Power Supplies.

[Hajime]

I've been reading these boards for a bit, as well as other sites, and I've been hearing not-so-good things about Thermaltake power supplies.

I've been looking at this PSU for a while, but am beginning to reconsider.

For the price and features - Active PFC and 480W for under $70? - it seems like it is excellent.

However, I've been hearing that TT PSU's are basically crap on these boards...is that true? What's up with them?

 

[0roo0roo]

not listed.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article28-page3.html
both active pfc and 480w? at what efficiency, how did they come up with the 480spec. seems overrated.

 

[Hajime]

Only thing noted on the Newegg specs is effic. is > 65%.

I'm just really looking for a reliable PSU to last me for a while - the Thermaltake's specs seemed like they'd be good. Tempted to go with an Antec Neopower, but I note that the Neopower isn't even listed under silentpcreview.com's listing either.

 

[0roo0roo]

its too bad silentpcreview doesnt seem to have a review of it. specs are just unreliable without atleast a review to confirm them as true. too many ways to be shady with both power and noise level specs. ilike the seasonic tornado/supersilencer series(both are quiet despite the formers name). good specs and super high efficiency+pfc. so its quiet, cool and uses less electricity. costs more in the short run though

 

[Excelsior]

I got this not too long ago, it rocks.

 

[Nessism]

I just bought an Antec 480 from Directron.

Antec up the spec on the 12V rail for their True series units; mine came in at 28A

Upgraded an older Antec 400 Watt'er and the 480 is MUCH quieter. The new fan speed controler really works!

Not cheap, $80 + shipping, but the peace of mind is good.

Ed

 

[Maverick2002]

FYI active PFC won't make your PSU any more efficient or save money on your energy bill (unless you're charged for apparent power and not actual power), it just keeps the mains clean. Still a good thing to get though.

 

[Gamingphreek]

I would highly advise that you do not buy thermaltake.

They use flashiness over quality. Get either Enermax, OCZ, Antec, Silverstone, Seasonic, ANYTHING besides thermaltake.

-Kevin

 

[Maverick2002]

I have no experience with TT. Seasonic and Enermax have the highest efficiency PSUs and personally I would go with one of these. Antec is also a good brand.

 

[bashman]

I have a TT ps in my machine. I have no problems

 

[Hajime]

Gaming: Really?

 

[MichaelD]

You get what you pay for. There will always be some users that report bad experiences with any powersupply. But, I have never had any probs w/Antec powersupplies even when, IMO, I was overloading them. I'm sure others will echo this finding.

Don't buy a powersupply b/c it has cool graphics and cool gold grills and dope neon lights. Buy a powersupply based on it's ratings and reputation.

 

[element]

I got this one at a local B&M a couple of months back when my antec blew out, and it's been solid since.

 

[Sentinel]

Fortron w12v 18a rails

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: element
I got this one at a local B&M a couple of months back when my antec blew out, and it's been solid since.

Your timing and choice of powersupplies is very curious. Particularly based on what I just typed, verbatim.

I really like this astute user review of the above PS:

A Power Supply Should Be Wired Up To Your System Before
You Turn It On Cause The Mother Board Controls Power Demands

He's really intelligent; sometimes I turn on my system BEFORE I wire up the power supply...it never seems to work too well.

 

[Gamingphreek]

OCZ Powerstream PSU>All

Runners Up: Antec ENermax, Seasonic, Zalman

 

[element]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: element
I got this one at a local B&M a couple of months back when my antec blew out, and it's been solid since.

Your timing and choice of powersupplies is very curious. Particularly based on what I just typed, verbatim.

hehe yeah I just noticed what you wrote after posting mine. I didn't buy it cause it looks cool, I bought it because it was on sale at the B&M store I was at. It was the lowest priced highest power rated unit there. I was a bit nervous at the no-name brandedness (well at least a brand I didn't recognize) but it worked out well.

