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Friend's crappy PSU, HELP!

M

mavalpha

[H]F Junkie
Joined
Jan 3, 2005
Messages
10,448
A friend of mine is trying to convince me that the PSU that came with his case is "good enough." Anyone want to help me convince him otherwise? Here are its basics:
Manufacturer: COLORSit (that's how it's written on the PSU itself)
120mm fan
480W Max
+3.3V 30A
+5V 45A
+12V 15A (This makes me worry a LOT)
-5V 1.0A
-12V 1.0A
+5VSB 2.5A
It's also not amazingly heavy- couldn't be over 2lbs.

At first we figured that between its fairly high rating and the 120mm fan, it would at least be worth trying- how many crappy companies do you know that actually try to look impressive? Now that I've actually had it in my hands and read the label, I'm afraid to even plug it in!

He is getting my old computer with a few changes.
Barton @ 2.3GHz (209x11, 1.8ish volts), 512MB DDR (running at 3.2V for low timings, it's CH-5), one HD (and a dual-fan cooler he picked up, though I don't think he needs it), one DVD, and a GeForceFX 5900. It'll also be running a 92mm CPU fan, besides a few 80mm case fans. Between the CPU, drives, and video (and a wireless card for good measure), I can almost guarantee that the 12V line won't handle it well. Oh, and the case has a nice, big, bright LCD panel on the front for temps and such.
 
What motherboard is it? Depending on who makes it can mean the CPU draws power off the +5V rail or the +12V rail. If it is powered by the +12V rail, then you are cutting it really close. That 480W rating is likely too good to be true. You've got good reason to worry for your friend. ;)
 
_Korruption_ said:
What motherboard is it? Depending on who makes it can mean the CPU draws power off the +5V rail or the +12V rail. If it is powered by the +12V rail, then you are cutting it really close. That 480W rating is likely too good to be true. You've got good reason to worry for your friend. ;)
Click to expand...
My favorite to date, the DFI Lanparty Ultra B. I don't know which rail it uses to power the proc, but I'd presume the 12V line.
 
The only time I use a crappy case PSU is when I'm running a really cheap box (like for testing, repairs, or charity builds), and then I'll only be running low-end hardware (mobos with integrated graphics, 1 HDD, and 1 CD-RW). If you want your machine to run well and run right, you need a good PSU. Hell, buy a good PSU and it should last you for quite a while, making the investment worth it.
 
hound said:
The only time I use a crappy case PSU is when I'm running a really cheap box (like for testing, repairs, or charity builds), and then I'll only be running low-end hardware (mobos with integrated graphics, 1 HDD, and 1 CD-RW). If you want your machine to run well and run right, you need a good PSU. Hell, buy a good PSU and it should last you for quite a while, making the investment worth it.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I do, and I agree with you 100%. As I said, though, he asked me to test it for him- I'm literally not even comfortable plugging it in!
 
<this one has good instincts and will go far> :p

with 15A on the +12V
which is more likely 10A when adjusted for operating temperature
its very likely it will crash and potentially take something with it
(being an unknow bundled make)

just tell your friend he got a very old school ATX12V v1.2 or v1.3 supply with that case
but he needs a v1.3 hybrid or v2.0 (same difference when it comes to the crossload profile)

simply show him this chart


ATX.gif

Chart by Xbit \ Oleg Artamonov
 
Thanks for confirming my fears, it's good to know I wasn't just being paranoid! (And thanks for the compliment, Ice Czar!)

Now the real challenge is, can you guys recommend something that WILL run this computer reliably, while still costing $50 or less including shipping?
Edit: I guess that as an absolute minimum, that'd be about 20A on the 12V line, right? Of course that's counting on a reliable manufacturer.

Edit2: Any thoughts? The name Rosewill keeps popping up, doesn't it?

Edit3: Who wants to explain the 270W Enermax with 12V/20A?

Okay, I'm gonna stop counting my edits.
Another Rosewill, 500W, 26A.
 
yeh but Im a luttle busy just this second
it OK if I get back to this in an hour or so?

