Power Supplies

[stangdaman]

I'm in the middle of a build here and trying to decide on a power supply. I found this on newegg and it looks like a decent deal. I saw on silentpcreview.com that a lot of people didn't care too much for the enermax stuff though. I was wondering if anyone here has used this and if so what you thought of it. I really would like to have a modular psu it just makes more sense to me then having a bunch of cables I'm not using cluttering up my case and obviously I want something that's pretty quiet as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817194002

[McBainUK]

My friend had one similar to that and it was pretty quiet. It was a gaming rig so not a true test for HTPC suitablity mind.

I based most of my purchases from advice on silentpcreview.com and all where good buys, the GBPVR box in my sig is silent less than a foot or so away.

[stangdaman]

yeah it seems like a pretty good site. They seem to really like the seasonics. Which are really quiet, atleast by the specs, but most aren't modular and they are more expensive. I guess I just need to figure out which is more important to me.

[Ted the Penguin]

ok just a bit of advice from someone who has had his fair share of computer problems (ok well other peoples computer problems that they dump on me, but thats another story).

DON'T skimp on your power supply!! it is an important component of your system and is the root of all stability:p if you get a cheap one then the voltages could change and drift out of the ATX spec under load, this could cause some serious damage to your components... bad.

I agree with silentpc about Seasonic PSUs (and no I have never really read the site) they are good power supplies that perform very well under load, and have great efficiency, go check out the power supply stress tests at toms hardware, they provide a good picture of what kind of stability and reliability you can expect, personally I carry the general rating of the PSU to other capacities of the same model.

I understand the want for modular, but with some good cable routing it will be fine

[McBainUK]

Which are really quiet, atleast by the specs

And in real life, I've got one

[stangdaman]

McBain, I didn't mean anything against them when I said that I just meant I didn't know from personal experience so that's all I have to go on is the specs.

Ted, is the Enermax stuff bad? I just meant if it's comparable to a similar seasonic and has what I want in a modular power supply would that be better. I don't know if they are or aren't I'm seriously asking.

[herbs]

I have seasonic and I second that they are quiet, well the two I have used.

[Ted the Penguin]

sigh,
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/02/07/5...page5.html

there the next capacity up of your power supply

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/11/s...age24.html

and a seasonic to compare to, they kinda changed their testing methodology between the tests but you can still compare

oh and there are modular Seasonic PSUs, of the same model that was tested they are the M12 not the S12 series

and no enermax is not crap, my advice not to skimp was general, seasonic is just better

[stangdaman]

Ted Ok. I was hearing you I just wanted to get a little fuller answer on that. Like I said I have nothing against the Seasonic and I agree with you guys from everything I've read and heard they are very good.

One more question in regards to this and I'll leave you alone. I tried out a couple of these PSU calculators and it seems they very quite a bit, as I would suspect they would, on how much wattage they recommend depending on how full my expasion slots are. I have two questions about this. Even though I'm not going to be maxing the system out right off should I buy a PSU with the assumption that at some point I will. For instancewith what I'm putting in there right now most reccomend around a 350 watt psu but maxed out over a 500 watt. Should I get like a 550 watt psu or go with something like a 430 like I showed and assume that if I decide to up my components later on I will upgrade.

My second question is in regards to noise. Will a larger PSU be louder then a smaller or will it actually be quieter since it won't be running as hard to produce what you need?

[stangdaman]

I'm thinking this is the one I will go with. I do change my mind a lot though. Have any of you guys tried this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817151027