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On PSUs...

S

Skipper007

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 28, 2004
Messages
185
A friend of mine has just finished specing out his new PC (not to mention getting together the proper documentation for a price matching, we'd like to buy from a specific store if we can). However, there's still some debate as to what PSU he should get.

The system is a Athlon 64 3200+ with a 6800GT, a gig of RAM, a 200GB hard disk, a DVD burner, and likely a few lights. In the future, is might receive a second hard disk. Since he is also getting an SLI capable board, it is also possible he will go SLI at some point in the future. An X2 CPU and another gig of RAM might also be future upgrades someday.

Now, he's planning on getting a Blue Raidmax Scorpio midtower (I think), which comes with a 420 watt PSU. Given that it is generic, I know it's not a good choice for SLI. However, it's a freebie with the case, and I figure it should be able to handle the load he plans to put on it plus the second hard disk. The X2 doesn't seem like it would be a problem givent that Anandtech's tests show the X2's power consumption is equal to the older 0.13 micron Athlon 64s. I doubt the gig of RAM uses that much power.

So basically, the only thing I think he'd need a beefier PSU for is SLI, which he might not use in the end.

Despite this, he still seems set on taking the store owner's recommendation of getting a 480 watt Antec with the system. Apparently the store owner had once seen a system with one of the 420s come back "fried" - whether this was the system or just the PSU was unclear in the second hand retelling.

The Antec costs over $100 Canadian up here, so it's a siginificant price difference for him. Does anyone know if the Raidmax PSUs are actually that bad? Is it necessary to spend the extra money? My call on this would be no, but I want some opinions.
 
I personally wouldnt trust an A64 and SLI system with a generic psu... The benefits of not buying a new psu dont out weigh those of spending more cash on a psu but having it actually work and not crap up your system. did I word that right? lol
 
You are gonna get jumped all over by someone for that post, but it wont be by me.

My friend built almost the EXACT same system on that EXACT same PSU, and lets just say that it didnt work out too well.

Fried. Period.
 
JonMichael said:
You are gonna get jumped all over by someone for that post, but it wont be by me.

My friend built almost the EXACT same system on that EXACT same PSU, and lets just say that it didnt work out too well.

Fried. Period.
Click to expand...

Just because of one thing happening does not make a PSU bad. Any PSU has the potential to do soemthing like that.

Enermax PSU's are known to be very good quality at often low prices. That Enermax PSU I linked to is the cheapest PSU I would recommend for SLI and it is a great PSU.
 
JonMichael said:
You are gonna get jumped all over by someone for that post, but it wont be by me.

My friend built almost the EXACT same system on that EXACT same PSU, and lets just say that it didnt work out too well.

Fried. Period.
Click to expand...

PSU or system? One's an annoyance if you fry it, the other really screws you over.

I should clarify - I would never try to run SLI on a 420 watt. If he wants to do that he'll have to shell out. However, given that there's a good chance he won't, I'm wondering if the Raidmax is enough to handle the config I listed, single card, with a possible upgrade to a second HD at some point (as I said, the X2 doesn't consume more power then the 0.13 micron 64s, so...).

Also, while I'm on here - how are Thermaltake PSUs? My Thermaltake (a 420, since I don't need a lot for my current rig) has been great, but I'm not running it fully loaded. I can get a 480 Thermaltake for less then the Antec.
 
Thermaltake PSU's are not recommended. They tend to droop their rails under load. They are junk.
 
Enermax, Fortron, Antec, Vantec, PC P&C, TTGI...PLEASE

I have one of those 420 watt Raidmax PSUs. Highly unstable. -12V = -13.6V = BAD I think this PSU is why my RAM has been dying, new PSU soon.
 
Skipper007 said:
The Antec costs over $100 Canadian up here, so it's a siginificant price difference for him. Does anyone know if the Raidmax PSUs are actually that bad? Is it necessary to spend the extra money? My call on this would be no, but I want some opinions.
Click to expand...

Yes, yes they are......then again lot's of people run systems on shitty PSU's.....until the bottom falls out. The reason you don't use shitty PSU's is that the bottom falls out much much much more often and much much easier.

I wouldn't even think of running that PSU let alone upgrading. You will need to upgrade to run SLI no matter what.


Watts don't mean jack....the correct distribution of amps does. Which Antec?
 
99% certain it's a Truepower 480, though my guess is that if he find out the store carries the version that has blue LEDs he'll get that instead. He's into that kind of thing.

Antec and Enermax are fairly easy to get around here. Unforunately, other brands can be hard to come by in Vancouver. NCIX carries a few of them:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?majorcatid=100&minorcatid=1066

To make matters worse, Canadians do not have it as easy as Americans when it comes to online ordering. A lot of sites ship to Canada, but the shipping fees and the like tend to eat away at the savings you'd get from doing so.

Not to chew any of you out, but a $100 power supply is a tough pill to swallow considering I thought my dad paid a lot for his Enermax 350 back in 2003. I'm just glad my friend was planning to get the thing before he showed me the spec sheet.
 
Skipper007 said:
99% certain it's a Truepower 480, though my guess is that if he find out the store carries the version that has blue LEDs he'll get that instead. He's into that kind of thing.

Antec and Enermax are fairly easy to get around here. Unforunately, other brands can be hard to come by in Vancouver. NCIX carries a few of them:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?majorcatid=100&minorcatid=1066

To make matters worse, Canadians do not have it as easy as Americans when it comes to online ordering. A lot of sites ship to Canada, but the shipping fees and the like tend to eat away at the savings you'd get from doing so.

Not to chew any of you out, but a $100 power supply is a tough pill to swallow considering I thought my dad paid a lot for his Enermax 350 back in 2003. I'm just glad my friend was planning to get the thing before he showed me the spec sheet.
Click to expand...


A true 480 should run that to begin with but the upgrades proposed will eat it's 12v for lunch. As for canadian purchases I can't help much I live a bit farther south :)

Korruption and Oklohomawolf though should be able to help you out.
 
Not many retailers are carrying the better TruePower II models. A 480W TruePower II would be much better than the older 480W TruePower. I only know of one retailer that does, but they're in Toronto.

Have you considered the Seasonics, like the 500W? That's a great PSU there.
 
Skipper007 said:
Does anyone know if the Raidmax PSUs are actually that bad?
Click to expand...

They are. The 420w in the case will be hard pressed to do even 300w with stability, and it's hard to tell when these will pop.

If going with Antec, the True 2 480w is the minimum I would go with. NCIX offers the Seasonic S12 units, and I would suggest these above 430w as well. Finally, I would look at the Fortron 460w AX500-A Blue Storm.

$100 for a good PSU is pretty common up here - I paid $160 shipped for my Fortron 530w, and regret it not a bit. Before that one, my CWT 420w cost $110. Next PSU for me will probably be a Seasonic unless I change my mind again.

Edit - just thought I would note that NCIX does have the True 2's listed as available in 5-10 days, but you have to do a search for them. The price is a little high yet, but not too bad considering the still bloated prices on the OCZ units.
 
KoolDrew said:
Thermaltake PSU's are not recommended. They tend to droop their rails under load. They are junk.
Click to expand...

And friggin loud as hell. Purepower "Silent" my ass.

-wil
 
KoolDrew said:
Just because of one thing happening does not make a PSU bad. Any PSU has the potential to do soemthing like that.

Enermax PSU's are known to be very good quality at often low prices. That Enermax PSU I linked to is the cheapest PSU I would recommend for SLI and it is a great PSU.
Click to expand...

In this case though, it is almost guarenteed. I usually wouldnt be that blunt, but this is as close to a given as it gets.
 
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