View Full Version : Which one...Cosair or OCZ?
A big thanks to RollingThunder and Oklahoma Wolf for the advice....I got my Corsair 550 hooked up today and she is a freakin beast...impressive indeed.
I am looking at these two...
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX
or
OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS
First off will these work?
The rig it will power is....bare with me as I will show a range for future upgrades. The guy wants to start off lower end. In going with those processors I plan a small overclock (2.4ish)....nothing extreme.
Processor: E2140, 60, or 80
MB: Abit IP35-e
VC: Anything from a x1950xt,8600gts all the way to a 8800gt (upgrade I spoke of)
Memory: 4gigs DDR800 (4 sticks)
HD: Seagate 320gig HD
Drives: 2 DVD drives (1 burner)
3 120mm led fans
Thanks for any help!
Sorry for the title typo....for all of you not "in the know" a Cosair is a low end version of a CoRsair...
Elluzion
11-07-07, 02:58 PM
I would reccomend the Corsair 520hx, great modular powersupply!
Get ready for a spam of +1 Corsairs =P
RollingThunder
11-07-07, 03:32 PM
I am looking at these two...
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX
or
OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS
First off will these work?
The rig it will power is....bare with me as I will show a range for future upgrades. The guy wants to start off lower end. In going with those processors I plan a small overclock (2.4ish)....nothing extreme.
Processor: E2140, 60, or 80
MB: Abit IP35-e
VC: Anything from a x1950xt,8600gts all the way to a 8800gt (upgrade I spoke of)
Memory: 4gigs DDR800 (4 sticks)
HD: Seagate 320gig HD
Drives: 2 DVD drives (1 burner)
3 120mm led fans
Thanks for any help!
Sorry for the title typo....for all of you not "in the know" a Cosair is a low end version of a CoRsair...
OCZ:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010
Unless you can find it cheaper - $10 MIR + tax & shipping
__________________________________________________ ____
Corsair:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006757
$15 MIR, no tax (outside Cal.), free shipping
Review: http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=135
What's not to like? :)
I prefer the OCZ Gamextreme models. Suggest one of those.
I'd take the Corsair over the OCZ unless it is an Evostream series.
I am anti modular PSU's so... My vote is to stay away from them.
M Diddy
11-07-07, 05:49 PM
I am anti modular PSU's so... My vote is to stay away from them.
Care to elaborate why????
ancalime
11-07-07, 06:26 PM
+1 Corsair. :bday:
I am anti modular PSU's so... My vote is to stay away from them.
Care to elaborate why????
By being modular they introduce another (well, several really) point failures--places where you can have problems.
My own rule of thumb, is that if I'm going to be using most of the cables then it makes sense to get a regular wired PSU and eliminate that potential source of failure. But, if I'm only going to be using a few of the wires, like in my folding machines, then the convenience of modular and not having to deal with a mass of unused cabling makes more sense.
Thanks RollingThunder and for all who responded. I'm going with the Corsair. I looked over that Corsair review and Oklahoma Wolf has steered me right 2 times before so no need to tempt fate.
Thanks again...
By being modular they introduce another (well, several really) point failures--places where you can have problems.
My own rule of thumb, is that if I'm going to be using most of the cables then it makes sense to get a regular wired PSU and eliminate that potential source of failure. But, if I'm only going to be using a few of the wires, like in my folding machines, then the convenience of modular and not having to deal with a mass of unused cabling makes more sense.
Wow, you just created a vortex of doom in my head and sucked out all my thoughts and posted them.
I am with you on this 100%
"Wow, you just created a vortex of doom in my head and sucked out all my thoughts and posted them.
I am with you on this 100%"
LOL...I certainly hope that the manufacturers have resolved some of the problems associated with the early "modular" power supply's.
Seems like after the Wolfman and Johnny get through deep frying, baking, boiling and slow smoking a power supply that if a problem exist with modular power supply's, any real concern would be exposed in a heart beat.
my friend has an ocz it works really well, and hasn't let him down yet
RollingThunder
11-08-07, 09:41 PM
"Wow, you just created a vortex of doom in my head and sucked out all my thoughts and posted them.
I am with you on this 100%"
LOL...I certainly hope that the manufacturers have resolved some of the problems associated with the early "modular" power supply's.
