new power supply for sli

[BlackEdition]

hey all,

i am thinking about going SLI, and think that i might need a new power supply. i currently have a pretty generic XION 500W power supply that claims it is SLI ready...but, i have my doubts.

i only have two conditions on the power supply...

1) it has to be able to power 2 800gt's

2) i would like to spend as little as possible (poor college student).

Suggestions?

[Mamm0th]

Buy this ... now ... very good power supply and very good sale. Wish it was this price when I built my new PC.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

[baditude_df]

+1 for the PCP&C Silencer 750. It's a steal at that price. Great PSU.

[Leonardo]

"Steal" or not, that's not exactly inexpensive. What about:

Corsair TX 650W (http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-650w-atx12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178324.html) $90.99 after MIR

Corsair TX 750 (http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-750w-atx-12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178325.html) $99 after MIR

I run several Corsair PSUs. They are superb in quality and performance. Nothing against PCP&C, but the one linked above does not compete well against the ones I listed, considering the price...IMO. BTW, I've now made several purchases of computer components from Buy.com. Prices each time were lower than Newegg and shipping was very good, almost on par for speed with Newegg.

Slightly off-topic. Newegg is not the great deal site it was a few years ago. They still have excellent inventory and quick shipping, but that's about it. Their prices have slowly crept up over the last two years and their competition has become much stronger.

[baditude_df]

I'll have to agree with Leonardo there. The price is def. right. I've never owned a Corsair unit, but people around here praise them about as much as they praise the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme.

[Mamm0th]

I would still go with the Silencer 750w, $119 after MIR.

Better power efficiency and peak wattage, very stable power supply. I work at a well known computer component manufacturer and these are the power supplies that we hold in highest regard.

[Leonardo]

The price is def. right. I've never owned a Corsair unit, but people around here praise them about as much as they praise the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme.I've not yet had to lap one of my Corsair PSUs for superior performance! Pffft!

Seriously, I can't say enough good things about Corsair power supplies. I cannot say anything negative about PCP&C and admit I've never owned one. There are a couple models (sorry don't remember which) I've read about in reviews in the last year that get a little noisy at high loads, but I didn't see one Newegg reviewer making such a complaint.

[Adragontattoo]

I would still go with the Silencer 750w, $119 after MIR.

Better power efficiency and peak wattage, very stable power supply. I work at a well known computer component manufacturer and these are the power supplies that we hold in highest regard.

I have three PC&C 510's.

two have exploded

I have a corsair 650t/h/v/x (cant ever keep track of which is which) which I have no complaints about.

Every manufacturer has good and bad stuff, each also has pro and con people.

YMMV.

Corsair, PC&C and a few others are all good PSU's.

[BlackEdition]

what do you think is the minimum wattage that i should use for the 800gt's in SLI?

[Super Nade]

You can get by with a 450W unit.

[thideras]

You can get by with a quality 450W unit.Quality is good :)

[WonderingSoul]

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341005) unit is very good. Loud, but good. A 3Y base build, a server platform, does very well with ripple and regulation. Only thing I have heard is that it is very loud

[Super Nade]

It is loud as the load is cranked up, but that price is a super-steal! Very good deal indeed!

[BlackEdition]

what do you think about these two psu's?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

[Super Nade]

Both are reliable units and should fit your needs. I would pick the VX550 if you can afford it. ;)

[WonderingSoul]

what do you think about these two psu's?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

Both very good PSUs. However with those prices, I think the OCZ I had posted is your best Wattage per $ right now.

[BlackEdition]

i am a bit concerned about the customer ratings of the OCZ...

those at newegg seem to dislike the aforementioned OCZ psu...

[WonderingSoul]

i am a bit concerned about the customer ratings of the OCZ...

those at newegg seem to dislike the aforementioned OCZ psu...

Trusting Newegg reviews on PSUs is like getting painting advice from a blind man.

[thideras]

Trusting Newegg reviews on PSUs is like getting painting advice from a blind man.Sigged my good man :)

So true too ;)

[WonderingSoul]

Sigged my good man :)

So true too ;)

I feel e-famous now. :beer:

Newegg reviewers on PSUs are extremely ignorant in what they post. The only ones I can really say are "real" or even potentially usefull are the ones that say their unit went *poof*, just had a bad sample and have to RMA. But ones that say a 500W Rosewill or Apevia PSU are "good" units are have no idea what good PSUs are. It's a good idea to know the OEM of the unit to REALLY know what you're getting. Also, you get what you pay for, and in this case, that OCZ is standard $170 and is on a monster sale right now for $60 after MIR. That's $0.08333 per watt, which is one helluva deal.

