Which Power Supply to pick?

Discussion in 'Power Supplies and UPS's' started by Wouter, Mar 31, 2006.

  1. Wouter

    Wouter Big Geek

    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I'm running a not very demanding system, and I ordered a XFX 6600GT 256 MB to replace my graphics card, in the AGP 8X slot.

    My current power supply won't do, so I went researched a couple of PSU's.

    1. Fortron BlueStorm 400 Watt
    http://www.fsp-group.com.tw/english/1_product/2_detail.asp?mainid=1&fid=49&proid=127
    price: €54
    Disadvantages: no -5V rail


    2. Enermax Noisetaker 320W
    http://www.enermax.com/english/product_Display1.asp?PrID=29
    price: €53
    Disadvantages: ?

    3. Ante TruePower 380W TP-II 380PEC
    http://www.antec.com/specs/TPII380_spe.html
    price: €68
    Disadvantages: ?

    4. Chieftec PSU 400 Watt
    http://www.chieftec.de/?page=products_big&id=236&k_id=4&language=uk
    price: €55
    Disadvantages: ?
     
    Wouter, Mar 31, 2006
    #1
  2. pelvis_3

    pelvis_3 HWF Member For Life

    Likes Received:
    123
    Trophy Points:
    63
    The Antec would be the best pick of the lot.
     
    pelvis_3, Mar 31, 2006
    #2
  3. Wouter

    Wouter Big Geek

    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Ah, darnit! I already went for the Enermax 320W... well, it has dual 12V rails both rated at 16amps (total 23A at 276W). XFX themselves recommend 20amps on the 12V-rail, so that should work, right?
    (specs: http://www.enermax.com/english/product_Display1.asp?PrID=19 ; URL in previous post=wrong)
     
    Wouter, Mar 31, 2006
    #3
  4. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

    Likes Received:
    145
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Enermax is a great pick too. Along with, Fortron, Antec, and a few others, Enermax is pretty conservative with their ratings, not to mention design and build a better power supply. Not a bad choice.
     
    Big B, Mar 31, 2006
    #4
  5. Wouter

    Wouter Big Geek

    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Well, I got it instead of the Antec because:

    A) good brand reputation
    B) seems to be within the necessary specs
    C) not too expensive
    D) quickly deliverable (someone's coming around to install PSU and card soon)
    E) In about a year, I'll go for a new system. Then I'll buy a new (good and powerful) PSU, so I don't need a super-powerful PSU right now

    I've got that NoName 350Watt PSU now, but I got the impression that this PSU is much worse than the Enermax, even though mine is 350W and the Enermax 320 Watt.

     
    Wouter, Mar 31, 2006
    #5
  6. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

    Likes Received:
    145
    Trophy Points:
    63
    I'm sure you're beginning to understand why I say watts don't mean a damn thing...
     
    Big B, Mar 31, 2006
    #6
  7. Wouter

    Wouter Big Geek

    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Yeah, definitely.

    I wonder why there isn't a consensus about how to rate power supplies though... it's very misleading, especially since most hardware states "requires PSU of minimum X Watts".

    On the positive side, you learn something new every day... I guess at least that is good :)

    One day I might even have the courage to try and build a box of my own...

     
    Wouter, Mar 31, 2006
    #7

Share This Page