Seems like after the Wolfman and Johnny get through deep frying, baking, boiling and slow smoking a power supply that if a problem exist with modular power supply's, any real concern would be exposed in a heart beat.
Hook,
Here is another review of the 620HX by Paul Johnson, another well respected tester like Jonny Guru. It's the bigger brother of the 520HX, essentially the same unit with more output:
http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTMwMSwsLGhlbnRodXNpYXN0
Neither Johnson nor Jonny mentioned one word that was detrimental toward modular. If there was any problem, you can be sure they would have nailed it.
RT
Oklahoma Wolf
11-08-07, 10:03 PM
By being modular they introduce another (well, several really) point failures--places where you can have problems.
Unless you cycle those connectors hundreds of times, it's a non-issue. They fail about as often as mainboard ATX connectors do, and coincidently most modulars use those same connectors or others that can stand up to repeated cycling. When I see reports of a modular unit failing, it's never the connectors. PC P&C's myth page would have you believe modulars are dropping left and right to make their non modular units look more attractive... I can tell you right now the risk is very much exaggerated. I have literally seen more reports of dead Turbocool 510W PSU's than I have seen reports of modular units with bad connectors. The fact that I haven't seen all that many TC 510 failures in the first place should say something.
At any rate, my main rig is running a modular unit (has been for the better part of a year with zero issues) and I'm not losing a wink of sleep over it ;)
RollingThunder
11-08-07, 10:24 PM
Unless you cycle those connectors hundreds of times, it's a non-issue. They fail about as often as mainboard ATX connectors do, and coincidently most modulars use those same connectors or others that can stand up to repeated cycling. When I see reports of a modular unit failing, it's never the connectors. PC P&C's myth page would have you believe modulars are dropping left and right to make their non modular units look more attractive... I can tell you right now the risk is very much exaggerated. I have literally seen more reports of dead Turbocool 510W PSU's than I have seen reports of modular units with bad connectors. The fact that I haven't seen all that many TC 510 failures in the first place should say something.
At any rate, my main rig is running a modular unit (has been for the better part of a year with zero issues) and I'm not losing a wink of sleep over it ;)
OW,
You mean that I didn't have to silver solder those connectors? :eek: :D
Oklahoma Wolf
11-08-07, 10:29 PM
You mean that I didn't have to silver solder those connectors? :eek: :D
No :p
RollingThunder
11-08-07, 10:39 PM
No :p
:mad:
Unless you cycle those connectors hundreds of times, it's a non-issue. They fail about as often as mainboard ATX connectors do, and coincidently most modulars use those same connectors or others that can stand up to repeated cycling. When I see reports of a modular unit failing, it's never the connectors.
Well, I've seen ATX connectors fail before too (generally through user mistreatment, but...). My point however, was that if one is going to be using all or most of the connectors why introduce a potential problem? Taken individually there are a whole lot of "non-issues" that could be built into one rig, and the more of them that get added the more likely one of them is to happen (probabilities aren't really additive, but you get the idea). Not every time, of course, but why increase risk for no reward? We shouldn't tempt the demon Murphy any more than absolutely necessary and we should pay more attention to the prophet Occam.
Oklahoma Wolf
11-09-07, 08:17 AM
We shouldn't tempt the demon Murphy any more than absolutely necessary and we should pay more attention to the prophet Occam.
In that case, I'll sell my TV set. And the P1110 monitor too. And everything else I own that has more than one PCB connected via modular connectors. While I'm at it, my car's gotta go too. Them pesky connectors are everywhere in there :p
Immortal_Hero
11-09-07, 09:13 AM
@ OW Poor OCing performance from the car with the modular power... tisk tisk... they should know better.
Well, I've seen ATX connectors fail before too (generally through user mistreatment, but...). My point however, was that if one is going to be using all or most of the connectors why introduce a potential problem? Taken individually there are a whole lot of "non-issues" that could be built into one rig, and the more of them that get added the more likely one of them is to happen (probabilities aren't really additive, but you get the idea). Not every time, of course, but why increase risk for no reward? We shouldn't tempt the demon Murphy any more than absolutely necessary and we should pay more attention to the prophet Occam.
