PSU recommendation please?

[David_716]

My PSU just died. Need a replacement. Not a power hungry system. What is the cheapest power supply I can trust for long term reliability? I do prefer a +500W PSI just to keep it out of stress. Located in Spain BTW. TIA

 

[bignastyid]

Here's some options
https://es.pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/TgW9TW,CmMFf7,3hkwrH/
*edited with Espana options*

 

[tubagznyven]

okay EVGA supernova G3 550
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438095
seasonic focus plus gold 550
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151189&cm_re=seasonic_focus_plus-_-17-151-189-_-Product
corsair rm550x
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139144&cm_re=corsair_rm550x-_-17-139-144-_-Product

 

[Rexper]

Here's some options
https://es.pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/TgW9TW,CmMFf7,3hkwrH/
*edited with Espana options*

How are those first 2 power supplies good for long term reliability? They fail to meet today’s intel specifications, yet alone those in the future. The electrical performance on those are rather mediocre due to group regulation, and they’re missing protections.

Much better power supplies for the price: https://es.pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/Hw8H99,YNtWGX/

If modularity isn’t an issue, the GX-S is the one to go for, otherwise the Corsair Vengeance

 

[bignastyid]

Here's some options
https://es.pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/TgW9TW,CmMFf7,3hkwrH/
*edited with Espana options*

How are those first 2 power supplies good for long term reliability? They fail to meet today’s intel specifications, yet alone those in the future. The electrical performance on those are rather mediocre due to group regulation, and they’re missing protections.

Much better power supplies for the price: https://es.pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/Hw8H99,YNtWGX/

If modularity isn’t an issue, the GX-S is the one to go for, otherwise the Corsair Vengeance

They are an older design but use good parts and have proven over the years to be reliable, at one time they were among the best available. For compatibility the C7 sleep state can be disabled in bios and comes disabled by default on many boards as its low power state is mainly only useful on laptops . I'd take either of those Seasonics over that Andyson built Cougar any day. I have seen your group regulation argument before. If you start that line of bovine excrement here I will see that you are removed from the island.

 

[Rexper]

Use good parts? Like the crappy 8-pin protection IC, missing UVP on the 12v rail, and OCP on any rail. And not OTP at all in that PSU is also a hazard.

Those PSUs may of once been top of the line, 8 years ago, but now that there are much better psus available and more of an unbalanced between 12v and 5v, those psus shouldn’t even be considered.

I suggest you read some professional reviews, not just go by someone’s opinion: https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Cougar/GX-S550/
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=492
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Antec/HCG-520/5.html

Comparing the performance, the build design, the noise, it’s quite obvious how far behind the S12ii/M12ii/Antec HCG are.

 

[bignastyid]

Based on your links the HCG scores a hair higher than the Cougar and comes "highly recommended". Crossload is a grueling test and not an issue in the vast majority of modern systems, so while it was good it's pretty much a non issue. The Seasonics and Antec(built by seasonic) also use much higher quality capacitors which give it a higher temp rating and better expected life. The Cougar is also built by Andyson whom have an abysmal track record(Andyson makes the garbage known as Raidmax).

 

[logainofhades]

The CX550m is a newer design, vs the old CX. Those are a good choice.

 

[Rexper]

Did you even read the review? The new cougars that I linked are built by Sirfa, and you shouldn’t judge by the OEM either.

Crossload is important for modern system as most power does come from 12v, and minimal from 5v.

Those capacitors aren’t much better. In fact not better than those used in the vengeance. They are”Japanese” but really still made in China.

And you only judge a power supply by capacitors used? That’s one of a hundred thing that affect its life times, and you don’t need very good capacitors either if you have a good design with good cooling.

Even just look at voltage regulation for that Antec, really not something you should be looking for.

And again, they’re lacking important protections.

By reading reviews I mean read the data though out it, not just what Aris rated it at the time, 7 years ago... what makes you think “highly recommended” in 2011 means highly rated now?

 

[bignastyid]

Did you even read the review? The new cougars that I linked are built by Sirfa, and you shouldn’t judge by the OEM either.

Crossload is important for modern system as most power does come from 12v, and minimal from 5v.

Those capacitors aren’t much better. In fact not better than those used in the vengeance. They are”Japanese” but really still made in China.

And you only judge a power supply by capacitors used? That’s one of a hundred thing that affect its life times, and you don’t need very good capacitors either if you have a good design with good cooling.

Even just look at voltage regulation for that Antec, really not something you should be looking for.

And again, they’re lacking important protections.

By reading reviews I mean read the data though out it, not just what Aris rated it at the time, 7 years ago... what makes you think “highly recommended” in 2011 means highly rated now?

The crossload test it did poorly in was CL1 with a minimal 1a load on the 12v rail and a 15a load on the 5v rail. The crossload test you are thinking of is the 2nd test with a 42.6a load on the 12v rail and a 1a load on the 5v rail which the PSU passed without issue. Even the author said "Thankfully the loads we applied at CL1 test are not a realistic real life scenario since no contemporary system stresses the minor rails so much"
Again these units have been around for a long time have have a proven track record.