Page 1 of 1

Lets talk aboot computer power supplies...

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:27 pm
by Captain Insano
So far power supplies have been one of my biggest concerns for my company...

I have done pretty extensive research and know for a fact that Dell/HP/Sony use the cheapest junk money doesn't buy. It also leads to tons of broken systems and lots of instability.

It is the one thing I will consistently splurge on with everything we build.

The thing about it is, even many of the name brands like Antec/WEiNermax etc have plenty of reviews for DOA or failed power supplies.

I don't have the margins to say drop a 200 dollar PC Power and Cooling Supply in every machine.

I know we got some saavy engineer types and peeps who have been in this biz longer than me and I would like to know what you all think.

Here are the brands I tend to lean towards:

antec
coolermaster
enermax
thermaltake
zalman
sunbeam


I hear mixed reviews on Rosewill, but damn the value is superb if they actually deliver the power they are rated for at their price points.


I am basically trying to narrow buying power supplies to two companies and dealing direct. Both companies need to sell power supplies that will power a 699 desktop up to a dual SLI monster rig and there needs to be a certain level of value.

Thanks,
Ralf

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:37 pm
by Martrae
Kahar says he prefers MSI.

As far as how good they are, Antec and MSI are about equal. MSI cost less, though.

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:07 pm
by Gidan
For the most part, I have used only Antec, odd one here and there that wasn't but I have never once had a problem with my Antecs.

Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:20 pm
by Tikker
I've got a mix of Antec, and Aspire psu's


I actually really dig the Aspire

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:42 am
by xKALECx
Always ANTEC here, although I have had one die on me 2 days after initial use.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:13 am
by Naethyn

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:35 am
by Gidan
WTF do you need a 1KW powersupply for? I consider my 600 to be pushing going overboard on power.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:49 am
by Naethyn
It gives me a boner sometimes.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:50 am
by Granh
I had a 300w antec in an old case and ran *way* too much off it. The thing was a beast. Took my water-cooling (pump and all), very OC'd cpu, video card and everything else for about a year before I realized I was seriously under powering my system. Replaced it with a 500w enermax that was also a great supply and has worked flawlessly for me since. Either brand should make a great addition, but that antec was something else.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:04 am
by Captain Insano
Yeah I hear consistently that Antec is probably the best for the money.

I am curious about Aspire. They have some really cool PSU's and have great pricing.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:03 pm
by kaharthemad
not tried aspores ralf. however the high end MSI power supply (600 watt) runs nice and cool and testing with a ampprobe and a fluke i get the same readings that i got off of a 600 watt antec tru. maybe a little variation but not enough to justify forking out another 100 for the same power supply.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:31 pm
by Captain Insano
I'll look into MSI. I like their MoBos. Not as much as Asus mobo's but still seem like a solid brand.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:41 pm
by Minrott
I've had the best luck with Antecs.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 2:56 pm
by Tikker
Captain Insano wrote:Yeah I hear consistently that Antec is probably the best for the money.

I am curious about Aspire. They have some really cool PSU's and have great pricing.


I've got the Aspire Concord

it was dirt cheap (like $60 i think), has 2 fans (1 to draw air from the case into the psu, and the other to push the air out of the case .. ie, it actively pulls warmer air out of the case, like a case fan would)

also has manual speed control so that you can quiet it right down.

it'd be nice if it was somehow temp sensitive, but I've never ever had to use more than the lowest setting

it also came with another manual fan controller, so you could plug 3 other case fans into it, and crank them down in speed

i've had it for about 18 months now, and nary an issue

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:11 pm
by Captain Insano
Cool i'm going to try some of those out.

Thanks.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:12 pm
by Gidan
The Aspire Concord looks really nice and I may give one of those a shot in my box.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:11 pm
by Captain Insano
Rosewill has some cool looking PSU's but I'm not sure if they have the quality to back them up. I was checking out Aspire's today and I really think those might be a hit in addition to Antec's.

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:28 pm
by Diekan
this is all you need.

Image

it will run your computer for months.