This is just fear mongering. Realistically, how may failures have been reported because of modular connectors? I have yet to see an ATX connector fail. Scratch that, have you seen a PCI connector fail with smoke and fire? Heck we remove those all the time and by all accounts modern video cards are bulk of the power draw. :confused:
I may have to break out my Goot and have a go at all the detachable cables...
This is just fear mongering. Realistically, how may failures have been reported because of modular connectors? I have yet to see an ATX connector fail. Scratch that, have you seen a PCI connector fail with smoke and fire? Heck we remove those all the time and by all accounts modern video cards are bulk of the power draw. :confused:
I may have to break out my Goot and have a go at all the detachable cables...
Google them then. WHen the modular PSU's first came out there were TONS of problems. May not be as much now but that is not the point.
And its not fear mongering its personal choice. I choose not to use modular PSU's. And guess what? So do many people on these forums.
Something I find very amusing is people telling someone to get a modular PSU when they themselves dont even use one. Most probably havent. They just recommend it because they see others doing the same.
Oklahoma Wolf
11-09-07, 11:09 AM
Something I find very amusing is people telling someone to get a modular PSU when they themselves dont even use one. Most probably havent. They just recommend it because they see others doing the same.
I use two, and I recommend the ones I find to be well constructed. Most early modular failures were the Ultra X-Connect, built by Youngyear, where the failure was related to the internal build quality - not the modular connectors. It happens, sure, but not very often at all.
Something I find very amusing is people telling someone to get a modular PSU when they themselves dont even use one. Most probably havent. They just recommend it because they see others doing the same.
Recommendations are made on the build quality of a unit. My unit has been chugging along for a bit now (it is a Zippy BTW) and I have no need for ANY PSU, modular or not. If somebody would like to swap their 1kW TT-Cable Management with my unit, I would do so in a heartbeat (OK-Wolf are you listening?) :beer:
I suppose you are against one because....? Personal experience? I think not. :beer:
Yellowbeard XMS
11-09-07, 01:18 PM
One thing I have pointed out a few times is that "PROPERLY" done modular is fine. Some fear mongers tried to circulate info about how modular cabling is bad, has more resistance, causes kittens to get cancer in Idaho, etc and argued essentially against putting a molex connector on the end of the cable that attaches to the PSU. Guess what's on the OTHER end of EVERY PSU cable? :beer:MOLEX CONNECTORS. :beer:With quality cables and good headers on the PSU end, modular is not the debbil :mad:
[Spectre]
11-09-07, 01:29 PM
Google them then. WHen the modular PSU's first came out there were TONS of problems. May not be as much now but that is not the point.
And its not fear mongering its personal choice. I choose not to use modular PSU's. And guess what? So do many people on these forums.
Something I find very amusing is people telling someone to get a modular PSU when they themselves dont even use one. Most probably havent. They just recommend it because they see others doing the same.
The modular cable sky is not falling, but thanks some of us do have a bit of experience with these units.
Recommendations are made on the build quality of a unit. My unit has been chugging along for a bit now (it is a Zippy BTW) and I have no need for ANY PSU, modular or not. If somebody would like to swap their 1kW TT-Cable Management with my unit, I would do so in a heartbeat (OK-Wolf are you listening?) :beer:
I suppose you are against one because....? Personal experience? I think not. :beer:
I am against them due to logic. Fewer failure points = better. There is NO arguing against that.
No I have not personally used one, however know two people who have and they got burned.... Not literally..
[Spectre]
11-09-07, 02:00 PM
No I have not personally used one, however know two people who have and they got burned.... Not literally..
I know hundreds of cases where people with fixed cable units have gotten burned............and I have used fixed cable units.
Oklahoma Wolf
11-09-07, 02:25 PM
If somebody would like to swap their 1kW TT-Cable Management with my unit, I would do so in a heartbeat (OK-Wolf are you listening?)
Um... je ne parle pas anglais :D
I don't speak french either :p
As far as I'm concerned, the modular debate is over for me. I haven't seen any evidence in this thread or elsewhere to show an extra Molex or two is a significant or widespread risk to society as I know it, and until such evidence comes to light I won't be changing my mind on the issue. Yes, they do infrequently fail but it's not happening nearly often enough to send people running away from modulars.
