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PSU choices

R

ratedm

Limp Gawd
2FA
Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
239
I'm in the market for a new PSU. Since I got my 6950 video card my Antec PSU has been under some stress. The card is not overclocked but my CPU is. The fan is starting to go out and it's been throwing some pretty good heat off. I decided to back off my cpu oc until I snag a new psu for it before I fry something. I would really like to stay as close to $100 as possible with $140 being the very top of my limit. I liked my Antec 550 as I've had it for years and it's never given me an issue. But, I've seen a lot of newcomers since then make some reliable units (Corsair, XFX, NZXT). I've been searching reviews and tests on PSU's and came up with a list. Can you guys take my results and number them in order you think I should buy them? I really wanted to switch over to a semi-modular PSU to help tuck away some wires in my case. I do want to make sure they are long enough though as I've read that some of these modular cables are not long enough.

Corsair 750TX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
Pros
-Price is right ($109)
-Good reviews

Cons
-Unfortunately not modular

Corsair 850TX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009
Pros
-Decently priced
-Semi-modular

Cons
-Found a lot of fan issues

COUGAR SX850: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817553006
Pros
-Fits top of price range with 15% off ($144.50)
-Looks good and looks well built
-Semi-modular

Cons
-Not sure how well HEC is for reliability, I need reliability like my Antec has given me.

Seasonic SS-850HT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151100
Pros
-Good brand & quality
-Price ($129.99)

Cons
-Not modular
-Sold oem instead of retail

Undecided on that one really. I threw it in there because I know Seasonic makes a good PSU.

SILVERSTONE ST75F-P 750W: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256059
Pros
-Price ($129.99)
-Silver certified
-Modular

Cons
-No hard toggle switch?

NZXT HALE90-750-M: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817116011

Pros
-Good review right here from [H}OCP
-$139.99 for Gold certified

KINGWIN Lazer LZ-850 850W: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121067

($139.99)

Threw this one in there because a guy at work recommended it

XFX Black Edition P1-750B-CAG9: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003

Pros
-Good review right here from [H}OCP
-Modular
-Price ($129)

Corsair 750HX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010
($144.99)
^$35 more than the 750TX, so not sure if that extra money is worth it.

Thanks in advance.
 
Seasonic X560 (yes, I meant 560, not 650)... unless you expect to add a second or go even more powerful somehow... 6950 doesn't need that crazy a PSU...
 
dandragonrage said:
Seasonic X560 (yes, I meant 560, not 650)... unless you expect to add a second or go even more powerful somehow... 6950 doesn't need that crazy a PSU...
Click to expand...

Not going to run a 2nd video card, didn't have plans for that when I bought the board nor do I now. Only thing I can see myself upgrading to down the road is an x6 Phenom and overclocking it. Will a 560 be enough for that?
 
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Actually, I would not upgrade to a Phenom II x6 at all at this point. This is because AMD is coming out with its new Bulldozer architecture that will obsolesce the PII x6 later this year. And current AMD motherboards will not work at all with the new CPUs (though your current PII x2 555BE will work with the new Bulldozer-compatible mobos). As such, by the time that you actually upgrade your system's CPU, the PII x6 CPUs will have already become obsolete, and that the remaining x6's will have become piss-poor buys for their going prices.
 
E4g1e said:
Actually, I would not upgrade to a Phenom II x6 at all at this point. This is because AMD is coming out with its new Bulldozer architecture that will obsolesce the PII x6 later this year. And current AMD motherboards will not work at all with the new CPUs (though your current PII x2 555BE will work with the new Bulldozer-compatible mobos). As such, by the time that you actually upgrade your system's CPU, the PII x6 CPUs will have already become obsolete, and that the remaining x6's will have become piss-poor buys for their going prices.
Click to expand...

That sucks to hear. Ok so within say 2 years I'll want to update on the CPU/Mainboard and I want the PSU I buy now, to work with that. I like to keep a PSU for ~5 years give or take a year. So with that being said, where should I go from here? I need to keep the price down and still be able to maintain reliability to last my 5 year mark. This Antec has been strong and never gave me an issue until after I've been running the HD6950 card, the fan I think is on its last leg and generating some heat. If I play some games for say an hour I can feel the heat coming out of the back of the PSU warming the floor all the way over to my feet. When I noticed it I turned it off, opened it up and made sure the dust was clear and noticed the bearing in the fan basically shot. (I game with headphones so I didn't really hear it under load)

-Closest to $100 as possible
-Prefer to have over 550W since my CPU is overclocked and may down the road OC my 6950
-Needs to fulfill reliability mark

^Those are my expectations. I've been reading the [H]OCP reviews and this forum for at least 5-6 months so I trust your opinions. I signed up to ask this question and figured maybe I could chime in on some other threads as well.
 
as i posted in some other threads

corsair 750tx 2600k 4.5ghz 1 470gtx and 2 460gtx o/c.

pulling 700watt from the wall.
__________________
 
Filter said:
as i posted in some other threads

corsair 750tx 2600k 4.5ghz 1 470gtx and 2 460gtx o/c.

pulling 700watt from the wall.
__________________
Click to expand...

