power supply features

[silentdream]

When choosing a Power supply, what’s the most important features I should look for? What’s the best and reliable manufacture to look at when purchasing. If you know of a particular item I should consider, please don’t hesitate to recommend it. I am thinking of choosing something between 430 and 480 watts.

I am trying to build a computer within the next two weeks, so any help will be welcome.


Ron

 

[earthling]

It's all depending on ur pc specs, but anyway i think the most important thing to look after is the +12 rail, either the PSU is single or double railed. I'm thinking if a single rail with +12@26A+ that would be fine, i wouldn't suggest double rail when the highest supports less than 24A.
I recommend <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103908" target="_new">Antec True430W </A> that I believe is a solid rock, i've ordered one myself and awesome to say the least

 

[RichPLS]

I am currently running an Antec TruePower 430 watt
System is
Gigabyte 8KNXP Ultra-64
Prescott 3200
2-gig Corsair TwinX Pro 2-2-2-5
ATI X800XT-PE
ATI TV Wonder Pro
Plextor 712 DVD Burner
74 gig Raptor
2x200GB Maxtor drives


<pre><font color=red>°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°`°¤o \\// o¤°`°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°
And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" Huh
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own little sign</pre><p></font color=red>

 

[silentdream]

This is the power supply I am thinking of choosing:

NeoPower 480
480 watt ATX12V v2.0 power supply


Features:
Advanced Cable Management System allows you to use only the cables you need. This improves airflow and reduces clutter inside your case
ATX12V v2.0 compliance reduces power consumption by up to 25%, saving you money on your electricity bill
Universal input automatically accepts line voltages from 100V to 240V AC
Active PFC delivers environmentally-friendlier power
Dual +12V rails provide plenty of juice for even the most power-hungry systems
Includes special power connector for PCI Express graphic cards
Dedicated circuits for each voltage output allow NeoPower to overcome combined-output limitations
Voltage-feedback circuitry improves system stability by delivering extremely accurate power
Temperature-response system ensures blissfully quiet operation, by varying fan speed in response to load and conditions
Dedicated Fan-Only connectors allow NeoPower to control case fan speeds, thereby further reducing system noise
Over-temp and over-current protection, provide maximum reliability
120mm fan delivers whisper-quiet cooling
Gold-plated connectors for superior conductivity

what do you guys think?

 

[RichPLS]

I think that is a good choice.

<pre><font color=red>°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°`°¤o \\// o¤°`°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°
And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" Huh
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own little sign</pre><p></font color=red>

 

[earthling]

this one will do, but personally i'd prefer the Antec true430 since its single railed, while the maximum output ampere for the +12v in neopower is only 18ampere, so whenever u think of attaching it to a hungry vga, the problem will exist. such problems will appear in terms of noise and heat in the PSU, yet it will be still alive and doing the good job.
good choice but reconsider the Antec truepower series

 

[RichPLS]

I think dual 12volt rail is better than single. Better still is triple 12volt rail like on the ThermalTake 680 watt PSU.

<pre><font color=red>°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°`°¤o \\// o¤°`°¤o,¸¸¸,o¤°
And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" Huh
So I got me a pen and paper And I made up my own little sign</pre><p></font color=red>

 

[julius]

one rail might only be 18 amps, but the point is theres two. so the total output is around 30 amps, although not quite the sum of both rails cause they cannot be fully loaded simultaneously.

 

[earthling]

what i meant is if u're having a PSU of one rail +12v@26A and another of dual rails +12v1@15A & +12v2@15A, in this case the single rail will kick some ass

 

[silentdream]

How do I find out the output ampere for each rail? In the specs I have above, as you can see, it doesn't say what the output ampere for each rail is?

Ron

 

[fishmahn]

Its on a label on the side of the PSU. Try the mfg's website. Some sites (Newegg does) post a picture of the label. Maybe you can find that psu at newegg so you can see the specs?

Mike.

<font color=blue>Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside the dog its too dark to read.
-- Groucho Marx</font color=blue>

 

[earthling]

get it from the manufacturer's site. I actually wouldnt' recommend if you go by the pics posted on newegg as some of them are not the real pics of the product, the written specs could be more accurate