Best PSU?

[Cosworth]

Any recommendations? Looking for a modular around 800 to 1000W.

[hse180]

Ernermax Galaxy 850 or 1000.

[vicar]

Seasonic, corsair or any of the good makes take your pick

[Cosworth]

Ernermax Galaxy 850 or 1000.

Thanks for that.
Just had a look at them but unfortunately the 850W doesn't cover all the leads that I require and the 1000W is just too expensive. Sorry, I should have been a little more detailed in my requirements.

Main requirements
1x 20+4pin Main Supply
1x 8pin ATX
2x 6pin PCIe
1x OR 2x 8pin PCIe

Might possibly push the boat out too around the £150 mark. Say for example like this:- Cooler Master OR THIS TAGAN

Please keep the suggestions coming!

[EzyRyder]

That Tagan looks good. Tagan makes greats PSUs, I am still using my 480W and works a treat in my overclocked rig.

[cougarslam]

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

72A thats more than the entire power rating for some houses

[Webby]

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

72A thats more than the entire power rating for some houses

Don't forget thats 240v (or 110v depending on where you live) so 100W at 240v is 0.42A now moving the same 100W at 12v you have 8.33A so power supply amperages and household supply are not really comparable, also remember you probably have a 5A fuse in your computers plug but that can provide 1200W (@240v).

[Webby]

What are you powering that requires 800 - 1000W????

You are unlikely to pull more than 650W (so assuming 85% PSU efficiency 765W from the wall) with an overclocked quad core running 2 high powered graphics cards.

Don't forget having a hugely over powered PSU only costs you more money, both initially with the extra cost of purchasing one and later with lower than optimal efficiencies associated with low loads (the second point may be moot as your probably only looking at a couple of percent difference in the efficiencies).

Edit: Sorry for double post wasn't paying attention to where I was typing....

[hermeticist]

Antec TruePower Quattro 850W Modular PSU - 2x 8pin PCI-E 2x 6pin PCI-E 4x 12V Rails 80PLUS Energy Efficiency - Ebuyer

mini review:

AnandTech: Power Supply Summary 2007 - The Best of the Best

Be aware that early models had a glitch with 8800GTX (I think) - Although Antec did say that they would replace any that exhibited this problem (I should think so!).

+ Free delivery (always nice).

[Cosworth]

What are you powering that requires 800 - 1000W????

You are unlikely to pull more than 650W (so assuming 85% PSU efficiency 765W from the wall) with an overclocked quad core running 2 high powered graphics cards.

Don't forget having a hugely over powered PSU only costs you more money, both initially with the extra cost of purchasing one and later with lower than optimal efficiencies associated with low loads (the second point may be moot as your probably only looking at a couple of percent difference in the efficiencies).

Edit: Sorry for double post wasn't paying attention to where I was typing....

I am currently running an 800W. This size was originally decided up on by using various PSU calculators based on fitted components, allowing for PSU inefficiency and giving some headroom for the future.
Since originally purchasing this one I've installed such items like a water pump and a 25cm cooling fan so removing this 'headroom'.

I'm only changing mine now as my Son and I both need to upgrade the plug options available to us. In other words, he's upgrading by having my current PSU allowing me to buy a new one with the necessary plug sockets to fit a 8pin ATX MoBo and a 8pin plug for the 3870x2.

[Bhavv]

I've used Tagan (Currently) and Antec in the past, both are seriously great quality.

I had an Antec 380 watt PSU powering an SLI 6800 rig! It coped fine for 6 months. Then I upgraded to a 580 watt hiper which blew in two months (faulty batch at overclockers apparantly), and replaced it with a 580 watt Tagan modular PSU which is completely silent and is still working two years later.

I also reccomend Seasonic and Enermax from what I've read about them, but from personal use Antec and Tagan are my first choice.

According to a review I read all those years back on my PSU, its peak efficiency was around 90%, but still came third to Seasonic and Enermax! Antec was around 85% if I remember correctly.

[TooNice]

To be honest, I find those power calculator to overstates power requirements more often than not. Have you tried checking how much power your system really draw with a main power monitor? It's around a tenner and could save you from buying more than you need (the top of the end power supplies, as with all top of the line components, carry a pretty steep premium - and while it's not advisable to skimp on PSUs, 800W from a reputable manufacturer can handle a lot of hardware). On a side note, Antec do often get other manufacturers to make PSU from them.

[Webby]

Don't forget when you talk about efficiencies that does not limit the available power output just how much power is wasted in the conversion process.

So while high efficiencies are a good thing they do not factor into what rating of PSU you require.

As an example of what sort of levels of power are required when my system (see my system link <- ) is running folding at home it draws 140W from the wall assuming 85&#37; efficiency that means my PSU is outputting 120W that is basically maxing out my CPU so add on 225W (maximum possible draw for a graphics card running in a PCIe slot with a single 6pin power adapter) you have a total load of 350W adding a second Graphics card would boost this upto 575W but it is unrealistic to assume that any current graphics solution is drawing the full power load possible. Make the CPU a Quad core you probably need another 60W, water pump 18W fans are not really power hungry less than 5W each (probably more around 2W or 3W). So you probably are still well under 700W and that is a worst case scenario.

So unless you are running duel 8800 Ultras (or 2900 XTs ) then it is unrealistic to think that you will require anything over 800W and if you are running a single graphics card system then 650W is probably more than enough.

As TooNice suggests get a power monitor and see how much power you actually draw currently (don't forget to factor in efficiency), you may be pleasantly surprised.

[Cosworth]

Thanks for the really useful information, so it's time to go and find out.

N.B.
I will be running eventually 1x X1950 PRO and 1x 3870x2 GPU with a Quad Q6600 B3

[Blitzen]

Thanks for the really useful information, so it's time to go and find out.

N.B.
I will be running eventually 1x X1950 PRO and 1x 3870x2 GPU with a Quad Q6600 B3

All in one case?????
You sure about that?

Anyway.....a good 500W would sort that out nps.

Just for the record though. That Tagan you linked: Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK looks fantastic on paper.
I havent seen one but if it does what it promises, together with those connectors, its going to take alot of beating.

[Cosworth]

All in one case?????
You sure about that?

What do you mean? Of course in one case! I have a full tower case.

Anyway.....a good 500W would sort that out nps.

nps???

500w is way not powerful enough.

Just for the record though. That Tagan you linked: Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK looks fantastic on paper.
I havent seen one but if it does what it promises, together with those connectors, its going to take alot of beating.

Yes it does look OK but they've put it up in price again. Grrr!