Need Help Looking For A PSU For A8N-SLI

[HKSEvo8]

I've been having a hard time looking for a PSU for the A8N-SLI. I was originally going to go with an Antec Neopower but then I saw the post about how dual rail PSUs are bad for the A8N. So, for the past three days I've been looking for a PSU that'll meet my requirements and the board's requirements. I'm trying to look for a PSU that's quiet, has a 24-pin connector, enough power to run a 6800GT SLI setup, has NO LED FANS and below $150.

So far I've only found a few that'll fit what I'm looking for:
Antec 550W TRUE550 EPS12V (Server PSU....has 24-pin but don't know if it'll work) LINK

Antec 480W Neopower (Dual rails..........) LINK

Enermax Whisper II 2.0 SLI 535W EG565P-VE FMA2.0 SLI (Dual rails again.........) LINK

Enermax Noisetaker 485W EG495AX-VE SFMA 2.0 (WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THE DUALS..........) LINK

THESE ARE MY LAST RESORTS:
OCZ ModStream 450W (Am I the only one that thinks LED fans are RETARDED???) LINK

OCZ ModStream 520W (LED FANS SUCK!!!!!) LINK


The OCZ Modstreams would be THE ABSOLUTE MOST PERFECT PSU for me if they didn't have those RETARDED LEDS!!!

Sorry about the caps.......I'm a noobie and this is frustrating me :frown: I need some help finding more PSUs. Can you guys give me some recommendations???

 

[Muhadib]

I don't think you can go wrong with the OCZ 520 or the antec 550. If you don't like the Leds why not remove them?

 

[HKSEvo8]

If I remove them, I'd have to open up the PSU and void the warranty. Not to mention I'm a noob, this is only the third computer I've built and I don't want to screw anything up.

 

[alien42]

please fix your links

 

[HKSEvo8]

Links are fixed.

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: HKSEvo8
nice - Antec 550W TRUE550 EPS12V (Server PSU....has 24-pin but don't know if it'll work) LINK

no good - Antec 480W Neopower (Dual rails..........) LINK

no good - Enermax Whisper II 2.0 SLI 535W EG565P-VE FMA2.0 SLI (Dual rails again.........) LINK

no good - Enermax Noisetaker 485W EG495AX-VE SFMA 2.0 (WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THE DUALS..........) LINK

THESE ARE MY LAST RESORTS:
not bad - OCZ ModStream 450W (Am I the only one that thinks LED fans are RETARDED???) LINK

not bad - OCZ ModStream 520W (LED FANS SUCK!!!!!) LINK

i would also add to the mix this agpb and this enermax (i think i just might get the agpb since it is so cheap, has the required power, nice 12v rail, and has good reviews

 

[HKSEvo8]

Aren't server PSUs different from ATX 2.0 PSUs?? That's the reason why I'm not sure on the Antec True550 EPS12V.

 

[HKSEvo8]

Would the Antec True550 EPS12V work with the A8N? I thought server PSUs and ATX2.0 PSUs are different even though they're both 24-pin.

As of right now, I'm thinking about going with the OCZ Modstream 450W even though its got the stupid LED fan in it. Can someone with a Modstream tell me how bright this thing is? Is there any light coming from the back of the PSU?

 

[HKSEvo8]

I didn't mention it but I'm not planning to do any OCing at all.

 

[FastEddie]

Originally posted by: HKSEvo8
Aren't server PSUs different from ATX 2.0 PSUs?? That's the reason why I'm not sure on the Antec True550 EPS12V.

I'm using the A-GPB that alien42 links to. It's called ATX 12vEPS which is 24-pin. Tyan recommends that psu for it's server line (both intel and amd). Excellent psu! Read the review.

 

[HKSEvo8]

I'm skeptical about little known brands like Athenapower. What do you think about the OCZ Modstream 450W, Antec True480 or Antec True550?

And if I use a 20-24pin adaptor, should I be worried?

 

[ahurtt]

I have the Modstream 450, and yes it does have blue light although it isn't too obnoxious. I bought it kinda knowing it had the light but not really caring since it was a good single rail PSU for < $100. Then as things turned out, it was almost like fate. I put in my 2 BFG 6600GT OC's and turned on the PC and wouldn't you know it. . .Even the stupid video cards have BLUE led fans on them! I didn't realize it when I bought the cards. And then I went to CompUSA to look for some more case fans (mine case came with only 2 but has space for 3 more) and wouldn't you know it. . .the cheapest ones they had there were Mad Dog LED fans. . .so I figured. ..hell I got a blue PSU, 2 Blue video cards, might as well get the Blue fans as well. But I agree. . .haha why do they have to light up everything like a christmas tree any more?

Anyway, the PSU works fine, it has 24 pin connector, has modular cables so you only connect what you need, and it comes with zip ties. It has one large fan on the bottom (no exhaust fan out the back so I filled my extra case fan ports) through which the blue light comes out and is in fact very quiet. Blue light does shoot out the back but not enough to light up a dark room or anything. But that is a different story once you find out your video cards are blue too and you put in 3 blue fans! haha!!

