Need a QUICK answer please. Deciding tonight on PSU.

[xrome]

I am deciding on the final parts to a new system and am stuck on the power supply.

i have only used Corsair in my first two builds and feel that they are absolutely rock solid. nothing beats a 7 year warranty (or even a 5 year on their lower models)

here are the 2 I am deciding between. Please give me your thoughts ASAP, the deal on the OCZ ends tonight.

OCZ ModXStream Pro 700w modular:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

Corsair 550VX 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

They end up being the same price after rebates. 700w sounds nice, but corsair actually produces the wattage stated unlike most other brands. Again i am very biased towards corsair.

Pros for corsair model:
-Single 12v rail
-warranty (+2 years more)
-better quality control and more consistent user ratings (including mine)

Pros for OCZ model:
-150 more watts
-modular

What do you guys think? Please let me know asap!
~Rome

 

[xrome]

Oh the system i am building will have:
phenom II 955
Gskill 4GB DDR3 1600
Either ASUS/MSI/Gigabyte 770 or 790X depending on combo discounts with PSU
ATI 5770
Primary use = gaming

 

[JohnnyLucky]

Corsair!

The OCZ ModXStream Pro 700 watt power supply has quality issues. The technical review at hardocp.com was not favorable. I've read enough technical reviews to know there are issues with all OCZ 700 watt power supplies. It doesn't matter which 700 watt model is reviewwed. OCZ is known for taking shortcuts to keep production costs down.

 

[xrome]

Hmm what about the 600w version of the same PSU? its only $50 after rebate, and it comes with a combo of $20 off with another part I was already buying!

 

[xrome]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.347305

thats the combo of the 600w and the 640gb WD black $20 off

 

[JohnnyLucky]

Better than the 700 watt version. What I found interesting were the mixed technical reviews of the 600 watt model. Some reviews were positive and some were not that good. results should have been more uniform. The most common problem was borderline DC quality.

 

[xrome]

thanks for your thoughts CT. OCZ's ram is so broken that I'm scared to invest in their product. Course in terms of the price match I guess I am banking on that big rebate coming in...

If the 600w version worked, I would have $20 on the PSU and $20 more on the combo. PSU is the heart though. Bah still not sure lol. More thoughts please haha.

Anyone actually own an OCZ PSU?

Johnny: heard anything about the 600w version?

 

[xrome]

DC quality... im too noobish to know what this is, good sir.

 

[delluser1]

the OCZ is a very good PSU

I would personally buy the corsair but would not complain if i had the ocz

Same here, though I don't think I'd go so far as to call it very good.
It's a decent budget unit, that failed the test at [H] because it was tested above it's temperature rating.
It performed fine in the updated testing at 40c
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2009/03/03/ocz_modxstream_pro_700w_40c_update/


The 600 watt unit reviewed well also
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/936/1

 

[xrome]

Will either the 600w OCZ or the 550w corsair have a solid chance at running crossfire 5770?

Secondly, the 600w OCZ will save me between $30-$40 depending on combo discounts over the 550w Corsair.

So 600w modular OCZ PSU for $30 less
or
550w non modular CORSAIR PSU for $30 more?

 

[JohnnyLucky]

xRome - The ModXStream Pro 600 watt model is okay. Disregard my comment about DC quality.

ct1615 - OCZ and PC Power & Cooling never manufactured any power supplies. They were manufactured by other companies. The best PC Power & Cooling power supplies were the Silencer models. I'm not surpised because Seasonic made the Silencer models for PCP&C. If you shop around you can still find them for sale.

 

[xrome]

You guys seem to really know what you're talking about.

Assuming I go with the OCZ, is there any way i can test the thing when I get it?

I've been blessed with my first 2 buils i guess. Put all the parts together turned it on and it worked everytime. Every part. At least well enough to not notice that something wasn't working...

Anything I can do to test out the PSU (or any other parts for that matter that fight "work" but should be exchanged? Im thinking PSU, RAM.. etc)?

Thanks again for the help. If the OCZ is solid enough I suppose I can use the #40 savings to upgrade the mobo from MSI 770 to ASUS 790X

 

[xrome]

OH! last question!!

Will i have to do anything special because of the multiple rails that i wouldn't have to do with the corsair?

please let me know!

 

[robin banks uk]

thats not what most pc mags are saying in uk!!

 

[aerudo]

One question to add on to some of these:

I used the calculator listed above at http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

and I threw in a Crossfire 5870, an i7 860, 4 dimms of RAM, a high rpm SATA drive, a sound blaster card, a bunch of fans, DVD burner and so on... and it's telling me I only need 417 watts of Power ... so if I get a 500W PSU I can cover Crossfire 5870's? That seems a bit low to me ...

 

[JohnnyLucky]

aerudo -

Here are the official power requirements for the ATI Radeon HD 5850 and HD 5870 video cards.


ATI Radeon™ HD5850 System Requirements:

PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard

500 Watt or greater power supply with two 75 watt, 6-pin, PCI Express® power connectors.

600 Watt or greater power supply with four 75 watt, 6-pin, PCI Express® power connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode.


ATI Radeon™ HD5870 System Requirements:

PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard.

500 Watt or greater power supply with two, 75 watt, 6-pin, PCI Express® power connectors.

600 Watt or greater power supply with four, 75 watt, 6-pin, PCI Express® connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode.

The power supply recommendations are for an entire pc system.

 

[xrome]

Well i purchased the system with the 600w OCZ Modxstream PSU. I honestly am just waiting for it to arrive DOA so i can punch myself for not going corsair.



...



Or it will be fine.
...
Hopefully the latter.

I have doubts it will be strong enough to crossfire, even though it meets the requirements to CF 5770's.

But assuming i get the $25 rebate, the unit will have cost me $30 after rebate and combo savings with the HDD I bought.

 

[xrome]

Thanks all for your help!

Once it's built in a week or two I'll post a brief update here just because.

After all this work I want to use the thing myself! She's gonna have no idea what to do with the thing. She's currently using a Dell Inspiron laptop from 4 years ago

 

[xrome]

Best answer selected by xRome.