Best PSU to get? And will I need any more power?

[MrRockliffe]

I've currently got an Antec VP-450P. It's a super PSU, but I plan on getting a 660 or a 760. I was running a 7850 OC and OV before, so I'm thinking it will be powerful enough to run them. I've only got 2 mechanical HDDs and an i3 3220.

However. Cables are driving me insane. I knew I should have got a modular PSU but thought it wouldn't bother me. It does, a lot.

I would preferably like flat cables - and black. Really I need to redesign my computer. Motherboard is brown, mouse mat is red and all my LEDs are blue. It looks really tacky.

I plan on getting a Define R4, 550W OCZ Modular (the yellow one on scan - the cables look really nice and it has a good review).

3220 needs upgrading too, mot likely to a low end i5. I was thinking 3470 or a 3350p?

[herulach]

Check length as well, I have a be quiet pure power and the cables are too short to get it neat, particularly the 24pin and pcie connectors

[MrRockliffe]

I think I'm going to go with a define mini now - as my motherboard is micro atx; it'd be pointless to get a big case.

[pastymuncher]

Check the actual wattage on the 12v rails and ignore the stated capacity of the psu. A lot of psu's make up the max power on the minor rails were it isn't really needed. Your VP450 for example is supposed to be a 450w psu but can only deliver 360w on the 12v rails where it counts. This is a excellent place to check specifics of psu's such as max power on 12v rails, who actually builds the psu and links to reviews.

Personally i wouldn't buy anything that OCZ makes. They are in serious difficulty and may not be around much longer. If they go under that's the warranty gone.

[kalniel]

Your VP450 for example is supposed to be a 450w psu but can only deliver 360w on the 12v rails where it counts.

And which is far more than needed for a 660 or 760.

So OP you're fine for power, but cables are driving you insane then you might as well switch.

[MrRockliffe]

Check the actual wattage on the 12v rails and ignore the stated capacity of the psu. A lot of psu's make up the max power on the minor rails were it isn't really needed. Your VP450 for example is supposed to be a 450w psu but can only deliver 360w on the 12v rails where it counts. This is a excellent place to check specifics of psu's such as max power on 12v rails, who actually builds the psu and links to reviews.

Personally i wouldn't buy anything that OCZ makes. They are in serious difficulty and may not be around much longer. If they go under that's the warranty gone.

When I got my VP 450P I did my research and it came out to be the best 450w budget PSU by miles. The only reason I'd go with OCZ is because they also do quality PSUs. http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/artic...-Review/1418/1

[herulach]

When I got my VP 450P I did my research and it came out to be the best 450w budget PSU by miles. The only reason I'd go with OCZ is because they also do quality PSUs. http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/artic...-Review/1418/1

Some OCZ PSUs at least - I'm not sure they're all seasonic?

[qazzaq2004]

OCZ wouldn't be my first choice for PSUs. For that kind of build you'll prob want 450-600w. I'd personally look into a Corsair or any Seasonic rebranded PSU.

[MrRockliffe]

OCZ wouldn't be my first choice for PSUs. For that kind of build you'll prob want 450-600w. I'd personally look into a Corsair or any Seasonic rebranded PSU.

The problem I face is that most modular PSUs have horrid cables. The OCZ one has really nice cables, and it's very reasonable value. If I had money, I'd probably get a RM550, but I don't. I slowly plan to upgrade over the next few years.

[pastymuncher]

Some OCZ PSUs at least - I'm not sure they're all seasonic?

Seasonic has never made any OCZ psu's. Most used to be FSP psu's that suffered from high ripple (eg, original Stealthstream) but they got on top of that a few years ago. Now it's a mix of Sirtec (modXstream Pro, ZS series), Great Wall (ZT and ZX series) and HEC (CoreXstream). They have also used CWT, Impervio (Etasis) and Topower in the past but those units are all discontinued now. See here.

MrRockliffe, I didn't say they were bad psu's just that i wouldn't touch them as OCZ may not be around for much longer and the warranty will be worthless. Yes, in the first year the retailer is likely to replace/refund if anything goes wrong but after that you will be on your own. We saw the same thing happen when BFG went under. That fantastic 10 year warranty became worthless overnight.

[kalniel]

MrRockliffe, I didn't say they were bad psu's just that i wouldn't touch them as OCZ may not be around for much longer and the warranty will be worthless. Yes, in the first year the retailer is likely to replace/refund if anything goes wrong but after that you will be on your own. We saw the same thing happen when BFG went under. That fantastic 10 year warranty became worthless overnight.

In this country the retailer should be responsible regardless, so if they're advertised with a 5 year warranty then it shouldn't matter if the original company goes under. The problem is the retailer is only likely to replace with a working equivalent unit (including age), or refund only a portion of the original cost to cover working use. That's why it pays to pick your retailer carefully based on how generous they are with returns policies - a lower upfront price might not be the best reason to chose a particular retailer.

[cookie365]

Any manufacturer's warranties are nothing to with the retailer.

The retailer is not responsible to honour a warranty offered by the manufacturer over and above your statutory rights.

[peterb]

I recently bought a Silverstone 450W modular. It is apparently designed by Silverstone and made by FSP. Cable set isn't bad.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/450w-...r-80-plus-gold

Its small form factor (with an adaptor for standard ATX openings) and is currently powering an Intel core 3 based mini itx system with 5 hard drives, a SCSI card and a tape drive. However, I am not using any graphics card, other than the onboard set up.

[kalniel]

Any manufacturer's warranties are nothing to with the retailer.

The retailer is not responsible to honour a warranty offered by the manufacturer over and above your statutory rights.

And those statutory rights allow for a product to work without fault for 6 years in most cases, which is beyond the 3 or 5 year warranties we're talking about here.

[cookie365]

Well, yes and no. After 6 months under your statutory rights it's up to you to show that the fault was inherent and not due to normal wear and tear, and that it is reasonable to expect the goods to have lasted longer. That can be very difficult to enforce.

[kalniel]

Well, yes and no. After 6 months under your statutory rights it's up to you to show that the fault was inherent and not due to normal wear and tear, and that it is reasonable to expect the goods to have lasted longer. That can be very difficult to enforce.

It can, but thankfully electronics aren't expected to have much failure due to wear and tear, and where advertised as coming with 5 year warranties, it's fairly reasonable to expect them to last that long.