Help with Power Supply Selection

The 400 W supply in my Sunbeam Quarterback case has started singing a bad song. The box was purchased in May 2008, so less than 2 years later it needs to be replaced before I sing a sad song myself.

Reading on the MG boards and others I find three alternatives for $40-$50.


Thermaltake TR2 W0070 Power supply - 430 Watt

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W

Antec Basiq BP500U 500W ($7 difference in 430 and 500 watt at NewEgg)

I need your opinions, please? :confused

 

What kind of budget do you have?

Also, please put your system specs into this site to make sure 400W is enough for you: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

 

I agree to using the calculator collinsl suggested, but note it only recommends the minimums based on the default settings which is what they consider "normal" use. A PSU should support those instances when you tax the system too, and it should last for years and support some standard upgrades, like adding more RAM, or another drive or two.

Therefore, see my canned text following on using that calculator so you can be sure a new PSU will support your needs for years to come.

Use the eXtreme PSU Calculator Lite to determine your power supply unit (PSU) requirements. Plug in all the hardware you think you might have in 2 or 3 years (extra drives, bigger or 2nd video card, more RAM, etc.). Be sure to read and heed the notes at the bottom of the page. I recommend setting Capacitor Aging to 30%, and if you participate in distributive computing projects (e.g. BOINC or Folding@Home), or extreme 3D animated gaming, I recommend setting TDP to 100%. These steps ensure the supply has adequate head room for stress free operation and future demands. Research your video card and pay particular attention to the power supply requirements for your card listed on your video card maker's website. If not listed, check a comparable card (same graphics engine and RAM) from a different maker. The key specifications, in order of importance are:

1. Current (amperage or amps) on the +12V rail,
2. Efficiency,
3. Total wattage.

Then look for power supply brands listed under the "Good" column of PC Mechanic's PSU Reference List. Ensure the supplied amperage on the +12V rails of your chosen PSU meets the requirements of your video card. Don't try to save a few dollars by getting a cheap supply. And don't count on supplies that come included with a case. They are often underrated, budget or poor quality models "tossed in" to make the case sale. Digital electronics, including CPUs, RAM, and today's advanced graphics cards, need clean, stable power. A good, well chosen supply will provide years of service and upgrade wiggle room. I strongly recommend you pick a supply with an efficiency rating equal to, or greater than 80%. Look for the 80 Plus - EnergyStar Compliant label. And don't forget to budget for a good UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation), as surge and spike protectors are inadequate.
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I don't have a huge budget, and when I entered my specs- it suggested 230 Watts. It is apparent that a $19 PS is suicide in the making, and $50 is a lot less than $500 to replace this box if it frys.

 

Wise thinking! A budget, generic or off brand PSU is like dumping generic, off brand gas from the corner QuickyMart and Tobacco Hut into your fancy new Porsche. A car motor can miss a beat and keep on running. Not so with digital electronics.

 

The flames from a video card on I believe Tom's Hardware were incredible!



This is a Linux box and I have a SATA and an IDE and a pair of CD ROM hooked up. Nothing too fancy.

Any thoughts on the 3 brands in the OP?

 

Any of those would be fine IMO, Antec Earthwatts is an excellent choice but the other two choices are good too. I guess you should just look for more stars in client satisfaction.

 

I would second the above, but add a reason the 500W gives you a little more room for upgrades. An extra 100W is a 100W.

 

I've been using Antec supplies for many years and would not hesitate to recommend them. Most recently, I been using Corsairs and am very happy with them too. This computer is using a 750W Corsair and when I first powered it on, I thought it was dead - it was just super quiet.

Among trusted brands. I would much rather have a 400W Corsair, for example, than a 500W generic.

 

Thanks, I doubt that I will do much more upgrades except maybe if the CD dies go Lightscribe.

I am going to pony up and get the Antec Earthworks from NewEgg. Let's hope they can ship before this one dies.....

Sadly Sunbeamtech never answered an email question.

 

Surely you mean the EarthWatts?

I second the fact that, as Digerati said, a good brand like antec is a lot better than a poor brand. Good brands can run consistently well at higher wattages, and here is the key, amperages, than cheap supplies that may be rated higher. Ampage is more key than wattage, you need the correct ampage on each rail to provide the correct amount of power. Wattage is used as a marketing tool by generic branders, but ampage will be higher on better units like Antec, Corsair, etc rather than no-namers like PCMech or Suntech

 

Good choice BOOMM if I say so myself. I have a 500W Earthwatts, near 4 years old and now running an Intel Quad full blast(all cores pinned), 4 GB RAM and a pair of OC'd 9800GTs going full tilt too plus 3 HDDs running 24/7. One can't ask for anything more out of a PSU!

 

I opted for the 430 watt. Should suffice for what I use it for.

The videos of FLAMES coming from Video cards made me shudder!

Thankfully, I received a call yesterday that will pay me $60 within the next few weeks- the cost of the new PSU

 

Excellent! That's great for your current setup. You won't be disappointed.