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Request for PSU recommendations

A

anexanhume

Weaksauce
Joined
Oct 13, 2010
Messages
118
It's been quite a while since I've built a computer (circa 2003), so I'm a little out of practice, particularly when it comes to PSUs. I'm looking to build a rig with the following specs.

Core-i7 8xx CPU (air cooled with possible aftermarket cooler, light overclocking)
GTX 460 1 GB (possible SLI in future, I realize 1156 platform hamstrings performance)
1 7200 RPM HDD (add SSD in future, Sandforce 2xxx hopefully)
Blu Ray combo drive (BD, DVD-RW etc.)
CM Storm Scout case
2, possibly 4 sticks of RAM (4 or 8 GB)
Wireless NIC possible
possible second internal or external HDD
slight possibility of sound card

I ran this through the calculator here: http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine and got a recommended 500 W PSU. Since it's highly unlikely all these features will happen at once (2nd HDD, sound card, NIC, SLI), I figure it's a pretty good upper estimate and I can shoot for a 550 to 600 W PSU.

Now granted that range, are there any benefits to an 80 plus aside from efficiency? I kind of assumed the higher efficiency also means higher quality components. Also, how are PSUs on noise these days? It wasn't the dominant factor when I built in 2003, but I'd hate to get a PSU that overpowers the CPU, GPU or case fans.

Thanks for all suggestions and help.
 
First of all a good P55 mainboard will not hinder GPU performance at all.
In fact the EVGA P55 FTW 200 has the NF 200 chipset which will allow two 16x PCI-e lanes easily.

You seem to be pointed toward SLi with your GTX 460, which will pull the most amperage.

I'd recommend this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139016

I just bought the AX 1200 and couldn't be happier. Quality all the way and fully modular.

or this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011
HardOCP PSU reviews feel this is perhaps THE best 850W supply anywhere. Even slightly better than the AX 850 which got a gold seal review last wek.
I have this in my son's computer, its nearly all modular, powerful and very quiet.
 
Thank you for your input. I'm trying to keep expenditures to what is necessary, so while the EVGA is a nice board no doubt, there's an MSI board that fits my needs for $100 less. Similarly, I'm not seeing a recommendation for anything more than 650-700W for a GTX 460 rig (which I'll likely not end up doing. Probably replace the GTX 460 going forward).

I'd like to see a good explanation for the recommended PSU rather than a number with a lot of headroom. Granted I'd like an 80 plus supply, I'd also like to know if it will do more for me than just save power (I assume they're cooler due to less heat loss, etc.)

Thanks.
 
Any good quality 800 - 850 PSU is about where you should sit at. The reason for this is peak efficiency. At around 50% of maximum load is where PSUs are the efficient at. Plain and simple. The 80 PLUS Gold standard requires 90%/92%* efficiency at 50% load. Now, jump to 20% load and it is 87%/88%* and finally 100% is 87%/88%*.

Granted that is a fairly small delta of 3% in either direction which realistically isn't a whole lot. But it is something to keep in mind. If you've come up with approximately 500W of load which I'll assume is peak load. 500/850 = .588 That equates to 58.8% of maximum load. Sure, it is a bit on the high end but you'll still be seeing close to that 90%/92%* efficiency that it shouldn't matter. Then of course there is the whole longevity of the PSU as well to take into account. If you're running a PSU at near maximum/maximum load all the time it will have a shorter life. The higher you load it will lessen its life as well. Those are two main reason for the recommendation of an 850W PSU.

Now, as to why the Corsair HX850 was recommended in particular. Well, you only have to read reviews, and because I'm a nice individual I'll go pull up some:
HardOCP
Jonny Guru
Hardware Secrets

The Corsair AX850 from what I've read is pretty much what HardOCP said about it. You can hunt down other reviews if you want more on it. I think the Jonny Guru review went a bit more in depth with its internal construction. But that is well beyond the point as long as the PSU performs well and it does perform very well.

