JonnyGuru

[MarcVenice]

You don't respond to pm's, do ya ? So I figured I'd make a thread, just for you

Let's say someone is being really cheap, and doesn't want to spend money on a antec earthwatts, or corsair 450vx or something similar. What would be the next best thing ? Some fortron and/or rosewill units are decent, aren't they ?

I guess there are more, less then stellar but still won't blow up in your face kind of PSU's, that someone could actually use to power a e2180, p35 mobo, 2gb of ram and a 9600gt/HD3850 or something like that ? Sometimes on budget builds 20$ can make a difference, so just wondering what you would advice. Problem is, these lower-end units rarely if at all get reviewed.

 

[robertk2012]

Read Me

 

[MarcVenice]

I know about that article. There have to be some rough diamonds in all those 'cheap' units though.

 

[John]

I'm surprised that you're asking this question. In any event the Antec Basiq's are a good budget Fortron built psu that cost between $20 & $50.

HardOCP $50 psu review

If someone can afford a C2D system with a 9600 gpu then surely they can afford a $50-$75 psu. If $20 is going to break the bank they should wait until next payday to purchase the psu.

 

[Gillbot]

Some of the Xclio's are sub $50 and come recommended.

 

[MarcVenice]

Well, some people are really stubborn and simply refuse buying a decent PSU. I know I build my first PC, and all I could REALLY afford was a 40 euro case + 400w PSU. I wasn't running anything high-end though, 3000+ venice + 7600gs + 2x512mb ddr 400 + 1 HD + 1 DVD. But no way I could afford a 40 euro case AND a 50 euro PSU. And besides that, I didn't know how troublesome a bad PSU could be.

So in the end, it's better to at least tell people to get a 'decent' sub 50$ PSU, then to have them buy something that's dangerous to work with

 

[jonnyGURU]

I don't respond to "what kind of PSU should I get" PM's. No. That's a rule of mine.

 

[MarcVenice]

I know, but I would like some input on decent sub 50$ psu's, hence I made the post ? Got some decent feedback allready. Or would you say there is no such PSU for less then 50$ that you would recommend ?

 

[John]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
I know, but I would like some input on decent sub 50$ psu's, hence I made the post ? Got some decent feedback allready. Or would you say there is no such PSU for less then 50$ that you would recommend ?

If he refuses to answer that question in a PM then chances are he will not offer up his guruness in a public thread.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Let's just say I know how much it actually COSTS to build a decent PSU. And if it costs less than $50 to make a 500W.... never mind SELL for less than $50 (unless they're after rebate pricing) I don't think it's something I want to suggest to anyone.

You can cut corners on things like APFC to get costs down. Maybe make a decent 400W or 450W for around $30, but why bother?

 

[MarcVenice]

I haven't even pm-ed him, I remember reading he gets so many he ignores all of them Oh well, the hardocp article pretty much tells me I'll be hard pressed to find a decent sub 50$ PSU, so perhaps I should just give up ...

Thing is, corsair 450vx or earthwatts 500w can often be found for 50-60$, and those have pretty good specs, so I figured there might be cheaper units with 'decent' specs, but for some reason there's a big gap between decent/good units, and then there's nothing but crappy units ?

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Thing is, corsair 450vx or earthwatts 500w can often be found for 50-60$, and those have pretty good specs, so I figured there might be cheaper units with 'decent' specs, but for some reason there's a big gap between decent/good units, and then there's nothing but crappy units ?

They often found for those prices.... AFTER REBATE. That's what I'm saying. You're pretty much getting that product at DEAD COST or less at those prices.

To get decent pricing you have to commit to large quantities. To get exclusives you have to commit to even larger quantities. At the end of the fiscal year, if you still have inventory and have to make another commitment for the next year, you have to blow through what you have any way you can, and fortunately the redemption rate on rebates is never 100% so it works out to "break even" in the end.

Smaller outfits or outfits with slimmer margins may not be tied up into any kind of commitments or can't afford the overhead of processing rebates just to practically give away product, so you end up with a big gap in price and performance in the sub $100 arena.

 

[HOOfan 1]

There is a guy on one of the forums I post at who keeps advertising his blog over and over and suggests this PSU

Logisys 575 Watt

His blog claims he is an Electrical engineer. Ever time I call his bluff he never answers me, in fact he hasn't replied to a single direct question anyone has posed to him. I think it is funny that PSU claims it is SLi certified...I went to SLiZone and don't see a single Logisys PSU listed under their recommended products.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1
There is a guy on one of the forums I post at who keeps advertising his blog over and over and suggests this PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817170017

His blog claims he is an Electrical engineer. Ever time I call his bluff he never answers me, in fact he hasn't replied to a single direct question anyone has posed to him. I think it is funny that PSU claims it is SLi certified...I went to SLiZone and don't see a single Logisys PSU listed under their recommended products.

