Which Power Supply to pick?

[Wouter]

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: ?

 

[pelvis_3]

The Antec would be the best pick of the lot.

 

[Wouter]

The Antec would be the best pick of the lot.

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)

 

[Big B]

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.

 

[Wouter]

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.

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]

I'm sure you're beginning to understand why I say watts don't mean a damn thing...

 

[Wouter]

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...

I'm sure you're beginning to understand why I say watts don't mean a damn thing...