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Recommended PSU's - True/Tested

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Figure I should ask this here - I've been considering going crossfire for a while so I was looking in to upgrading my PSU since I think 600w is cutting it close. Dunno if I get a response before the sales over, but any comments on the OCZ ZX 1250w? It's on sale over at the egg - $200 w/ code, $170 after MIR. I noticed the 1000w version is listed here, just not thd 1250w one. I'm ok with dropping the extra bucks for the 1Kw seasonic platinum though if it's a better built PSU. Planning on using whichever PSU I get for a while.
 
1250W is highly overkill... so is 1KW.

I would grab Seasonic X850 as that will power 2 of any single GPU videocard. Its a great PSU. You can get a cheaper PSU though... COrsair HX850 to name one.
 
Figure I should ask this here - I've been considering going crossfire for a while so I was looking in to upgrading my PSU since I think 600w is cutting it close. Dunno if I get a response before the sales over, but any comments on the OCZ ZX 1250w? It's on sale over at the egg - $200 w/ code, $170 after MIR. I noticed the 1000w version is listed here, just not thd 1250w one. I'm ok with dropping the extra bucks for the 1Kw seasonic platinum though if it's a better built PSU. Planning on using whichever PSU I get for a while.

The ZX series have all looked really solid. I wouldn't hesitate with a ZX.

1250W is highly overkill... so is 1KW.

I would grab Seasonic X850 as that will power 2 of any single GPU videocard. Its a great PSU. You can get a cheaper PSU though... COrsair HX850 to name one.

True, he can save money. But if he can get his hands on a 1250w psu at a really low price, then that's fine too, since now he'll just have a very quiet and cool PSU running his gear..
 
1250W is highly overkill... so is 1KW.

I would grab Seasonic X850 as that will power 2 of any single GPU videocard. Its a great PSU. You can get a cheaper PSU though... COrsair HX850 to name one.

Well the reason I was thinking about the ZX was because of what Diaz said - currently the code puts it cheaper than the x850 and the rebate puts it in line with the hx850. But if you think even 1k is overkill than that knocks out the KW seasonic. I'll think about it. Thanks though.

Edit - Got it. Yeah it's overkill, but it's $70 off total, free shipping, and at this point future proof. Please don't hate me :p
 
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When I buy a P/S, or even a case, I take a fairly extreme future into account. I may build a rig with one hard drive but end up with 5 or 6 of them later on. I may also start with a less than powerful video card but upgrade later on to a more powerful card. Fans are another thing I usually add too. It may just be to cool a chipset or something but they still add up, especially at start up.

If I add things and get to say 300 watts, I generally double the wattage to 600 watts. Why? It then it runs at a good efficient point in the power curve. As I add things, it still will not be overloaded or even close to it. I have built some do it yourself P/S's for various projects and I always allow for extra. I also had larger than needed heat sinks too.

If you are going to buy a really nice power supply, why not buy one that will last as long as the rig needs even with some nice upgrades? Usually the difference is not going to be that much on the front end but it can cost you dearly on the back end if you over load a P/S.

:) :)
 
You know, it seems like we don't have a lot of recommended PSUs on the list for the lower wattage range despite there being a lot of well qualified models out there. It makes it look like no one uses 500-600w PSUs. Maybe that's why everyone thinks they'll need a 750w+ unit. Can we start adding some? Seasonic, Corsair, and others have some good candidates:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151094
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151093
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151096
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139020
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151095
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139031
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151098
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151088
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139035

Do we not have enough data on these or something? And we don't have anything in the 300-400w category.
 
Dead links are dead.
I agree though, I have a 650 W platinum that is fairly cheap (weird, I know) in my hands right now, its review will go live sometime vaguely soonish.
 
You know, it seems like we don't have a lot of recommended PSUs on the list for the lower wattage range despite there being a lot of well qualified models out there. It makes it look like no one uses 500-600w PSUs. Maybe that's why everyone thinks they'll need a 750w+ unit. Can we start adding some? Seasonic, Corsair, and others have some good candidates:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151094
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151093
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151096
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139020
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151095
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139031
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151098
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151088
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139035

Do we not have enough data on these or something? And we don't have anything in the 300-400w category.

