Cheap PSU worth the risk?

[jimbouk]

I've built myself a rig with budget being the main concern. AM2 X2 3800+, onboard vga, re-used hdd and case/PSU. Overall £200 spend before things started going wrong. First was the hdd which set me back another £50, and now it's the PSU. I can't really complain as it cost me nothing in the first place, but the "350W" Antec Smartpower couldn't power my shuttle that runs fine on it's 200W PSU, never mind the new machine. Anyway I'm running low on money but can't just sit here with £250 worth of computer not working.

In the interests of speed (2 weeks with a dead computer is no fun) and money something like the JEANTECH - 450W ATX POWER SUPPLY from PC World (of all places) is really tempting me. Is this madness brought on by never ending dead computer syndrome? Should I get something with a decent name on it from Scan and wait another week, or ride my bike over to PC World tomorrow and pick up something cheap?

In the interests of my sanity please help

[Clunk]

Does it come with a fire extinguisher?

Get a decent branded one from somewhere. For about the same price as that one, or less, you can get a 400w (ish) seasonic or the like

[Max Tractor]

I would be wondering why a 350w would not power the rig in the first place iirc there ws soe issues with some antec psu's and motherboards back in the day. £45 is hardly cheap, have a look at fsp psu for a good budget pwer unit

[chuckskull]

For £45 you can get a decent branded 400w PSU. Personally I'd borrow £20 off a mate and buy a 580w Hiper Type-R

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=228620

Comes in shiny blue for the same price too.

[Platinum]

Cheap PSU worth the risk?

NO NO NO NO NO NEVER

, never ever ever skimp on your PSU, it is hooked up to every device in your system and powers it, if it goes tits up then theres a good chance that if its ****e it may take out the rest of your system.

[amjedm]

A Seasonic 380 from Scan will set you back under £35 when on Today Only.

The Antec (especially SmartPower) psus aren't in the same league as FSP/Enermax/Seasonic etc.

[spiral out]

While i agree never skimp on the PSU, i have now replaced three very cheap ones for friends after they stopped working and not one of them has damaged any other componants when it has died.

[dave87]

Personally, that 450W at PCWorld is a complete rip off.

I'd go for either a Tagan or Seasonic, they should both fall into your budget (the latter in the 430w iirc)

[jimbouk]

That's a no then. Cheers guys you've saved me throwing another £40 down the drain. I'll take a look at some of the brands you've mentioned. Thanks again.

ps has anyone ever bought a Jeantech PSU before? There weren't any reviews of the 450W one I could find, which was the thing that stopped me just buying one. Toms had a review of the 600W one, average was the key word there.

[moogle]

if I had to buy a cheap psu I'd make sure I bought a PSU tester with it, and if it did work after that I'd still be worried as most of the cheap PSU's dont offer as much protection as good quality ones like corsair, seasonic, enermax and many others.

[spiral out]

Either of these are in your budget and you get free shipping too.


http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=277840

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=256335

[NightshadowUK]

The 380W Seasonic is more than enough for the rig you specified. One's currently powering my folks PC...

AMD 64 3700+
Abit AN8 Ultra
Sapphire X800 GTO²

... with no trouble at all.

[Blitzen]

OP!!!
You have answered your own question really.

Of course its not worth it!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Hi - what about the Silverpower SP400?? It is a 400W PSU that has received many good reviews and costs under 30 quid.

Scan have it in stock:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=256346

[Agent]

Ive ripped a Jeanteck to bits, and to be fair, they are actually quite decent PSU's.
Good build quality, parts inside aint cheap and nasty, certainly not a Q-tec.
It would be ok for stock things, but dont expect to be pushing your system with one. Its ok for a home system that will sit there not doing a lot, but buy one of the big brands for an enthusiast system

edit - the price is a rip off for what it is, but thats PCW for you

[amjedm]

Hi - what about the Silverpower SP400?? It is a 400W PSU that has received many good reviews and costs under 30 quid.

Scan have it in stock:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=256346

Quality psu - I bought a couple of the 350 ones but probably not in the same league as the Seasonic.