Need one that's juuuust right

W

Wun

n00b
Joined
Oct 5, 2006
Messages
3
Greetings, I'm wondering if someone can recommend me some power supplies that suit my tastes. I just bought a 500W Antec SmartPower to replace my dead PSU, and there's some things that irk me horribly about it. First, is this god-awful high pitch whine that is present any time the computer isn't idle. When I'm playing video games, it's like the sound of a muted TV... times a billion. The second, recently discovered disapproval after replacing with the new PSU, is that the fans get louder when the power supply is getting hot.

Can someone suggest a good power supply that doesn't have those two traits? Keep in mind, I don't really care about how loud it is, so long as there isn't fluctuating sound volumes in operation. For example, my previous PSU had settings for low, medium, and high fan operation (I just left mine on the high setting). I don't imagine the power supply exactly needing 500 watts, and am sure it can do with almost 100 less.

I spent about US$80 for the power supply including shipping, and am hoping to not spend more than that on a different one, as this comes out of my mom's pocket.

Besides the mobo and fans, the only other peripherals actually plugged into by the power supply are two SATA hard disks (raid 0) and two DVD drives.

If they are really important, here is what I can describe of my system's specifications off the top of my head:

Processor: AMD64 Venice 3200+
Memory: 2x512MB Dual channel memory
Hard drives: 2xSATA Raid 0 setup
VGA: ATI Radeon x800XL
 
Honestly, I don't know how much I can count on that after reading numerous other user comments on the product with the exact same complaint and even the "Antec PSU Problems" thread on this very forum.
 
Return the SmartPower and save yourself some hassle. What is your price ceiling on this PSU?
 
dBTelos said:
Is their a reason you recommended a 500W PSU? If their is I'd really like to know, because, to me at least, I think a 400W ENP could handle the load. Maybe up it to the 460W version if the OP wants to do Crossfire later on, but I don't see a reason for 500W+.
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Because bigger numbers are always better. ;)

Seriously though..I know where you are coming from and agree to some extent but a 500+w (that can really output the rated wattage in a stable manner) gives you some headroom for future craziness with Raptor arrays, several optical drives, enough fans to hover the case, uv lights, tec coolers and maybe some SLI or Crossfire action.
 
dBTelos said:
Is their a reason you recommended a 500W PSU? If their is I'd really like to know, because, to me at least, I think a 400W ENP could handle the load. Maybe up it to the 460W version if the OP wants to do Crossfire later on, but I don't see a reason for 500W+.
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He recommended a 500W PSU because that's what the Op is trying to replace.

I agree with dBTelos, 500W is overkill for that system. A quality 400W is more than enough for the components he described.
 
icepik said:
He recommended a 500W PSU because that's what the Op is trying to replace.

I agree with dBTelos, 500W is overkill for that system. A quality 400W is more than enough for the components he described.
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Name one 400W PSU other than the Enhance & maybe the Zippy, that have +12V@26A.

Or is the requirement for a minimum of +12V@26A "overkill" also?
 
davidhammock200 said:
Name one 400W PSU other than the Enhance & maybe the Zippy, that have +12V@26A.

Or is the requirement for a minimum of +12V@26A "overkill" also?
Click to expand...

Want to answer my question? or are you still avoiding it...
 
Rabid Badger said:
Return the SmartPower and save yourself some hassle.
Click to expand...

That's the plan. However, I don't know what "hassle" you are referring to that I would not be saving if I didn't return it as it would be less of a hassle to not have to pack up the crappy Antec in a box and pay to ship it back to the distributor, unless you mean the 80 bucks that I'm obviously not going to just toss. ;)

And thanks for the the replies and reccomendation, I'll look into the sub-500W Enhance ENPs. And to those worried, no I don't plan to crossfire. I like my system as it is, I don't OC, and I don't plan to upgrade parts anytime soon.
 
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