 

[HKSEvo8]

Originally posted by: ahurtt
I have the Modstream 450, and yes it does have blue light although it isn't too obnoxious. I bought it kinda knowing it had the light but not really caring since it was a good single rail PSU for < $100. Then as things turned out, it was almost like fate. I put in my 2 BFG 6600GT OC's and turned on the PC and wouldn't you know it. . .Even the stupid video cards have BLUE led fans on them! I didn't realize it when I bought the cards. And then I went to CompUSA to look for some more case fans (mine case came with only 2 but has space for 3 more) and wouldn't you know it. . .the cheapest ones they had there were Mad Dog LED fans. . .so I figured. ..hell I got a blue PSU, 2 Blue video cards, might as well get the Blue fans as well. But I agree. . .haha why do they have to light up everything like a christmas tree any more?

Anyway, the PSU works fine, it has 24 pin connector, has modular cables so you only connect what you need, and it comes with zip ties. It has one large fan on the bottom (no exhaust fan out the back so I filled my extra case fan ports) through which the blue light comes out and is in fact very quiet. Blue light does shoot out the back but not enough to light up a dark room or anything. But that is a different story once you find out your video cards are blue too and you put in 3 blue fans! haha!!

LOL...thanks for the review on the Modstream. Now I know I'm not the only one that doesn't like all the lights. It's also kind of ironic, the Asus 6800GTs I plan to get when they come out has blue fans as well........ The only reason I'm getting the Modstream is that it's modular. I don't run a lot of drives or other things on my computer so I wouldn't need all the connectors that the Antec True550 or True480 has. In fact, other than the main power cable, I'm only using two cables.

Only if Antec came out with a single rail Neopower, I'd be all over it............*sigh*

 

[ahurtt]

I like the modular cables since it makes less clutter in the case and allows better airflow. The ModStream has 26A on the +12V so has plenty of juice for me. I'm running only 6600GT's though and not 6800's. I also only have 1 optical drive and 1 SATA HD. The cables the PSU has are 1 24 pin connector, 1 4 pin (square) motherboard connector hard wired (not modular). It has sockets for a 6 pin PCIE aux power cable, a 6 pin SATA power cable, and 4x 4-pin molex power cables, and it comes, of course, with enough cables for all the sockets. Maybe you would want to go with the 520 instead of the 450 to be on the safe side but I think either one would work if you don't have a lot of other devices.

The nice thing I can say in defense of the lights is that, since my case DOES have a clear plastic window on the side, it looks pretty cool in the dark AND has the added benefit that it does illuminate inside enough for me actually look in and see if everything looks "OK." hahah.

 

[HKSEvo8]

I've got a CoolerMaster Wave Master with no window so its absolutely pointless but that doesn't matter since I don't like the lights anyways. Based on the requirements from Asus on a 6800GT SLI the Modstream 450W seems like it'll work just fine I hope. I'm going to run a single 6600GT in the beginning. Once the 6800GTs start coming out an ddown in price I'll pick those up.

 

[ahurtt]

Probably more worth it if you just buy one 6800 GT now and then buy a second one of them later.

Now 1 6800 GT = maybe about $500 estimated.
Now 1 6600 GT = maybe $250 tops estimated.

Later 1 6800 GT = $300 lets say.

Buy a 6600 now for 250 and then 2 6800's later for 600. That's 850 bucks and for now you only get the perfomance of a 6600 GT.

Buy 1 6800 now for 500 and 1 later for 300 = $800 and you get to have 6800 GT performance NOW.

I made the mistake of buying 2 6600 GT's to begin with but didn't do the math first. I was thinking 2 6600's now would be less than 1 6800 GT which was true. But for only a little more I could've had the performance of a true 6800GT. Now I have to buy 2 video cards later instead of 1. Prices will have to go WAY low for me to come out ahea. Don't make the same mistake as me. . .unless right now you just can't afford the 6800. And of course I am projecting what future prices will be and using ballpark figures for current prices so there is margin for error there. But mainly I am just trying to illustrate the point. You'll have to find the actual prices for what you want to buy and do the actual math for yourself. But I think in the long run, the better upgrade path would be to buy the 6800 now.

Oh, and the only reason I got the case with the clear side was because of the features and the price and it was an Antec and it is what was in the store. Just worked out in the end that my computer got all lit up. Pretty funny I think. It's a silver / grey metallic case with blue light shooting out of it. Looks pretty "lunar" to me. Kinda cool. I'm actually happy with how it turned out looking even if it was sort of by accident.

 

[HKSEvo8]

Yea....I can't afford a 6800GT right now

 

[HKSEvo8]

Thanks for the help guys! Decided to pick up the OCZ Modstream 450W

 

[MrTeeny]

I hope this isn't too late but I just assembled my system last night using the Antec True550 EPS12V (it was the last piece of the puzzle). System booted like a charm and 20+ hours later everything is working great.

Just my 2 cents. Got it for $113 w/2 day shipping from ZZF.

 

[darkeyed]

Hey let me know how it fits in the wavemaster. I am looking to get the same powersupply and wavemaster as well. I heard someone had problems fitting the Neo Power in the wave master.