Re: Unofficial PSU Ranking List (What's the best PSU to buy?)

**Acreo Aeneas** · 02-23-2008, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

There are lots of computer components where I'll say "parts is parts", but Bamboo speaks the truth here. The PSU is one area where you really get what you pay for. Sure, with a lower quality PSU, you might get lucky and have no problems, but the odds of having problems is astronomically greater. And power problems are notoriously tricky to nail down. They're often subtle and intermittent, and they almost always make it look like something else is the culprit. Windows BSOD with Win2K or later? Chances are it's a power problem.

There's also the amount of time you spend stripping your system down to barebones again and again trying to find the problem part.

A reliable PSU will offer reliable and stable voltages on the +3.3, +5, and +12v lines. A poor quality PSU (like Broadcom) will usually see these 3 lines fluctuate quite a bit. This can lead to a unregulated USB device drawing too much power and thereby shorting your motherboard along with every component plugged into your system.

**sc1ence** · 02-25-2008, 11:25 AM

funny, my broadcom has very stable and accurate voltages.

**Acreo Aeneas** · 02-25-2008, 06:55 PM

Hmm, well that's a shock. Are the fluctuations within +/- 5% for each rail (3v, 5v, 12v)?

Now if only their modems were better built.

**Tonk** · 02-27-2008, 10:19 PM

i was looking around the antec site (trying to find a spare part for my case) and i stumbled upon a very detailed power estimator...

click
here
a great tool for choosing a psu thats right for you =D

**jmaker** · 03-01-2008, 11:12 PM

If anyone needs a good psu, all I have to say is PC Power and Cooling. I'll give them a

**Bamboo** · 03-01-2008, 11:54 PM

OCZ just bought them, and it is expected that OCZ, which is already good quality, will go up even further.
PCP&C is a top of the line brand.

**Acreo Aeneas** · 03-02-2008, 01:30 AM

Hmm, that's shocking. Do you have a link to the news story Bamboo?

**Bamboo** · 03-02-2008, 01:42 PM

It happened a few months back, like before Thanksgiving. Will have a look through my bookmarks.

Edit:
Wow, it was back in May...................
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=40537

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2138168,00.asp

**Acreo Aeneas** · 03-10-2008, 12:54 AM

Hmm, that looks promising. It seems the only way to go is up for them...hopefully they will produce some quality "budget" minded hardware. Most companies like to skim on quality when it comes to "budget" parts.

One of these days I'm going to get myself a Sigma (division of Raidmax), just to see how well they handle nowadays. Last I used one, the PSU quit on me after 9 months of everyday light and medium use.

**Bamboo** · 03-14-2008, 11:10 AM

Here is another new guide on what to look for in a PSU.
Pretty short at only 1 page but some good info.
http://www.techwarelabs.com/guides/m...ly_purchasing/

**Bamboo** · 03-17-2008, 09:05 PM

Here is an excellent example of what we have been saying about a cheap power supply and why not to buy one:

How Much Power Can a Generic 500 W Power Supply Really Deliver?

**WARgenSLi** · 06-14-2008, 11:20 AM

well i my self tryed ultra psu they are junk
i now use the 850 watt though poer by thermaletake for my sli box dual 8800 superclocked
the single card 8800 box's i use bfg 800 watt
these have been very stable and not one issue with either
un like the antec i sent back two both could not hold 12volts {650 tr2}

**Bamboo** · 07-16-2008, 09:56 AM

This was just posted:
Corsair: why a high-quality PSU is essential

Fun video with explosions!!

**Namebot** · 07-18-2008, 12:04 PM

HAHA, he moves the camera along the ground and you catch a shot of a Coolermaster box!

I'm sure it was an accident...

**FloodKotton** · 07-21-2008, 12:05 PM

I just bought the Thermaltake 700w.

-Great unit and it's very quiet

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