The antec that blew was a 340 watt IIRC, this one is 500W. I visited that PSU calc page (can't remember the URL right now) and calculated my PC was drawing about 330W. Go figure.

 

[element]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: element
I got this one at a local B&M a couple of months back when my antec blew out, and it's been solid since.

Your timing and choice of powersupplies is very curious. Particularly based on what I just typed, verbatim.

I really like this astute user review of the above PS:

A Power Supply Should Be Wired Up To Your System Before
You Turn It On Cause The Mother Board Controls Power Demands

He's really intelligent; sometimes I turn on my system BEFORE I wire up the power supply...it never seems to work too well.

well those noobs are arguing with each other over someone that posted his PSU 12v rail ran under 12.0v and astutenoob there says not to test the voltage with a voltmeter without connecting it to a working system first.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: element

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: element
I got this one at a local B&M a couple of months back when my antec blew out, and it's been solid since.

Your timing and choice of powersupplies is very curious. Particularly based on what I just typed, verbatim.

I really like this astute user review of the above PS:

A Power Supply Should Be Wired Up To Your System Before
You Turn It On Cause The Mother Board Controls Power Demands

He's really intelligent; sometimes I turn on my system BEFORE I wire up the power supply...it never seems to work too well.

well those noobs are arguing with each other over someone that posted his PSU 12v rail ran under 12.0v and astutenoob there says not to test the voltage with a voltmeter without connecting it to a working system first.

I was just giving you crap. The timing was just...perfect! :thumbsup:

 

[cessation]

After all the power supplies I have replaced in past 3 or 4 years I had to post from my past experience. About 4 years ago or so My PC kept reseting, I couldn't figure out why. I started reading on tomshardware that you need to check the rails and make sure you have enough power on each rail.

Rails are the lines that say +3.3V@30A;+5V@40A;+12V@18A . A lot of new PSUs have dual 12v lines now because of new systems, CPUs etc needing more power and most older PSUs can't handle it.

I have replaced 3 antec PSUs that had under +20v@18A, and antecs are good PSUs.

Anyway anyone's PC that I have to replace a PSU I usually make them get a PSU that's a enermax or antec and has a good even 30A on each rail/line.

I have tons of components in my pc and never had any problems with the last 2 PSUs I bought for myself.

One of them is enermax with 32A on each line and another is a server enermax PSU with 36A. The server enermax was about 150 or so but well worth it if you have tons of components I think.

 

[Arcanedeath]

Try and get @ least 20A on the 12V line from a quality manufacturer the PSU you listed only has 18A on the 12V rail, thats a bare min. for todays systems if you try and power some of today's higher end systems that draw alot on the 12V rails you could have issues w/ most of the PSU's listed in this thread save the Antec 480 so far, I'd look into somthing from Antec, Enermax, Seasonic, Fortron / Sparkle (FSP), or possibly OCZ new PSU's and get something w/ at least 20A on the 12V rail.

 

[Arcanedeath]

This is a pretty good PSU and it's what I would buy if getting a new one today, + it's fairly cheap for it's specs and comes w/ adjustable pots if you are willing to open it up. Fortron 530W Power Supply, Model "FSP530-60GNA" -RETAIL

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
I got this not too long ago, it rocks.

Garbage. I know you don't overclock.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
I would highly advise that you do not buy thermaltake.

They use flashiness over quality. Get either Enermax, OCZ, Antec, Silverstone, Seasonic, ANYTHING besides thermaltake.

-Kevin

Why NOT Thermaltake?
Personal opinion? . . . . bad experience? . . . any links?

I have one. it is a decent, quiet and stable PS.

i believe it was reviewed on AT and got good reviews.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Thermaltake used to be an awesome** company. The last time AT reviewed a PSU was in that time period. But within the last year or so they have gone down going for flashy looks over quality.

They just cant touch the top 3 OCZ, Enermax, and Antec.

-Kevin