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Which power supply to get?

H

HAF72

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Nov 2, 2006
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Well guys I have a Raidmax 500watt power supply that came with my Raidmax Smilodon case. Lots of users here have been telling me to get rid of that asap as raidmax is a bad brand for power supplies. So looks like I will be upgrading my power supply.. So will a ultra X-Finity 600watt power supply be much better then my raidmax 500watt power supply or should I spend some extrar $$$$ and get a thermaltake toughpower 700watt power supply? Thanks. My max budget is $100 but I am willing to spend $50 more if the thermaltake tough power makes that much of a difference.. How about that corsair psu that lots of people have been talking about here on [H]?*forgot the name*

btw- forgot to add that down the road I will upgrade to a quad core cpu q6600 sooner or later, 2 more gigs of ram, and will eventually upgrade graphic card.
 
nvidiapwnsati said:
So will a ultra X-Finity 600watt power supply be much better then my raidmax 500watt power supply
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Umm... Does a Godiva chocolate covered strawberry taste better than a ROCK? I think so. :rolleyes:

Seriously. The lack of quality of Raidmax power supplies is only rivaled by Powmax and Deer.

Should you get the Thermaltake? Who knows? What kind of video card do you have now? You say you plan to upgrade. Upgrade to what?
 
Corsair makes two psu's, the 520HX ($130) and 620HX ($170). The 520 has 40a on the +12v rail and the 620 has 50a. They're both made by Seasonic. The 600w X-Finity has 36a on the +12v rail, and is of so-so quaity. If you can afford to get the 520HX I say go for it, there's also the Seasonic S12 Energy Plus, which is more or less the same psu, but it has slightly more power. It's the same price. The 700w Toughpower is a good psu as well, I think it's made by CWT, but I'm not 100% sure. I would rather get a 750w Silverstone Olympia though, better quality more power, same price.
 
jonnyGURU said:
Umm... Does a Godiva chocolate covered strawberry taste better than a ROCK? I think so. :rolleyes:

Seriously. The lack of quality of Raidmax power supplies is only rivaled by Powmax and Deer.

Should you get the Thermaltake? Who knows? What kind of video card do you have now? You say you plan to upgrade. Upgrade to what?
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either 8800gts 640 or a 8800gtx or a 2900xt :). I have a 8800gts 320mb graphic card right now*in sig*
 
The X-Finity will handle any 8800gts, but you would be cutting it a little close with an 8800gtx or 2900xt. Especially if you're going to oc.
 
As it has been stated, the X-Finity would be fine for the 8800GTS, but I wouldn't do the 8800GTX with it unless it's the "2G" version of the X-Finity 600W (which has a single +12V rail as opposed to the two.)

If you can't find the 2G for whatever price is inticing you to buy the X-Finity, the Thermaltake is an excellent solution for you.

I didn't throw suggestions at you left and right like some fan boys do because you didn't list any kind of criteria for the PSU you're looking for (modular, not modular, color, style, size, price, limited to B&M selection, located in Istanbul, etc.)

If there was one PSU that was right for everyone, we wouldn't have all of these different make and model PSU's. Some people don't get that. You mentioned the X-Finity 600W and the Toughpower 700W and I'm sure there's reasons for that, so I'm narrowing my focus down to those two products.
 
jonnyGURU said:
As it has been stated, the X-Finity would be fine for the 8800GTS, but I wouldn't do the 8800GTX with it unless it's the "2G" version of the X-Finity 600W (which has a single +12V rail as opposed to the two.)

If you can't find the 2G for whatever price is inticing you to buy the X-Finity, the Thermaltake is an excellent solution for you.

I didn't throw suggestions at you left and right like some fan boys do because you didn't list any kind of criteria for the PSU you're looking for (modular, not modular, color, style, size, price, limited to B&M selection, located in Istanbul, etc.)

If there was one PSU that was right for everyone, we wouldn't have all of these different make and model PSU's. Some people don't get that. You mentioned the X-Finity 600W and the Toughpower 700W and I'm sure there's reasons for that, so I'm narrowing my focus down to those two products.
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This is the one that im looking at right now. Well I would probably just upgrade to the 8800gts 640mb if Im going to upgrade my gpu(maybe next year). Since I will be most likely building a ddr3/quad core computer in 2-3years :)

update- how about the Thermaltake PurePower would that do a better job? but then theres no flex force! :(
 
As far as I know the only 'safe' Thermaltakes right now are the Toughpower series as they're make by CWT. Until the more recent Toughpowers Thermaltake PSUs were pretty much crap.

Replace your PSU. The Raidmax with explode, eat your dog, kill your friends, and destroy all your electronics to boot. I'm only exaggerating slightly. There could easily be a fire.

Ultra PSUs are hit-and-miss. The newer ones? Ok. The older ones? Not so ok. It's sometimes hard to know what you're getting, and for that reason I'd just stay away from them.