Corsair units are very nice, especially on sale. I had bought a TX650 for about $80 I believe from Buy.com a few months ago. PCP&C makes good units but are commonly known to be expensive. Some of the newer Thermaltake units are nice, but their budget ones to my experience are terrible. Most Silverstone PSUs are good units as well, we all can remember their little tank of the ST56ZF. Some of the better units are also Etatsis and Zippy known for their high quality server PSUs.

Hope this helps you.

[BlackEdition]

i didn't realize it was modular the first time that i looked at the link. i am definitely going to seriously consider that option.

i use air cooling, and less cables in the case would be a great thing.

[nan0_man]

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341005) unit is very good. Loud, but good. A 3Y base build, a server platform, does very well with ripple and regulation. Only thing I have heard is that it is very loud

If im using this for SLI (7900's), would the 12v rail have adequate amperes?

[WonderingSoul]

If im using this for SLI (7900's), would the 12v rail have adequate amperes?

Yes it will. I just posted in your other thread too, so check that for other questions, or PM me.

[nan0_man]

k, thanks man.

[BlackEdition]

talk about a bad time to mull over the decision...

i went to newegg today to take a look...and was met with this horrifying realization...

the rebate ended yesterday and the power supply is now $145 after rebate!

looks like i am leaning toward the 450W Corsair...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003&Tpk=corsair%2b450%2bW

good decision?

[Leonardo]

Got to Buy.com. Their Corsair prices generally stay good.

[WonderingSoul]

talk about a bad time to mull over the decision...

i went to newegg today to take a look...and was met with this horrifying realization...

the rebate ended yesterday and the power supply is now $145 after rebate!

looks like i am leaning toward the 450W Corsair...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003&Tpk=corsair%2b450%2bW

good decision?


Which unit are you referring to that is now $145?

As Leonardo said, Buy.com has good deals on Corsair PSUs a majority of the time.

[BlackEdition]

the ocz power supply that you recommended, wonderingsoul, is $145 at newegg today...the rebate offer ended yesterday, and they don't have the same deal offered today...

[Leonardo]

OCZ StealthXStream 500 and StealthXStream 600 (http://www.2cooltek.com/ocz-power-supplies/) $57 and $78 respectively at 2CoolTek. No rebate hassle here. Those are order-now prices. (I've ordered from 2CoolTek several times. Great prices and great service each time.)

Look at Newegg again, after rebate, the Corsair VX550 and TX650 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010320058+50001459&name=Corsair+Memory%2c+Inc.) are down to $79 and $89 respectively. That's an excellent deal on the TX650. (Hmm, Newegg must have been reading my comments.)


I'm telling you folks, PSUs, memory, what have you: Newegg is still a good store, but is no longer the great advantage it used to be. No this really isn't off topic. I've bought four PSUs in the last year, Corsair and OCZ. NOT ONE of them came from Newegg. Newegg has become fat and happy. I am not anti-Newegg in any way, it's just they seem to be sluggish to react to their competition. They assume everyone will still flock to them because of their reputation. Remember how they used to be -- free shipping on so many items, low price BEFORE rebates, usually the best prices, and fast shipping. Well, they at least still have fast shipping. (And right after I write this little comment Newegg drops the price on the TX650, obviously just to make me look silly! :eek: )

If the Corsair 650 and OCZ 600 I linked have the cables you need, I'd just order one of them today. Assuming you can handle the Corsair RMA wait time, either the Corsair or the OCZ would meet your power needs.

[WonderingSoul]

Strange, I see the OCZ is still on sale, just no longer rebated.

But Leonardo has stated some good sales on those Corsairs, which are also very good units. So you can't really go wrong.

[BlackEdition]

weird...i swear it was more expensive this morning. i think that i am going to go ahead and buy this one.

this is, in fact, the one you suggested wonderingsoul?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341005

[RollingThunder]

weird...i swear it was more expensive this morning. i think that i am going to go ahead and buy this one.

this is, in fact, the one you suggested wonderingsoul?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341005

BE,

Super Nade thinks highly of them, top server grade quality. If I remember correctly, they are not very quiet if that's an issue with you.

[Leonardo]

Exactly, those are the low prices with no rebate hassle required.

(oh, sorry, this post is a reply to the OCZ PSUs and the poster's comment about rebates)

[BlackEdition]

oops...one thing that i didn't realize about the ocz is that it isn't 80+ certified. i would like to get an 80+ certified psu. the corsairs are the way to go then?

i think that i am going to try to wait for a better deal on one of the corsairs...i would like to pay 70 or lower. any of you find any of them?

until then, i think that i might give sli a shot with my current power supply. it actually has two 6pin pci express connectors, but, i think adding a second card is going to be too much for it to handle.

