Should I get the Enermax 430W...

[hatkeeper]

Well, I currently have a enermax 300w and its +12V line is down to 11.19 after pumping the cpu to 2.1ghz. Although my system is stable, I don't like this since I haven't turn on some 12V case fans and of course the 1700+ hasn't reach its limit yet :). So I have compare some PSU from Antec, Forton, Enermax and the Enermax looks pretty good with 33A on +12V (my 300W only has 15A).

Can anyone tell me some experience with it? Is it noisy (I'm really scared of noise)? Or maybe if I have a better choice...

thx for the opinion in advance.

[donny_paycheck]

Very quiet, but you can get better performance from a Fortron/Sparkle unit, or Antec TruePower, for less money. Enermax are overrated in my experiences.

[dustybyrd]

So I have compare some PSU from Antec, Forton, Enermax and the Enermax looks pretty good with 33A on +12V (my 300W only has 15A).




in my opinion (and toms hardware guide's review)...the enermax 465 (430 watts) is about as good as a fortron 350....

the 33A rating on the 12v rail is a joke spec....no way could that supply do that...probably half of that at best if you plan on using any non-12v drawing components...

try the fortron 530, antec tp 480 or 550...at newegg.com or directron.com...

the enermax 650 on newegg's refurbished list for $100 MAY be about as good as the fortron 530 or antec tp 480 or 550...if you must have enermax...this supply is rated at 530watts max...

[Deathknight]

I agree with everyone else. While not poor quality I think enermax is a bit overrated. A good fortron would definatly be superior. For a supply in the same pricerange as the enermax 430 you could get a fortron 530W that would just crush it or you could save some cash and get a similar quality supply for a good chunk o change less.

[hatkeeper]

I don't get it...the fortron 530W only has 18A on +12, barely 3 more than the one I have. Since I am low on +12 and +5, +3.3 are stable, shouldn't I find one that gives a lot more power to this line?

[cherryp00t]

the antec is fine... they make quialty psus... and the ratings on them is not always true.. the only true performance of the psu can be seen when you test it yourself

[L337 M33P]

Originally posted by hatkeeper
I don't get it...the fortron 530W only has 18A on +12, barely 3 more than the one I have. Since I am low on +12 and +5, +3.3 are stable, shouldn't I find one that gives a lot more power to this line?

Trust us, it will deliver whatever you ask of it :)

Ratings are not so much as important as brand names in the ATX power supply business. Half of them are blatantly made up or derived from maximum simulated output, whereas notable names like Antec and Fortron actually overload test their PSUs and label them accordingly. Fortron ones are much more conservatively rated though and are capable of running 100% of the time at rated output, unlike all the other noname PSUs that will probably explode well before that.

What voltage are you running your processor at? I am willing to bet that you are pulling less than 10A on the 12V line and it is already going kaput.

[dustybyrd]

I don't get it...the fortron 530W only has 18A on +12, barely 3 more than the one I have. Since I am low on +12 and +5, +3.3 are stable, shouldn't I find one that gives a lot more power to this line?


i understand your concern....but in this case i do believe that the Fortron 530 will have no problem with your system...

I use a Fortron 530 on a Dual AMD system that I overclock 2 2100's at 2.1ghz with 1.8volts....lots of 12v consumption...with no problem (the Antec TP 550 is also superb on my two duallies)...i tried a fortron 350 (a very good supply with a max power of 450watts but only 16A on the 12v line) and it could power the duallie, but only at non-overclocked speeds and stock voltages...

however, the Fortron 530 may be rated at 18A on the 12v line...but it has significantly more power reserves on all lines than the 350...

i go into detail about both the Antec TP 550 and Fortron 530 used in two separate 2.1ghz DUAL AMD systems in this thread:

http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=231559

[Deathknight]

Heh all this BS over made up ratings vs real ratings etc etc and people are wasting their time with lawsuits regarding the mislabeling of HD sizes. Every HD manufacturer at least considers a GB the same thing!

[larva]

The thing you have to remember is that they are simply ratings, not a actual performance measurement. They are subject to variations in definition, testing proceedure, and honesty that often render them questionable to the point of deceipt or uselessness. At no point is a specification or rating any substitute for actual knowledge of the product in question.

[dustybyrd]

The thing you have to remember is that they are simply ratings, not a actual performance measurement. They are subject to variations in definition, testing proceedure, and honesty that often render them questionable to the point of deceipt or uselessness. At no point is a specification or rating any substitute for actual knowledge of the product in question.


mmm, mm (nodding head vertically, not horizontally)

[runsalone]

Yeah why not? I'm using an enermax EG651P-VE to power my system (four ide hard disks (two in raid 0), two ide cd rom drives, half a dozen case fans, an overclocked radeon 9800 pro, and an overclocked pentium 4 2.8b) and i have never had any problems whatsoever.