I need a new PSU - what things should I check before buying?

[BazokaJoe]

Hi,

My PSU started doing problems (at least I think that's what it is - http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3802482/games-freeze-launch-gameplay.html )

And I want to get a new one, now, when I got my Old Corsair VS650 I didn't know what to check so I got the cheapest 650W [R9 290 requiered 600W, I went for 650 just to be sure] from "a good company" that I could find. This PSU was the worst, over 4 years I owned it, I had to replace it 2 times within the warranty, and everytime been told online that this PSU known to be bad. And now that it doing problems again, and the warranty is over, it's time to replace it.


So I want to ask, what kind of things do I need to check?


My Build is:

i5 4590

GIgabyte H81M-HD3 rev 1

Saphire Nitro RX580 8gb

16GB RAM

2 SSD, 2 HDD, and some fans.


I was looking online for 650W and found that one for reletivly cheap, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017HA3SQ8

Will it do the work without problems? also, what's the different between 80+ gold to bronze??

 

[WildCard999]

Good quality, good price & enough for your system.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $49.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-10-16 10:41 EDT-0400

The difference between them is efficiency, however it doesn't determine quality.

If you don't mind spending a bit more the EVGA G3 is much better then that GQ.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWTS2UL?tag=tomshardware_forum_vgl-20&th=1

 

[jankerson]

Hi,

My PSU started doing problems (at least I think that's what it is - http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3802482/games-freeze-launch-gameplay.html )

And I want to get a new one, now, when I got my Old Corsair VS650 I didn't know what to check so I got the cheapest 650W [R9 290 requiered 600W, I went for 650 just to be sure] from "a good company" that I could find. This PSU was the worst, over 4 years I owned it, I had to replace it 2 times within the warranty, and everytime been told online that this PSU known to be bad. And now that it doing problems again, and the warranty is over, it's time to replace it.


So I want to ask, what kind of things do I need to check?


My Build is:

i5 4590

GIgabyte H81M-HD3 rev 1

Saphire Nitro RX580 8gb

16GB RAM

2 SSD, 2 HDD, and some fans.


I was looking online for 650W and found that one for reletivly cheap, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017HA3SQ8

Will it do the work without problems? also, what's the different between 80+ gold to bronze??

Here is what I recommend.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: EVGA - SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $69.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-10-16 10:46 EDT-0400

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.40 @ Newegg)
Total: $79.40
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-10-16 10:46 EDT-0400

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: Corsair - RMx (2018) 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $69.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-10-16 10:47 EDT-0400

 

[geofelt]

As you have discovered, cheap is not the way to go for power supplies.
550w will suffice, but I like 650w better.
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.

80+ is an efficiency rating.
Virtually all will have 80+
bronze will be 82% efficient at 50% load.
Gold will be 90%.

the evga 650w GQ would appear to be a tier 2 unit on this list:
https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/631048-psu-tier-list-updated/
A good choice.
You might also look at the 650w Seasonic focus gold which has a 10 year warranty:
https://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-SSR-650FX-Modular-Warranty-Compact/dp/B073H33X7R?crid=2C6FCDCLVKQWF&keywords=seasonic%2Bfocus%2Bplus%2B650w%2Bgold&qid=1539701098&s=Electronics&sprefix=seasonic%2Bfocus%2B%2Celectronics%2C156&sr=1-2-fkmrnull&ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2&th=1

 

[WildCard999]

As you have discovered, cheap is not the way to go for [strike]graphics cards[/strike].

Power supplies?

 

[geofelt]

As you have discovered, cheap is not the way to go for [strike]graphics cards[/strike].

Power supplies?

Yes, I meant power supplies.
Corrected.

 

[BazokaJoe]

As you have discovered, cheap is not the way to go for power supplies.
550w will suffice, but I like 650w better.
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.

80+ is an efficiency rating.
Virtually all will have 80+
bronze will be 82% efficient at 50% load.
Gold will be 90%.

the evga 650w GQ would appear to be a tier 2 unit on this list:
https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/631048-psu-tier-list-updated/
A good choice.
You might also look at the 650w Seasonic focus gold which has a 10 year warranty:
https://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-SSR-650FX-Modular-Warranty-Compact/dp/B073H33X7R?crid=2C6FCDCLVKQWF&keywords=seasonic%2Bfocus%2Bplus%2B650w%2Bgold&qid=1539701098&s=Electronics&sprefix=seasonic%2Bfocus%2B%2Celectronics%2C156&sr=1-2-fkmrnull&ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2&th=1

Because tax problem I am looking for something below 75$, what is the difference between the tier 1 and tier 2?

 

[geofelt]

The list is an educated assessment of quality.
Take with a grain of salt.
tier1 and 2 are going to be very good. tier 3 is ok also.

Can you manage $78.35?
Here is the 650w Seasonic focus gold
https://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-SSR-650FX-Modular-Warranty-Compact/dp/B07793TFW8?crid=2C6FCDCLVKQWF&keywords=seasonic%2Bfocus%2Bplus%2B650w%2Bgold&qid=1539701098&s=Electronics&sprefix=seasonic%2Bfocus%2B%2Celectronics%2C156&sr=1-2-fkmrnull&ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2&th=1&tag=tomshardware_forum_vgl-20

Near as I can tell the difference from the gold + is 7 years warranty vs. 10.

 

[BazokaJoe]

The list is an educated assessment of quality.
Take with a grain of salt.
tier1 and 2 are going to be very good. tier 3 is ok also.

Can you manage $78.35?
Here is the 650w Seasonic focus gold
https://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-SSR-650FX-Modular-Warranty-Compact/dp/B07793TFW8?crid=2C6FCDCLVKQWF&keywords=seasonic%2Bfocus%2Bplus%2B650w%2Bgold&qid=1539701098&s=Electronics&sprefix=seasonic%2Bfocus%2B%2Celectronics%2C156&sr=1-2-fkmrnull&ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2&th=1&tag=tomshardware_forum_vgl-20

Near as I can tell the difference from the gold + is 7 years warranty vs. 10.

Sadly, no =/
anything above 74.99 has 17% for shipping to my country.
the GQ link I put is on sale, so it's fine. Is the different that big that's it's worth to look for sale on those you sent?

 

[geofelt]

Those taxes

Yes, the GQ is a very good option.
The link shows $83.42 as the price.

 

[Doctor Rob]

Just an FYI I have an Evga SuperNova 650 G3 and its great.

 

[Karadjgne]

Careful with online pricing, you might see the price as a final price after rebate, which doesn't factor into tax costs. So original/sale price is important, not final price.

The Evga 650w GQ listed as $69.99 at Amazon and B+H, visit the sites, the Amazon is actually $78.48, the B+H is $99.99 but has instant savings of $30 for a sale price of $69.99 bringing it under Op budget requirements.

Shipping costs, requirements might change everything as some companies may not ship abroad, or may charge unrealistically high prices for international shipping. Over and above any tax considerations.