psu options ;/

[BonzaiDuck]

My OC'd 2700K system with 2x GTX 970 SLI, 2 SSDs and an HDD seems to use something between 70 and 80W at idle -- if I can believe the UPS monitoring software that shows 109W at idle "at the wall" (at the UPS). I figure my Seasonics will follow a similar efficiency curve as any shown here. Maybe it's closer to 90W -- can't say.

The APC software shows around 390W under "moderate" gaming.

 

[mindbomb]

seasonic makes a 660w platinum that is modular and turns it's fan off at idle.

 

[lehtv]

seasonic makes a 660w platinum that is modular and turns it's fan off at idle.

And costs a fortune too! Perfect.

Turning the fan off at low loads is a pretty common feature these days, not just in Platinum units but Gold units as well. XFX XTR, Corsair RM, AX, HX, Seasonic X, Super Flower Leadex Gold - all these do it, and this is by no means a conclusive list.

 

[mindbomb]

And costs a fortune too! Perfect.

Turning the fan off at low loads is a pretty common feature these days, not just in Platinum units but Gold units as well. XFX XTR, Corsair RM, AX, HX, Seasonic X, Super Flower Leadex Gold - all these do it, and this is by no means a conclusive list.

it is frequently available for ~$100 due to sales or rebates. Actually, that is a big factor in psu choice - what is on sale at the time. There are so many good models, and they so frequently are available at discounted prices, that there is bound to be something good at any given week or so.

 

[lehtv]

There are so many good models, and they so frequently are available at discounted prices, that there is bound to be something good at any given week or so.

Which is exactly why you can't count on any particular unit being on sale (particularly true for a massive sale like $100 for SS-660XP2) at a given moment, which in turn is why you can't just recommend a high end unit and assume that it's going to be cheap when the person you're recommending it to actually needs to purchase.

The lowest price (newegg) SS-660XP2 has been in the last two months is $130 (source: hover hound), your frequent $100 sale price nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, units like XFX XTR 650W and Seasonic SSR-650RM are regularly priced below $100 without rebate.

You also can't assume that a MIR is going make a difference to everybody. Plenty of people don't even bother with rebates.

 

[killster1]

yes it appears i am a fool, made a mistake about efficiency and more will surely be better!~

THe meter on 2500k 270x 1ssd 1blurray lian li A77 64watts! gtav walking around think it was 200watts.. thats with hx850 ;P maybe should sell them all or buy better gfx card.. hmmmmmm

4xhx850.. now just bought the evga 850 g2

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Someone made mention that your PSU should be operating at around 70% of full wattage with the computer drawing its maximum. The idea being -- "you really don't want the PSU operating all the time close to its rated wattage."

But while gaming, even if it reaches 80%, it's not operating at that level "all the time" or even a majority of the time.

I think I'm doing just fine with 2 overclocked GTX 970s and an overclocked SB_K processor with a 650W Seasonic. The very maximum power draw isn't going to much exceed 530W. With 2x GTX 980 -- particularly overclocked -- a 750W unit might be the better choice.

If you have an 850W PSU or better, so? You'll just waste a tad more power with light usage or idle conditions. It can't hurt. It will just cost a bit more in both the initial investment and the annual power bill.

 

[lehtv]

Yeah I don't think buying a 850W EVGA is a bad thing at all even if your current PC uses 250W. 10 year warranty is such a nice deal, you get to transfer the unit to the next 2-3 builds and play around with any GPU setup you want, basically.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Yeah I don't think buying a 850W EVGA is a bad thing at all even if your current PC uses 250W. 10 year warranty is such a nice deal, you get to transfer the unit to the next 2-3 builds and play around with any GPU setup you want, basically.

These EVGA's we've been talking about . . . and yeah -- I've looked at some with the 10-year warranty. Did anyone ever establish whether those were rebranded/rebadged and made by someone else? Or are they built from scratch at an "EVGA" facility?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Above 500 watts, EVGAs are a mixture of Superflower, Seasonic, and FSP, if you choose to believe this:

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page2293.htm

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Above 500 watts, EVGAs are a mixture of Superflower, Seasonic, and FSP, if you choose to believe this:

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page2293.htm

No reason not to believe it, but you wonder how they get their information. Couple weeks back -- (maybe even in this thread!) -- an XFX tech came in to assure that "all their PSUs [of some level, or model like BEFX]" are rebranded Seasonics. He was really eager to make that pronouncement.

Some of the brand-name companies must have purchasing agents who cut deals with the exclusively-OEM makers like Seasonic, to acquire bulk intermediate product to churn out under the brand-name.

 

[A.t]

That is correct, the high end EVGA units are mostly based off on SuperFlower designs with some Seasonics as could also be seen on their JonnyGuru and TechPowerUp reviews.

 

[lehtv]

These EVGA's we've been talking about . . . and yeah -- I've looked at some with the 10-year warranty. Did anyone ever establish whether those were rebranded/rebadged and made by someone else? Or are they built from scratch at an "EVGA" facility?

This information is easily found by reading a JonnyGuru or TechPowerup review, or checking realhardtechx PSU review database.

 

[lehtv]

No reason not to believe it, but you wonder how they get their information. Couple weeks back -- (maybe even in this thread!) -- an XFX tech came in to assure that "all their PSUs [of some level, or model like BEFX]" are rebranded Seasonics. He was really eager to make that pronouncement.

It does sort of make sense for XFX to make their Seasonic association abundantly clear. I think when they moved into the PSU business, they correctly surmised that the name Seasonic carries weight among gamers and enthusiasts, and associating your brand with them is a great way to gain a foothold in a competitive market space. Though obviously Seasonic is not just a name, they actually make reliable units as we all know.