PSU Recommendation

[mattyp]

Hi All

I have just rebuilt an old system with some new components and all is working great but want to make sure that I won't kill the PSU in the process.

It is a 300w Octigen unit and I was considering upgrading if required.

The system is not top spec but it does have a few things hanging from it:-

Athlon II X3 445 with MSI M880-E41
2X 2GB Kingston Ram
2TB Samsung Drive
320gb SATA drive
160gb IDE drive
DVD burner

Do I need a different PSU? and if so what is a good budget choice but also going to survive.

Guessing something like this 500w unit from http://www.amazon.co.uk/500-WATT-ATX...3182979&sr=8-1 is a bit of an unknown quantity but these may be a better option? (or simply not worth it?)

http://www.cclonline.com/product/589...y-OEM/PSU0231/

or

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/450w-...ssfire-fan-atx

[Iron Sights]

Buying a very cheap PSU is false economy, not only do you run the risk of the unit blowing up, but also it has the potential to take out the rest of the components. The xfx unit you have there is well made, and good value.

Also do you have or plan to get a GPU?

[ed^chigliak]

Go with the XFX PSU. Safer by far.

[dbh]

Indeed I used to think getting away with a cheaper PSU is alright but if that goes like the other poster said it could take out other components or at the least you'll have to replace it which costs more £££. Then having three machines over the years collapse. Better to spend a bit more on a brand name and get something that will last for years. Saying that though have had Antec and XClio psu's die on me

[Pob255]

The amazin psu is junk, don't go near it
The CCL one is a Coolermaster Elite Power psu, they are ok, not great but ok and generally rated at max wattage not continuous, if I remember correctly it's actually a 460w unit.
The XFX uint is good value for money and has a 5year warranty (via scan, all xfx warranties are handled by the retailer for the full length of the warranty)

Of the 3 the XFX is the best one and I'd have no hesitation in buying it.

[mattyp]

Thanks All

Out of interest my sister also needs a new case and given her systems runs an old duron/sempron, 1 hard drive and cd drive I could take the 450w for myself.

I have seen comments about the colourIT PSU's being quite reasonable.

What's the catch? Are they a poor/unreliable brand as well?

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/color...-with-450w-psu

That looks stunning value

[Pob255]

It's a brand on the low end of quality, personally I'm not sure I'd trust their psu's

Would she be intrested in a pink&white case? (ok a bit stereotyped) but the X-Case X2 MPC case is worth looking at, because it's smaller than most ATX cases as the psu is mounted in the front.
http://www.xcase.co.uk/X-Case-X2-MPC...e-x2mpc-lp.htm (look at the video to get a better idea of the case) it does come in other colours http://www.xcase.co.uk/Midi-tower-at...ase%20X2%20MPC but the pink ones are cheapest
I think their 80+ psu's are fairly decent but are £35 ex vat for the 500w

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks All

Out of interest my sister also needs a new case and given her systems runs an old duron/sempron, 1 hard drive and cd drive I could take the 450w for myself.

I have seen comments about the colourIT PSU's being quite reasonable.

What's the catch? Are they a poor/unreliable brand as well?

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/color...-with-450w-psu

That looks stunning value

CiT PSUs are rubbish.