(Im the new weekend newsposter for [H]ardocp and I have some configuring to do on my Linux box)
 
Im the new weekend newsposter for [H]ardocp
Click to expand...

Congradulations Czar! Now just make sure you don't just repost everything from slashdot like certain other [H]ard news posters...

I know that you have an eye for good reviews. Making you a news poster is a great idea on Kyle's part.
 
Since I didn't say it in my post before, good for you for helping your friend see the light. Here's a decent PSU that could probably run that system okay, but keep poking around newegg. (enermax 300w for $30) Ohh...clicky
 
Thanks. I guess Rosewill is too new, since I don't see them on either list- good or bad.
 
mavalpha said:
Thanks. I guess Rosewill is too new, since I don't see them on either list- good or bad.
Click to expand...
rosewill is newegg's house brand... i dunno who OEM's for them...
 
lithium726 said:
rosewill is newegg's house brand... i dunno who OEM's for them...
Click to expand...

Probably noone good if they go by the Tigerdirect/Ultra model of making PSU's.
 
Newegg takes PSU's and rebrands them Rosewell. They don't use any specific brand, but multiple different brands so getting rosewell is "like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get".
Read the sticky at the top of the PSU forum, it goes into detail on what brands are worth their salt.
But forton / sparkle is always a good inexpensive choice.
 
mavalpha said:
Thanks. I guess Rosewill is too new, since I don't see them on either list- good or bad.
Click to expand...
I did read it and couldn't find anything <$50 other than Rosewill.
 
http://takaman.jp/D/?M=PbQKQbd@hfHASvT4kG5@GDZHeZAZavXCMZ&english
http://www.xbitlabs.com/misc/picture/?src=/images/video/ati-vs-nv-power/fx5900u_table-b.gif&1=1

16.7A theoretical
14A realworld

not a horribly power hungry config
likely even able to be powered by a decent oldschool v1.3
and any hybrid v1.3

as mention above FSP supplies are reliable and affordable
(Sparkle, Fortron)

The Fortron 530 is a favored workhorse but even a
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-485&depa=1
or
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-486&depa=1

would likely do
(530 is a hybrid while the 350s are oldschool)

avoid Rosewills
 
lithium726 said:
rosewill is newegg's house brand... i dunno who OEM's for them...
Click to expand...

Deer, Powmax, Wintech, ATNG, and one I forgot the name of. It's PSU Russian Roulette with them. The ATNG made units are decent, but I won't support or recommend a brand that can't pick one OEM and stick to it.
 
Oklahoma Wolf said:
Deer, Powmax, Wintech, ATNG, and one I forgot the name of. It's PSU Russian Roulette with them. The ATNG made units are decent, but I won't support or recommend a brand that can't pick one OEM and stick to it.
Click to expand...

Well even if they did pick one of the first three I don't think we would be recommending them...... ;)
 
If these Unitek units are similar in quality to Codegen's other units, you couldn't pay me enough to run one ;)
 
Oklahoma Wolf said:
If these Unitek units are similar in quality to Codegen's other units, you couldn't pay me enough to run one ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah a M-80 should be firmly planted in the fan when powering them up........ :D
 
Thanks for all your help, guys!

All of those look great, but I think I hit my own roadblock and found a solution for him in the process. Apparently my RealPower won't be strong enough to run a DFI NF4 board (22A between 2 12V rails), so I'll give him mine and buy myself something like a PowerStream instead. You think that's a good idea?
 
That's a good idea, that RealPower (Coolermaster, right?) should power that AXP system without a problem. That Powerstream might even be a pretty good upgrade, depending on what model you get. Go for it.
 
_Korruption_ said:
That's a good idea, that RealPower (Coolermaster, right?) should power that AXP system without a problem. That Powerstream might even be a pretty good upgrade, depending on what model you get. Go for it.
Click to expand...

Yeah the realpowers are coolermaster.
 
jonnyGURU said:
And they're both made by ACBel Polytech.
Click to expand...
Just to throw in, my old IBM Aptiva had an ACBel PSU in it. Rated at 95W, it had all of 1.5A on the +12V rail. Took it out to clean one day and I noticed that it had Rubycon caps all throughout! :eek: Maybe that's why it hasn't died... it ran so cool too.
 
jonnyGURU said:
And they're both made by ACBel Polytech.
Click to expand...

