PSU - 460W CM vs 800W Generic

[TM4RT]

This is my first post here, and I'm about to build my first PC (Been using iMacs my whole life.)

So, in Panama, the selection of PC components is rather scarce and I'm having trouble with deciding on a PSU for my gaming/graphic design/photo editing PC.

Here's my setup:
- Cooler Master Storm Scout
- Intel i5 750
- Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2
- EVGA 9800GT 512mb
- 2 500GB HDDs (RAID 1)
- 1 DVD Drive
- 4 GB DDR3 1333MHz
- 2 12" Cold Cathodes
- 2 120mm Fans
- 2 HDD Fans (80mm)

So I am choosing between two PSUs:

Generic 800W

and

Cooler Master 460W

I would get a Cooler Master 600W, but the only PC component store in Panama City is out of stock.

So high-wattage Generic or low-wattage Cooler Master?

Thank you,
-Trent

 

[TM4RT]

sorry, I got the two links mixed up.

Here are the correct links:

Generic 800W

and

Cooler Master 460W

/shameless bump

 

[JohnnyLucky]

The lack of a selection of high quality power supplies is a major bummer.

My initial reaction is to say go with the A-Power AK 800W. I had to do a little digging. It's made by Akasa and is also known as Akasa Green Power. It's a typical average power supply. It was part of a mainstream power supply roundup over at jonnyguru.com.

There were four versions of that Coolermaster power supply. I managed to find a technical review of your specific model:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/550/1

Ubfortunately it is a below average performer. It could not deliver it's rated power and should have labeled as a 430 watt psu.

 

[TM4RT]

The lack of a selection of high quality power supplies is a major bummer.

My initial reaction is to say go with the A-Power AK 800W. I had to do a little digging. It's made by Akasa and is also known as Akasa Green Power. It's a typical average power supply. It was part of a mainstream power supply roundup over at jonnyguru.com.

So, will 28a on the 12V rail be sufficient for the components I listed?

I checked out the Akasa site and it looks pretty legit, so I think I'll go with the 800W and upgrade when some better PSUs are in stock.

Thanks

 

[JohnnyLucky]

That Akasa power supply has two +12 volt rails rated at 28 amps each. Normally you can't just add the two together to get the combined total. The actual combined total will vary. Since it's an average psu the combined total will probably be somewhere around 50 or 52 amps. That more than enough for a system with just a single video card.

Normally a high quality 500 to 550 watt power supply with a 12 volt rail rated at 40 amps is more than enough for a system with one video card. Unfortunately you don't have any high quality power supplies available.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I would get a Cooler Master 600W, but the only PC component store in Panama City is out of stock.

No other brands available....looking at the links if those are US dollars, I wouldn't be trusting that rig to a $40-50 power supply.

Anything on this page available ?

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_PSUs

 

[TM4RT]

I've read some very different views on generic PSUs, so I don't really know what to think.

What problems might I run into with a generic PSU? Inconsistent power? Shorter lifespan? Spontaneous failure? Please, let me know.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

Actually you'll probably be okay.

Here's what I normally would have posted:

The general rule of thumb is a high quality 500 to 550 watt power supply with sufficient current (amps) on the 12 volt rail(s) can easily power a system with any single video card made. A high quality 700 to 750 watt power supply with sufficient current (amps) on the 12 volt rail(s) can power a system with two video cards operating in dual mode. There are a few exceptions like the new ATI Radeon HD 5XXX series cards which use less power due to their energy efficiency.

A high quality 500 to 550 watt psu will have a +12 volt rail rated at 40 amps. A high quality 700 to 750 watt psu will have a +12 volt rail rated at 60 amps.

Corsair, PC Power & Cooling, and Seasonic are some of the brands that have a reputation for high quality power supplies that consistently earn high marks in technical reviews. They are reliable, stable, and come with a 5 year warranty. Some of the newer models come with a 7 year warranty. Lately we've been seeing a few other brands offering some high quality units. An example would be the Antec Earthwatts series which is an improvement over Antec’s older series psu’s.

 

[TM4RT]

No other brands available....looking at the links if those are US dollars, I wouldn't be trusting that rig to a $40-50 power supply.

Anything on this page available ?

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_PSUs

http://www.yoytec.com/index.php/cPath/26_67?osCsid=b9abce4d82b4a71fb859d205fc5807f6

Here are the PSUs that they carry.

Disponible: Available

Disponibilidad Baja: Low Stock

Por Pedido: Out of Stock

The stock is under every product.

If you see any PSUs in stock that would be a better choice, please let me know.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

WHOA! Glad you posted the link to the psu page.

Go for the high quality Corsair TX650 if you can afford it:

http://www.yoytec.com/product_info.php/cPath/26_67/products_id/4680?osCsid=b9abce4d82b4a71fb859d205fc5807f6

It can definitely deliver the power and then some. Should be available December 14th. At least I think that's what it said.

 

[jsc]

Of the two, I would go with the 800 watt generic. The CM PSU's are excessively mediocre. Basically, they are one step above junk. The generic can't be that bad. (Well, it can, but it would be hard.)

 

[rockyjohn]

This would be my choice from the list:

OCZ StealthXStream 500W - $77.40

 

[TM4RT]

Yeah, I think I'll upgrade to the Corsair after I get my PC set up.

GAAHHH this is frustrating, moving from the US, where everything is available, to Panama, the land of inconvenience, THEN trying to build a PC after the move.

F_ck it, I'll just do the 800 and ditch it in a few weeks.

 

[TM4RT]

Semi-unrelated, but, how do think this setup will run Crysis at 1600x900 res? (with the CPU overclocked to like 3.1 GHz)

 

[JohnnyLucky]

Crysis?

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/gigabyte_9800gt/6.htm

http://www.techwarelabs.com/reviews/video/gigabyte_512gb_9800gt/index_7.shtml

 

[TM4RT]

Thanks dude. I've already seen that first link, but the second link was really helpful.

 

[rockyjohn]

F_ck it, I'll just do the 800 and ditch it in a few weeks.

I empathize with your frustration, but why not just get the StealthStream 500 and stick with it? It is a good PSU and has to cost a lot less then buying one now and a new Corsair later. Not to mention the time to do the changeout. The StealthStream is an excellent PSU. It is considered a tier 2 PSU (the same tier as the Corsair HX, TX, and VX; Hiper Type M and R; Seasonic, and Antec Earthwatts) on a list with 6 tiers - there are very few units higher but a lot lower:

http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx


Also note that OCZ has five different models all on the tier 2 level and its top of the line PSU is on tier 1.

You might read a few reviews about it:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/798
http://www.techaddicts.net/reviews/stealth500/stealth500.html


The only real complaint seems to be that it has fewer connectors than the reviewers would like to see or that competing models have. But with your limited selection that might not be an issue and in any case you can easily decide if it has enough for your rig and that is all that matters:

Connectors:
1 x 20+4-pin ATX
1 x 4-pin CPU
1 x 6-pin PCI-E*
3 x SATA
4 x Peripheral
1 x Floppy

Here are two reviews on the 600w version:

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?/power_supply/ocz_stealthxstream_600_watt_psu/5
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/451

 

[TM4RT]

Well, my problem is the availability of the mid-range PSUs.

I'd love to get the StealthStream, but it's out of stock right now, and I'll have to wait ANOTHER two weeks (I've been waiting to build this thing for like a month now).

So I'm going with the 800W generic for now, and I'll wait until a better PSU is in stock and ditch the 800 then. I'll definitely consider the OCZ for my upgrade, though.

 

[rockyjohn]

Sorry, guess I glanced over that "Por Pedido" part.