[RollingThunder]

oops...one thing that i didn't realize about the ocz is that it isn't 80+ certified. i would like to get an 80+ certified psu. the corsairs are the way to go then?

i think that i am going to try to wait for a better deal on one of the corsairs...i would like to pay 70 or lower. any of you find any of them?

until then, i think that i might give sli a shot with my current power supply. it actually has two 6pin pci express connectors, but, i think adding a second card is going to be too much for it to handle.

BE,

The suggestions for the Corsair VX450 and shopping at buy.com are your best bet. Zip Zoom Fly isn't a bad price either but it needs a MIR:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006428

That's $60.50 after MIR with free shipping and no tax outside California. Buy.com does the same and sometimes they absorb the MIR for you.

You can also watch for the VX550 sale prices too. Sometimes they are also incredibly low. Otherwise, with few exceptions, many cheaper power supplies are overrated and not good quality.

[BlackEdition]

is it a problem that the Corsair 450W isn't sli certified? i know that i will be able to make sli work with the two molex to 6pin pci express adapter, but is that as reliable as a 6pci express direct from the power supply?

[nan0_man]

weird...i swear it was more expensive this morning. i think that i am going to go ahead and buy this one.

this is, in fact, the one you suggested wonderingsoul?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341005

If im not mistaken....its now even cheaper with a $25 rebate. I'm getting it.

[BlackEdition]

yeah it certainly seems to be a good psu, but i don't think it is as efficient as the corsairs. please let me know how it performs, if your experience is positive, i think i might just disregard its inefficiencies.

[dribblesnort]

I have three PC&C 510's.

two have exploded

I have a corsair 650t/h/v/x (cant ever keep track of which is which) which I have no complaints about.

Every manufacturer has good and bad stuff, each also has pro and con people.

YMMV.

Corsair, PC&C and a few others are all good PSU's.


+2

I have a PCP&C 750 that lost its magic smoke and a Corsair that did too...

I also have 2 other PCP&C's that are working well and a Gigabyte Odin that I like a lot so, as has been said before, YMMV.

[WonderingSoul]

yeah it certainly seems to be a good psu, but i don't think it is as efficient as the corsairs. please let me know how it performs, if your experience is positive, i think i might just disregard its inefficiencies.

The performance of the unit wouldn't an issue. They are well built server units (Server PSU's are MUCH more stringent on voltage drops, noise and ripple) so it should handle almost anything you give it. The major flaws are that it is loud and probably not all that effecient (My guess would be about ~75% effecient).

[BlackEdition]

i imagine the modular cabling will assist in the ventilation of my smaller mid tower case.

i just might get the psu after all.

watch, right after i buy this psu, a 80+ efficient corsair will go on ridiculous sale...

[WonderingSoul]

i imagine the modular cabling will assist in the ventilation of my smaller mid tower case.

i just might get the psu after all.

watch, right after i buy this psu, a 80+ efficient corsair will go on ridiculous sale...

I could have told you that too! If you really are hesitant on the OCZ then don't get it. Buy.com most of the time has good sales on Corsairs. You'd be happier in the long run holding off.


The TX450 and TX650 are good deals right now at buy.com with them both being $61 and $81 after rebates. The TX650 for only $81 is a great deal too.

[Leonardo]

The TX650 for only $81 is a great deal too.In my book, that's a no brainer. If it has the all the cables you need, quit handwringing and buy it now. Case closed.

[BlackEdition]

i know i keep changing my mind...

i really appreciate all the good suggestions that all of you have given, and i appreciate you staying with me and helping me out.

i think that i will end up going with the ocz...they have a three year warranty, and a 75% efficiency.

worst case scenario, it dies sometime in the next three years, i return it, and get a brand new psu.

thanks everyone!

[WonderingSoul]

i know i keep changing my mind...

i really appreciate all the good suggestions that all of you have given, and i appreciate you staying with me and helping me out.

i think that i will end up going with the ocz...they have a three year warranty, and a 75% efficiency.

worst case scenario, it dies sometime in the next three years, i return it, and get a brand new psu.

thanks everyone!

As long as you're happy and buying a quality unit, I'm happy.

[Leonardo]

As long as you're happy and buying a quality unit, I'm happy. :clap: Yes, me too, but I'm not done yet...ocz...they have a three year warranty, and a 75% efficiencyCorsair TX750: 5-year warranty and 80% efficiency.

OK, I feel better now. :D (look at my signature, you'll notice both Corsair and OCZ PSUs. Both are very good quality but I'll take Corsair first even if slightly more expensive.)

[SAnusha]

ocz have a great customer service so i recommend them