$25 PSU budget

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: MUKid
While I understand everyone's opinions concerning the power supply, I also understand the mindset of someone who doesn't want to spend extra money on a power supply. Some people just don't find them sexy. Personally, I'd go with the Logisys. It has 550W, and 25A on the 12V rail, which should be enough even accounting for fluctuations, right? And it gets pretty good reviews on Newegg - I don't see any "Piece of Crap" type reviews.

I wonder how many computer problems attributed to power supplies are really the PS's fault. It's kinda hard to diagnose a PS-related problem, isn't it? Finding a burned out PS and burned out motherboard just means a surge hit the system, right? Like maybe it got struck by lightning? I dunno, I'm no electrical engineer.

NEWEGG is NOT a PSU review site!!
I would never buy anything based on a review from sonebody who shopped at NewEGG.
here`s why..although you do get some sort of a reference point to work with...those reviews are hardly scientific or accurate.
Just look at the reviews and what do you get...
here is an example...of an actual review...
WoW!!! What service! I got my PSU within 48 hrs of ordering it. Thank You NewEGG!
The PSU works just fine.

okay now lets pretend for a minute....2 1/2 years down the line...
Damn. Why didn`t somebody tell me that this PSU was only rated at 25c?
It won`t power anything now. I keep getting random reboots. I tried to RMA this PSU but &^*%$ tech suppoort told me it only had a 1 yr warranty. So I guess I`m screwed.
Thats the last time I`m going to buy a el cheapo PSU.

See my point.....
No specs nothing informational in the NewEGG customer comment section.

Logisys Meshed 500W PSU Review
Sun: 03.27.05 | 11:26P| PermaLink Feedback?
The sticker on the underside states 28A on the 3.3V line, 38A on the 5V line, and 17A on the 12V line. While the first two are sufficient, 17A on the 12V rail isn't enough, considering other quality 300-400W models can provide as much as 30A. Even more interesting are the combined ratings. You'll notice there's a 200W power limit on the 3.3V + 5V rails. Furthermore, there's a 350W total power rating for all three rails, with the "max output" capped at 500W. In other words, you're not getting a 500W model. You're getting a 350W model that's theoretically capable of a 500W maximum output. The caveat here is that because the total power is written to be 350W, you can't expect to get sustained, stable power delivery beyond that. Fortunately for most people, even 300 watts is more than enough.

Finally YES I havea solution as was pointed out earlier in this thread,,you can get some descent buys if you just wait and be patient....check out NewEgg...ZipZoomFly and Jab-Tec....

Good Luck!!

 

[MrUniq]

theres your answer ... that fella needs atleast 350w though

Originally posted by: Cheesetogo
I would buy the Enermax 300 watt. It has 22 amps on the 12v! I'm currently using it with a 2.6 celeron, 1.5gb ram, and an x800pro and it runs perfectly. Nice and cheap too at 26.50. Enermax is a very reliable brand. You can get a reliable and good psu for 25 dollars.

 

[MUKid]

JediYoda - the picture of the sticker on Newegg shows that the 12V rail is rated at 25A. I don't know what the reviewer you quoted is seeing on his PSU, but it appears that the label on the one on Newegg gives a 25A rating for the 12V rail. Any idea why this discrepancy is there?

As for Newegg not being a review site, well, I think you're dismissing a useful resource. It may not be a site like Anandtech where each product is put through the ringer, but it at least gives you an idea of what a broad swath of users say about products. The Logisys PSU gets mostly positive comments, while the ATADC one gets mostly negative comments, including one right on the first page about the PSU dying after 7 months - so your implication that all the reviews are put up too hastily doesn't seem to be accurate. If you are down to two products, trying to decide which to get, and one gets 2 stars on Newegg while the other gets 5 stars, you wouldn't choose the 5-star one? I mean, you should at the very least take those 3 extra stars into account, right?