To repeat myself, I have seen more reports of dead PC P&C 510's due to the bad coil issue than I have seen reports of modular units that worked fine but had bad connectors. And I have more fingers on my hands than the number of dead PC P&C 510's I've seen. This is over about 7 different online tech forums too.
;5331207']I know hundreds of cases where people with fixed cable units have gotten burned............and I have used fixed cable units.
He questioned my experience so I responded. Still doesnt change the fact that they have an extra failure point. And I choose not to use them and will never recommend them.. End of Story...
I have for the past few years used only Fortron power supply's...Have built literally hundreds of box's using them...Only one failure...The fan went out on a 350 Aurora...Adjustable LED 120 Yate Loon.
Have built many box's using modular supply's because that is what my customer wanted...No failures as of yet.
I have a 500watt Fortron Blue Storm II in my box right now...400 Blue Storms in my other 2 box's...Rock solid and work like a charm.
But compared to the HX520X it would seem that Fortron will not get the automatic nod I have given them in the past...Looks like there are a bunch of companys having supply's built by manufacturers to their specifications that surpass the Fortrons for build quality.
I use the Fortrons because many of the more knowledgable members here felt that the build quality and bang for the buck that the FSP supply's provided were about as good as you could get from any manufacturer.
I too would not run a modular supply in my personal box's because of the reviews and threads expressing concern about problems associated with these supply's...Did not do any research or read any reviews revealing failures associated with them...It was just what I was hearing.
Fast forward a couple of years...Almost all if not every supply recommended on this site and many other have modular supply's listed as the most recommended...I have read many reviews on supply's the last couple of month's without even as much as one word about problems associated with modular supply's
Looking at the HX520X I reallly like the idea of not have a bunch of unused connectors stuffed behind the right side door or crammed up behind the drive cages...And I must admit I really liked using modulars in customer builds...So much easier to get a really clean looking build...Way less time for sure.
It would seem to me...Or to my way of thinking that not having unused connectors dangling, stuffed or crammed up in some unsuspecting place to be much safer.
I am still stuck in the "do not use motherboard connectors to power case fans" mode...Now people say it is okay to do this...I still recommend it not to be done...And you will not see a box that I have built that has anything but CPU and Northbridge fans connected to them...But it seems there are people who have probably forgotten more about computers than I will ever know that feel it is okay if you do not exceed the motherboards rated output.
Things change in the computer componet world...And in my humble opinion modular power supply's have evolved into a welcomed change...For me anyway.
I like em...And will probably start recommending them for my builds and will certainly be using them for mine in the future.
:)
[Spectre]
11-10-07, 08:53 AM
He questioned my experience so I responded. Still doesnt change the fact that they have an extra failure point. And I choose not to use them and will never recommend them.. End of Story...
So basically what you are saying is that you are basing your entire recommendation on a group of assumptions which you can not substantiate? That seems to be a less than desirable way to establish a credible recomendation for or against a product.
He questioned my experience so I responded. Still doesnt change the fact that they have an extra failure point. And I choose not to use them and will never recommend them.. End of Story...
No. First hand experience. Since you are intent on condemning all modular units, with no clear evidence to support your theory, I questioned your thoughts. Heck man, the least you could have done is posted a picture or two showing failure. I don't even know what failed modular cables looks like...
I'm outta here man, this is a waste of time...
Clockwork_Apple
11-10-07, 11:40 AM
Get ready for a spam of +1 Corsairs =P
+1 Corsair here :D
No. First hand experience. Since you are intent on condemning all modular units, with no clear evidence to support your theory, I questioned your thoughts. Heck man, the least you could have done is posted a picture or two showing failure. I don't even know what failed modular cables looks like...
I'm outta here man, this is a waste of time...
I never said anything about the cabled failing did I?
The point where the cables plug in is the point of failure.. NOT the cable. And if you bothered to read my post, I said I had never used one BUT know people who did and they had serious problems...
;5332129']So basically what you are saying is that you are basing your entire recommendation on a group of assumptions which you can not substantiate? That seems to be a less than desirable way to establish a credible recomendation for or against a product.
Do you even know what "point of failure" means?
I base my recommendation on units I use, not units I dont.
[Spectre]
11-10-07, 02:38 PM
Do you even know what "point of failure" means?
:rolleyes:
I base my recommendation on units I use, not units I dont.
