Best PSU?

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GPSJane

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I have just set up a new rig with the following specs:

Intel motherboard with G45 chipset
Intel Core2Duo
2 x Corsair 2Gb DDR2 800Mhz SDRAM
2 x Samsung 1Tb Spinpoint 5400rpm HDD

Lightscribe DVD/CD RW of some kind - to be bought this week.
PCIe wireless adapter - to be bought this week.
I will also buy an ATI Radeon graphics card with 1Gb dedicated RAM min at some point but for now I'm using on board graphics.

So the last thing I need to buy is the PSU. I have the following on my list. All have more than sufficient power available, even for future upgrades. I want best performance with quietest operation. And of course best value for money.

Corsair TX650
http://www.corsair.com/products/tx/default.aspx
80plus (80% energy efficiency)
120mm intelligent fan with ball bearings
single 12V rail

Thermaltake Toughpower 700W
http://www.thermaltake.com/product_...hpower+700W+80+Plus+Silver+Series+&ov=n&ovid=
80plus silver (85% energy efficiency)
135mm intelligent fan with ball bearings
two 12V rails

Coolermaster eXtreme Power 650W
http://www.coolermaster.com/legacy_product.php?category_id=22
70% energy efficiency
120mm fan
two 12V rails
(cheapest option)


There are also models up from these that have modular design. Is it worth spending the extra cash? Is airflow really affected enough to improve performance?

I also have to ask a silly question; what does having multiple 12V rails help?
 
Between those three I'd go for the Toughpower first (highest efficiency), Corsair second and CM never (I refuse to buy anything less than 80% certified). Most likely though the toughpower is quite expensive so the Corsair is the best one.

The number of 12V rails is not that important. But basically for each rail you need an output stage within the PSU. The big advantage of a single 12V rail is that you never have to worry about balancing the load between all the rails.
 
Archer said:
Between those three I'd go for the Toughpower first (highest efficiency), Corsair second and CM never (I refuse to buy anything less than 80% certified). Most likely though the toughpower is quite expensive so the Corsair is the best one.

The number of 12V rails is not that important. But basically for each rail you need an output stage within the PSU. The big advantage of a single 12V rail is that you never have to worry about balancing the load between all the rails.
Click to expand...

Yeah I want the Toughpower but it's about R1700 and the Corsair is only R1100.

So I should stick to 1 rail then so I don't have to balance anything?
 
I saw that it has a 7 year warranty which is great but it's very expensive. It's also modular which appeals to my sense of order but is it really worth it for improved performance due to improved airflow etc?
 
GPSJane said:
I have just set up a new rig with the following specs:

Intel motherboard with G45 chipset
Intel Core2Duo
2 x Corsair 2Gb DDR2 800Mhz SDRAM
2 x Samsung 1Tb Spinpoint 5400rpm HDD

Lightscribe DVD/CD RW of some kind - to be bought this week.
PCIe wireless adapter - to be bought this week.
I will also buy an ATI Radeon graphics card with 1Gb dedicated RAM min at some point but for now I'm using on board graphics.

So the last thing I need to buy is the PSU. I have the following on my list. All have more than sufficient power available, even for future upgrades. I want best performance with quietest operation. And of course best value for money.

Corsair TX650
http://www.corsair.com/products/tx/default.aspx
80plus (80% energy efficiency)
120mm intelligent fan with ball bearings
single 12V rail

Thermaltake Toughpower 700W
http://www.thermaltake.com/product_...hpower+700W+80+Plus+Silver+Series+&ov=n&ovid=
80plus silver (85% energy efficiency)
135mm intelligent fan with ball bearings
two 12V rails

Coolermaster eXtreme Power 650W
http://www.coolermaster.com/legacy_product.php?category_id=22
70% energy efficiency
120mm fan
two 12V rails
(cheapest option)


There are also models up from these that have modular design. Is it worth spending the extra cash? Is airflow really affected enough to improve performance?

I also have to ask a silly question; what does having multiple 12V rails help?
Click to expand...

Out of those the corsair. But also look at the Cooler master GX 650watt.
 
I vote for the TX650W as well. Corsair's PSU products are solid
 
If you can find an XFX Pro 650w psu in this country anywhere it's also a great choice...
 
GPSJane said:
It's also modular which appeals to my sense of order but is it really worth it for improved performance due to improved airflow etc?
Click to expand...

non modular has better performance than modular, modular has better airflow - your choice.

what chassis have you got - if it has some space behind the back you might get away with the non-modular AND have good airflow and a neat look.
 
I highly doubt that you'll find the XFX PSU. I've already tried looking for it and was unable to find anything here :(

Anyway, my vote goes for the Corsair TX650 or CoolerMaster GX-650W - both of which has single +12V rails.
You really don't need anything bigger than 550W actually, however I'm not sure how bonkers you will want to go in the near future :)

Those 650W PSU's should allow you to run like 2x HD 5870 in CrossFire or 2x GTX470's in SLI.
 
I suggest you google the PSU's and specifically look at sound on max load. That will be the biggest issue you will have with the wrong PSU. Some PSU's sound like little jet engines below your desk when gaming.
 
Corsair's are manufactured by Seasonic.

A Seasonic 620W is R816 from Sybaritic.
 
I've got a Gigabyte Setto 1000 and not too much space around the case for airflow - not ideal but one of the down falls of living in a small place.
 
Coolermaster eXtreme Power 650W - I have the 550W model since I don't believe in "graphics cards" - but these are really good power supplies.

Anything non-Gigabyte is good actually.
 
GPSJane said:
I've got a Gigabyte Setto 1000 and not too much space around the case for airflow - not ideal but one of the down falls of living in a small place.
Click to expand...

I'd say
- Go for a corsair
- That is modular

You won't regret it.
 
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