Dead PSU (at the very least), looking for a replacement

[Alceister]

Intel Core i5-4670k
Gigabyte Z97x-UD3H Black Edition
2x 4GB Corsair DDR3-1866
XFX HD7870 Core Edition
500 GB WD Blue SSD

PSU was an Antec NeoEco 620c rated for 620W. It basically slowly sputtered and died over the course of this week, with repeated black screens whenever I started up a game. I attempted to compensate by downclocking my GPU, thinking that was the problem, but I didn't figure it out until it was too late. Probably might have something to do with a lightning strike that fried my motherboard over a year ago? Anyhow, I'm looking for a replacement with roughly the same specifications, under $100 CAD; silent running and efficiency are my main criteria, but modular or semi-modular capabilities are also desired as well.

 

[geofelt]

you need two 6 pin connectors as a rule.
You will find that on a 500w psu.
Seasonic focus is excellent and the 550w unit meets your $100 budget(barely)
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151203

If you can play the rebate game, the 750w unit is $10 less after rebate.
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151201

 

[Alceister]

you need two 6 pin connectors as a rule.
You will find that on a 500w psu.
Seasonic focus is excellent and the 550w unit meets your $100 budget(barely)
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151203

If you can play the rebate game, the 750w unit is $10 less after rebate.
https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151201

Would come to a bit over $100 after taxes. Is a Gold PSU worth it?

Also, wattage calculator recommends 480W. Would a PSU in the 500W range suffice?

 

[geofelt]

Worth is something only YOU can determine.
The benefit to me of gold rating is possibly a quieter operation because of better efficiency.
Electricity savings is not likely to be worth much.
Wattage calculators are deadly accurate IF you give it the right inputs.
What did you enter for capacitor aging factor for instance?
What did you enter for a future graphics card upgrade?
And so on.
I have found this chart to be very good.
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

I have no problem overprovisioning a PSU a bit. Say 20%.
It will allow for a stronger future graphics card upgrade.
It will run cooler, quieter, and more efficiently in the middle third of it's range.
A PSU will only use the wattage demanded of it, regardless of it's max capability.

What I would NOT compromise on is quality.
Here is one list of estimated psu quality.
https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/631048-psu-tier-list-updated/
Look for a tier 1/2/3 unit.
Seasonic focus is tier 2

 

[madmatt30]

https://m.newegg.ca/products/N82E16817139147

https://m.newegg.ca/products/N82E16817139147

Both decent bronze rated semi modular dc-dc units.

Not a lot between them, very very similar quality.

Should be in budget with tax added.

Your build is sub 400w btw.

 

[Alceister]

In the end, I went with the 750W Seasonic solution because I wasn't too sure about the Corsair one, which apparently uses sleeved bearings in its fan, and I don't like excessive noise. I also wanted a little more room just in case I upgrade my system in the future. With that said, it seems that I may have additional problems in that my GPU appears to be dead. Each time I try to turn on my PC with the GPU fully hooked up, it refuses to turn on: I surmise it may have something to do with it tripping something in the PSU, since it makes a clicking sound each time this happens.