt power supply with +12V current rating of 38 Amps and two available 6-pin PCI-E power connectors

Here you have some good choices:

ANTEC TruePower New 550W (by Seasonic) (modular)
CORSAIR VX550 550W (by CWT)
ENERMAX LibertyEco II (ELT500AWT-ECO II) 500W (modular)
ENERMAX Pro82+ (EPR525AWT II) 525W
ENERMAX Modu82+ (EMD525AWT II) 525W (modular)
SEASONIC S12II Bronze (SS-520GB) 520W
THERMALTAKE Toughpower Qfan (W0151) 500W (by CWT) (modular)
OCZ Fatal1ty 550W (by Sirtec) (modular)
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M 600W (by Enhance Electronics) (modular)
GIGABYTE Odin GT 550W (by CWT) (modular)

From the given list, I can buy the following ones:

Cooler Master Silent Pro M600 600W -- 83€
OCZ Fatal1ty 550W Modular -- 65€
Corsair VX550 550W -- 80€
ENERMAX Pro82+ II 525W -- 108€
Antec TruePower New Series TP-550 -- 85€

What's your opinion? On the other hand, what do you mean when you describe some PSU's as modular?

Thanks a lot for your answers,

 

[jaguarskx]

Modular PSU have detachable cables to reduce clutter. If you are not using all the power cables coming out of the PSU, then you can disconnect the ones you are not using. You can later attach them if necessary.

 

[mrhoshos96]

From the given list, I can buy the following ones:

Cooler Master Silent Pro M600 600W -- 83€
OCZ Fatal1ty 550W Modular -- 65€
Corsair VX550 550W -- 80€
ENERMAX Pro82+ II 525W -- 108€
Antec TruePower New Series TP-550 -- 85€

What's your opinion? On the other hand, what do you mean when you describe some PSU's as modular?

Thanks a lot for your answers,

go with the tp-550 it's the best out of all of those

 

[WR2]

Here are a few independent reviews to look at:
Cooler Master Silent Pro M 600 Review
Corsair 550VX

 

[adriabb]

Modular PSU have detachable cables to reduce clutter. If you are not using all the power cables coming out of the PSU, then you can disconnect the ones you are not using. You can later attach them if necessary.

So that might improve the airflow, I suppose.

Thanks to all for your answers, I'm going to read the reviews. For what I've seen, should I discard the OCZ?

 

[WR2]

OCZ Fatal1ty 550W is a good PSU and is probably fairly priced when compared to the other higher quality PSUs so you still should consider it.
It's not been easy finding a review from one of the better review websites to get more than a guess on just how good it really is.

 

[adriabb]

After reading the reviews I've made my decision. I'll buy the Cooler Master Silent Pro M600. Thanks again for all your answers!

 

[Henry Chinaski]

After reading the reviews I've made my decision. I'll buy the Cooler Master Silent Pro M600. Thanks again for all your answers!

You have done a very good choice. It won't dissapoint you. It's a high quality PSU.

 

[MARSOC_Operator]

Go with any Antec Earthwatts, best bang for the buck hands down.

 

[adriabb]

Go with any Antec Earthwatts, best bang for the buck hands down.

Well, it's 10€ cheaper but I'm staying with the M600 anyway. Mainly because it's modular. Thanks.

 

[mrhoshos96]

Well, it's 10€ cheaper but I'm staying with the M600 anyway. Mainly because it's modular. Thanks.

the antec tp-550 is modular and much better quality than the coolermaster

 

[adriabb]

the antec tp-550 is modular and much better quality than the coolermaster

I'm looking for a review at the moment. It seems that everyone has its preferences...

 

[saaiello]

The Antec TP-550 would be a great unit for your build.

The Antec TP power supplies are very well built and have very stable power I could not find a full review of the 550 watt model, but I found one of the TP-750 and it ranks very very high.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=140

 

[Noisiv]

If you are thinking about NOT doing CF/SLI, you should look for a minimum of a 550 Watt power supply with +12V current rating of 38 Amps and two available 6-pin PCI-E power connectors

Whatta load of bollocks.

He would probbably be just fine with semi decent 350W PSU, hence 400-450W would be plentifull.

But look at the bright side.

If he bought that 600W CoolerMaster, he can put another gtx 460 (or 5830) later.