Also, as I recall the XFX Black Edition 850W is a good unit as well. Mind you there are other quality 850W PSUs out there besides these the three I mentioned. But, I've been using Corsair since they were a no name company in the PSU business and I have had 3 of their PSUs. All worked without a hitch regardless of what I threw at them. Good products from what I've seen.

* - 120v/100v inputs.
 
Go for one of these PSUs:
$85 - Seasonic S121II 620 620W PSU
$90 - Corsair 650TX 650W PSU
$96 - Silverstone Decathlon DA650 650W Modular PSU
$126 - Antec Truepower New TP750 Blue 750W PSU
 
Xolos said:
Any good quality 800 - 850 PSU is about where you should sit at. The reason for this is peak efficiency. At around 50% of maximum load is where PSUs are the efficient at. Plain and simple. The 80 PLUS Gold standard requires 90%/92%* efficiency at 50% load. Now, jump to 20% load and it is 87%/88%* and finally 100% is 87%/88%*.

Granted that is a fairly small delta of 3% in either direction which realistically isn't a whole lot. But it is something to keep in mind. If you've come up with approximately 500W of load which I'll assume is peak load. 500/850 = .588 That equates to 58.8% of maximum load. Sure, it is a bit on the high end but you'll still be seeing close to that 90%/92%* efficiency that it shouldn't matter. Then of course there is the whole longevity of the PSU as well to take into account. If you're running a PSU at near maximum/maximum load all the time it will have a shorter life. The higher you load it will lessen its life as well. Those are two main reason for the recommendation of an 850W PSU.

Now, as to why the Corsair HX850 was recommended in particular. Well, you only have to read reviews, and because I'm a nice individual I'll go pull up some:
HardOCP
Jonny Guru
Hardware Secrets

The Corsair AX850 from what I've read is pretty much what HardOCP said about it. You can hunt down other reviews if you want more on it. I think the Jonny Guru review went a bit more in depth with its internal construction. But that is well beyond the point as long as the PSU performs well and it does perform very well.

Also, as I recall the XFX Black Edition 850W is a good unit as well. Mind you there are other quality 850W PSUs out there besides these the three I mentioned. But, I've been using Corsair since they were a no name company in the PSU business and I have had 3 of their PSUs. All worked without a hitch regardless of what I threw at them. Good products from what I've seen.

* - 120v/100v inputs.
Click to expand...

Actually, that rig of his does not need all that much more than a good 650W PSU. The PSU calculator already assumes that the PSU would be at 80% load (by default); thus, that rig would actually draw only about 400W at full load. That rig would load a good 650W PSU to only about 62% of its maximum capacity.
 
Eagle,
Yeah, I remembered that after I wrote that. Though the information, minus the whole 850W, is still applicable to any load applied to the PSU.

So, for the OP just take what I said in that post and it will make plenty of sense. Just take the concept that I put in there. Everyone else is right. A nice 650 should be more than enough under just about any condition.
 
anexanhume said:
Thank you for your input. I'm trying to keep expenditures to what is necessary, so while the EVGA is a nice board no doubt, there's an MSI board that fits my needs for $100 less. Similarly, I'm not seeing a recommendation for anything more than 650-700W for a GTX 460 rig (which I'll likely not end up doing. Probably replace the GTX 460 going forward).

I'd like to see a good explanation for the recommended PSU rather than a number with a lot of headroom. Granted I'd like an 80 plus supply, I'd also like to know if it will do more for me than just save power (I assume they're cooler due to less heat loss, etc.)

Thanks.
Click to expand...

My reasoning for recommending the 750 and 850W PSUs was based on your statement about adding an additional GTX 460,
If you choose to SLi a 650W PSU won't cut it.
Yes, it might work, but you would be pushing it up to 85-90% capacity every day.
Sooner or later you'd get a failure.

