PSU: Power Supply Guide for Today's & Tomorrow's Computers

[davidhammock200]

Originally Posted by ChroniX

Excellent. I was looking at this site saying the combined total was 24Amps...

Googled it again, your correct, 33Amps. Thats my new PSU still!

new egg & may others often have incorrect specs posted, especially with ATX12 V2.X, IMO it is ALWAYS necessary to check the home-site.

http://antec.com

Dave

[dr_sharp]

dave the "cross-loading" graph on tomshardware might be a good thing to add or at least link to... i think it shows a trend that many people overlook and don't realize.

http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20...-24pin-04.html

[davidhammock200]

Originally Posted by dr_sharp

dave the "cross-loading" graph on tomshardware might be a good thing to add or at least link to... i think it shows a trend that many people overlook and don't realize.

http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20...-24pin-04.html

Good find & post thanks Doc!

Merry Christmas,
Dave

[waylay00]

Sorry if I didn't see this mentioned but - What about the OCZ Modstream Modular PSU's?

[Oc2theSkY]

Something else to take a look at if you are a real diyer.

www.frozencpu.com/psu-111.html

[Susquehannock]

Originally Posted by dr_sharp

dave the "cross-loading" graph on tomshardware might be a good thing to add or at least link to... i think it shows a trend that many people overlook and don't realize.

http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20...-24pin-04.html

Indeed, good article dr_sharp. It answers some questions I've had about
the newer standard.
The first part of that article is quite axiomatic.

"It's one of the most important components in your computer. Nothing will work without it, and yet it doesn't receive a fraction of the attention it deserves. It's the power supply.

Why is the power supply so important? The reason is simple: every other component in the PC depends on stable power for trouble-free operation. Even relatively slight deviations in voltage can lead to crashes and component failures, a fact many users are still unaware of. When a PC is unstable, the first things they suspect as the cause are overly-aggressive memory timings, an overheated graphics card or an overclocked CPU. Very rarely does the power supply unit come under scrutiny, despite its being one of the most problem-prone components!"

Ye hah!! ...
Everyone knows you can't run a race car on crap. Then why should
our performance OCing rigs be any different?

Originally Posted by Oc2theSkY

Something else to take a look at if you are a real diyer.

www.frozencpu.com/psu-111.html

D.I.Y. Power Supply Modulation Kit

Wow! ... very nice. Almost as good as making your own custom wiring
harness.

[Steve50_a]

Dave, Ive been following this thread. Good Stuff...
Anyway, we needed a power supply QUICK. Went to CompUsa & What do you know, they cary Ultra...Got one & What a pleasent supprise. It holds the 12v rail better than the Antec NeoPower that it replaced ( swiped out of my rig ). It was not my first choice but now I'm re-thinking opinion of this PSU.
Just another $.04 ( adjusted for inflation ) worth....

[davidhammock200]

Originally Posted by Steve50_a

Dave, Ive been following this thread. Good Stuff...
Anyway, we needed a power supply QUICK. Went to CompUsa & What do you know, they cary Ultra...Got one & What a pleasent supprise. It holds the 12v rail better than the Antec NeoPower that it replaced ( swiped out of my rig ). It was not my first choice but now I'm re-thinking opinion of this PSU.
Just another $.04 ( adjusted for inflation ) worth....

I'm glad it worked for you.

As you know, I recommend the Ultra X-Connect 500W as a "BANG" when the price is right.

Please post your experiences with Antec's customer service.

Dave

[dr_sharp]

Just another $.04 ( adjusted for inflation ) worth....

LOL..
10cha

[Steve50_a]

I've been using Antec since dirt. One, that got plugged into a wall socket fubared, other that that I dont remember any problems.
By the way It looks like CompUsa has the best price on Ultra for the time being @$99.
Even at $100 the Ultra seems like Bang with Bling for the buck. I'd like an Antec that looks & has all those niceness cables & quiet.....stuff.
Hey it's New Years eve tomorow, have a good one....

[davidhammock200]

Originally Posted by Steve50_a

I've been using Antec since dirt. One, that got plugged into a wall socket fubared, other that that I dont remember any problems.
By the way It looks like CompUsa has the best price on Ultra for the time being @$99.
Even at $100 the Ultra seems like Bang with Bling for the buck. I'd like an Antec that looks & has all those niceness cables & quiet.....stuff.
Hey it's New Years eve tomorow, have a good one....

Happy New Year to you, too!

[Sephious]

Originally Posted by davidhammock200

They are not the same goods as the PowerStreams; Nothing special, no adjustable rails, no ATXV12 2.X, only 3-year warranty.

Fo modular I would go with:

1. Antec NeoPower 480W

2. Ultra X-Connect 500W

Then the ModStreams.

I don't see why you are writing off the Modstream. You're saying that it's not ATX12V 2.X, but neither is the Ultra X-Connect. No adjustable rails - neither of those PSUs have adjustable rails.

The 520W Modstream is cheaper than the Neopower, looks better than the Neopower and performs as well, if not better than the Neopower.

