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While choosing what motherboard to upgrade to along with my video card I forgot I also have to upgrade my PSU. Right now it looks like I'll be getting a Epox 9NPA+ Ultra and eVGA e-GeForce 7800 GT.
Basically I'd like a good 400W+ PSU, preferably under $100 CDN but if not, oh well. I won't be doing any major overclocking either. Any suggestions would be helpful.
KoolDrew, those power supplies are fine. The TruePower 550W is even recommended for SLI. The little gap you were speaking of earlier about these power supplies really isn't that big of a deal. In other words, it isn't as big of a deal as to NOT buy the power supply. Besides, Myrdaal isn't doing any overclocking, so he doesn't need a 'perfect' PSU anyways.
Contributed by Predator, Guest 510 iVirtua Loyalty Points • • • Back to Top
EDIT - Nevermind about the stuff I said about the Truepower PSU. I am talking about the one with a 120mm fan, not two 80mm's. The things I said do still apply to the Neopower though.
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All 3 of those powersupplies are fine...
Yes, they may be \"fine,\" but that does not mean they are \"good.\"
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What do you mean \"Lacks functional ventilation\" ?!
If the case poses any backpressure to the PSU's fan it will not draw any air. There are two factors that cause this.
The first, and perhaps more serious, is that there is a 1/8\" gap between the fan's frame and the power supply's lid. The result of this is that the fan does not have to draw air from the case's interior, as it can draw some of its air from the interior of the supply instead. Not only is this ill-advised, but so very avoidable.
The second factor is that the fan just isn't an engineered choice. It is whatever came to hand easiest, and by the time you get to the 120mm fan size this does not always get the job done. The high-output design of the fan is not well suited to this application, and what it translates to is that you must both eliminate the air gap and have an extremely free-flowing case in order for the supply to cool properly.
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I have a True Power 550, and it has 2 VERY powerful 80MM fans. They move a LOT of air.
Too bad we are not talking about that PSU here.
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A single 120 Doesn't do any better.
The single 120mm fan is a terrible choice for the application as I said above.
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In other words, it isn't as big of a deal as to NOT buy the power supply.
Yeah, who cares if the PSu doesn't draw any air.... (sarcasm)
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Besides, Myrdaal isn't doing any overclocking, so he doesn't need a 'perfect' PSU anyways.
So, I guess just because he isn't overclocking he should pay more for a worse PSU. (sarcasm)
The OCZ Powerstream 520w is a great PSU, but the Modstream is not even close to the supply. This test points out exactly why I do not recommend the Modstream:
The second graph show very poor regulation on the Modstream 520, which results in unstable voltages under heavy load. This stems from two sources, that fact that the Modstream series eschews the independant regulation found in the Powerstream, and because it really isn't very powerful, meaming 'heavy' loads aren't all that heavy for a 520W power supply.
The colored chart shows miserable cross-load tolerance. Load on any one line severly impacts the available output on any other. This is not acceptable one bit. For comparison look at the same charts for the Powerstream 470 and 520:
he Powerstream 520 is not without flaw, either. It is a lot better than the Modstream, but betrays it's humble Topower origins in two ways. Firstly is that it can have trouble with heavy loading of the 5V line. This is clearly shown in the cross-load test linked above. Interestingly the PS470 had no problem in this regard. Fortunately this is not an issue for most people's usage, especially in the high 12V-demand applications for which I recommend the PS520.
The second is that it will run rather hot if loaded heavily, a consequence of a cooling system reliant on an 80mm fan that spins slowly enough to be quiet. Users like the quiet operation of the PS520, but when you really ask it to make its rated 33A 12V output it can run uncomfortably warm.
Last edited by KoolDrew on Thu Oct 27, 2005 6:14 pm; edited 1 time in total
I can't find a Fortron supply at TigerDirect and the only one carried locally is a 350W one.
I can get all of the other ones either locally or from TigerDirect. And KoolDrew what do you think of the ThermalTake one?
@ Predator: I've already got an AMD 64 3500+. I do a lot of gaming though and my current mobo is AGP with a 9800 Pro so I decided it may be time to upgrade.
Thermaltake PSU's are \"average.\" They are not bad enough that you just should not use them at all, but they are not good enough for me to recommend them at all. There are much better quality supplys for cheaper then TT.
The particular TT PSU is not a goods choice at all. The Fortron AX500-A is around the same price at ewiz and is a MUCH more capable supply. For todays computers +12V@18A is very low and I am not sure if the TT can even supply the rated amperage.
The OCZ Powerstream 420w is a good PSU though! Is there any other PSU's that yuou can buy?
The PowerStream are still not as stable as the NeoPower 480W, KD.
Wow...
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Yes, we are talking about that power supply. Why else have you posted...
Try reading my post.
\"EDIT - Nevermind about the stuff I said about the Truepower PSU. I am talking about the one with a 120mm fan, not two 80mm's. The things I said do still apply to the Neopower though.\"
Myrdaal, out of the PSU's availabvle at both of those sites I would go with the OCZ Powerstream 420w.
TigerDirect has a a terrible selection for PSU's...
Last edited by KoolDrew on Fri Oct 28, 2005 4:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
The PowerStream are still not as stable as the NeoPower 480W, KD.
Wow...
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Yes, we are talking about that power supply. Why else have you posted...
Try reading my post.
\"EDIT - Nevermind about the stuff I said about the Truepower PSU. I am talking about the one with a 120mm fan, not two 80mm's. The things I said do still apply to the Neopower though.\"
Myrdaal, out of the PSU's availabvle at both of those sites I would go with the OCZ Powerstream 420w.
TigerDirect has a a terrible selection for PSU's...
I did not read your edit.
Contributed by Predator, Guest 510 iVirtua Loyalty Points • • • Back to Top
I had a look at a NeoPower 480W review in an older MaximumPC mag I had, it got a 95% and was apparently quite stable but its $40 more expensive then the OCZ PowerStream 420W (which is $99.95). Do you think it's worth the extra Predator?
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