Discussion PSU recommendations and power supply discussion thread - Tom's hardware

[4745454b]

Quality adapter? There is a reason I always tell people to never use them for PSUs.

 

[USAFRet]

Why would anybody convert PCI to Molex?

Because someones friends cousins nephew...you know..."the computer kid"...said it was OK.

 

[Mezoxin]

@Darkbreeze he used 4pin molex to pcie , it was probably for a mining rig , because I don’t see any other case that a person found himself out of the already available 6 x 8pin pcie connectors that come with an rmi 850w

 

[Darkbreeze]

Ok, I see. That model uses the six pin SATA sockets for the Molex cables. A lot of them do that. Some actually have four pin molex sockets on the PSU to plug the molex cables into as well.

 

[USAFRet]

Ok, I see. That model uses the six pin SATA sockets for the Molex cables. A lot of them do that. Some actually have four pin molex sockets on the PSU to plug the molex cables into as well.

And therein lies the problem.
No standard across models.

"eh...just plug it in. If it doesn't fit, I must be putting it in wrong".

 

[Darkbreeze]

Bottom line is, ALWAYS, if power supply is capable of "a thing", it will come with the necessary sockets and cables to power "a thing". If it doesn't, don't do it. If you do it anyhow, screw you, you deserved it.

 

[Syous13]

Hey guys, can anyone confirm if the Micronics Performance II PV 600w 80+ Bronze is a good PSU? Buddy offered me one on the cheap.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Hey guys, can anyone confirm if the Micronics Performance II PV 600w 80+ Bronze is a good PSU? Buddy offered me one on the cheap.

Not a name I recognise and I am unable to find any reviews of that exact model.

This review of another PSU by the same brand doesn't give me much confidence.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/micronics-caslon-ii-600w-psu,5521.html

I probably would avoid that unit in general.

What kind of hardware will you power?

 

[Syous13]

Yea i had the same idea, just wanted to check here. The Caslon is a more low end PSU from the brand though. I’ll currently powering my Ryzen 5 1400, MSI b350 Gaming Plus and 2x4gb Patriot Viper with a EVGA 450BQ which is fine for me, just thought I’d upgrade it now since the opportunity arose.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Pretty sure EVGA BQ PSUS are not made in wattages down to 450w. You may have a 450BR, which rather poor quality, but probably better than the other PSU.

 

[Syous13]

Actually you’re right lol. I have the better 450w EVGA one, not sure if bv or br.

 

[Karadjgne]

Evga does have a 450w BT which is very decent for a budget psu.

 

[Darkbreeze]

He didn't say BT, he said BQ. There is no 450w BQ. There is a 450w BT, BR, BV, B1, GM and B3 but there is no 450w BQ.

Those other models you mentioned are probably not "upgrades" from anything sold by EVGA, even considering the low quality of some of the lower end EVGA units. I'd avoid those brands with no information and probable low quality.

More "watts" printed on the label doesn't always mean a better unit.

 

[Saga Lout]

More "watts" printed on the label doesn't always mean a better unit.

Shock, horror!!! Don't tell me manufacturers lie about their product.

 

[Mezoxin]

how many models does EVGA need , how are they even making profit with these annoyingly wide range of models , even seasonic that only sells psu's don't have that many models

 

[Mezoxin]

I have noticed something interesting said by one Silverstone representatives here

View: https://youtu.be/niQWX1nQtW0?t=73


he says that anything above 500w is exempt from the tariffs !!! and that's why they are releasing 500w+ psu's in the us market , which does not explain why the prices of PSU's in the us market has increased significantly after the "Trump Tariffs" although they are 500w + variants

 

[Karadjgne]

They change models for different things. The BT as reviewed didn't have a berg, the BR prolly does. Or different protective circuits. Or different plugs, or markets. Or even platforms or place of manufacture.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, different markets mostly. The seven models available in Asia, for EVGA, are usually probably not the same seven models available in the US, which might also be different, or be some combination of the two, that are available in the upper EU. And then if a model becomes popular in a given region, they might expand that model to another region and throw a different power cable in the box.

As far as the tariffs go, I'd have to see CONCRETE proof of that being true, to believe it, because I assure you that across the board, including units that are 650, 750, 850w, the prices of ALL power supplies have gone up. 550w units are more expensive, by a considerable margin (Can't be accounted for by normal inflation) than they were a year ago. I don't believe that is true as stated by the Silverstone rep. At all.

 

[Karadjgne]

Right now, the only person I know of who posts regularly here, and whose word is pretty much gospel, and whom absolutely would be in a position to know that answer if anyone could be, as it affects the company he works for directly, would be Jon Gerow. Other that that, barring written concrete proof, it's all supposition and best guesses.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

PCPP has a price history function.

Looking at the history of a few common PSUs can tell you the trends.

550w and above:
Corsair CX550m https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3hkwrH/corsair-power-supply-cp9020102na
SS Focus gold 650 https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qn...r-atx-power-supply-ssr-650fm?history_days=730
EVGA G2 550w https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qYTrxr/evga-power-supply-220g20550y1

All but the CX550m have gone up in price since mid 2019.

450w and below:
Corsair CX450 https://pcpartpicker.com/product/Q7...onze-certified-atx-power-supply-cp-9020120-na
EVGA 450bt https://pcpartpicker.com/product/GQ...nze-certified-atx-power-supply-100-bt-0450-k1
EVGA BR450 https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xD...nze-certified-atx-power-supply-100-br-0450-k1

Of these 450w, all 3 have gone up in price since mid 2019.

 

[Mezoxin]

aren't tariffs regulations and rates accessible to the public ? i don't know anything about how the legal system works in the USA , but i think citizens in the usa can easily download such documents from the government website and view the correct tariff rate

 

[USAFRet]

aren't tariffs regulations and rates accessible to the public ? i don't know anything about how the legal system works in the USA , but i think citizens in the usa can easily download such documents from the government website and view the correct tariff rate

The basic concept, yes.
But a "10% tariff" does not automagically or directly translate into a "10% price increase on Product X".

For instance, a 20% tariff on wood from Canada does not translate into a 20% increase in the price of a house.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada–United_States_softwood_lumber_dispute

 

[Mezoxin]

But the psu’s aren’t assembled in the states , they are imported as a complete unit so they would have a specific tariff code for psu’s or so I would imagine

 

[USAFRet]

But the psu’s aren’t assembled in the states , they are imported as a complete unit so they would have a specific tariff code for psu’s or so I would imagine

And its still not that simple.
Start your research here, if you dare:
https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/enforc...ns/section-301-china/200-billion-trade-action

Look into 'List 3'

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Just a little question.

If I have the switch on my Lego PC's PSU off, than flick it on and then press the power button on the front of the PC, it will do nothing for like 10 seconds, then turn on.

If I have the switch off, flick the PSU switch on, then wait a minute or 2 and then press the power button, the PC turns on immediately.

Is the caps in the PSU just charging for a few seconds or is this just because its a cheap PSU?

Not really an issue, but had it had me thinking.