[davidhammock200]

Originally Posted by Sephious

I don't see why you are writing off the Modstream. You're saying that it's not ATX12V 2.X, but neither is the Ultra X-Connect. No adjustable rails - neither of those PSUs have adjustable rails.

The 520W Modstream is cheaper than the Neopower, looks better than the Neopower and performs as well, if not better than the Neopower.

That was when the Ultra X-Connect 500W was available for $59 to $79,

now the ModStreams definately come before the Ultra at over $100!

[davidhammock200]

Some Useful Reviews:

Antec True Power 330W: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.c...id=1655&page=1

OCZ PowerStream 470W: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/revie...su/index.shtml

Tagan 420W: http://www.ocprices.com/index.php?re...54&cat_id=1040

Eight (8) Way PS Test & Review: http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q4/psus/index.x?pg=1

Ultra X-Connect 500W: http://www.systemcooling.com/xconnect-01.html

Coolmax 500W: http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=688

OCZ PowerStream 420W: http://www.lanaddict.com/rev/126/1/

OCZ ModStream 520W: http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...modstream520w/

Tagan 480W: http://modtown.co.uk/mt/review2.php?id=taganpsu

OCZ PowerStream 520W: http://www.3dxtreme.net/index.php?id...owerstreampsu1

EDIT 2:

Zippy/EMACS 950W: +12V@70A (+12V1@28A, +12V2@42A)

PC P&C 850W/950W:

$182.00 Zippy/EMACS 600W: +12V@46A (+12V1@26A, +12V2@20A)

$210.00 OCZ PowerStream 600W: +12V@38A (+12V1@20A, +12V2@18A)

$133.50 OCZ POWERSTREAM 520W: +12V@33A

$109.99 Antec NeoPower 480W: +12V@32A (+12V1@18A, +12V2@15A)

$99.00 Ultra X-Connect 500W: +12V@34A

$86.99 OCZ PowerStream 420W: +12V@30A

$75.00 Enermax 460W: +12V@33A

$67.00 Coolmax 550W: +12V@35A

$65.99 Super-Flower 550W: +12V@30A

$59.00 Enermax 350/365W: +12V@26A

$45.00 Sparkle 350W: +12V@25A (+12V1@10A, +12V2@15A)

$25.99 Super-Flower 350W: +12V@22A

[Monty]

Originally Posted by Xbladerunner

get the modstream, that is a better psu (than the powerstream 520) and it is cheaper.

I was just wondering if this is true?

[davidhammock200]

Originally Posted by Monty

I was just wondering if this is true?

That person is an IDOIT!

PowerStream 5yr warranty ... ModStream 3yrs
PowerStream adjustable rails ... NOT
PowerStream 1%-3% regulation ... 5%
New/modern design ... older design in a new box

Dave

EDITED: The person "mis-spoke" & corrected themself in the thread.

[Monty]

Originally Posted by davidhammock200

That person is an IDOIT!

PowerStream 5yr warranty ... ModStream 3yrs
PowerStream adjustable rails ... NOT
PowerStream 1%-3% regulation ... 5%
New/modern design ... older design in a new box

Dave

Thanks dave, i thought so.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Awesome thread you have here

If I might make a suggestion, SilenX is selling a 600w Fortron built unit. Probably the highest watt FSP based ATX unit out there.

Link: http://www.silenxusa.com/productcart...=3&idproduct=9

Review (only one I can find): http://www.planetamd64.com/kb.php?mode=article&k=11

A pic of the label with the claim of who made it: http://home.comcast.net/~rgray318/DSCF0337.jpg

[davidhammock200]

Originally Posted by Oklahoma Wolf

Awesome thread you have here

If I might make a suggestion, SilenX is selling a 600w Fortron built unit. Probably the highest watt FSP based ATX unit out there.

Link: http://www.silenxusa.com/productcart...=3&idproduct=9

Review (only one I can find): http://www.planetamd64.com/kb.php?mode=article&k=11

A pic of the label with the claim of who made it: http://home.comcast.net/~rgray318/DSCF0337.jpg

Nice PS, but @$199 it has to compete with the Zippy/EMACS 600W & the OCZ PowerStream 600W and they are both ATX12 V2.0 complient with dual +12V rails, more +12V amperage & better warranties. Now if you can find it for under $150, let's talk!

Dave

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by davidhammock200

Now if you can find it for under $150, let's talk!

Dave

lol I hear ya on that one... $200 USD is getting up there. If Zippy were as easy to find in Canada, there's no way I'd buy the SilenX. It is, however, not too badly priced up here - $225 Cdn. at www.bigfootcomputers.com. Puts it in about the same price range as the OCZ 600w ($250 Cdn. at www.ncix.com, my usual store).

I think I like the OCZ a bit better though. Want to see the SilenX come down some more. $150 Canadian would sell me - my FSP 530w was $120.

Edit - forgot your $150 was in USD - my brain is starved for caffeine, and it shows. Make that $175 Canadian. Want to see the OCZ come down too. Not that I need either - the 530w is laughing at my system.