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

[Eximo]

Only generally, nothing stops you from wiring a room with a 240 volt outlet. Just a bit of an expense if you are the home owner or you can convince your landlord.

But it also comes down to the average person. If you need more than 1500W to run your home computer you are doing something beyond the normal. If it is rendering or AI, then that is the sign to start renting a server.

 

[Aeacus]

Stupid that it’s going to get to a point (at this rate) where people in the us can’t use more power hungry components.

About the time for entire US to convert from 120V to 240V, like the rest of the world. And while at it, convert to Metric as well.

Not only you can hook up more powerful hardware, but PSUs are more efficient on 240V circuit than on 120V one.
E.g 80+ Titanium, at 100% load, is 90% efficient on 115V but 94% efficient on 230V.

 

[Eximo]

In new housing, maybe. But to retrofit existing homes and appliances would be quite the expense. Not like we don't have 240 volts, just reserved for larger appliances where efficiency is more important than safety. What we really need is redesigned outlets.

This would also include half of Japan (100V), Canada, Mexico, and large parts of South America.

 

[Flayed]

My Dad fitted a 240v socket in his old house in Cali so he could use an electric kettle to make his tea quicker

 

[Darkbreeze]

Wow. Seems excessive to shave a minute or two off a brew time.

 

[Flayed]

At the time he was a recently retired British engineer, he did loads of random home projects. Another was fitting a button by the sink that recirculated the water so he didn't waste it waiting for it to get warm.

 

[Aeacus]

Came across a PSU that i haven't seen before. In one of the topics i'm part of, OP bought that PSU (topic).

Here, i'm asking PSU gurus what they think of that PSU;
Aigo GP750 750W.

Did find out that brand is: DarkFlash
Efficiency: 80+ Bronze
Warranty: 3 years.
Official specs page: Couldn't find it.
Review, non-English (in Vietnamese): https://www.f14lab.org/2023/12/review-aigo-gp750-750w.html

Review needs to be translated into English for reading.

From the review, i found out that:
OEM: GuangHaiDianZi.
PSU fails +3.3V transient response time, +3.3V also fails ripple test and PSU has less hold-up time than ATX standard specifies it to be.

So, crap quality unit? 🤔

 

[Lucky_SLS]

My 2 cents as a fellow enthusiast:

I always recommend tier A 750w gold psu with a proven track record and good transient response. Even for mid or low end builds - as you would have no headaches for the 7 + years and no problems with GPU upgrades.

If he is using it for an upgrade, he should have his old PSU for trouble shooting I guess?

It could very well be defective CPU data and/or power lanes in the mobo. Don't know how the mobo was verified to be working before the purchase. eBay has buyer protection policies. Don't know where he purchased it and if the platform has such policies.

But yes, if there is a return window, I would suggest an exchange for a reliable unit from TT or MSI - good pricing and availability in Asian countries. The new FSP vita series is good as well and available in the region.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Came across a PSU that i haven't seen before. In one of the topics i'm part of, OP bought that PSU (topic).

Here, i'm asking PSU gurus what they think of that PSU;
Aigo GP750 750W.

Did find out that brand is: DarkFlash
Efficiency: 80+ Bronze
Warranty: 3 years.
Official specs page: Couldn't find it.
Review, non-English (in Vietnamese): https://www.f14lab.org/2023/12/review-aigo-gp750-750w.html

Review needs to be translated into English for reading.

From the review, i found out that:
OEM: GuangHaiDianZi.
PSU fails +3.3V transient response time, +3.3V also fails ripple test and PSU has less hold-up time than ATX standard specifies it to be.

So, crap quality unit? 🤔

Yes.

 

[Aeacus]

I always recommend tier A 750w gold psu with a proven track record and good transient response. Even for mid or low end builds - as you would have no headaches for the 7 + years and no problems with GPU upgrades.

It's down to the masses who doesn't care about PSU, as long as wattage number is to their likening and it costing as little as possible.

We try our best to educate people who come to the forums but we are fighting an uphill battle.
I think that in 30 years time, we still get people in the forums who have cheaped out on the PSU. Since as long as there are people willing to cheap out on PSUs, low/crap quality PSUs doesn't go anywhere, they remain.