I've had 4 of those PSU's running in my work computer for the past 2.5 years with no issue. Granted they don't ever see much load but they rarely ever get turned off.

Have you ever hook a meter up to see how much power your setup draws and if you see any voltage drop?

btw, I love the quote in your sig.
 
ratedm said:
I've had 4 of those PSU's running in my work computer for the past 2.5 years with no issue. Granted they don't ever see much load but they rarely ever get turned off.

Have you ever hook a meter up to see how much power your setup draws and if you see any voltage drop?

btw, I love the quote in your sig.
Click to expand...

yeah i said the 2600k system draws 700watts at the wall with the 3 gpu's no voltage drop.
 
Say I did chose the 750W Corsair. Is it worth it to spend an extra $35 on the 750HX over the 750TX for Silver certified, semi-modular cables, and the extra 2 year warrant? (7yr vs. 5 yr). I know some companies are a PITA to deal with over warranty honors but I've never had to RMA anything from Corsair before.
 
The 750W XFX PSU is the best deal out of that list and it would be my choice. The NZXT HALE90 750W is also a very good PSU and would be a good option if you're willing to spend more. The other options you listed aren't worth considering in comparison.

By the way, the TX850 is not partially modular.
 
The guy still doesn't need 750w or anywhere near it. Some other guy posts about his 3 video card setup drawing 700w and suddenly the OP needs that?

I'll say it even more bluntly: Stop looking at 750w supplies. You do not need 750w and they will be less efficient at lower loads. The X560 will be perfect, but if you REALLY want more then look for 600-650.
 
dandragonrage said:
The guy still doesn't need 750w or anywhere near it. Some other guy posts about his 3 video card setup drawing 700w and suddenly the OP needs that?

I'll say it even more bluntly: Stop looking at 750w supplies. You do not need 750w and they will be less efficient at lower loads. The X560 will be perfect, but if you REALLY want more then look for 600-650.
Click to expand...

Ok so ONE more time before I buy... I don't need the 750W so how about the X650 Seasonic or the NZXT HALE-90-650M??

Remember... I need something with quality and long lasting components to get me through 1 small upgrade (am3+ or whatever the next mobo chipset is)
 
XFX 750w gets my vote. Its on discount right now and is worth a whole lot more then the price. Performance on par with Corsair HX750, yet its substantially cheaper. Only con is the BRIGHT green fan...though inside a case it doesn't matter.

To the guy drawing 700w from the wall. That's only 560w (@80% efficiency) at the PSU...so I'd damn well hope it can provide that kind of power :p.
I had a TX750 for years running an overclocked 4870 Xfire system with a TON of hard drives. Ran great...then died silently one day. Glad it didn't take my hardware with it...I retired it respectfully by hacking all the wires off for a mod and stealing the fan. Long live TX750!
 
ratedm said:
Ok so ONE more time before I buy... I don't need the 750W so how about the X650 Seasonic or the NZXT HALE-90-650M??

Remember... I need something with quality and long lasting components to get me through 1 small upgrade (am3+ or whatever the next mobo chipset is)
Click to expand...
Both are good, but the Seasonic is better.
 
Seasonic it is. I'll be buying it on Monday.

p.s. thanks everyone for helping me out. Luckily I get a nice amount of extra pay for traveling for my job and I'll be able to save some cash now and buy an SSD for my OS and games.
 
ratedm said:
Ok so ONE more time before I buy... I don't need the 750W so how about the X650 Seasonic or the NZXT HALE-90-650M??

Remember... I need something with quality and long lasting components to get me through 1 small upgrade (am3+ or whatever the next mobo chipset is)
Click to expand...

Seasonic X650 is great and has top reviews - you can't go wrong here and it is FULLY modular. I love mine.
 
I was going to get the x650 seasonic but when I logged in to newegg at work I saw the corsair HX850 on sale for $144.99 plus a rebate I bought it...
 
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