Recommendations for 650W 80+ Gold PSU to fit in Air 240 case?

[k-c]

Hello all,

I'm just starting on my first ever build (building in the beautiful Corsair Carbide Air 240 case). I have begun ordering parts but am stuck on which PSU to buy - so much choice! I don't want to cheap out on the PSU and risk frying my system, and would preferably like something as quiet as possible. Looking for a 650W 80+ Gold with a max length of 225mm. Does anyone have any good suggestions?

Thanks

[pastymuncher]

What does it have to power? Can you list your components please? Seeing as you are looking at 650w how about these:-

EVGA Supernova GS 650w £76.38 It's a Seasonic built unit with a single 12v rail of 648w and is very compact at 150x150mm. It has a 5 year warranty and there is a review here.
EVGA Supernova G2 650w £77.99 This is a Superflower built unit with a single 12v rail of 649w. It has a 7 year warranty and there is a review here.

Both have hybrid fan control and when switched to Eco will only spin the fan up when needed. I see no need to spend anymore than that on a quality psu for a single card setup. EVGA will be opening a UK service centre in December so should something go wrong within the warranty period you will only have to return it withing the UK.

[EndlessWaves]

The only dubious ones are the absurdly cheap PSUs, typically £10 or less and hiding behind semi-fake branding that sounds similar to an established electronics manufacturer.

A £30 PSU with a professional review from an established brand will be as good a quality as the PSU in, for example, your television or laptop. Unless you check and replace the power supplies for all your other expensive electronic devices I wouldn't bother getting anything special for your computer either.

[k-c]

Thanks for your replies.

Haven't got the exact specifications with me here but it's an i7-6700k CPU, Corsair H75 cooler, EVGA SSC GTX 970 (yes, underpowered for the CPU but after reading about Pascal coming next year, I thought it might be better to buy a cheaper card for now and then I have the option of an upgrade later) and 16GB RAM. This GPU recommends at least 500/550W PSU, so I was thinking to future proof it a little in case I do get a new one next year it would be worth going 650W for a bit of leeway?

[pastymuncher]

You can comfortably run a 970 off a 550w psu. They are extremely efficient and even SLI 970's only have a total system power draw of around 450w. If you want to cover yourself for a more powerful card next year then yes, 650w would be a good move. Either of the pair I recommended above will see you good.

[peterb]

The only dubious ones are the absurdly cheap PSUs, typically £10 or less and hiding behind semi-fake branding that sounds similar to an established electronics manufacturer.

A £30 PSU with a professional review from an established brand will be as good a quality as the PSU in, for example, your television or laptop. Unless you check and replace the power supplies for all your other expensive electronic devices I wouldn't bother getting anything special for your computer either.

True, up to a point, except that TV mfrs either build in-house to their specs, or outsource, again to their specs and buy in thousands of units, which brings the unit cost down. Bying a one off includes all the distribution costs, and those are pretty much fixed, whatever the manufacturing costs.

So while I'd agree that a professional review is a good guide, not all PSUs are reviewed, in which case the only option is to go for an established brand backed by other users experience.

If you are spending ,£400 or soon the other components, it makes no sense to skimp on the PSU for the same if £20 or £30.

[k-c]

I agree, peterb, I am happy to pay a slightly higher price to ensure I get a decent part that will last - as you say, when spending this amount on parts, the price difference of £20-£30 is pretty much peanuts anyway.

Thanks for your help pastymucher. After reading around, I am going to order the EVGA Supernova G2 650W. I would add a 'thanks' to you, but I don't think I have made enough posts here to see the thanks button - will add it when it appears

[pastymuncher]

You are most welcome and you won't be disappointed with that psu. It's a cracking unit and with the 7 year warranty that's you covered for a good few years.