He is confusing SLI-Ready (any psu w/ 2x PCIe connectors) with SLI-Certified.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Yes but can they use the Nvidia logo to advertise their prodcut unless it is SLi certified?

 

[John]

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1
Yes but can they use the Nvidia logo to advertise their prodcut unless it is SLi certified?

I actually have the Logisys 575XBK at my house, and there is no nvidia SLI-Ready logo on the box, psu, or their website which indicates that Newegg is at fault for improperly displaying the logo.

 

[MrOblivious]

Originally posted by: John
I'm surprised that you're asking this question. In any event the Antec Basiq's are a good budget Fortron built psu that cost between $20 & $50.

HardOCP $50 psu review

If someone can afford a C2D system with a 9600 gpu then surely they can afford a $50-$75 psu. If $20 is going to break the bank they should wait until next payday to purchase the psu.

While almost passing the Basiq didn't do nearly as well as the SilverStone ST-400 FSP unit:

http://www.hardocp.com/article...QzNCwsLGhlbnRodXNpYXN0

Looks like it is going for $45 ATM with a $10 MIR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817256032

 

[magreen]

I, too, would love to know how all those FSP and Sparkle budget psus rate in Mr. Guru's esteemed opinion.

 

[jonnyGURU]

I would much rather have any Seasonic OEM unit.

 

[MarcVenice]

Can you explain what you mean with commitment ? And, if I completely understood, then why is it that rebates come and go ? Is it because they keep 'balancing' the amount of sales so they can 'meet' their commitment, yet don't overshoot it ?

Thanks for the replies so far

 

[robertk2012]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
I would much rather have any Seasonic OEM unit.

I agree.

Im pretty sure the EW 380 is on sale quite often and would be a go to in that price range. You cant expect to get a good 500 watt power supply for that price on a regular basis.

If your to cheap to buy a EW 380 maybe you shouldnt be building a computer.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Can you explain what you mean with commitment ?

No. I'm often vague in replying to these kinds of questions because in the past when I voiced personal opinions about different brands and OEM's, shills from other companies go into attack mode and I'm far too old to have to put up with that kind of crap.

All I'll say is I'd rather have a Seasonic built unit or, if it had to be cheaper, would opt for a non-PFC Huntkey or Enhance.

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
And, if I completely understood, then why is it that rebates come and go ? Is it because they keep 'balancing' the amount of sales so they can 'meet' their commitment, yet don't overshoot it ?

Thanks for the replies so far

Typically they're at different vendors. They just space out the rebates as to not crush the income of the PSU company. Also, they eventually have to pay out the rebates. So they might have a bix flux of cash from the retailer selling their product because of a "great deal" but in a month or two they have to pay the rebate house for all of the rebates that came in. If the rebate continued until all of the "old inventory" was gone, they would go into defecit in two or three months time.

Also, the industry is seasonal. For example, Q2 is the slowest season. I'm sure we're going to find some hot deals in the coming months because the manufacturers are going to want the cash flow. But expect those deals to go away in Q3 because sales should naturally go back up and any rebates they had during Q2 are going to need to be paid.

 

[MarcVenice]

Allright, thanks for all the information, has been of great value in both understanding PSU's a little better, as well as the PSU/HW industry

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1
Logisys 575 Watt

Ugh. 25A of +12v power for a 575W "rated" PSU? No thanks.

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
All I'll say is I'd rather have a Seasonic built unit or, if it had to be cheaper, would opt for a non-PFC Huntkey or Enhance.

I don't know which units are made by Huntkey.

Antec EarthWatts 380W made by Seasonic with 27A combined +12v and 80+ efficiency for $49.99 with free shipping.

$45.80 + shipping Enhance ENP-5130GH 300W has max of 23A but don't know combined. These 51X0GH series have reviewed well though AFAIK nobody has reviewed the 300W unit. Will probably be too low +12v output. 80+ efficiency.

$47.82 + shipping Enhance ENP-5246G 460W. This one should have enough power for 9600GT/3850. Not 80+ efficient.

Out of these three at listed prices I'd get the Antec due to lower shipped cost, known combined +12v output and longer warranty.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Precisely.

At $50, the Seasonic built Antec is the clear winner. The 5130GH isn't because, well, it's a 300W. We were talking about the 500W neighborhood, but if you look at the 5246G, you'll see that you can get a good unit for less if you save the APFC. Unfortuantely, not many companies want to do this these days because they'd have a product they couldn't sell in the EU.