looking for sturdy cheap ($50) PSU

[Surreal]

Ok i have not researched PC parts for 6 months i am WAY behind.

I just want a sturdy PSU cheap!

I am running a lower-end system.

Biostar mobo
p4 2.0ghz
geforce4
2 hard drives
2 cd roms
12 80mm fans
4 duel (sp?) CCFL inverters

I figure around 400 to no more than 430 watts. I bet i could go with a HIGH end 350watt.

but $50 is a hard target to hit....


WHAT are generic brands that perform well and are lower in price than the name brands?

 

[Surreal]

http://www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=l000025

how about this....?

 

[Tmod]

Would you consider $9.00 dollars more?

Link

 

[glock19owner]

how about 5.00 more...55.00 w/free shipping...same PSU I have been running for about a year on 4 different MB's and my rails are great...especially when OCing...

Thermaltake Silent PurePower, 420W w/Active PFC

Non-PFC offers around 0.5~0.6 PF (Power Frequency), 40%~50% power lost.
Active PFC provides more efficient PF(Power Frequency), 0.95~0.99, it means only 1%~5% power has gone.

 

[Deathknight]

Well I am not going to suggest a generic brand PSU, cuz you are just going to end up with a POS instead of a PSU. If you are looking for bang for your buck look no further than Fortron. The 350w Fortron is an awesome bang for your buck, and its only $39. It will outperform many 400+w psus.

FYI sparkle=Fortron.

Btw I gotta ask, whats up with all the fans? You could put casters on your case and ride it around

 

[dalilman52]

how about 5.00 more...55.00 w/free shipping...same PSU I have been running for about a year on 4 different MB's and my rails are great...especially when OCing...

Thermaltake Silent PurePower, 420W w/Active PFC

Non-PFC offers around 0.5~0.6 PF (Power Frequency), 40%~50% power lost.
Active PFC provides more efficient PF(Power Frequency), 0.95~0.99, it means only 1%~5% power has gone.

PLZ PLZ PLZ do NOT buy tt psu's!!! they are pure crap-in-a-box!! get a fortron 350w, it peaks out at 454w, unlike other psu's that dont put out their so-called watts (like thermaltake, pure power my azz), many companies that skimp on quality test their psu's at low temps (low temp = higher wattage/ higher temp = lower wattage output) but fortron and other high-quality brands test their psu's at high temps so u know that it would perform higher or to wat it is spec'ed to do

fortron is much cheaper than thermaltake, and is of higher quality, the 350w fortron at newegg should suit ur needs well

 

[Speed_Mechanic2]

The Sparkle FSP350-60PLN goes for $52 shipped from ZipZoomFly (GoogleGear). It offers active-PFC, and is a better deal then a TT 420W, but I'm not too sure that it's that much of a better deal over a FSP350-60PN (no PFC) for $42 shipped @ NewEgg.

 

[glock19owner]

PLZ PLZ PLZ do NOT buy tt psu's!!! they are pure crap-in-a-box!! get a fortron 350w, it peaks out at 454w, unlike other psu's that dont put out their so-called watts (like thermaltake, pure power my azz), many companies that skimp on quality test their psu's at low temps (low temp = higher wattage/ higher temp = lower wattage output) but fortron and other high-quality brands test their psu's at high temps so u know that it would perform higher or to wat it is spec'ed to do

fortron is much cheaper than thermaltake, and is of higher quality, the 350w fortron at newegg should suit ur needs well

Thats why my rails are better then the forton I had...the Tt is what replaced that POS I had...and if you notice I didnt point them out to the regular Tt PSU...but the one w/active PFC... and the Tt has cleaner power comming out then my forton did...much cleaner...and that in the long run will make a system more stable with less wattages...

 

[Surreal]

thanks for all the great info....

I like the Tt's.....

But i am still researching.

I am making a custom PC case. 8 of the fans are for the radiator and the other 4 are for general airflow. But i was thinking about putting casters on it and adding a battery pack. Then all i need is some RF equipment and i can go at it.

thanks!

 

[davidw2005]

I hate the thought of generic PSU's. Just make sure you have a great return policy on them. Spending $50 to get a 500-watt PSU is useless if you have to throw it away in a few months. Buy a good one that'll last years...until you upgrade your PC..

 

[larrymoencurly]

www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=l000025

That one be the same as the one Soyo sells that's made by Key Mouse (MaxPower, EverPower). IOW not nearly as good as Forton/Sparkle, Antec, etc. but better than Deer and maybe even Powmax/Raidmax.

 

[davidw2005]

Honestly...I'd go with an excellent 350-watt before a cheap 500-watt. Generally, more power is better, but could be unnecessary anyways. For example, having a 650HP V12 car may be nice...but how practical is it? The gas would be horrific...

Same with a power supply...it could end up just wasting electricity and you may never need it....

 

[sandman001]

I'd pick up a 350watt fortronn with active pfc and the 120mm fan.

But, I love my 530watt fortronn enough to reccomend it even with teh extra cash.

 

[davidw2005]

Everyone keeps telling me that anything past a 300-watt is quite unnecessary. Is there truth in that? Even for top of the line systems with a 3200+ and radeon 9800. I don't overclock..so maybe that makes a difference.

 

[xanderjobizzle]

12 80 mm fans!

 

[Mr.Radar]

Everyone keeps telling me that anything past a 300-watt is quite unnecessary. Is there truth in that? Even for top of the line systems with a 3200+ and radeon 9800. I don't overclock..so maybe that makes a difference.

I wouldn't say that. My Fortron (real output = 450 watts) gets pretty stressed while playing high intensity games or running P95 (it doesn't get stressed as much while I'm running at stock speeds, but it's definately getting stressed). If it was a good brand like Fortron then they might be OK, but in all reality you really need a 350 or higher watt PSU (from a good brand) to run a 3200+, a 9800 Pro, and various drives in a system. If they're generic/PowMax/RaidMax/Deer/Allied/etc. 300 watt PSUs then they're just ticking time bombs.

 

[penquissciguy]

The higher the output rating an a (well-manufactured) power supply, the longer it is going to last at a certain load. That being said, my 300 watt Sparkle has been running the rig in my signature for 2 years with no issues whatsoever.

Ken

 

[sandman001]

I definatly notice dit when I went froma 350watt sparkle (rebardged fortron) to my 530watt fortron.

Plus, now I can run my pelt off my PC power supply.