In the end the rule of thumb with PSUs is something nobody wants to hear: Pay up, because you get what you pay for and it's running everything else.

Silverstone, PC Power and Cooling, Corsair, Thermaltake Toughpower series, all are good options. Not as shiny as the Ultra, but in many cases more reliable and better built.
 
silent-circuit said:
As far as I know the only 'safe' Thermaltakes right now are the Toughpower series as they're make by CWT. Until the more recent Toughpowers Thermaltake PSUs were pretty much crap.

Replace your PSU. The Raidmax with explode, eat your dog, kill your friends, and destroy all your electronics to boot. I'm only exaggerating slightly. There could easily be a fire.

Ultra PSUs are hit-and-miss. The newer ones? Ok. The older ones? Not so ok. It's sometimes hard to know what you're getting, and for that reason I'd just stay away from them.


In the end the rule of thumb with PSUs is something nobody wants to hear: Pay up, because you get what you pay for and it's running everything else.

Silverstone, PC Power and Cooling, Corsair, Thermaltake Toughpower series, all are good options. Not as shiny as the Ultra, but in many cases more reliable and better built.
Click to expand...

How about the OCZ power stream?
 
silent-circuit said:
Silverstone, PC Power and Cooling, Corsair, Thermaltake Toughpower series, all are good options. Not as shiny as the Ultra, but in many cases more reliable and better built.
Click to expand...

You forgot the big one, SeaSonic.
 
Not quite: The Powerstream is the older Topower psu, they're ok but expensive and not too much power.

The GameXstream is what you were thinking of; out of spec ripple.


I recommend the Silverstone ST50EF or OP650.
 
nvidiapwnsati said:
either 8800gts 640 or a 8800gtx or a 2900xt :). I have a 8800gts 320mb graphic card right now*in sig*
Click to expand...

The HD2900XT isn't much of an upgrade over your current card and would perform worse than it does in some cases and certainly can only be on par with the 8800GTS at best. I think if you are going to upgrade you should go with an 8800GTS 640, or the 8800GTX. The HD 2900XT just isn't a very good choice. Not because it's a bad card, but because it's only pn part with the 8800GTS, uses more power and generates more heat.

As for the power supplies, I can only tell you that RAIDMax is crap. I haven't really looked at mid range PSUs in awhile as I've not been in the market for them for some time.
 
:/ is the raidmax THAT bad? Cause for now looks like my dad won't let me get a new power supply even though I have the money for it :rolleyes: hes like its good enough! lol. But then I told him that lots of people are saying raidmax is crap and hes like oh well :(
 
Yes, it is that bad. Tell your Dad that you don't want your PC to die in a few months so you do need to get a better power supply.
 
Yes, the Raidmax is That bad. Have a read on the 450-500ish watt review on the front page of [H]. The Ass-pire (Apevia) melted, and the Powertek destroyed testing equiptment.
 
Bbq said:
Yes, the Raidmax is That bad. Have a read on the 450-500ish watt review on the front page of [H]. The Ass-pire (Apevia) melted, and the Powertek destroyed testing equiptment.
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so raidmax power supplies are ass pire*apevia* and power tek? :p
 
No, but just as bad. Or nearly so. There may not be a fire, or melty bits, but it will all end in tears. Promise.
 
Wattage is not really the issue, it's the quality of the PSU that makes us hate RAIDMax. That and cheap shit power supplies couldn't do what their ratings claim on their best day anyway. Jonny's review of the Powmax 500 watt PSU nearly made me shoot my beverage all over my laptop while I was reading it.

Nothing that ripples like crazy at 50% load should be in your system.
 
Bbq said:
Yes, the Raidmax is That bad. Have a read on the 450-500ish watt review on the front page of [H]. The Ass-pire (Apevia) melted, and the Powertek destroyed testing equiptment.
Click to expand...

I want to know how you destroy the test equipment.... :eek:
 
I tried to reply yesterday but the forums crashed.....

You're kind of all over the place, bro. Do you have any criteria for a PSU at all? I mean, one minute it's X-Finity, then it's Thermaltake and then OCZ.

Price? Availability?
 
jonnyGURU said:
I tried to reply yesterday but the forums crashed.....

You're kind of all over the place, bro. Do you have any criteria for a PSU at all? I mean, one minute it's X-Finity, then it's Thermaltake and then OCZ.

Price? Availability?
Click to expand...

lol. Well looks like OCZ power stream is the final answer since k00lance here on [H] has a ocz power stream psu for $85 so its a pretty good deal. I bought a motherboard from him so I know hes legit and a pretty cool guy :D. But there will be one con though.. he said that it will be the biggest power supply I had ever seen :/
 
:( my dad won't let me get a new power supply now and hes saying like oh yea and if the the power supply dies it will just be the power supply and won't damage the computer parts :(... but my mom is like oh I don't see a problem you getting a new one if your current one is that bad :d. Well I'll try to convince my dad more*help me out here guys*, or ask my mom to get paypal :D.
 