I would have to look again since I don't remember exactly but yes Coolermaster rebrands them.
 
_Korruption_ said:
Just to throw in, my old IBM Aptiva had an ACBel PSU in it. Rated at 95W, it had all of 1.5A on the +12V rail. Took it out to clean one day and I noticed that it had Rubycon caps all throughout! :eek: Maybe that's why it hasn't died... it ran so cool too.
Click to expand...

Yep. AcBel Polytech is best known for OEM's. They make a lot of the power bricks that laptops use. I don't think we can say too many bad things about them. ;)

OEM power supplies are sooooo cool, because they're made specifically for the machine they're installed in. I just about choked when I saw my friend's Dell with the 3.2GHz Pentium 4. Everything was on board (not even an AGP slot) and it had only one hard drive and two optical drives. Damn power supply was a 180W with only 10A on the 12V rail! Runs great though. 24/7, almost a year now... no problems. :)
 
jonnyGURU said:
Yep. AcBel Polytech is best known for OEM's. They make a lot of the power bricks that laptops use. I don't think we can say too many bad things about them. ;)

OEM power supplies are sooooo cool, because they're made specifically for the machine they're installed in. I just about choked when I saw my friend's Dell with the 3.2GHz Pentium 4. Everything was on board (not even an AGP slot) and it had only one hard drive and two optical drives. Damn power supply was a 180W with only 10A on the 12V rail! Runs great though. 24/7, almost a year now... no problems. :)
Click to expand...

Dell uses at least some Foxconn=Deer PSU's. One blew up on one of my folding boxes. Piece of shit PSU that was.
 
Haven't seen one. Used to use a lot of Deer/Allied power supplies in some cheap barebones we used to build. Actually had very few problems (shipped about 500 a week and got about 3 or 4 back.) Never had one blow up on me. Way less problems than L&C and Codegen's I've been forced to use (working for the MAN, I'm afraid,) that's for sure.

Don't get me wrong. I would never KNOWINGLY put a Deer/Allied in a PC or recommend one to a friend. Just when I worked at TCWO, I saw a lot of good stuff and a lot of crap. :)

The Dell's I've seen have had power supplies in them from Acbel, HiPro and the like. Companies more specialized in OEM.
 
Well even when using shitty PSU's Dell and such have the crossloads, and temp derating figured out much better than we can do on the enthusiast side......so to a degree they can get away with it.......but they still don't survive bad power situations well in my experience.
 
Absolutely.

The first thing to do when upgrading a Dell......



... is to get rid of the Dell. :cool:
 
Okay, sorry to keep bugging you guys- dilemma for me.
Option 1: Krypto has a 2-3month old Antec TruePower550 up for sale, he's asking $75. It's 30A single-rail, no PCIe connector, an outdated ATX specification, and apparently loud as hell. That's a review of the TrueControl, but they share most of the details, including fan layout- I'd expect similar noise levels.
Option 2: A new BlueStorm 500W for $90. Much quieter, ATX2, and split-rail 31A.
My dilemma: All things being equal I'd much prefer an Antec, but (a) 2-3months used, (b) loud as hell, (c) multipe fans=more wear and tear, and (d) outdated specs. Should I just get the Fortron? (Sorry Krypto, I just want to make sure my DFI can OC my BH-5 to its limits!)
 
With 30A on the 12V, I'd say PCIe or not it's going to be enough. Remember, the only real diff in the specs is cables (which can be remedied with adapters) and single versus dual rail (a concept I'm not 100% sold on... yet.)

$75 is a tad steep. I could spend the money better elsewhere, but I'm not going to throw opinions around and you seem already convinced that Antec is the Uber-PSU so why not see if he'll budge on the price a little and get it?
 
Personally the blue Storm for the noise reason and the forward thinking nature. However, if he cuts you a good deal on the Antec you could do much worse. Just my .02.
 
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