Which PS to keep, which to dump?

[Craptacular]

I'd like to get some feedback in terms of which PS to keep, and which to dump.

For the past year I've been using a 500W Mad Dog retail rebadge of the Superflower/TTGI "Plug-N" series, and it's done a fine job. No complaints whatsoever here.

SurePower 500W BTX/ATX Smart Cable Power Supply

A few days ago on a whim I picked up an Antec SP-500 purely out of curiosity. I justified it by telling the wife I could just sell the Mad Dog and I'd cover the difference (yes, she's a penny-pincher that mildly disapproves of my hobby).

Antec SP-500 SmartPower 2.0

I figured it would be worth trying since it had true PCI-E connections as opposed to the adapter I've been using, with the chance of being a bit more future-proof:

Fancy heavy-duty sleeved PCI-E power adapter

...and to see how it compared in terms of overall system temperature and noise level, despite the Mad Dog PS having 3 fans and multiple speed settings.
Each seems to have its own pros and cons, and I'm still trying to figure out which would be the better fit for my system (specs at bottom).

-Notes-

When I first installed the SP-500, the first thing I noticed was that the noise level was lower, but there was a bit of fan whine to the sound. There is a LOT less air moving out the back of it in comparison to the Mad Dog, but I noticed that the temps reported by MBM5 for my CPU and NB are 5c lower. My CPU began to idle at 25c, making the CPU fan turn off and then back on occasionally (thanks for that annoying feature, DFI).

How in the heck could my temps be LOWER, especially considering the decreased airflow? Could it be that the 120mm case exhaust was conflicting some way with the Mad Dog's bottom 120mm intake? My case is pretty small, so they are right next to each other, although they both pulled air away from the CPU...

Anyway, here is how it breaks down as I see it-

Mad Dog/Superflower/TTGI advantages:
- Lots of airflow
- MUCH higher quality cables/connectors
- More cable connections with room for expandability

Mad Dog/Superflower/TTGI disadvantages:
- A bit louder than the Antec in the "medium" fan setting and up
- Lacking available add-on cables for purchase
- Single +12V rail?

Antec SP-500 advantages:
- A little quieter, although with a bit of fan whine
- PCI-E support with 2 cables included
- Includes add-on connections to snap into cables for custom fit

Antec SP-500 disadvantages:
- Lower quality cables/connectors
- Less airflow, lack of bottom intake fan
- It's still not an OCZ Modstream (can't justify a whim purchase that expensive to the wife)

Anything I'm missing? Any additional input to help decide which stays and which goes? Think I should just save a few more pennies and go with a Sunbeam Nuuo 550?

Any insight would be appreciated. Well, anything outside "LOLZERS GET A PCP&C OR IT SUX".

Thanks!

.

System Specs:
- Antec Super LanBoy case, 2 x 120mm fans, 1 quiet slot fan
- DFI Ultra-D w/aftermarket NB cooler (original began grinding, like most do)
- A64 3200+ Winnie @ 2.6GHz w/XP90 & Enermax adjustable 92mm fan (1.5v, avg. temp 30c idle, upper 30s/lower 40s c max - it can do 2.8GHz, but I run it lower to play it safe)
- BFG 7800GT OC (running 470/1200)
- 1 NEC 3500 DVD burner, 1 NEC 3540 DVD burner
- 1 SATA 200GB Maxtor Diamondmax 10, 1 PATA w/SATA adapter 250GB Maxtor
- Floppy, front USB & Firewire hub (both take floppy power connections)
- Various USB peripherals, Firewire connection to iPod dock

 

[OldMX]

I have the same PS, the 500W MadDog and its a work horse, been running strong for over a year

oldmx

 

[Craptacular]

Yep. I'm surprised they didn't get more attention.

 

[[Spectre]]

Yep. I'm surprised they didn't get more attention.

I have the 14cm fan SuperFlower/TTGI Plug-N....I love mine (jonnyGURU reviewed my unit over at SLCentral).

 

[jonnyGURU]

It's still not an OCZ Modstream (can't justify a whim purchase that expensive to the wife)

A Modstrem isn't a Powerstream. They're not all that.

The Mad Dog is good. But if you need those PCI-e cables, I'd suggest the Antec because the alternative with the Mad Dog is to use an adapter (NOOOOO!!!!!)

Otherwise, I'd just keep the Mad Dog. Why fix what's not broken (except for a LITTLE noise.)

 

[Craptacular]

Thanks for the reply, Spectre. I remember reading that review.

The more I read up on this, the more I think the decreased temps with the Antec might be due to the Mad Dog having positive pressure internally when the fan settings are higher than needed. The exhaust may not be able to keep up with the 2 intakes at higher speeds, so the heat from the PS might be leaking down into the system through the seams in the casing.

Strange that lower fan speeds might actually lead to a cooler system. Weird.

A Modstrem isn't a Powerstream. They're not all that.

I guess I've just seen too many posts gushing about them. I'll take your word for it, though.

The Mad Dog is good. But if you need those PCI-e cables, I'd suggest the Antec because the alternative with the Mad Dog is to use an adapter (NOOOOO!!!!!)

What is so horrible about using an adapter? Is there the chance of damaging anything due to using one or something?

Otherwise, if I did keep the Mad Dog, would making my own PCI-E cable be a possibility? The Superflower/TTGI units all use standard 4-pin mobo connections for the PS end, so would making my own PCI-E cable and using the dedicated video power plug be acceptable or would that be taking the express lane to having flames shoot out the top of my system?

 

[E4g1e]

What is so horrible about using an adapter? Is there the chance of damaging anything due to using one or something?

Using an adapter will increase the overall resistance greatly. Therefore, using an adapter may result in insufficient voltage getting to the component due to the loss, especially if the resistance is high enough.

 

[[Spectre]]

Using an adapter will increase the overall resistance greatly.

It will increase it but greatly.....not so much http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=895505

It does add a failure point.

 

[E4g1e]

It will increase it but greatly.....not so much http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=895505

It does add a failure point.

Thanks for clarifying that. Even the best modular connectors are not quite as reliable as permanently soldering wires onto the component.

 

[Craptacular]

Using an adapter will increase the overall resistance greatly. Therefore, using an adapter may result in insufficient voltage getting to the component due to the loss, especially if the resistance is high enough.

Hmmm. I wonder if my thought about making my own PCI-E cable for the Mad Dog would work then.

 

[ProphetX]

did you ever try making your own pcie cables? i have the mad dog surepower 600w and the bfg adapter kinda sucks so i'd rather use my own adapter.

 

[Craptacular]

did you ever try making your own pcie cables? i have the mad dog surepower 600w and the bfg adapter kinda sucks so i'd rather use my own adapter.

Nope, never did. I ended up saving a bit more and bought an Enermax Liberty 620W. I imagine it would've been relatively easy, though. As I understand it, it's basically just creating a reeeeally long pci-e adapter with a modular connection at one end instead of the usual two male molex connectors.

...of course I'm by no means an electrician, so that could've potentially burned down my house as far as I know. The biggest disasters usually start off with someone saying "It looks so simple!" or "What could possibly go wrong?".