Budget Power Supply ($30-$40)

[Shimmishim]

i still say fortron and allied are the way to go

like you said, it's quality, not quantity...

the keys are the variances you get when you put the psu underload...

i dunno about those pcpc whatever psu's but the fortron and the allied 450W... they have less than a 1% fluctuation when underload...

fortron and allied 450W are the way to go...

 

[nebula]

Doesn't it seem like the 3.3V+5V combined wattage isn't as important as it used to be? I'm looking at AMD's tech docs for psu design, and by looking at the second scenario for a "high-performance" system, I'm coming up with 110W for those busses combined. The processor is totally supplied by the 12V bus...

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: nebula
Doesn't it seem like the 3.3V+5V combined wattage isn't as important as it used to be? I'm looking at AMD's tech docs for psu design, and by looking at the second scenario for a "high-performance" system, I'm coming up with 110W for those busses combined. The processor is totally supplied by the 12V bus...

I think that is the spec, but the only AMD MB I know of that used the 12V rail for the cpu is the Abit NF7-S. My A7N8X used the 5V.

And I also like the Fortron/Sparkle psu's. I have the Fortron FSP-350W and love it. There are new 300W and 350W models with a 120mm fan that I really like because they are silent. NewEgg has the 300W model: Fortron - P300XFPN 300W (scroll down a bit) and the 350W version is a Sparkle at XP Direct (same manufacturer, diff. brands).

 

[nebula]

Wow really? OK, help me decide between these two psus:

Enermax 350W

Sparkle 350W

There for a friends system I'm building, XP2600+, CDRW, DVD, one HD, GF4 Ti4200, one stick 512 PC3200

I was just about to order the Enermax, I like the bucu power on the 12V, but the Sparkle has higher 3.3 +5...

edit: I should add, the speed sensing, and dual, fans on the Enermax are attractive.

 

[pelikan]

One thing that impressed me about Fortron/Sparkle was when Tom's Hardware ran the 300W unit up to 450W. Not many psu's can do that.

 

[nebula]

@pelikan

We seem to be a little out of sync on our posts. I just looked at the Fortron 300W, that looks nice too, same price (except add shipping). Hmmm, decisions...

 

[pelikan]

I would get the 350W version because of the two hard drives.

 

[nebula]

Originally posted by: pelikan
I would get the 350W version because of the two hard drives.

That's what I think I'm going with, you're right, in the system this is going into, that may be more important than some others. Reason being, the case only has an intake fan and no place for an exhaust fan. The price seems nice for the Enermax unit too, refurb but my friend is cheap.

 

[pelikan]

I would go for the Fortron FSP350-60BN. The reason is that it has "noise killer" which only runs the fan at high speed when necessary. It is $4. more but I think its definately worth it. That's the one I have and I really like it. Although I did put a quieter fan in there because I'm a quiet freak and only run panaflo L1A's.

 

[nebula]

Just placed my order for the Enermax, it had free shipping though which is another $5, again this isn't for me. I have the Thermaltake 420W, nice psu.

Anyway, one more question. The psu that I'm "replacing" is a Starlogic (crap I know, couldn't even find a website) and has these specs:
+5v - 15A
+12v - 10A
+3.3v - 15A

Doesn't list what the combined is, but using these maximum values, it onlys comes out to 125W I was going to try and use this one first, and I mentioned to the guy that it may not work, he said just get me a new one, even though he just got this one. Right decision? Or would this have ran the new system that I spec'd above? My feeling was, maybe but may be flaky.

 

[nebula]

Question about the Allied supplies. Isn't the ATX spec. to have the intake on the bottom of the psu, rather than the side opposite the fan? I notice the 300W & 350W Allied units have it opposite the fan. You'd also think this would be better for cooling as the intake would be right above the CPU, maybe that's neglible.