Power supplies

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jc

Does anyone know of a half decent inexpensive power supply. I know there is
Powmax which isn't that great. Despite the 2 year guarantee Any other
ideas.
Thanks in advance
 
jc said:
Does anyone know of a half decent inexpensive power supply. I know
there is Powmax which isn't that great. Despite the 2 year guarantee
Any other ideas.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...


Unless someone corrects me "half-decent" and "inexpensive" are oxymorons. If
you're building, the PSU should be the first thing on your list. You
shouldn't be looking at cheap supplies as they'll (probably) end up costing
you more in the long run. Look at it this way - which would you rather
spend - £50 on a PSU now, or £300+ on a new board and/or CPU later? Cheap
PSUs will inevitably take other components with them when they blow/die. You
certainly shouldn't be looking to spend less than £50, IMNSHO.
 
I've heard good reports of users of Sparkle PS's. I haven't used them but
you might check out Newegg or other outfits to price them.
 
Miss Perspicacia Tick provided you answer up front and
accurate. How do they sell power supplies for a lower price.
First they are marketing to computer assemblers who don't even
have basic electrical knowledge and who think they are
computer literate because they can swap power supplies. These
are the perfect people to market supplies that are missing
essential functions. As Miss Perspicacia Tick noted, one does
not discover some missing functions until after the power
supply has damaged motherboard, memory, and hard drive. For
the benefit of computer assemblers - if a power supply failure
causes other computer damage, then the power supply was
defective when purchased - was missing essential functions.

Minimally acceptable power supplies retail at about $65.
And not all $65 power supplies are minimally acceptable. But
if the price is lower, then *assume* they are making a higher
profit. Ask which functions they forgot to include in that
supply.

There exist bean counters and computer guys. Which one will
you be to select a power supply? One who first demands the
long list of written, numerical specifications? Or one who
only buys using price?

Any recommendation not first based upon the long list of
defacto specifications (and even Intel publishes those
requirements) should be considered speculation or a
recommendation from a bean counter. Where are the specs for
that Powmax? There you go. Notice why Powmax fail so often.
They are not selling to people with technical knowledge. They
provide no written specs; to market to computer assemblers.

No long list of written, numeric specs? Well you know what
then can happen.
 
you shouldn't skimp on a PS, I have an Antec Neo Power in one system and a
Ultra X-connect in another. The PS's that came with the two chasis' I gave
away. Skimping on a PS is like buying a house with a rotting foundationm it
will cost you a lot of money down the line.
 
jc said:
Does anyone know of a half decent inexpensive power supply. I know there is
Powmax which isn't that great. Despite the 2 year guarantee Any other
ideas.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Buy a power supply and try it. It will either work or not. You can
return it if it doesn't.

Trying to understand your needs, I believe you are trying to buy the
biggest number of watts on the block so you can brag about it, but you
don't want to pay for the priviledge.
 
Does anyone know of a half decent inexpensive power supply. I know there is
Powmax which isn't that great. Despite the 2 year guarantee Any other
ideas.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

1st determine the system power needs. Based upon that, a
good deal can be had from Sparkle/Fortron units meeting
those needs, or one of several other name-brands which are
often more expensive per same quality but as with many
marked-up items, they are subject to go on sale. How much
you save depends on how impatient you are and how much time
is devoted to searching.
 
Miss said:
jc wrote:
Click to expand...
Unless someone corrects me "half-decent" and "inexpensive"
are oxymorons.
Click to expand...

PSUs made by Fortron-Source are much better than "half-decent" but
inexpensive, as little as $25 for a 350W model (probably Hi-Q or PowerQ
brand). Their other brands include Powerman, Powertech, Sparkle,
Trend, Aopen, and some Casedge, generally about anything with a model
number starting with "FSP".
 
PSUs made by Fortron-Source are much better than "half-decent" but
inexpensive, as little as $25 for a 350W model (probably Hi-Q or PowerQ
brand). Their other brands include Powerman, Powertech, Sparkle,
Trend, Aopen, and some Casedge, generally about anything with a model
number starting with "FSP".
Click to expand...

Note though that they make different quality levels too,
that two 300W PSU from Sparkle Fortron may not be internally
identical... some (did?) even use the crappy Yate Loon
sleeve-bearing fans which I've seen fail too many times to
count, though an annual lubrication schedule might be
enough, even so to have to do that it might be preferrible
to get one of their other models with better fans, often
they use pretty good NMB dual ball-bearing fans.
 
kony said:
On 21 Feb 2005 22:52:10 -0800, "larry moe 'n curly"
Click to expand...
Note though that they make different quality levels too,
that two 300W PSU from Sparkle Fortron may not be internally
identical... some (did?) even use the crappy Yate Loon
sleeve-bearing fans which I've seen fail too many times to
count, though an annual lubrication schedule might be
enough, even so to have to do that it might be preferrible
to get one of their other models with better fans, often
they use pretty good NMB dual ball-bearing fans.
Click to expand...

Does that mean if you had to choose between either the best Powmax with
a ball bearing fan and the worst Fortron-Source with a sleeve bearing
fan (and weren't allowed to change the fan) that you'd pick the Powmax?
;)
 
Does that mean if you had to choose between either the best Powmax with
a ball bearing fan and the worst Fortron-Source with a sleeve bearing
fan (and weren't allowed to change the fan) that you'd pick the Powmax?
;)
Click to expand...

Of course not, but i'd buy neither if I weren't allowed to
change the fan. Every PSU in a system I rely on has either
NMB or Nidec fan on PSU exhaust, though these two are great
fans it's really just a preference from a
pricing/bulk-purchase standpoint, Delta et al are good too.

These days though with systems using ever-more power I'd as
soon recommend someone go ahead and splurge on a 530W
Sparkle/Fortron, as 350W is cutting it a bit tight for some
on 12V rail and the 530W isn't much more expensive than 400W
after a bit of hunting. FWIW, there seems to be a noticably
better build on the 400W and higher models, the difference
between a 350W & 400W is more than that between the 300W and
350W.
 
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