The modular units recommended are done so with data/testing....not recommendations based on a group of unsupportable assumptions. You might want to take into consideration that some of may know what we are doing.
Did some googling...Came up with this.
http://www.motherboards.org/articles/guides/1488_1.html
On the last page he refers to "known issues"
But does not give any other information or links to reviews or threads addressing the "known issues" other than the actual connection at the power supply being a known issue.
I am the kinda guy that is constantly messing with my box's.
Hopefully you all found my little experiment entertaining and informative, if not monotonous and overly in depth. Obviously, it's fighting a losing battle trying to convince anyone that modular connectors don't create any significant resistance, but I think there's a few things here we can all learn from.
CGR is trolling. Simple as that. Other than the usual hypothetical my friend's-friend's dog's grandma's modular connectors failed blah blah, you don't hear a single word of something that remotely depicts evidence. Jacking a thread without providing evidence is trolling. Paul and OK-Wolf, two guys who have actually tested PSU's extensively and in a throughly professional manner are being questioned like kindergarden kids. You be the judge...:shrug:
RollingThunder
11-10-07, 08:37 PM
Did some googling...Came up with this.
http://www.motherboards.org/articles/guides/1488_1.html
On the last page he refers to "known issues"
But does not give any other information or links to reviews or threads addressing the "known issues" other than the actual connection at the power supply being a known issue.
I am the kinda guy that is constantly messing with my box's.
Hook,
He's picking at fly dung. The known issues he's stating are referring to "builder's errors" for not double checking connections. It's a fundamental inspection after a build with any computer. A prudent person checks his connections from time to time anyhow.
The droop, as he stated, is 1/4 of 1%. If a true voltage reading on the 12v rail is 12.000, a 1/4 % loss from modular will read 11.970v. He's gotta be kidding! It's insignificant.
Actually, all his readings are insignificant. You could get that much difference using another power supply of the same model.
Hook,
He's picking at fly dung. The known issues he's stating are referring to "builder's errors" for not double checking connections. It's a fundamental inspection after a build with any computer. A prudent person checks his connections from time to time anyhow.
The droop, as he stated, is 1/4 of 1%. If a true voltage reading on the 12v rail is 12.000, a 1/4 % loss from modular will read 11.970v. He's gotta be kidding! It's insignificant.
Actually, all his readings are insignificant. You could get that much difference using another power supply of the same model.
I agree. There are too many variables anyway. On a hot day you might find a 0.25% difference to a cold day. Who is to say that the connectors cause this?
In any case, I feel safer with non-modular power supplies for the SOLE reason that I do not trust myself - I might not plug the cables in right or I might forget to plug it in or worse, I will probably lose them etc...
As another, kinda on the side reason, I have never felt the extra wires to be much of a problem :D
But in terms of build quality, or likelihood of failure, there simply is not enough evidence to support the claims that you are more at risk (other than the reasons I listed that pertain to myself:) )
ALiEN2953
11-12-07, 09:41 PM
you fail to realize the chances of the modular point being the point at which current fails is almost nil compared to the chances of another part failing.
CGR is trolling. Simple as that. Other than the usual hypothetical my friend's-friend's dog's grandma's modular connectors failed blah blah, you don't hear a single word of something that remotely depicts evidence. Jacking a thread without providing evidence is trolling. Paul and OK-Wolf, two guys who have actually tested PSU's extensively and in a throughly professional manner are being questioned like kindergarden kids. You be the judge...:shrug:
Jacking a thread? ALL i said was I dont use them and dont recommend them and you all attack me for it..
I can choose to use and recommend anything i dam well please..
I have been on these forums a hell of a lot longer than YOU goonda...
theELVISCERATOR
11-12-07, 10:57 PM
I am getting ready to build a new pc...FINALLY, and decided to buy the PSU first.
I went with the CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX, myself after much research and hand wringing over modular.
From my long experience with things I voted against modular using only the KISS principle.
I have no other reason then that to go against it.
It is a connection, and one that CAN fail.
That was enough for me to 86 the idea, although on first glance they do seem sexay....
No hard data was used in this opinion!
A big thanks to RollingThunder and Oklahoma Wolf for the advice....I got my Corsair 550 hooked up today and she is a freakin beast...impressive indeed.
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