I wouldn't buy it for $85. At $85, you can get much better power supplies. Try ewiz.com for the Enhance ENP-5150gh. $69.

Buy it without telling dad, and then when your dad asks, say that mom let you? I find that works for some things.
 
Bbq said:
I wouldn't buy it for $85. At $85, you can get much better power supplies. Try ewiz.com for the Enhance ENP-5150gh. $69.

Buy it without telling dad, and then when your dad asks, say that mom let you? I find that works for some things.
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that power supply sucks :eek: ocz powerstream is way better then that
 
nvidiapwnsati said:
that power supply sucks :eek: ocz powerstream is way better then that
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No, it's not. The ENP5150GH is the same as the Silverstone Element 500w, which if you don't know, is the best power supply in the $70 range. Period.

The Powerstream, isn't. It's old, it's only got 33a, it's topower, it uses 2 80mm fans, it's longer than usual..

In terms of bling, the powerstream leaves it behind, but in terms of what matters, which would be the actual power, there are just so many better power supplies.
 
Bbq said:
No, it's not. The ENP5150GH is the same as the Silverstone Element 500w, which if you don't know, is the best power supply in the $70 range. Period.

The Powerstream, isn't. It's old, it's only got 33a, it's topower, it uses 2 80mm fans, it's longer than usual..

In terms of bling, the powerstream leaves it behind, but in terms of what matters, which would be the actual power, there are just so many better power supplies.
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Let me tell you power supplies with odd lengths are a pain in the ass. Even the PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 is a bitch to mount in a Coolermaster Stacker 830. (The 832 and Evolution models are another story.)
 
Dan_D said:
Let me tell you power supplies with odd lengths are a pain in the ass. Even the PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 is a bitch to mount in a Coolermaster Stacker 830. (The 832 and Evolution models are another story.)
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Nor was it fun getting it in an Antec P180B. Not that it's even that big -- take an Enermax Galaxy, makes it look /tiny/. I did end up taking the bottom bay fan out temporarily to make things easier, but in the end, not that big a deal.
 
silent-circuit said:
Nor was it fun getting it in an Antec P180B. Not that it's even that big -- take an Enermax Galaxy, makes it look /tiny/. I did end up taking the bottom bay fan out temporarily to make things easier, but in the end, not that big a deal.
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I actually put my PC Power & Cooling in my P182 and it fits, but not easily. One thing I had to do was move the fan to the other side of the wall where the drives are. There are standard screw holes on that wall that will allow you to mount a fan that way. The bracket won't work though on that side. In fact I had to do this even with the P190. Not so much for space, but so I could install fan grills to keep the drive bay wiring out of the blades.

BTW I did actually make the Thermaltake ToughPower fit in a P182 for a little while. Though the fan did have to come out entirely, it will work but it's a complete pain in the ass to do it and I am not sure the non-modular version will fit as the lack of wiring made all the difference clearance wise.
 
I had an OCZ Powerstream 420 in the P180 a while back. Stiff and short cables, extra length, it was a pain in the ass to fit in, even with removing the center fan.

Then I removed the center fan holder, the whole metal piece. I lost no structural integrity, and it made life a lot easier.

Then I replaced the Powerstream with a standard length psu, the Sunbeam NUUO 550

Then I sold the P180 to n00btard

Then I sold the NUUO 550

Then I bought a Silverstone Element 500
 
Bbq said:
I had an OCZ Powerstream 420 in the P180 a while back. Stiff and short cables, extra length, it was a pain in the ass to fit in, even with removing the center fan.

Then I removed the center fan holder, the whole metal piece. I lost no structural integrity, and it made life a lot easier.

Then I replaced the Powerstream with a standard length psu, the Sunbeam NUUO 550

Then I sold the P180 to n00btard

Then I sold the NUUO 550

Then I bought a Silverstone Element 500
Click to expand...

Well I went with the Thermaltake ToughPower because not only is it an awesome PSU, it's way more than I need. I shouldn't need to upgrade it for awhile. Plus it was a hell of alot cheaper than the PC Power & Cooling 1kw SR.
 
Looks like I will be getting a job next month :D so I will choose the thermaltake tough power 750watt power supply. But im going to get an iphone first :D to upgrade from my crappy nokia 3220b :D.
 
nvidiapwnsati said:
Looks like I will be getting a job next month :D so I will choose the thermaltake tough power 750watt power supply. But im going to get an iphone first :D to upgrade from my crappy nokia 3220b :D.
Click to expand...

I've never cared that much about my phone. As long as it works, I don't give a shit what model it is or what features ar epacked into it. I like my Razr because it was cheap and it's reliable.
 
Bbq said:
Yes, the Raidmax is That bad. Have a read on the 450-500ish watt review on the front page of [H]. The Ass-pire (Apevia) melted, and the Powertek destroyed testing equiptment.
Click to expand...

LOL - that doesn't bode well for me. I wish I had read this forum more before I bought my PSU. It's on my upgrade list.
 
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