For my standard regarding PSUs, i have it more strict than the average PSU tier list, whereby:
PC with dedicated GPU (e.g gaming build) - minimum good quality PSU (aka Tier A), preferably great quality PSU (aka best what money can buy).
PC without dedicated GPU (e.g office build) - minimum mediocre quality PSU (aka Tier B), preferably good quality PSU.

If he is using it for an upgrade, he should have his old PSU for trouble shooting I guess?

OP probably had far worse PSU than the "new" PSU they bought.

It could very well be defective CPU data and/or power lanes in the mobo.

Yeah, most likely MoBo issue. Did tell OP that as well.

 

[King_V]

Efficiency: 80+ Bronze
Warranty: 3 years.


So, crap quality unit? 🤔

For me, just seeing that short warranty tells me exactly how little faith the manufacturer has in it. So my answer was "yeah, crap quality" before I even got to the part about the 3.3V failures and the below spec hold-up time.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I'd normally agree, but I'll tell you that Aris has recently been HAMMERING ALL OF the PSU manufacturers about "heck your warranty", that just means they ramp up the cooling so the unit is so damn annoying nobody would want to use it, so it lasts, so we can't count on that anymore especially since many of them are now NOT carrying long warranties even on very good products, but trying instead to ensure they don't NEED one because they have good hardware inside, good components, a good layout AND a quiet operation. So, yes, use it, but don't get caught up in warranty anymore for newer units because you might step on your own, um, stick.

 

[Aeacus]

but I'll tell you that Aris has recently been HAMMERING ALL OF the PSU manufacturers about "heck your warranty"

Speaking of PSU warranty, lately i came across a conundrum regarding MSI PSUs, namely the MAG AxxxGL-series.

E.g Aris'es review of MSI MAG A850GL shows the PSU having 5 years of warranty,
review: https://hwbusters.com/psus/msi-mag-a850gl-pcie5-850w-psu-review/

MSI MAG A850GL official specs site doesn't say any word how long the PSU warranty is (if there even is a warranty for the PSU),
specs: https://www.msi.com/Power-Supply/MAG-A850GL-PCIE5

But retail stores, MSI own store, Newegg etc, all show the same PSU having 10 years of warranty,
MSI store: https://us-store.msi.com/MAG-A850GL
Egg: https://www.newegg.com/msi-mag-a850gl-pcie5-850-w-80-plus-gold-certified/p/N82E16817701021
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/MSI-A850GL-Gaming-Power-Supply/dp/B0CB9MSJ5N

MSI Warranty policy is also very vague,

1. Attention: Product Warranty and Country / Region of Purchase

MSI product warranty terms may differ for each region. Only MSI notebooks have international limited warranty – all other products are subject to regional limited warranty terms based on where the product was purchased. Please check with your retailer where the MSI product was purchased from to verify the applicable product warranty terms. Cross regional purchases through online stores and platforms (Eg. Amazon, Newegg, Lazada, Shopee, etc.) will be subject to the limited warranty term offered in the country or region where such online retailer processes the transaction.

Source: https://www.msi.com/Power-Supply/MAG-A850GL-PCIE5/support#warranty

So, my question is: how much the PSU has warranty, if any? 🤔
My take on this is; since official specs doesn't list any warranty length - the PSU doesn't have a warranty.

Also, it's not the 1st time MSI does it's shenanigans with PSU warranty. Those who know about MSI Turbostream 600W PSU know what i'm talking about.

 

[Darkbreeze]

So, I'm going to say this and then take it for what it's worth on outside input, because I'm NOT going to ADD ANY to it, but I will just say this, here.

Frack MSI and Frack ASUS. If you need to know why and don't already know, I'd be happy to spell it out via PM so I don't have to worry about people getting sad at me.

 

[Aeacus]

Frack MSI and Frack ASUS. If you need to know why and don't already know, I'd be happy to spell it out via PM so I don't have to worry about people getting sad at me.

I've been up-to-date with PC hardware industry news (e.g GamersNexus) and i have an idea why you don't like these two brands. So, i think there's no need to send me PM about it.