 

[dwcal]

I don't understand all the PSU snobbery. Most MicroATX and SFF cases come with power supplies less than 300W and they have no problem running low-midrange components. A s754 Athlon + low end Nvidia card will draw at most 150W AC. A 6600GT would push it up to maybe 175W. A decent quality 300W PSU with a good 12V rail will be no problem.

The important thing to find out is which exact video card he's using. 128MB Nvidia doesn't help much. That could be anything from a 6200TC to a 6800GT. If he doesn't game, I'm guessing it's on the low end.

 

[MUKid]

dwcal, I am with you, man! There's a lot of snobbery on this site - power supplies are just one example, but it seems to be (lately) the thing that people enjoy going on about the most. I've put together many PCs, and sure, I've had a power supply or two go out, but it never blew up the rest of my computer. Personally, I think it's just the whipping boy of the day.

And before everyone starts throwing up their hands and saying, "Okay, moron, don't come crying to us when your power supply destroys your computer," trust me, I won't!

 

[SparkyJJO]

of those 3, fortron

 

[ShadowBlade]

fortron >*

 

[d3lt4]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
of those 3, fortron

But be sure to hassle him about getting a cheap PSU for a little bit first.
My cheap PS died in 4 months, and my 350watt PSU had problems running my XP machine which has about the same specs.

 

[EagleEye]

Check the Hot deal section- I think they have a HEC (rebadged Antec) 585 watt PSU for like $24 shipped from Directron

EDIT: deal is dead, now $25 plus shipping (~$8 i think)
http://directron.com/hp585d.html

 

[Googer]

My neighbor is running a Socket 939 3200+, 1GB of DDR, 2 HDD's, CD-RW, Geforce 6200TC, and a Sound Blaster Live on a 300watt PC Power and Cooling turbo cool. Since most generic PSU's are rated highe than what they can actualy output, Those 500+ watt units are really 350-425 watt units. Go with the Fortron, 300 watts will be plenty will be plenty for a computer that uses less power than my neighbors..

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: EagleEye
Check the Hot deal section- I think they have a HEC (rebadged Antec) 585 watt PSU for like $24 shipped from Directron

EDIT: deal is dead, now $25 plus shipping (~$8 i think)
http://directron.com/hp585d.html

HEC is not a rebadged Antec....noway..antec doesn`t even make there own PSU`s..

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: EagleEye
Check the Hot deal section- I think they have a HEC (rebadged Antec) 585 watt PSU for like $24 shipped from Directron

EDIT: deal is dead, now $25 plus shipping (~$8 i think)
http://directron.com/hp585d.html

HEC is not a rebadged Antec....noway..antec doesn`t even make there own PSU`s..

I think what EagleEye meant to say is ANTEC is a rebadged HEC.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Googer
Since most generic PSU's are rated higher than what they can actualy output, Those 500+ watt units are really 350-425 watt units. Go with the Fortron

what i don't get is why people say the 500+ watt PSUs are really 350-425 watts and still recommend the 300w PSU....

EagleEye, thanks a lot for the link. it seems like a VERY good deal, even without the sale. shipping is only $5.38 (almost $3 less than what you estimated) and has 36A on the 3.3, 36A on the 5, 19A on the 12V1, and 20A on the 12V2. it seems like there's nothing that should go wrong with this and my friend's rig...

i'm still looking so to those haters of the "bad quality" brands, you've still got some time to swing my vote.

thank you all that have replied so far. don't think the fortron 300w is out of the race, i'm still looking at all the potential PSUs.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: alimoalem

Originally posted by: Googer
Since most generic PSU's are rated higher than what they can actualy output, Those 500+ watt units are really 350-425 watt units. Go with the Fortron

what i don't get is why people say the 500+ watt PSUs are really 350-425 watts and still recommend the 300w PSU....

