GOOD powersupply for under $40?

  • Thread starter Thread starter LRW
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LRW

Well, I've taken the suggestions (great suggestions!) from a couple previous
threads, and decided I need to get a quality PS.
But...I'm having a hard time narrowing one down...especially in my budget.
$40 or less.
And preferably at least 350 watts as close to TRUE 350 as possible.

Any suggestions, especially 2 fan ones?
I found this:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-159-023&catalog=58&depa=1
I don't think I've seen Coolmax on anyone's quality manufacturor's
lists...but the numbers (amps and total 3+5+12 line watts) seems pretty
good.

Well, thanks for any feedback!
Liam
 
LRW said:
Well, I've taken the suggestions (great suggestions!) from a couple previous
threads, and decided I need to get a quality PS.
But...I'm having a hard time narrowing one down...especially in my budget.
$40 or less.
And preferably at least 350 watts as close to TRUE 350 as possible.

Any suggestions, especially 2 fan ones?
I found this:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-159-023&catalog=58&depa=1
I don't think I've seen Coolmax on anyone's quality manufacturor's
lists...but the numbers (amps and total 3+5+12 line watts) seems pretty
good.
Click to expand...

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-604&catalog=58&depa=1
Oh and this one's a couple dollars more, but the peaks and amps are better,
and it states a MTBF.
But the brand name... ?
 
If list retail price is significantly under $80, then
probably missing essential functions. How to determine a
quality supply. Up front and first, it provides a long list
of numerical specs. Specs that inferior supplies cannot
always meet and therefore don't provide. An abbreviated list
of specs that any acceptable supply claims to meet:
Specification compliance: ATX 2.03 & ATX12V v1.1
Acoustics noise 25.8dBA typical at 70w, 30cm
Short circuit protection on all outputs
Over voltage protection
Over power protection
100% hi-pot test
100% burn in, high temperature cycled on/off
PFC harmonics compliance: EN61000-3-2 + A1 + A2
EMI/RFI compliance: CE, CISPR22 & FCC part 15 class B
Safety compliance: VDE, TUV, D, N, S, Fi, UL, C-UL & CB
Hold up time, full load: 16ms. typical
Efficiency; 100-120VAC and full range: >65%
Dielectric withstand, input to frame/ground: 1800VAC, 1sec.
Dielectric withstand, input to output: 1800VAC, 1sec.
Ripple/noise: 1%
MTBF, full load @ 25°C amb.: >100k hrs

What do supplies forget to include to sell at higher profits
at $40? Things such as over power protection and EMI/RFI
compliance. Does your supply specifically state it has this?
If not, then that essential function is probably missing which
is why they can sell for $40.
 
Well, I've taken the suggestions (great suggestions!) from a couple
previous threads, and decided I need to get a quality PS.
But...I'm having a hard time narrowing one down...especially in my budget.
$40 or less.
And preferably at least 350 watts as close to TRUE 350 as possible.

Any suggestions, especially 2 fan ones?
I found this:
http://www.newegg.com/app ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-159-023&catalog=58&depa=1
I don't think I've seen Coolmax on anyone's quality manufacturor's
lists...but the numbers (amps and total 3+5+12 line watts) seems pretty
good.
Click to expand...

Never, ever, ever skimp on a power supply! Period!

This sounds like it might be a getter one (it's an Antec) for about $40:

http://www.newegg.com/app
ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-913&catalog=58&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

--
Big Daddy Ruel Smith

My SuSE Linux machine uptime:
7:13pm up 44 days 3:58, 2 users, load average: 0.68, 0.45, 0.28

My Windows XP machine uptime:
Something less...
 
What do supplies forget to include to sell at higher profits
at $40? Things such as over power protection and EMI/RFI
compliance. Does your supply specifically state it has this?
If not, then that essential function is probably missing which
is why they can sell for $40.
Click to expand...

Try and knock an Antec power supply. New Egg has and Antec 350W power
supply, model SL350 for $43. Can't beat it. Antec has some of the best
power supplies on the market for consumer PC's, bar none.

http://www.newegg.com/app
ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-913&catalog=58&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

--
Big Daddy Ruel Smith

My SuSE Linux machine uptime:
7:15pm up 44 days 4:00, 2 users, load average: 0.47, 0.45, 0.29

My Windows XP machine uptime:
Something less...
 
LRW said:
Well, I've taken the suggestions (great suggestions!) from a
couple previous threads, and decided I need to get a quality PS.
But...I'm having a hard time narrowing one down...especially
in my budget. $40 or less. And preferably at least 350 watts as
close to TRUE 350 as possible.

Any suggestions, especially 2 fan ones?
Click to expand...

