Which ATX power supply should I buy?

[SMOKEU]

This one here http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Components/Cases-power-supplies/Power-supplies/auction-306263971.htm

Or this one here http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Components/Cases-power-supplies/Power-supplies/auction-307041551.htm

[avgas]

Funny you ask that. I am just at this moment replacing a Themaltake PSU which is only 1 day old......
I think their quality must have gone down lately or something????

[SMOKEU]

Funny you ask that. I am just at this moment replacing a Themaltake PSU which is only 1 day old......
I think their quality must have gone down lately or something????

I always thought Thermaltake made reasonably good quality gear.

[bogan]

I always thought thermaltake was a good brand, work bought bout 20 of them and they are all going strong still. They have been thrashed quite a bit too as they are in custom applications. Maybe avgas just got a bad one? I'm also guessing being a more reputable brand they will be better for warranty servicing...

[SMOKEU]

That Thermaltake one should have enough current on the 12V rail for a decent gaming rig wouldn't it? I'm thinking about building up an i7 system at some stage with a 'decent' video card, so I don't want to have to upgrade the PSU in a year from now.

[Gremlin]

I wouldn't buy either. Remember psu's cannot deliver their rating consistently. Even a peak, most would probably fail. Currently got an antec 850W, but probably going to have to upgrade at some point.

[SMOKEU]

I wouldn't buy either. Remember psu's cannot deliver their rating consistently. Even a peak, most would probably fail. Currently got an antec 850W, but probably going to have to upgrade at some point.

I've had a look at this calculator here http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp and it seems fairly accurate.

[Gremlin]

yep, then add at least 20% headroom. Ie, if the calculator says 400W, buy at least 500W, and decent quality. Modern hungry gfx cards will consume 100-200W quite happily.

[avgas]

Maybe avgas just got a bad one?
3 actually.
But yeah usually really good gear. So I am very confused.

The i7 rig that I am currently setting up as a replacement SCADA server for a customer is only running 450 watts. Seems to be doing ok. But its only 8gb ram and 128mb graphics card.

Fucking 32bit programs have fucked up my day - looks like I am going to have to downgrade the win7 on it.

Fucking computers.

[Juzz976]

My Raidmax 450W does a good job, nice and quite with 120mm fan. runs my CAD machine

Also have 3 x antec 380w running 2 x 3.0 GHz quad cores with 512 graphics and a triple core.

Never had a PSU fail b4, a good 1 like a thermaltake will disconnect itself if put on a short or faulty device.

Replacing something a day old sounds like fixing a symptom not the cause...

[sil3nt]

I purchased a cheap PSU last year. Then i read a review online saying how crap it was which explained why my computer wouldnt work! Go Corsair they make seriously good stuff.

Just because a PSU says its 700W doesn't mean it is.

[avgas]

My Raidmax 450W does a good job, nice and quite with 120mm fan. runs my CAD machine
Also have 3 x antec 380w running 2 x 3.0 GHz quad cores with 512 graphics and a triple core.
Never had a PSU fail b4, a good 1 like a thermaltake will disconnect itself if put on a short or faulty device.
Replacing something a day old sounds like fixing a symptom not the cause...
Yep.
Funny thing is the cause was not found. Everything else on that circuit is fine - leaving only the PC's to fault (not my boxes and he didn't have time to sort). So alas I figure we ended up with a bad batch. Had to help the guy out as he was presenting a 100K SCADA package and just had 3 out of 4 servers pop.
I have had many supplies die over the years. But this was the first time it had died in a situation where it was a) clean, b) good power and c) new......

Most of the others died after being a) dirty, b) bad 3rd and 5th harmonics and c) 5+ years (constant running) old...... which is not ideal for any living thing let along a PSU.
But alas that is what happens in the big jobs.

[Gremlin]

A quick experimentation of gigabyte 550w odin when we couldn't get the usual wasn't a good choice... had a few crap out around the 2 year mark.

Single biggest consumer of power is usually the graphics card. A GTX260 will consume a max of around 180W, I have two. Top end CPU's (for normal desktop, ie, 775, 1156, 1366) can run a little over 100W.

Then it just comes down to the number of components (say, 2x gtx260, 8x hard drives, i7 CPU etc etc) :innocent:

[SMOKEU]

A quick experimentation of gigabyte 550w odin when we couldn't get the usual wasn't a good choice... had a few crap out around the 2 year mark.
:

I swear I'm never going to buy another Gigabyte product ever again after all the problems I've had with their products.

[bogan]

Most of the others died after being a) dirty

never really understood why computers don't come with filters, most heatsinks are basically a dust magnet. I've set up mine with a positive case pressure system and a pod filter on the instream, all boards are as clean as when they came out of the boxes. Is a bit fugly having a pod filter stick out the front though, have since made up V2 which has the filter and fan taking up 3 of the dvd drive bays, is a bit quieter that way too. V3 would have louvers on the front custom filter elements and ducting on the fan.

Does this relate to the op you may ask, not really but I reckon its good info. Less dust = less heat buildup = more life = better value.

[bogan]

I swear I'm never going to buy another Gigabyte product ever again after all the problems I've had with their products.

I'm never gonna get one after all the problems mates have had with their crap. Asus wherever possible is how I roll :yes:

[SMOKEU]

I'm never gonna get one after all the problems mates have had with their crap. Asus wherever possible is how I roll :yes:

I've had 5 Gigabyte motherboards die on me, 2 of them were dead straight out of the box! I've never had any issues with Asus.

[avgas]

never really understood why computers don't come with filters, most heatsinks are basically a dust magnet.
You can opt in most cases to get filters on the fans. I recall FOXCONN used to be the kings of filtered boxes.
Most of the dead ones I have found have been a 'typical PC' chucked into an 'industrial area'.
Tis what happens when the customer is a cheap ass.
FYI most customers are cheap arses.

[Juzz976]

Yeh sometimes the diagnostic may cost more than the immediate fix.

Always handy having a portable low voltage network analyser with flexible CTs to log all anomalies not just harmonics.

Without visiting site its hard to comment tho

[avgas]

Yeh sometimes the diagnostic may cost more than the immediate fix.
Always handy having a portable low voltage network analyser with flexible CTs to log all anomalies not just harmonics.
Without visiting site its hard to comment tho
Lets see thats $9,000 for a A.Eberle PQ100 with another $1500 for CT's......
..
Nah fuck it a $200 PSU is cheaper lol