EagleEye, thanks a lot for the link. it seems like a VERY good deal, even without the sale. shipping is only $5.38 (almost $3 less than what you estimated) and has 36A on the 3.3, 36A on the 5, 19A on the 12V1, and 20A on the 12V2. it seems like there's nothing that should go wrong with this and my friend's rig...

i'm still looking so to those haters of the "bad quality" brands, you've still got some time to swing my vote.

thank you all that have replied so far. don't think the fortron 300w is out of the race, i'm still looking at all the potential PSUs.

Because 300 watts is enough power for his system. Cheaper PSU's that may be rated for a higher wattage may have high levels of voltage fluctuation that can cause serious stability problems that can lead to hardware damage.

 

[alimoalem]

o ok, thanks for the clarification googer. so do you think anything's wrong with the HEC?

 

[Agent11]

A good powersupply is important, on my first build I went with a 450w okia that came with a case I liked, saved some cash but that system was plagued by random reboots until I bought a decent one..

It isnt snobbery its experiance.


And I do find the newegg reviews mildly usefull, but sometimes they are utterly worthless.

I did some looking, good luck in that price range, youll need it. .. you have told him that he will have to pay shipping on the rma if it fries right?

maybe he will spring 20$ or so more for a decent psu

 

[furballi]

The Antec SmartPower 350 is back on sale at Fry's. $18 AR.

 

[dwcal]

Originally posted by: Agent11
A good powersupply is important, on my first build I went with a 450w okia that came with a case I liked, saved some cash but that system was plagued by random reboots until I bought a decent one..

It isnt snobbery its experiance.


And I do find the newegg reviews mildly usefull, but sometimes they are utterly worthless.

I did some looking, good luck in that price range, youll need it. .. you have told him that he will have to pay shipping on the rma if it fries right?

maybe he will spring 20$ or so more for a decent psu

Well, I would definitely consider Okia one of those no-name, bottom of the barrel brands. I see some pretty scary 500W power supplies at the swap meet: 12V rails that barely match a good 350W PS, so light they'll blow away in the wind. Stay away from those.

When I suggested a decent quality 300W, I meant something like the Fortron. You do get more when you pay more, but you don't have to go high end for a decent, reliable power supply. The big improvements from high end units are more power for high end video and SLI, quieter fans, higher efficiency, active PFC, and sometimes a few gimmicky features.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: furballi
The Antec SmartPower 350 is back on sale at Fry's. $18 AR.

it costs $45 on outpost.com ....is it in store only?

 

[Coquito]

For the price, check out the super flower stuff at Directron.com.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: alimoalem
o ok, thanks for the clarification googer. so do you think anything's wrong with the HEC?

I truly cannot say, Antec has 3rd party companies manufacture PSU's to their blue print specfication so they could be entirely differant than that contracted company's own design and brand. To add to the matter, there are several rumors circulating around the 'net as to who really builds the PSU's for ANTEC (Channel Well Technology is one); but by looking at the photograph I would say HEC could probably the one, becasue in the photograph their case does closely resemble Antec on the exterior.

If you can sport the extra $25 then I highly recommend one of these.
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=S31ATX

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Agent11
A good powersupply is important, on my first build I went with a 450w okia that came with a case I liked, saved some cash but that system was plagued by random reboots until I bought a decent one..

It isnt snobbery its experiance.


And I do find the newegg reviews mildly usefull, but sometimes they are utterly worthless.

I did some looking, good luck in that price range, youll need it. .. you have told him that he will have to pay shipping on the rma if it fries right?

maybe he will spring 20$ or so more for a decent psu

I can vouch for that, since I have personaly seen and done the same thing on a few occasions for some other peoples computers.

 

[furballi]

Sorry...the $18 deal is dead.

 

[JackMDS]

I have two computers similar to yours but with a little more load (more memory, two Hard Drives, faster Video, and overclocked too).

I use these, no problem what so ever, http://3btech.net/24pinch55atx.html $19.99 shipped.:thumbsup:
:sun:

 

[Henny]

I've been building my own computers for years and have two suggestions:

1. Don't scrimp on the case since it can outlast several builds
2. Don't scrimp on the PSU for the same reason