True, I haven't seen any solid PSU ratings in reviews in a while, I also haven't seen many PSU's reviewed under 600watts..

I do agree that 200-400watt PSU's need to get more exposure since SFF is going to start trending more and more..
 
I think it's probably tough for the PSU companies to get them reviewed.
I doubt many (if any) sites that do PSU reviews actually pay their reviewers. I know neither site I review for does!
All my review related income comes from selling PSUs. Given that there is about the same amount of time and energy put into reviewing a $350 1275W unit (which was excellent) as there is time and energy put into reviewing a $45 430W unit (which was okish), I think you can figure out why you don't see many reviews of lower end units!
Especially given that with no warranty you're in very good shape if you can sell the unit for 50-66% of it's initial cost, minus the $15 shipping costs you.

My total time spent photographing, testing (actively, any burn in time is not included), taking apart, putting back together and writing about a PSU is between four and six hours. Some units (the CM Silent Pro Hybrid 1300W for instance) take longer still due to extra features (fan controller, etc.) that need testing.

Let us do some math here!
We'll use five hours as a total time spent number, it's about right for me most of the time.
That $45 430w unit will probably sell for around $30 shipped, it fits in a $10 flat rate box. $20 profit.
Divide by five and I worked for $4/hour. Not great. No tips here either.

The $350 unit sold for $200 and fit in a $15 box, so $185 profit. Divide again and we have $37/hour.
(In reality that review took longer too, we'll ignore that)

On a more realistic note there is an "average" high end unit, $200 new.
Sells for $100-150, fits in a $15 box. That gives $17 to $27/hour. Not bad.

I think you can figure out why nobody reviews entry level units!

I'd like to do more low wattage units despite it being an economic disaster, for exactly the reasons given above. Most people don't need top end stuff, and if I could identify a $30 unit that was actually worth buying I'd probably be hailed as a hero and become famous. Of course, I'd have made $2/hour for the review.
The other tricky thing with that is that few manufacturers will send those units, some of them know what will happen and hence don't send them (be suspicious of a unit with no reviews!), others are made by companies that don't care about reviews or figure they can't get their units reviewed. Or companies that don't want to spend the $15 (per reviewer!) shipping units off for review!


As a final note, if any of you have a PSU you would like to see reviewed let me know and I'll try to get the ball rolling. If all else fails and it's cheap you can simply buy the thing and send it to me, I'll review it. Or send me the money to buy it and review it, either way. Given the above rundown of how much I get paid I think you'll understand that I'll want to sell the unit afterwards! Assuming, of course, that it doesn't explode.
 
I suppose that if I have enough time between knowing I'll need a new PSU and actually getting it, I can ship it to you in the interim...
 
30 May 2012 update done :D
My 8yrs+ old pc power and cooling 750w silencer just died 2 days ago i want it another of them but they do not carry modular so i went and bought a thermal take 750w could not hold my overclock went and bought a 850w peak 1000w cooler master didn't hold it either finally got an ultra x4 750w gold mine holding 12.1v no matter what stress test u put in great psu might want to put that one in .... only $119 compusa ...But if pc power an cooling ever decide to go modular i will forever go with them..:clap:

THIS PSU IS WORKING ON MY SIGNATURE OVERCLOCK PASS ALL TEST
 
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A good 550w would do that sig rig just fine, though that sig rig doesn't draw what a IB and two 590s would, or even close.
 
A good 550w would do that sig rig just fine, though that sig rig doesn't draw what a IB and two 590s would, or even close.

Yeah if you say so ...i just order a watt metter i will let you know how much watt my pc is pushing later ....You seem to know how much you think ?
 
TR2 series are lousy PSUs.
Terrible, even.

That's the issue, not the wattage :D
 
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