power supply question

[kkd]

I am completely ignorant regarding power supplies. I'm planning on buying a new pc from Monarch Computers since I don't feel like dealing with constructing a new one again.

I'm looking at a K8N NEO4 Platinum (non-SLI), and trying to figure out what power supply I should go with. I've been looking at an Enermax 485W power supply and I got confused with the two models:

EG495AX-VE
EG495P-VE

What exactly is the difference? Also, any comments regarding my choice of power supply with the motherboard? I was also looking at EG701AX-VE, but 600W is way overkill for my purposes. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know from the list at:

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...n=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=80311

Thanks in advance.

 

[imported_Nirvana]

My recommendation =

Case - P180
PSU - PC Power and Cooling silencer 470 (I should've gone for it myself).
MOBO - MSI K8n Neo4 Platinum (since you're going for nforce4ultra).

Since there's no graphics card selected, I'm assuming you already have one.

 

[Fallengod]

Theres lots of good ones out there. Forton has some good cheap ones for like $40-$50


Buy.com has the Antec smart power 500 watt for $68 -10% coupon = 61 shipped and the Antec True power 550 watt 2.0 for $88 -10% coupon =$80 shipped (before taxes of course)

 

[jimbob200521]

Originally posted by: Nirvana
My recommendation =

Case - P180
PSU - PC Power and Cooling silencer 470 (I should've gone for it myself).
MOBO - MSI K8n Neo4 Platinum (since you're going for nforce4ultra).

Since there's no graphics card selected, I'm assuming you already have one.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[kkd]

Nirvana: I guess I'd might as well put the whole system I'm thinking of:

Case: P160
Power Supply: ???
Mobo: K8N NEO4 Platinum
HD: 80GB WD800JD
Processor: Athlon 64 4000+
Memory: 2Gb Patriot
CD/DVD: Plextor PX-716SA
Video: eVGA 6600GT

The basic thought for this system is that I want a system that I can use for the next 4 years with minimum amount of upgrades/changes. I personally don't like dealing with changing the processor, so trying to get the best I can within budget. Same reasoning with the memory. Basically the above config is hitting the limit of my budget.

I thought of the P180, but unfortunately the swivel front door thing won't work for me.
The HD is pretty small, but I don't need too much, and I can replace that later on. Ditto with the video card. I currently use a Radeon 9700 Pro, so this should be a decent upgrade. The memory is also a big ?? for me. The 2Gb Corsairs are a little expensive... if I have to switch to more expensive memory, I'd have to go with a slower processor.

I guess if you have time to play around with the system (budget <$1400 as much as possible with no OS) and have recommendation, please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[furballi]

The AX version includes a power factor correction circuit. Since you live in the US, this feature does not save you any $. I highly recommend the EG495P-VE Version 2.0! The dual fan push-pull configuration does an excellent job at removing heat near the CPU, even at low speed.

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: furballi
The AX version includes a power factor correction circuit. Since you live in the US, this feature does not save you any $. I highly recommend the EG495P-VE Version 2.0! The dual fan push-pull configuration does an excellent job at removing heat near the CPU, even at low speed.

:thumbsup:

Originally posted by: kkd
I'm planning on buying a new pc from Monarch Computers

:thumbsdown:

 

[kkd]

Ike0069: Can you elaborate a little on the :thumbsdown:? Bad experience? If not them, do you have any other places you'd recommend that has reasonable prices and lots of configurable options?

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

A lot of people have had bad experience with Monarch lately. It'll take quiet a long time for your system to actually be built and shipped to you. I recommend getting a 3700+ and overclocking it 200mhz to get to 4000+ speeds. It's really easy, and you can save money. Also, I recommend getting value RAM, since the lower latencies don't really affect performance much, and you can always run a divider when overclocking.

 

[Ike0069]

Monarch just has a reputation of being extremely late on builds, and then it not working properly when you get it.
Yes I had a real crappy experience with buying a combo from them, but if you do a search her will see what I'm taking about.
Also visit their own forums and you will plenty of the exact same kinds of problems.