Also those I mentioned are modular supplies which to me make all the difference in a neat orderly build.
 
magoo said:
My reasoning for recommending the 750 and 850W PSUs was based on your statement about adding an additional GTX 460,
If you choose to SLi a 650W PSU won't cut it.
Yes, it might work, but you would be pushing it up to 85-90% capacity every day.
Sooner or later you'd get a failure.
Click to expand...
Nonsense. Two 460s in SLI with that rig won't be at 90% of a 650W PSU's capacity even at full load. And even if they were, there is nothing wrong with running a PSU at those load levels for periods of gaming, since most of the time the computer will be idle or off.
 
Zero82z said:
Nonsense. Two 460s in SLI with that rig won't be at 90% of a 650W PSU's capacity even at full load. And even if they were, there is nothing wrong with running a PSU at those load levels for periods of gaming, since most of the time the computer will be idle or off.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's what I thought. For example, this system draws 500 W with both cards OC'd http://www.techspot.com/review/309-geforce-gtx-460-sli-performance/page9.html

And that system is an OC'd 1366, which adds 30W at least. I was just trying to get an idea of why the headroom is there and what is acceptable.

500 W out of 650 would only be 77% utilization, and I'm just asking for that PSU in case I go SLI. If I had to guess, I'll go from a single 460 to a single gtx 6xx or hd 7xxx. One less card would put me around 350 W which is near the supposed 50% sweet spot.
 
A good 750W PSU can be had for around $100 or less if you look around. Better safe than sorry.

Silverstone Element 750 $89
Corsair 750 TX $89 after MIR

Now if you insist on 650W. You can get a really high quality one for just $109 with instant coupon EMCZYZR42.
Seasonic X-650
 
Zero82z said:
Nonsense. Two 460s in SLI with that rig won't be at 90% of a 650W PSU's capacity even at full load. And even if they were, there is nothing wrong with running a PSU at those load levels for periods of gaming, since most of the time the computer will be idle or off.
Click to expand...

So............let me get this straight...........I can run my PSU at 90% all day long, or for hours at a time and it will survive as well or better than a higher wattage model running at 50% ?

So using that logic, I could just go out and buy a 750W generic POS and plug it in to my SLi GTX 480s and pray?

I'm just not going to buy that.
If this guy's computer goes up in flames, don't call me.

650W x .9 = 585Watts.........pretty damn close to 500W if you ask me.
 
magoo said:
A bunch of nonsense
Click to expand...
Sorry, but I'm not going to bother responding to you until you actually read my post properly and understand what I said. You are arguing against something quite different from my actual statements.
 
magoo said:
So............let me get this straight...........I can run my PSU at 90% all day long, or for hours at a time and it will survive as well or better than a higher wattage model running at 50% ?
Click to expand...

Is it all day long or hours at a time? Realistically a gaming session isn't going to be more than 4-5 hours in one sitting for a lot of people (including me). Additionally, no one said it would have a better survival rate than a unit running 50%. It was simply stated that it would be sufficient.

So using that logic, I could just go out and buy a 750W generic POS and plug it in to my SLi GTX 480s and pray?
Click to expand...

No one's talking about a low quality supply either. I've specifically mentioned 80 plus units and am considering reputable brands like seasonic and corsair.

I'm just not going to buy that.
If this guy's computer goes up in flames, don't call me.

650W x .9 = 585Watts.........pretty damn close to 500W if you ask me.
Click to expand...

~20% is pretty damn close? All these mischaracterizations and exaggerations are why he didn't even bother responding.
 
I'm not trying to exaggerate or misinterpret anything. To what end would that benefit me or you?

What I'm trying to point out, is that if you plan to increase the load of your computer over time, it might be a good idea to plan ahead and buy something that can take the punishment and operate at 50% load where PSUs seem to be the most efficient,rather than the right edge where you might precipitate failure.

I'm not trolling around tyring to start something.....I just find that if you are going to spend a little extra and maybe buy more than you need in a component, the PSU is the place to do that.

If you feel the 20% cushion is satisfactory, compared to a 50% cushion...........that's fine.:D
 
Corsair HX650 should float your boat, I like all of the Corsair power supplies and in particular the HX Line (however their all pretty good TX,HX,AX). If you can afford it the HX850 Rocks with lots of overhead.
 
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