Why insist on 2 fans when the number of fans isn't closely related to
cooling performance? PC Power & Cooling even found 2nd fan in a 550W
Enermax to be completely ineffective. If you want maximum cooling
with minimum noise, your best choice may be a supply with a single
large fan on top, such as some of the newer Fortron-Source and
Seasonic models have, although some have said that the F-S with 120mm
isn't as quiet as their more conventional models.
I found this: www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-159-023&catalog=58&depa=1
I don't think I've seen Coolmax on anyone's quality manufacturor's
lists...but the numbers (amps and total 3+5+12 line watts) seems
pretty good.
Click to expand...

How do you know the numbers are accurate? The only widely available
independent verifications are from AMD and Intel, but they're not very
strict, as shown by all the low-quality supplies that get certified.
You should also dismiss 99% of the reviews published on the Internet
because they don't test with full loads, just a computer running a
burn-in program, or 150-200W, nor do they test to failure (when normal
shutdown or damage occurs). No review is legitimate unless it
includes amp measurements, and the only ones I know of in English that
do are www.tomshardware.com (tests to failure, no results given for
individual voltage outputs) and www.silentpcreview (tests to full
rated loads only).

UL says the Coolmax is made by ATNG Power, and it seems to be
identical to this one: http://terasan.okiraku-pc.net/dengen/no64/ .
This review is typical poor Internet quality, but at least it shows
what the supply looks like inside, and my impression is that this
hardly the worst made supply, although components alone don't tell the
whole story. The inverter transformer (yellow object between the 2
heatsinks) may be on the small side, the heatsinks are fairly small,
and the large capacitors are only 820uF. You may want to compare this
supply to an Aopen brand Fortron-Source model:
http://terasan.okiraku-pc.net/dengen/no47/index.html .

I'm sure you've received many recommendations for Fortron-Source power
supplies, which Newegg also carries, because they're not only of very
good quality and also very cheap, so why have you ignored them and
instead considered questionable brands?
 
Wooducoodu said:
either of these would be good.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-486&catalog
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-104-966&catalog
=58&depa=1
Click to expand...

Well, the brand name I understand is good, and the prices are right, but to
comment on that and answer "do_no_spam_me"'s question earlier, I've read
reviews (well, articles mainly from AMD,) that say it's VITAL to have a
power supply with a intake fan on its underside, above the CPU, to provide
proper airflow.

Is this not necessary?
Thanks for the replies!!
Liam
 
LRW said:
Well, the brand name I understand is good, and the prices are right, but to
comment on that and answer "do_no_spam_me"'s question earlier, I've read
reviews (well, articles mainly from AMD,) that say it's VITAL to have a
power supply with a intake fan on its underside, above the CPU, to provide
proper airflow.
Click to expand...

Ah, I believe they recommend a bottom PSU intake, not a bottom PSU
intake *fan*. No?

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/26003.pdf
 
ric said:
Ah, I believe they recommend a bottom PSU intake, not a bottom PSU
intake *fan*. No?
Click to expand...
http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/26003.pdf

OOHHH!!!! I was totally thinking it was saying fan. I mean, when you're
browsing PS's and you're seeing some with a flat bottom and some with a
big-ole fan on the bottom...my mind just assumed the AMD article had been
saying fan. =/
Sorry.
Well, now to go back and look at some of those Sparkles again! =)
 
Ruel Smith (Big Daddy) said:
Antec has some of the best
power supplies on the market for consumer PC's, bar none.
Click to expand...

I'm just sitting here contemplating the overuse of cliches to the point
where I can't even make sense of them anymore. "some of the best", and "bar
none" - now just what the heck does that mean?
 
LRW said:
Well, the brand name I understand is good, and the prices are right, but to
comment on that and answer "do_no_spam_me"'s question earlier, I've read
reviews (well, articles mainly from AMD,) that say it's VITAL to have a
power supply with a intake fan on its underside, above the CPU, to provide
proper airflow.

Is this not necessary?
Click to expand...

No. Where did you read this?
 
w_tom said:
If list retail price is significantly under $80, then
probably missing essential functions.
Click to expand...

I recall reading a review of a sub $40 power supply that was quite good
(according to the testing criteria, which seemed credible.) I thought it
was on Tom's Hardware, but I can't find it there now. It was a new brand
(to me at the time), such as Fortron, or Vantec, or Seasonic, or some
company that actually was selling power supplies under multiple names.
 
I'm just sitting here contemplating the overuse of cliches to the point
where I can't even make sense of them anymore. "some of the best", and
"bar none" - now just what the heck does that mean?
Click to expand...

