[crazy11]

I'm looking to buy a new psu as I have recently upgraded my graphics card and my system is getting unstable. So I was wondering what is the best psu that you can get for under 70$CAD.

[darksparkz]

The Fortons should be the least amount of money you should spend on a PSU. No matter what system you have, the Forton AX500-A should suffice for lower end systems. But considering your budget, you MIGHT want to save up for the Forton. But if budget is tight, maybe an Antec Neopower would do.

[millhouse]

i second the fortron ax500-a

$71.07 @ http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-FS500A

[Janus67]

A budget PSU doesn't mean $50 or less btw, 99% of those PSUs are going to be crap, the lowest-price one that I would trust which has been posted is the Fortron AX-500.

[EvilCloudStrife]

Cooler Master RS-450-ACLY 450W Real Power ATX Active PFC Power Supply now only $24.99 after $20 mail-in rebate!

this psu got some totally awesome reviews at toms hardware and elsewhere. it is ranked up there with ocz, fortron and even pcp&c

i just got it because of the INCREDIBLE price but its only good for another 2 1/2 hours (on west coast) hurry!!!! (rebate expires tomarrow)
--------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.svc.com/rs-450-acly-19.html

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by crazy11

best psu that you can get for under 70$CAD.

Tall order - there is little under that dollar amount that's much good. Without knowing what sort of system you're powering, I'll suggest this one for 12v oriented systems (A64 and P4):

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...%20GROUP%20USA

The AX500-A would be preferable if you can manage a little more in the budget.

[EvilCloudStrife]

hey oklahoma wolf.. your like the PSU king here on these forums, how do you like the PSU i listed? i hear it is a high quality unit and you cant beat that for $30 after rebate

[Oklahoma Wolf]

They are decent quality, however the non-peak ratings (which are the ones most likely to be accurate) on them are much lower than I like to see.

[crazy11]

Well I currently have a crappy 280w generic psu and lately since I have upgraded my vid card to a 6600gt I have been getting a crap load of bsods and I have come to conclusion that I need a new PSU. So pretty much anything is better than what I have now.

[Lat]

Originally Posted by Oklahoma Wolf

Tall order - there is little under that dollar amount that's much good. Without knowing what sort of system you're powering, I'll suggest this one for 12v oriented systems (A64 and P4):

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...%20GROUP%20USA

The AX500-A would be preferable if you can manage a little more in the budget.

preferable, as in worth the extra 30+ dollars? i'm likely gonna get one of these two, but i can't quite decide yet (leaning towards the ax500-a, even though i can barely afford it)

nothing else from ncix is quite as good but cheaper eh?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by Lat

nothing else from ncix is quite as good but cheaper eh?

Nothing I would call good for overclocking. The AX450-PN will run things, but depending on the system may affect overclocking to some extent (consider it a bargain Fortron 400w unit with a 29A limit on combined 12v output).

The AX500-A OTOH is strong enough for most systems out there. NCIX often puts them on the weekly sale flyer - might be worth waiting until Thursday at least to see if it goes back in

Edit - Vibe still has the plain Jane Blue Storms - the 400w is very similar in output capacity to the AX450-PN, but cheaper. No PCI-E connector though.

http://www.vibecomputers.com/index.c...f=n&vID=200855

[Lat]

it's tuesday that their weeklies deals are out
waiting waiting hoping hoping (actually, their ax-500-a is out of stock, so i sort of doubt it will be on sale )

what are the exact differences between the blue storm and that saga anyways?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

The Blue Storm has more accurate ratings on the side - it's good for 14A+15A on each 12v rail before the unit shuts down. The Saga is rated at 18A+18A, but has a 29A combined limit. Further prying into Fortron's PDFs has revealed that the Saga has only been tested as far as the 12v limits on the Blue Storm.

IOW, they essentially have the same 12v capabilities. The Saga might be more liberal with the protection on each 12v to allow at least one to hit 18A at the expense of the other, but that will require testing to determine.

Aside from this, the only other noteable difference is the Saga has a PCI-E connector and the BS doesn't.

[Lat]

so, with my specs (2.4c, 6800le, 2x 7200rpm hds, couple case fans, etc.)
what would you recommend? just go for the ax500-a?
or should i get something even better for long term investment?
or is that 400w or 450w fortron/sparkle good enough?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Either the AX450-PN or the FSP400-60THN will run that, though I would suggest the AX450 if your 6800 needs a PCI-E connector. I'd still go for the AX500-A myself though.

The only way I'd suggest something more powerful is if you're planning on SLI sometime soon... in that case, I would suggest something like the Fortron/Sparkle FSP550-60PLG, Seasonic S12 600w, or OCZ PS520 instead.

[DragoXT]

Uh why dont you guys recommend Thermaltake pure power psu's? They are rock solid and you can get a 420watt for under $40. I know fortrons are good psus, but they are to much money imo for a budget psu. They are probably the best for budget ocing, but you can get even a decent oc with a Thermaltake psu.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by DragoXT

Uh why dont you guys recommend Thermaltake pure power psu's?

Better quality can be had for cheaper. In the case of the $40 420w, a Fortron 350w with better 12v capacity and ATX2.0 compliance can be had for $35:

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-FS35TNB

I tend not to recommend stuff this low wattage most of the time, as most of the people who I recommend to want to decrease the chance a PSU will limit overclocking performance. And the 350w has no chance at all of running SLI. Once in a while I make an exception. In terms of build quality, Sirtec/Thermaltake is nowhere near Fortron... I'd call them average. Not bad enough to actively push people away from, but not good enough to justify the price tag when there are better alternatives. I've been waiting a long time to see Sirtec raise the level of their game - it just hasn't happened yet.

That said, there are a very few Thermaltakes being made by HEC - these are better quality than the Sirtec stuff. The 460w dual 12v unit is one example. I'd move these closer to Antec/CWT level, but still not up there with the top OEM's.

[skou]

Isn't "best budget PSU kinda like the "best Yugo?" Or, "Most Popular Chevette?"

Notice how the PSU has wires that go to ALL of the electronic components? Some of those components are expensive!

Do you REALLY want them getting power from the "best budget?"

Get a GOOD "good" PSU, not a good "budget" PSU.

steve

[Lat]

Originally Posted by Oklahoma Wolf

Either the AX450-PN or the FSP400-60THN will run that, though I would suggest the AX450 if your 6800 needs a PCI-E connector. I'd still go for the AX500-A myself though.

The only way I'd suggest something more powerful is if you're planning on SLI sometime soon... in that case, I would suggest something like the Fortron/Sparkle FSP550-60PLG, Seasonic S12 600w, or OCZ PS520 instead.

naw, it's agp...so no need for those connectors. and i don't plan to upgrade video anytime soon, my upgrades go in the order of psu, ram, then cpu (dothan, so even less power draw)

do you know of any inexpensive canadian places with the fsp400? (at ncix, it's ~$75CAN...)

Originally Posted by skou

Isn't "best budget PSU kinda like the "best Yugo?" Or, "Most Popular Chevette?"

Notice how the PSU has wires that go to ALL of the electronic components? Some of those components are expensive!

Do you REALLY want them getting power from the "best budget?"

Get a GOOD "good" PSU, not a good "budget" PSU.

steve

some people don't have money...and my other parts are pretty budget too, so

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by Lat

do you know of any inexpensive canadian places with the fsp400? (at ncix, it's ~$75CAN...)

From my earlier post: http://www.vibecomputers.com/index.c...f=n&vID=200855