Reliable Budget PSUs

[MGP]

With regards to all the recommendations, i'm almost 95% certain on the XFX 550, i have till Friday to exhaust all options.

I have a firm wired option but also like the modular units, and currently thinking of increasing my budget to £65.

Any recommendations?

[kalniel]

I have a firm wired option but also like the modular units, and currently thinking of increasing my budget to £65.

Any recommendations?

The NZXT Hale90 550 is meant to be very good. It's within budget, modular, and you can get it from places that have a now quite good reputation for handling returns (quite important for PSUs).

[MGP]

According to a review on OCUK, that NZXT isn't modular?

[kalniel]

According to a review on OCUK, that NZXT isn't modular?

It's not, sorry, didn't think that was a requirement. You could waste some efficiency and go for the 650W version, which is modular, though I don't know where it's in stock for the budget, or the afore mentioned seasonic M12 is an option. The Seasonic G series 450W also hits your new budget, with gold efficiency rating.

[MGP]

Would a 450W unit power a FX6300, 8GB, 270X, 3 case fans and 2 HDDs?

[Bagnaj97]

Would a 450W unit power a FX6300, 8GB, 270X, 3 case fans and 2 HDDs?

It should do, but I'd be wary if you're overclocking. My pc is similar, but my GPU is a thirstier model. FX6300, 7870 XT, 2 HDD, 2 SSD, H100 and 5 fans (inc the 2 on H100). Under *extreme* load (Prime95+furmark simultaneously) it peaked at ~480w at the wall (520w with the CPU at 4.4GHz), however I can't think of any real world workload which would come close to that (BTC mining on both CPU and GPU?). During a 3dmark Firestrike run it peaked at ~380w. Generally in gaming it's between 300 and 350w.

That was with a 3 year old 80+ Bronze rated PSU (OCZ Fatal1ty 550w), with the NZXT the numbers are noticeably lower, but I haven't run the tests at stock to compare.

[MGP]

I think i'm pretty much sold on the XFX that you suggested earlier in this thread. I've been looking into modular units, and like the idea. Any suggestions?

I've had no reason to over clock, the system i have pretty much runs everything i throw at it lately.

[Bagnaj97]

I think i'm pretty much sold on the XFX that you suggested earlier in this thread. I've been looking into modular units, and like the idea. Any suggestions?

I've had no reason to over clock, the system i have pretty much runs everything i throw at it lately.

The Antec Neo Eco 520c (£55.50 on CCL or Amazon) is seasonic built, in stock and semi-modular, it should be basically the same as the Seasonic at Scan you mentioned earlier which is out of stock.

There's also the Zalman Goldrock 550w for £49.99 at amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zalman-ZM550...s=550w+modular 550w, modular, gold rated for that price is *very* good. Reviews are few and far between unfortunately, but from what I can see of the higher power versions, the capacitors are all high quality JapCaps (Panasonic+105 degree rated).

[MGP]

Thanks again for the recommendations. I'm ordering the PSU tomorrow, and it's good to have a few options on the table. I was considering the EVGA SuperNOVA G1 650W... Do you have any thoughts on that particular unit?

[Bagnaj97]

Thanks again for the recommendations. I'm ordering the PSU tomorrow, and it's good to have a few options on the table. I was considering the EVGA SuperNOVA G1 650W... Do you have any thoughts on that particular unit?

It looks like a decent unit from the reviews I can find, but is it worth paying £15 more over the Zalman I found earlier if you don't need the extra 100w?

The EVGA missed the requirements for its gold rating, and was "not the quietest" in this review
The Zalman easily exceeded the gold rating and was quiet in this review. However the unit tested was the 650w version.

Both are well made and have decent warranties.

[MGP]

Some good information there, made an interesting read. Out of all the suggestions that have been made, if it was down to you to choose, which one would you purchase tomorrow?

[Bagnaj97]

550w is plenty for your spec so I wouldn't spend the extra on the EVGA. The XFX isn't gold rated, which makes it hard to recommend when given the other options.
That leaves the NZXT and the Zalman. The Zalman is modular but more expensive as a result.

The EVGA, Zalman and NZXT are all longer than the ATX standard (presumably it's hard to shrink a gold effiency PSU!), but that's not generally a concern in standard tower cases.

If you're getting a standard tower case and want modular, get the Zalman.

[MGP]

I've got the CM Storm Scout 2 Advanced case, should fit no issues.

[MGP]

£49.99 at amazon is a steal... OCUK has this unit priced up for £109.99, SCAN £77.46???

[MGP]

Thanks for all your help folks, i've just ordered the Zalman ZM-550-XG from Amazon for £49.99 and should receive the unit tomorrow. As soon as i've tested the unit i'll post back and report my findings!

[mynameissi]

Corsair are always reliable, but I don't think they tend to be particularly cheap.
Just noticed the post above
nvm