That means that Antec's top of the line, of course, are very, very good
consumer PSU's. Their lower lines, which are actually just older models,
are also very, very good, but not quite as good as the TruPower line.
Antec's TruPower line was one of 3 brands to take top honors in Tom's
Hardware PSU comparison. Sure, you can go off the deep end with features
and such and find better PSU's out there, but not for the money. Again, the
PSU I gave a link to was $43 and a genuine Antec. Someone pointed out that
he didn't think there was such a beast as a good power supply for that
price, but there it is. It meets all the original poster's needs: 2 fans,
350 watts, around $40 and it's a quality one to boot.



--
Big Daddy Ruel Smith

My SuSE Linux machine uptime:
2:28pm up 44 days 23:14, 2 users, load average: 0.25, 0.16, 0.09

My Windows XP machine uptime:
Something less...
 
Ruel Smith (Big Daddy) said:
That means that Antec's top of the line, of course, are very, very good
consumer PSU's. Their lower lines, which are actually just older models,
are also very, very good, but not quite as good as the TruPower line.
Antec's TruPower line was one of 3 brands to take top honors in Tom's
Hardware PSU comparison. Sure, you can go off the deep end with features
and such and find better PSU's out there, but not for the money. Again, the
PSU I gave a link to was $43 and a genuine Antec. Someone pointed out that
he didn't think there was such a beast as a good power supply for that
price, but there it is. It meets all the original poster's needs: 2 fans,
350 watts, around $40 and it's a quality one to boot.
Click to expand...

Oh, well that makes perfect sense. I guess you didn't mean to say "bar
none" then :-)
 
w_tom said:
If list retail price is significantly under $80, then
probably missing essential functions.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, not when Chinese labor is essentially free and the
manufacturer produces a million power supplies a month, as at least
one maker does. And even when the price is far above $80, some
functions may be missing, the most common being thermal protection,
which is unavailable even in PC Power & Cooling supplies.
How to determine a quality supply. Up front and first, it
provides a long list of numerical specs. Specs that inferior
supplies cannot always meet and therefore don't provide.
Click to expand...

Nothing has stopped many manufacturers of inferior products from
publishing totally fabricated specs. However I've never seen a bad
supply with an MTBF
spec given for both 100% full power and 40C or hotter, only 70% full
power, 25C, or no details were included at all.
What do supplies forget to include to sell at higher profits
at $40? Things such as over power protection and EMI/RFI
compliance.
Click to expand...

Even the worst supplies I've seen had over-power protection, only it
didn't always work, and every supply without any EMI/RFI claimed to be
FCC approved.
 
Airflow on heatsink (in LFM) determines it thermal
conductivity. It takes almost no airflow (air moving so slow
that hand cannot feel it) to make a major heatsink
improvement. Then increasing airflow has less and less
effectiveness which means a tornado over the heatsink adds
nothing significant. That ATX spec called for intakes above
CPU so that increased airflow was guaranteed on CPU heatsink.

However today airflow is created by a CPU fan. Power supply
fan no long affects airflow on CPU heatsink. More important
is the overall CFM of the power supply fan(s).

An advantage of two 120 mm fan is that sufficient airflow
(out of chassis) can be created with reduced noise. Using two
low flow and therefore much quieter fans, then the same
airflow may be obtained as with one high flow and noisy 80 mm
fan. To say for sure required numerical specifications.

The first Sparkle 350W supply is inferior. They say so
right in the specifications:
Over Voltage Protection: Not specified
Overload Protection: Not specified
Click to expand...

But the $39 price should alone be a dead giveaway that
something is wrong with that supply. Neither supply even
tries to claim EMI/RFI protection. But at least the Fortron
claims some overvoltage and overpower protection. Brand name
along is not sufficient as the cited Sparkle supply
demonstrates. Neither supply claims to meet the ATX 2.03 (or
any equivalent) specification. Specifications, not brand
name, are important. Price is a good precursor that something
is missing in the supply.
 
And where is the PFC? This Antec appears to be a new design
intended to go for the $40 market. The supply appears to
retail list for something like $60-$70. $43 would be a street
price.

This Antec may be the $80 supply - a new design. For
example the $80 supply was previously selling for $100. Then
new innovations were implemented. It is possible that the new
wave of $80 supplies will now *list retail* for $65. However
and again, where is the PFC in this supply? Every top of the
line manufacturer at one time or other tries to dump a low
cost knock off onto the market - to go after the lower end of
the market. Antec tends to meet minimal specs - a major
accomplishment for any power supply manufacturer when the
customers are so technically ignorant. $80 retail list number
had remained a benchmark. Supplies selling for $40 routinely
did not include essential functions.
 
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