PSU tier list 2.0

[ko888]

Independently regulated and DC-to-DC designs tend to stay well within ATX12V specs under all load conditions.

Group regulated designs have wide voltage variation on some rails when heavily crossloaded and in some cases one or more of the rails will drop out of ATX12V specs.

Look at the Crossload 1 tests for the Antec HCG-620 or the Antec HCG-620M and you'll see that the +5V rail will drop below the +4.75V that is the minimum allowed by the ATX12V spec. The Crossload 1 tests performed in those two reviews are not even as severe as Intel's own Haswell testing methodology that uses an even lower current draw of 0.10 Amps on the +12V rail.

Both of those Antec PSUs are made by Seasonic. The Antec HCG-620M is based on the Seasonic M12II-620. The Antec HCG-620 is based on the Seasonic S12II 620.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

For some reason I was under the impression independent and DC-DC were the same thing. Huh, I learn something new every day.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

The new CX units are here in America!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139148
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139147
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139146

5 year warranty, I think it uses all Japanese electrolytic caps, DC-DC.

 

[Nuckles_56]

The new CX units are here in America!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139148
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139147
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139146

5 year warranty, I think it uses all Japanese electrolytic caps, DC-DC.

At least they made it nice and obvious which ones are the new units for those people who actually care

 

[Darkbreeze]

They had better be astoundingly good, otherwise they're already irrelevant when you can get a 750w bronze B2 or gold G2, and a few other really decent models, usually for somewhere near that price.

At 85 bucks for a 650w bronze rated unit, they'd better get extremely exceptional review scores and have at least a 5 year warranty, or they're pointless. Interested to see what the reviews say about the cooling scheme too. Doesn't matter if it's all Rubycon's, if you don't keep them cool enough, they'll still have issues with longevity.

 

[RCFProd]

I miss ko888's posts.

Anyways, my Antec-HCG 620w is not listed as Haswell compatible and I think mine is basically a rebranded M12II 620w, isn't it? Can't even tell anymore lol.

 

[Vic 40]

Anyways, my Antec-HCG 620w is not listed as Haswell compatible and I think mine is basically a rebranded M12II 620w, isn't it? Can't even tell anymore lol.

Already showed you that on the Antec site it says it's compatible.

Nice to see that the new 450watt CX has two pcie connectors,is still enough for a decent gpu.If the price is right is it a nice budget option if reviews don't burn it down.

 

[RCFProd]

Anyways, my Antec-HCG 620w is not listed as Haswell compatible and I think mine is basically a rebranded M12II 620w, isn't it? Can't even tell anymore lol.

Already showed you that on the Antec site it says it's compatible.

Nice to see that the new 450watt CX has two pcie connectors,is still enough for a decent gpu.If the price is right is it a nice budget option if reviews don't burn it down.

I'm pretty sure the information I got when I asked it here was: The Antec-HCG 620M is fully Haswell compatible, but the HCG 620w non-modular isn't. And that's what it appeared to show on the Antec site too.

Edit: Wow what, it does sure ''Intel Haswell ready'' now on the product page, I'm so sure it didn't use to be there..
http://www.antec.com/product.php?id=705197&fid=5022035

So I can just re-enable the C6/C7 states again I guess.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

They had better be astoundingly good, otherwise they're already irrelevant when you can get a 750w bronze B2 or gold G2, and a few other really decent models, usually for somewhere near that price.

At 85 bucks for a 650w bronze rated unit, they'd better get extremely exceptional review scores and have at least a 5 year warranty, or they're pointless. Interested to see what the reviews say about the cooling scheme too. Doesn't matter if it's all Rubycon's, if you don't keep them cool enough, they'll still have issues with longevity.

G2s are quite more expensive, but I'm thinking of the Hydro G 650 - better option than the CX650M for the same price.

 

[Onus]

Nice to see that the new 450watt CX has two pcie connectors,is still enough for a decent gpu.If the price is right is it a nice budget option if reviews don't burn it down.

This. There needs to be a decent budget unit in this range. I really hope it reviews well, with parts selections that suggest longevity.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

At the current price of $59.99 or $49.99 after rebate, this CX450M I think will still be tough with the S12ii there. However, it may perform better actually, and it is semi modular, so it may become the next solid option in this range.

 

[ko888]

Anyways, my Antec-HCG 620w is not listed as Haswell compatible and I think mine is basically a rebranded M12II 620w, isn't it? Can't even tell anymore lol.

Already showed you that on the Antec site it says it's compatible.

Nice to see that the new 450watt CX has two pcie connectors,is still enough for a decent gpu.If the price is right is it a nice budget option if reviews don't burn it down.

I'm pretty sure the information I got when I asked it here was: The Antec-HCG 620M is fully Haswell compatible, but the HCG 620w non-modular isn't. And that's what it appeared to show on the Antec site too.

Edit: Wow what, it does sure ''Intel Haswell ready'' now on the product page, I'm so sure it didn't use to be there..
http://www.antec.com/product.php?id=705197&fid=5022035

So I can just re-enable the C6/C7 states again I guess.

Only on Antec's European sites do you see the logo:

It doesn't mean that the web page is correct.

Reviews even show that it becomes unbalanced and the +5V rail goes out of spec:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Antec/HCG-620/5.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Antec/HCG-620M/5.html

Even Seasonic doesn't claim that their group regulated models are Intel Haswell Processor Ready.

 

[Darkbreeze]

They had better be astoundingly good, otherwise they're already irrelevant when you can get a 750w bronze B2 or gold G2, and a few other really decent models, usually for somewhere near that price.

