[SOLVED] Buying a second-hand PSU - Antec, be quiet! or XFX?

[Krzeszny]

Hello. You can try to talk me off of buying a second-hand PSU (or more like ask me to wait for a better deal) but they cost like 30-40 bucks and they're not necessarily old.

My first choice is between:

1. be quiet! Straight Power E8 CM-580 Silver (modular 580W=non-modular 550W)
2. Antec HPC-850 Gold (modular 850W) - it used to be one of the most expensive PSUs years ago so it must be high-quality, and the fan is slow

And that's about it from ones that aren't that old.
I have a SilentiumPC Supremo M2 Gold but I have a very quiet home and PC, so the PSU annoys me when I browse the web.

Is there any reason I should pick the Antec (or an XFX) over the be quiet! or wait for something better? My PC requires 500-550W at max and I don't need to upgrade it.

Secondary choices - even older:
Antec TruePower New TP-650 135mm
XFX Core/TS 650W
XFX Core/TS 550W

 

[Newtonius]

Antec sounds like a better choice, higher wattage ceiling for future upgrades, high-quality build, and is reported as incredibly quiet. So all tick marks checked.

I have a 7 year old PSU still running 24/7 in my server so I know PSU's can last a while. So if you can get that Antec at a cheap price I say go for it.

 

[geofelt]

Antec, I think.

Antec HPC is tier 1 on this list, the straight power is tier 3:

PSU Tier List [OLD]

Credit to @Starelementpokeand @Energycore for helping out with this long-awaited refresh of the old PSU tier list by Aniallation (who previously went several months without logging in), leaving the old list in need of help. This is simply an update of the list that was flawed in creation by the P...

linustechtips.com

A gold rated psu will be more efficient.
850w will be loafing so you should not expect the fan to run at all.

 

[Krzeszny]

Alright, thanks. That tier list is awesome, I wish I had known about it before spending hours researching PSUs from non-blacklisted manufacturers.

I have to wait until Friday so the seller can test the Antec. In the meanwhile, I'm considering paying a bit more than the 30 bucks (I wasn't planning on doing it but I could.)
I've found two other Tier 1 second-hand PSUs that cost more but they are amazing:

40 bucks, Tier 1:
be quiet! P11-550W Dark Power Pro 11 - WITHOUT CABLES - a much newer model than the rest

50 bucks, Tier 1:
Enermax Platimax 600W

Pros:,platinum-specced, ultra-quiet with amazing fans
Cons: more expensive, lower wattage

Whaddya think?

 

[geofelt]

I think I would opt for the stronger Antec assuming it tests out ok.
Lower price is nice but gold rated is going to be virtually silent anyway.

 

[Nemesia]

Alright, thanks. That tier list is awesome, I wish I had known about it before spending hours researching PSUs from non-blacklisted manufacturers.

I have to wait until Friday so the seller can test the Antec. In the meanwhile, I'm considering paying a bit more than the 30 bucks (I wasn't planning on doing it but I could.)
I've found two other Tier 1 second-hand PSUs that cost more but they are amazing:

40 bucks, Tier 1:
be quiet! P11-550W Dark Power Pro 11 - WITHOUT CABLES - a much newer model than the rest

50 bucks, Tier 1:
Enermax Platimax 600W

Pros:,platinum-specced, ultra-quiet with amazing fans
Cons: more expensive, lower wattage

Whaddya think?

Add these 2 to the one already given to you.

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/1116640-psu-tier-list-40/

https://www.gamingscan.com/psu-hierarchy/

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I would ensure you get some sort of guarantee with used PSUs. Sometimes they may not work properly or have missing modular cables.

PSUs can last a very long time, or sometimes they don't. I have a sketchy Dell 250w from 2004 that has been under stress of a Pentium 4 for a lifetime. It still works and isn't loud. I have 2 identical Hipro 300w from over a decade ago that still work fine.
However, I have had a 600w EVGA BRONZE that smoked and sparked after being turned off for a while before being turned back on. It was powering an FX6300 and 960 and was only 4 years old.

BeQuiet makes good models, however, the straight power units are entry-level and certainly not what I would pick out of your options.
XFX had good models and the TS gold models are pretty good, however still not the best in the list.
I would avoid Enermax altogether given other options.
The BeQuiet Dark Power 11 is a very good PSU, but given its missing cables and only 550, it isn't my pick.

My winner:

Antec HPC-850 Gold

Efficient, strong build quality, modular, and tons of watts for upgrading in the future.