What's the real story on Power Supplys?

[Andaho]

I'm going to build a new PC with a E6750 cpu, X1950XT graphics card, 2 hard drives and 2 dvd-rw drives.

In another thread, people have recommended the Corsair 520W PSU @ £70! - that seems a little overkill to me.

Ebuyer has a lot of cheap PSUs like this one for example : Extra Value 550W Gold ATX Silent PSU @ £19.98 inc VAT. It has good looking rails with 12V @ 30A and 5v @ 35A.

Then I came across this : Huntkey True 450W PSU @ £32.89 inc VAT.

In reading reviews on ebuyer, a few bad reviews of the extra value PSUs said that "it's definately not a true 550W". Then I saw this one saying it's a True 450W - So what do they mean by saying it's True?

I filled in the PSU Calculator, and it came out with only 385W with the whole system filled in.

I don't want to spend more than I need to on building my new system, so can anyone recommend a PSU?

[aidanjt]

Even the PSU calculator over doubles the real power requirement, the issue with power supplies isn't that of power, but of quality, the whole stability of your system is based on a clean supply of power in the form of direct current, cheap power supplies generally die quicker, and have a habit of taking your system with it. Just make sure you go with known brands like Tagan, Seasonic, Corsiar, Enermax, etc.

[Agent]

Its a case of "you get what you pay for".
The Corsair is recommended for hardcore overclockers due to its stability and good voltages.
In all honesty, there is a lot of good PSU's out there, but as you find a lot of enthusiasts here they will normally recommend whatever is best at that time, regardless of price.

If you stick to the "big brands" like Cosair, OCZ, Tagan, ect... you won't go wrong. The difference between these PSUs wouldn't show in the majority of systems. You just need to remember that some people will pay silly amounts to know that its not the PSU holding them back.

On the links you have given - don't ever ever ever buy a PSU that's labelled "q-tec", "extra value" ect.
They are cheap for a reason. The PSU is the heart of your system, and it can make anything else in it look like its at fault. You also run the risk of if it dies, taking parts with it.

The difference between "real" wattage values is usually related to amps. Amp's and voltage go hand in hand. The cheaper PSU's claim to be able to support higher watts, but can not provide the amp's needed to do so. Its just a marketing con.
Have a read of http://www.hexus.net/content/item.ph...359&search=PSU
That was from 2005, but the fundamentals of how a PSU works haven't changed

[Lanky123]

What about Xclio - Ive heard good and bad things about them and some are fairly cheap. Is this a good middle ground or still a bit risky? Example:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=156689

[Agent]

What about Xclio - Ive heard good and bad things about them and some are fairly cheap. Is this a good middle ground or still a bit risky? Example:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=156689

The problem with hearing bad things about them, is its always going to outweigh the people who speak up and say good things.
I've only come across one Xclio PSU and it did the job, but it wasn't in an overclocked system, just sat there doing what it was asked too - nothing too strenuous.
Have a google of reviews and see what they say

[Andaho]

I filled in the PSU Calculator, and it came out with only 385W with the whole system filled in.

I just realised I didn't allow for aging... and with 20% aging on that, it's 462W.

don't ever ever ever buy a PSU that's labelled "q-tec", "extra value" ect.
They are cheap for a reason. The PSU is the heart of your system, and it can make anything else in it look like its at fault. You also run the risk of if it dies, taking parts with it.

How do systems like Dell and HP last so well? Because surely they use cheap PSUs? - Businesses use these PCs all day every day, and in offices they often get left on 24/7 - So what kind of PSUs do they use?

[aidanjt]

OEMs tend to use FSP group PSUs and others that mass produce OEM PSUs, just because they're low wattage doesn't mean they're completely 'cheap' in terms of quality.

Again, I completely recommend ignoring anything PSU calculators say.

[Agent]

How do systems like Dell and HP last so well? Because surely they use cheap PSUs? - Businesses use these PCs all day every day, and in offices they often get left on 24/7 - So what kind of PSUs do they use?

Dell and HP certainly don't use cheap PSUs.
A lot of Dell (not sure about HP), use their own, proprietary PSU's that are custom made for their systems.
What gave you the idea that they use cheap ones? Dell have to provide very reliable machines due to their market segment: Mainly businesses and homes who don't know jack about PC's.

[Andaho]

The problem with hearing bad things about them, is its always going to outweigh the people who speak up and say good things.

I think the problem with hearing people say bad things about them, is enthusiasts that simply slate all cheap PSUs, without knowing anything about it other than seeing it's cheap price?

[aidanjt]

I think the problem with hearing people say bad things about them, is enthusiasts that simply slate all cheap PSUs, without knowing anything about it other than seeing it's cheap price?

It's more like 'omgzwtf 300W PSU is cheap/crap' type mentality that's being tossed around these days.

[Andaho]

Dell and HP certainly don't use cheap PSUs.
A lot of Dell (not sure about HP), use their own, proprietary PSU's that are custom made for their systems.
What gave you the idea that they use cheap ones? Dell have to provide very reliable machines due to their market segment: Mainly businesses and homes who don't know jack about PC's.

How can they afford to do it? - I mean I know pleanty of offices that use £250 machines, schools and colleges usually buy cheap PCs too. How can they afford to use a quality PSU when the machine is so cheap? - or is it just that brand name PSU manufacturers make too much profit and don't have enough competition, or simply have a kind of pact to overcharge? lol.

[Agent]

I think the problem with hearing people say bad things about them, is enthusiasts that simply slate all cheap PSUs, without knowing anything about it other than seeing it's cheap price?

Partly true, but it depends on the PSU.
Some cheaper ones will do the job fine, but its more to do with the brand than the wattage.
The amount of "fly by" PSU manufactures which seem to pop up never ceases to amaze me. Its much more important to have a stable PSU than a powerful one in most systems.

You have to balance it out. Some company's make utterly ridiculous claims (like Q-tec), and sell their PSUs for a price that would be hard to buy the components for, never mind shipping, manufacturing and allowing the retailer a profit.
If you stick to the well known brands that have been around for a while, its hard to go wrong, even with the cheaper models they make.

One of the other reasons people like to buy expensive PSUs is that it can last many years and several upgrades. It can often work out cheaper to buy an expensive one at the start as opposed to buying a new one every upgrade just for a few watt/amp's more

[Andaho]

Again, I completely recommend ignoring anything PSU calculators say.

So, for the system I'm going to build, can anyone reccommend a PSU that won't be overkill, as I don't overclock, and will porbably never upgrade the PC, as I always prefer to put up with an old PC until I build a whole new system.

[Agent]

How can they afford to do it? - I mean I know pleanty of offices that use £250 machines, schools and colleges usually buy cheap PCs too. How can they afford to use a quality PSU when the machine is so cheap? - or is it just that brand name PSU manufacturers make too much profit and don't have enough competition, or simply have a kind of pact to overcharge? lol.

Economies of Scale.
Dell says to a PSU manufacturer "I need a million of these units, what can you offer us" is going to get one hell of a good price compared to smaller runs of units

[aidanjt]

One of the other reasons people like to buy expensive PSUs is that it can last many years and several upgrades. It can often work out cheaper to buy an expensive one at the start as opposed to buying a new one every upgrade just for a few watt/amp's more

Or so they don't have to buy a new cheap PSU that blows up almost clockwork every 2 or 3 months.

[aidanjt]

So, for the system I'm going to build, can anyone reccommend a PSU that won't be overkill, as I don't overclock, and will porbably never upgrade the PC, as I always prefer to put up with an old PC until I build a whole new system.

There's still 330W and 380W Tagan PSUs still kicking about, either of them will fit the bill.