I've only bought one prebuilt PC (a Dell), and after that I have always built my own. So I don't have anybody that I know for sure is good.

It seems to me that when buying a custom built PC, it's all hit or miss to whether or not it's going to work out of the box. No matter who's building it. What you need to look for is if they can get it to you in a reasonable amount of time, and how is their support. IMO Monarch fails in both of these categories.

 

[Zepper]

One has PFC and is built to ATX 2.x spec

The other doesn't have PFC and is built to the EPS12V spec.

So some of the connectors are different - perhaps a solid 24-pin ATX connector on the second and the first has the split (20+4) ATX connector. The second may have the 8-pin (dual) CPU power while the first has the 4-pin P4-12V.

FYI: Along with aPFC you almost always get automatic AC voltage compensation (in two ranges (has a switch) on the Enermax 485, and full-range (no switch) on the Zippys). This ups the PSU's relative immunity to AC line-side garbage. Worth the money, IMO.

If you're spending near $100. or up anyway, I would get a Zippy over either Enermax (or most anything else for that matter) - look at the HG2-6400P or the HP2-6460P (be sure to get the version with the temp controlled fan)!

.bh.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Ok we get about 300 friggn PSU questions a day and I can't state this enough times....

You need to get a good PSU with:

1) Solid rails
2) 2 strong rails (dual rail) or 1 hella strong single rail
3) good voltage regulation

Thus, I recommend Antec or Seasonic for mid/upper range. I refer to TruePower 2.0 and Seasonic's S-12.

PC P&C may be too pricey for most people, but that or Zippy will really own.

OCZ Powerstream is a good alternative to Seasonic.

As for Fortron (I seriously don't understand why people recommend this) and OCZ Modstream, you have 2 PSUs that aren't the best at voltage regulation (Seasonic and Antec will be tighter) and then these 2 aren't exactly the quietest either. Modstream is definitely softer than the Fortron Bluestorm, but Bluestorm ramps up insanely fast for fan speed, hitting well over 30dB at 250W used. I personally prefer a Modstream.

Now as for Seasonic, I warn you that there may be incompatibilities due to the -5V problem. However, it runs fine on my DFI LP NF4 Ultra-D.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

OCZ's are a tad overpriced... Fortron/Sparkle PSU's are some of the best on the market. They may be kinda loud, but they're very strong and capable of powering a lot. Enermax is excellent too.

 

[Deathcharge]

have a look at this http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/200509191/index.html

QUOTE from tomshardware -- we figured it out: the power supply, an Enermax FMA 535, didn't have a 12v plug. It had the 20+4 plug for the Athlon motherboard, which I thought was enough. It even says on the Enermax box that it's designed for an A64 board, but it doesn't have that extra four-prong plug that's needed to start things up. --

now i know you are not using the 535 but its worth checking out.

 

[Deathcharge]

update on my previous post, i know you werent considering the 535, but i thought i'd warn you that someone had a problem with the 535 which is a more capable PSU, anyway i think the article on tomshardware is -gasp- incorrect. I read this on one of the forums

The Enermax comes with dual SLI connectors, a native 24-pin connector and a 5V 4-pin connector. NOTE: the 5V 4-pin connector is actually an 8-pin connector designed to work with the new btx boards. The Enermax comes with a 8-pin to 4-pin adaptor that easily plugs into the mobo.

the author on THG probably wasnt aware of this hence his system didnt power up. anyway there are a lot of people that are using it with Athlon 64's so you should be OK with the 485 or the 535 good luck

 

[kkd]

Thanks for your comments.

Well, I've been digging through other posts in the forums, and it sounds like PC P&C seems to be as good as it gets... so what do you think of PC P&C Silencer 470W ATX 12V psu? I figure 485->470... not that big a difference considering I really don't have much peripherals.

Would 470W be sufficient for the system spec I posted earlier? The most I'll probably ever do is add another HD and another DVD burner at a later time.

 

[Pabster]

:thumbsup: That PC P&C Silencer 470 is an excellent choice.

 

[raildogg]

Fortron 450W @ $49.99

more than enough