Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
I need to build a cheap PC that won't be doing anything intensive like gaming. Here's what I've got so far:
AMD Athlon X2 4400+, AM2, Windsor Core, Dual Core, 2.3GHz, 2x 512KB Cache, OEM £34.01
Gigabyte GA-M61PME-S2, NF6100, S AM2/AM2+, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 667/ 800, SATA RAID, Micro ATX £40.14
4GB Corsair (2x2GB) TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18 £37.54
250 GB Western Digital WD2500AAKS Caviar SE16, SATA 3Gb/s, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 9 ms £38.38
Total so far: £158.09
I have a couple of queries:
The MOBO has onboard graphics, which I imagine should be ok, or does Vista actually require a graphics card? It will most likely be 32 bit Vista Home.
I was hoping to spend no more than £50 on a PSU, but the 2 brands I trust; Corsair and Enermax, are both more in the £70 range. (have PSU prices significantly gone up in the last year or something?!). I definitely want a quality PSU, so are there other brands/models have proved to be trust worthy for the last 5 years or so? Or am I best to stick with Corsair/Enermax and pay the asking price?
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
For a low powered build I would go for either of the following two PSUs:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/350W-...ATA-80plus-Eff
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/400w-...2V-6Serial-ATA
Silverpower PSUs are made by Tagan. It has got a good review:
http://techreport.com/articles.x/16073/11
It is also 80 Plus certified too!!
Also do you have a heatsink for the CPU?? OEM CPUs do not come with a heatsink.
The onboard graphics should be fine for Vista.
However if this motherboard comes back into stock it will be a better choice IMHO as it has faster graphics:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/JandW...Board-Graphics
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
I would go with this Hiper 425W at just £28!! Very trusted and respected brand with good efficiency. Obviously not as good as the high end type-r models but should be more than enough for your rig and cheaper than the others suggested :)
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
Mobo wise think I'd go for a 740g board rather than a nvidia 6100, better onboard GFX, and lower power consumption.
Not sure if the Hiper has any overvolt protection, I have a second Hand Antec Earthwatts 430w and its pretty efficient and quiet, maybe the Antec Basiq could be a good choice?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114928
failing that just check the Scan daily deals as they often put an OK PSU on deal.
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
zaphox, you're right the Enermax PSU's have gone up in price, was quite surprised at by how much!
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zaphox
The MOBO has onboard graphics, which I imagine should be ok, or does Vista actually require a graphics card? It will most likely be 32 bit Vista Home.
Vista will be fine with on board graphics.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zaphox
I was hoping to spend no more than £50 on a PSU, but the 2 brands I trust; Corsair and Enermax, are both more in the £70 range. (have PSU prices significantly gone up in the last year or something?!). I definitely want a quality PSU, so are there other brands/models have proved to be trust worthy for the last 5 years or so? Or am I best to stick with Corsair/Enermax and pay the asking price?
You can get the Corsair CX 400W for £40 from Scan. I've got one of those in my home server and it's rock solid.
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
Thanks for all the feedback.
I think I will go for either the Corsair CX 400W (Not sure how I missed that one in my search!) or the SilverPower sp-ss400w.
I will probably stick with that MoBo as it has an external Serial Port which is required.
Cat: Yeah, I will of course need a Heatsink & fan for the CPU - cheers.
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CAT-THE-FIFTH
Silverpower PSUs are made by Tagan.
Tagan don't make PSUs. Their PSUs are made by OEMs, mainly TwoPower IIRC.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nobull
I would go with this
Hiper 425W at just £28!! Very trusted and respected brand with good efficiency. Obviously not as good as the high end type-r models but should be more than enough for your rig and cheaper than the others suggested :)
Hiper Type-R's actually have a very dodgy reputation. Many of us here have had them, and had them die (or worse). So getting an even cheaper Hiper cannot be recommended.
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
Oh, my apologies. Over at buildyourown PC forums, the respected members and experienced system builders very often reccommend Hiper for PSUs and hold the brand in high regard. I admitedly am not an experienced system builder, only built about 6 machines. My rig has a Hiper Type-R n touch wood hasnt had any problems.
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
Hiper originally had very good PSUs then the quality dropped off, they are now again back up their with decent quality PSUs the problem is a lot of people have had a bad experiance and it takes a while for that stigma to pass over, much easier to gain a bad reputation than it is to re-build a good one.
I personally do not recommend them as I have not used them and the Corsair (and indirectly Seasonic) and Enermax units I have used have been top notch so they get my vote generally.
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
You may well be right, but a £28 PSU ain't gonna be no good, nohow...
To put a little meat on that - they can't afford to put in decent capacitors, for example, at that price.
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
Oh I wasn't referring to a particular PSU just the brand in general.
Re: Cheap Build - advice needed on PSU
I don't want to flog a dead horse here, but the closeout point on Hiper is that they don't make their own PSUs and that they have a patchy record on those that they sell. You could be lucky, but I'd rather invest in a certainty, like Seasonic, for a few £s more.