Should I be looking at PSUs that are 80 Plus certified if I want the best?

[AndyD2k]

I don't see that there are many listed on Newegg. Wondering if I should definitely go with one that is. Not sure what it means to be 80+ certified though

 

[MarcVenice]

Hmz, 80+ certified means that across 3 load percentages, I think 20/40/60%, although don't qoute me on that, the PSU will have an efficiency of 80% or higher. So if you draw 100w from the wall, the PSU will convert 80% of it into direct energy for your PC, and 20% will be wasted into heat. The load percentages may differ though, but it does get the point across. In general, it's better for your powerbill, and you dump less heat into your case, which is a plus too. Efficient PSU's wont run as loud either, because the fan won't have to spin up as hard to remove heat that isn't there, because it's so efficient.

Having said that, what does your rig look like, and what is your budget. We can suggest some good power supply's for ya.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: AndyD2k
I don't see that there are many listed on Newegg. Wondering if I should definitely go with one that is. Not sure what it means to be 80+ certified though

80+ certified does NOT address the issue of quality or workmanship!!
As JohhnyGURU has said many times on his forums -- I would rather have a PSU that is rated 75% efficient and know that 2 years from now or even 6 months from now I will not be doing a RMA than to have a PSU rated 80+ and have to RMA the thing 6 months or a year from now!!

Basically Mark Vincent is correct as top what 80+ means...

Yet it`s possible to have a 80+ certified PSU and actually own a crappy PSU!!

Peace!!

 

[AndyD2k]

Well, then that begs the question - which is a good certified PSU then

MarcVenice - these are my specs for my current build...

LIAN LI PC-A10B Black Aluminum Case $239.99
ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA X38 ATX Motherboard $249.99
OCZ GameXStream 700W $129.99
Intel Q6600 $279.99
G.SKILL 4GB DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) $129.99

Video card will most likely be the new 8800 GTS when it's released. I'm not considering SLI

Budget is around $1,500 with $2,000 as max

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: AndyD2k
I don't see that there are many listed on Newegg. Wondering if I should definitely go with one that is. Not sure what it means to be 80+ certified though

If you went with a PSU that was on the 80 Plus list you would be getting something that was 80% efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% loads, no doubt. But you have to realize that the 80 Plus list is not an all inclusive list. As the other two guys point out, 80%+ efficiency does NOT mean better quality and not everything quality or efficient is on the list.

Participants of 80 Plus have to pay $5000 when submitting their unit to have them tested. A company can have a PSU that's 90% efficient but not be on the 80 Plus list if they choose not to pay.

 

[AndyD2k]

Ok - so say if I wanted a PSU for around $170-200 that's modular - what would you guys recommend? I don't think I'll need anything more than 600W (maybe less?) considering I have no intentions of SLI or Crossfire

 

[MarcVenice]

Ah so it's 20/50/100%, good to know. Since you've set yourself a nice budget, you should get yourself a nice PSU. For the things you mentioned, a good 500w unit will do. Personaly, I recommend the 520hx, it's plenty of power, good, stable unit, and modular, which is a definite plus. It can be had for 90$ at clubit.com. If you want some future headroom, go with the 620hx, for 110$ or so at clubit.com.

This is also a very good PSU, for a pretty good price right now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817151034 As far as I know, PSU's wont get much quieter then this seasonic.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Great unit, looks nice, efficient, modular, free freight: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...06089&prodlist=froogle

 

[MarcVenice]

Looks pretty sweet indeed. Will keep my eye out for that one too.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Ah so it's 20/50/100%.

I always thought they measured 20/50/80...

 

[MarcVenice]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU

If you went with a PSU that was on the 80 Plus list you would be getting something that was 80% efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% loads, no doubt. But you have to realize that the 80 Plus list is not an all inclusive list. As the other two guys point out, 80%+ efficiency does NOT mean better quality and not everything quality or efficient is on the list.

Participants of 80 Plus have to pay $5000 when submitting their unit to have them tested. A company can have a PSU that's 90% efficient but not be on the 80 Plus list if they choose not to pay.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Ah so it's 20/50/100%.

I always thought they measured 20/50/80...

Nope. 20, 50 and 100% in a 23°C test room after a 15 minute warm-up time. It's on their site.

And it's only $2000, not $5000. My bad.

 

[AmberClad]

I always wondered why the HX PSUs didn't get the 80+ certification, and I think this thread might clear it up. It doesn't quite meet the 80%+ efficiency at 20% load requirement, right?

 

[AndyD2k]

How about this?

CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139002

or maybe a 520 seeing that I think the 620 be overkill. The only thing that concerns me is that the cables may be stiff but I'm not seeing any comments on that in the comments

 

[MarcVenice]

check clubit.com for a 90$ 520hx, which indeed will be plenty of power ...

 

[biostud]

Plus 80 doesn't guarantee for a good PSU, but it's very seldom that a low quality PSU get the +80 sticker.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Originally posted by: biostud
Plus 80 doesn't guarantee for a good PSU, but it's very seldom that a low quality PSU get the +80 sticker.

Correct. It's more difficult to build a junk PSU that can run at 80% efficiency. Cheap PSU is all about taking the path of least resistance. I doubt that the company will fork over the $ for the 80+ certification.

 

[StanTheMan]

Try thermaltake Toughpower 750
http://www.thermaltake.com/pro...hPower/W0116/w0116.asp

I have the non modular one for USD 140 in Indonesia. It's very quiet and very stable

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: biostud
Plus 80 doesn't guarantee for a good PSU, but it's very seldom that a low quality PSU get the +80 sticker.

I don't know about that. have you seen some of the names on the 80 Plus list?

Solytech, Macron, Super Flower, Sitec.... None of these are brands I would recommend 80 Plus or not.

 

[AmberClad]

Any particular reason you wouldn't recommend Super Flower? It's been a long time since I last read a review for one of their units, but my vague recollection is that they're similar to the Fortron/Sparkle units in terms of pricing/quality (decent budget/mainstream PSUs). It'd be interesting to read a more recent and thorough review of one though ...

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Any particular reason you wouldn't recommend Super Flower? It's been a long time since I last read a review for one of their units, but my vague recollection is that they're similar to the Fortron/Sparkle units in terms of pricing/quality (decent budget/mainstream PSUs). It'd be interesting to read a more recent and thorough review of one though ...

Your recollection is incorrect. I don't recall them EVER being anything like FSP.

Here's a recent review: http://hardocp.com/article.htm...QwMCwsLGhlbnRodXNpYXN0

They're good in that they probably won't blow up on you, if that's what you mean. But really the only PSU's out there that are guaranteed to blow up in your face are Deer/Allied and Powmax.

 

[AmberClad]

Heh, like I said, it's been a while. The previous reviews I had seen may have been of different models, or the testing methodology may have been dubious. Looking quickly through Google, I saw one where the reviewer basically just jotted down the software voltage readings from SiSoft Sandra or some other system utility app .

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU

Originally posted by: biostud
Plus 80 doesn't guarantee for a good PSU, but it's very seldom that a low quality PSU get the +80 sticker.

I don't know about that. have you seen some of the names on the 80 Plus list?

Solytech, Macron, Super Flower, Sitec.... None of these are brands I would recommend 80 Plus or not.

We've used Super Flower brand in the past...often seen under the name Mad Dog. None have failed. A few are still running in A64 PCs after three years.

Why don't you educate us on the failure mode of the Super Flower under normal use. I have only lost two Antec SP350s over the last seven years.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: SerpentRoyal

Why don't you educate us on the failure mode of the Super Flower under normal use. I have only lost two Antec SP350s over the last seven years.

Good for you.

I used to be RMA/RTV for a tier 1 distributor and for two different e-tailers. I know what comes back more often than others.

It goes without saying that no product has a 100% failure rate, or even a 50 or 75% failure rate, so your limited experience and success rate is not indicitave of a product's quality or longevity since you could easily be in the majority even after implementing utter crap.

Anything more than a 5% (tested, not just returned) RMA rate is unacceptable. But that also means 95% of the units in the field do not fail and come back.

Speaking of Super Flower specifically; they use a group regulated, heavy +5V design and have a tendency to crossload. That alone is enough for me to steer people elsewhere.

NASA's calling Serpent. They need you to design another PSU for them.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: biostud
Plus 80 doesn't guarantee for a good PSU, but it's very seldom that a low quality PSU get the +80 sticker.

It is not so uncommon for a high quality PSU to also not able to get the 80+ certification!!

So whats your argument again??

Quality of the PSU has nothing to do with 80+ certification!!

Also mind you the company that sends there PSU to be certified gets to hand pick whatever they decide to send!
I am not out right saying that companies cheat but I am implying that it`s a possibility!

So just because a PSU doesn`t get 80+ cetified or just because a company doesn`t want to pay the $2,000 dollars (posted in this thread) does not mean the PSU is crazp!

Again does it stand the test of time? Which being 80+ certified does not nor can it address!

Peace!!