At 85 bucks for a 650w bronze rated unit, they'd better get extremely exceptional review scores and have at least a 5 year warranty, or they're pointless. Interested to see what the reviews say about the cooling scheme too. Doesn't matter if it's all Rubycon's, if you don't keep them cool enough, they'll still have issues with longevity.

G2s are quite more expensive, but I'm thinking of the Hydro G 650 - better option than the CX650M for the same price.

No, they're not. By the time you factor in shipping on both units, they're quite similar in price.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $84.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-21 12:43 EDT-0400

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Not everybody does rebates, though, and let's remember that you don't always get your rebate.

 

[logainofhades]

The 650w GS isn't a bad unit, iirc, and is $10 cheaper than the HydroG. My 650w Seasonic went up in price, again.

Is the Hydro G a different design than the GQ series units, they built for Evga? I have not kept up with newer models, lately. My typical recommendations are usually so well priced, compared to other units, that I don't pay any attention to them. I deal with a lot of budget builders though, too.

 

[CTurbo]

It's true that a lot of people don't like rebates, but I have a 100% success rate with rebates. It's not THAT hard. I get the rebate every chance I get. I use them as gas cards.

 

[Darkbreeze]

1. I've never NOT gotten a rebate from any major manufacturer so long as the rebate guidelines were followed. So that's not fact based.

2. This isn't a build thread, and the final cost of the units IS similar, so it's still very relevant considering it's a much better and higher capacity unit we're talking about.

3. Even WITHOUT the rebate, I'd rather pay for or recommend paying for, an additional 20 bucks, to get a fully modular, gold rated, very quiet G2 with an additional 100w (At least) capacity than a semi-modular Corsair CX bronze rated unit with a dubious expectation. I'll agree though that I'm very interested in seeing what the reviews of these say, however, I'll still take them with a grain of salt until time can tell, since the other CX units have all been mediocre at best.


Note also that the Corsair website still indicates, even with the new CX units, that they are "CX Series Modular power supply units are an excellent choice for basic system builds" and do not try to indicated that they're fit to be paired with high duty cycle systems.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Hydro G is also fully modular and gold.

Yes, it is. But we were talking about the Corsair CXm, not the Hydro G.

 

[RCFProd]

Anyways, my Antec-HCG 620w is not listed as Haswell compatible and I think mine is basically a rebranded M12II 620w, isn't it? Can't even tell anymore lol.

Already showed you that on the Antec site it says it's compatible.

Nice to see that the new 450watt CX has two pcie connectors,is still enough for a decent gpu.If the price is right is it a nice budget option if reviews don't burn it down.

I'm pretty sure the information I got when I asked it here was: The Antec-HCG 620M is fully Haswell compatible, but the HCG 620w non-modular isn't. And that's what it appeared to show on the Antec site too.

Edit: Wow what, it does sure ''Intel Haswell ready'' now on the product page, I'm so sure it didn't use to be there..
http://www.antec.com/product.php?id=705197&fid=5022035

So I can just re-enable the C6/C7 states again I guess.

Only on Antec's European sites do you see the logo:

It doesn't mean that the web page is correct.

Reviews even show that it becomes unbalanced and the +5V rail goes out of spec:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Antec/HCG-620/5.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Antec/HCG-620M/5.html

Even Seasonic doesn't claim that their group regulated models are Intel Haswell Processor Ready.

Aaaaand, I'll just go back and disable the C6/C7 states again. Thanks for that! I guess they list ''Haswell ready'' so people don't assume that it will atleast work with Haswell processors. Perhaps the C6/C7 states are irrelevant to it.

 

[Karadjgne]

I'm STILL confused about the CX being perpetrated as an 'excellent choice for basic system builds'. Does anyone have an educated guess as to exactly 'what' basic system build needs a 650 or 750w psu? 430w, no worries, even a 500w, but 750w? Really?

 

[turkey3_scratch]

I'm STILL confused about the CX being perpetrated as an 'excellent choice for basic system builds'. Does anyone have an educated guess as to exactly 'what' basic system build needs a 650 or 750w psu? 430w, no worries, even a 500w, but 750w? Really?

"None" is the answer we all know. There should be no budget units 500W and upward IMO. If anything, these upcoming graphics cards are going to be seeing less and less power consumption, so what we really need in the PSU world is for companies to quit pushing out a gazillion 850W 1000W units, and we need quality 350W and 450W units. I want to see something like a Gold rated 350W unit, quality all around, for about $40. People may say it's impossible, but it's not. Look at the 750 B2 running for $48 with rebates.

 

[CTurbo]

I'm ready to have some high quality fully mod 250-350w units. They would be great considering how many HTPCs I build.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Yeah, I'd die for things like that to come to the market, but probably looking realistically at 3 years or so before that happens. A top-end GPU in 3 years may be like 100W for all we know, our CPUs around 50W TDP. We'd be looking at a 350W unit being the sweet spot for efficiency. Also, just consider how much the increased efficiency in upcoming hardware will help the environment. There is no doubt in my eyes that all these 1000W+ units will be absolutely dead in 3 years, unless they continue to sell them to people who will think the more the merrier.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Not just that, but some high quality, high efficiency units in the oddball form factors, and bring the capacity up to 400-500w as well.

 

[Onus]

I'm ready to have some high quality fully mod 250-350w units. They would be great considering how many HTPCs I build.

This. I've been ready for this for years. My GTX970 is quite happy on a 450W 80+ Gold Rosewill Capstone-M. As little high-end gaming as I've been doing lately, I'd probably be happy with a GTX750Ti or GTX950, so a solid but inexpensive 350W unit would definitely twitch my wallet-hand.