PSU tier list 2.0

[Xsanchi]

Aha, sorry for that! I'm totally noob at hardware. Thanks, guys

 

[Karadjgne]

Considerable difference between the old CX and the new CXM, Corsair likes to rely on brand recognition, so has a strong tendency to reuse naming schemes, such as the CX-CXM, HX-HXi, AX-AXi etc. The HX and TX were discontinued years ago, except they are back now as upgraded units. You can tell the difference by the paint scheme, the older models used colored tags in block lettering the new models are silver and black lettering.

 

[LucoTF]

Considerable difference between the old CX and the new CXM, Corsair likes to rely on brand recognition, so has a strong tendency to reuse naming schemes, such as the CX-CXM, HX-HXi, AX-AXi etc. The HX and TX were discontinued years ago, except they are back now as upgraded units. You can tell the difference by the paint scheme, the older models used colored tags in block lettering the new models are silver and black lettering.

It's even worse than that though, the modular versions of the older CX were also CXM - it can get very confusing for the average consumer!

CX500M - http://www.corsair.com/~/media/corsair/product-photo-root/c/cxm500_sideview_cable.png

CX550M - http://www.corsair.com/en-us/~/media/3D43070081384FD4869C70B53EB35207.ashx

For simplicity I've just been saying 'green label' and 'grey label' when discussing them

 

[okcnaline]

Well, if it helps, old CX and CXM units are never x50W.

 

[RobCrezz]

Well, if it helps, old CX and CXM units are never x50W.

I have a CX750M that says otherwise 😉

 

[okcnaline]

Well, if it helps, old CX and CXM units are never x50W.

I have a CX750M that says otherwise 😉

The one exception... x)

 

[Karadjgne]

Yeah, for some odd reason, there's little to no quality units in even numbers between 500 and 800w. Generally the 5-6-7-800w units suck and the xx0w units don't.

 

[Tamaskan]

Have anyone use or have a look at the newer thermaltake smart 550w? Or would the corsair CX V3 be better? It's not really for me but a friend wanted to upgrade his PC which have a AMD10-7860k and he want to add a new gpu (RX 460) and his current PSU is some dodgy one called "PowerCase 550w" that doesn't even have PCIE connectors for GPU. He's pretty much on a tight budget and those cost about $85 Australian.


Here's the link for the thermaltake: http://www.thermaltake.com.au/products-model.aspx?id=C_00001975

 

[Karadjgne]

Honestly, I'd trust the CX over the TT smart series and you'd only need a 400-450w for an rx460


Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.00 @ Shopping Express)

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Thermaltake is the worst at keeping track of their power supplies. Countless revisions and similar names, it's pretty much impossible.

 

[Karadjgne]

Yep. TT Tough Power are decent, the Smart, umm no, and the TR2 are so hit and miss between bad and mediocre (depending on which plant made that particular unit) that a bad label is justified.

 

[Tamaskan]

Honestly, I'd trust the CX over the TT smart series and you'd only need a 400-450w for an rx460


Power Supply: Corsair - CXM 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($85.00 @ Shopping Express)

Thermaltake is the worst at keeping track of their power supplies. Countless revisions and similar names, it's pretty much impossible.

Thanks for the replies! Would stay away from TT to be safe.

 

[d1versify]

Hello guys. I am a member of a group of 40.000 members in facebook that deals with computer builds etc.
I would like to ask you guys about the Be quiet SYSTEM POWER B8 | 550W
The admins have also a site that recommends builds, and they recommend this psu all the time for budget builds. but i cant find any reviews for it.
Could someone tell me if it sucks or not

 

[okcnaline]

Hello guys. I am a member of a group of 40.000 members in facebook that deals with computer builds etc.
I would like to ask you guys about the Be quiet SYSTEM POWER B8 | 550W
The admins have also a site that recommends builds, and they recommend this psu all the time for budget builds. but i cant find any reviews for it.
Could someone tell me if it sucks or not

HEC units are pretty bad. Probably not.

 

[Karadjgne]

The System Power 8 aren't bad, not that good, but quite good for office, htpc, general use pc's or even low budget builds that don't have the hard gpu demands. I'd not pair it up with a gtx1070 and i7 etc, but for a i3 or pentium build pushing a 1050ti, its quite capable. On the other hand, it's full of CapXon caps, so longevity could be an issue if pushed close to limits and it's 40° rating might be an issue in warmer ambients under higher loads.
All the System Power units that I could find use FSP OEM, and most of the Pure Power, only some of the Pure Power, like the PP 8, use HEC OEM, but being primarily European based, there's going to be some series that are invariably different from US imports. Both FSP and HEC are capable of quality units, but both are generally more inclined to mediocre.

 

[d1versify]

The System Power 8 aren't bad, not that good, but quite good for office, htpc, general use pc's or even low budget builds that don't have the hard gpu demands. I'd not pair it up with a gtx1070 and i7 etc, but for a i3 or pentium build pushing a 1050ti, its quite capable. On the other hand, it's full of CapXon caps, so longevity could be an issue if pushed close to limits and it's 40° rating might be an issue in warmer ambients under higher loads.
All the System Power units that I could find use FSP OEM, and most of the Pure Power, only some of the Pure Power, like the PP 8, use HEC OEM, but being primarily European based, there's going to be some series that are invariably different from US imports. Both FSP and HEC are capable of quality units, but both are generally more inclined to mediocre.

so in tier terms?

 

[Karadjgne]

It's a solid 3, but far closer to a 2 than a 4

 

[jonnyguru]

HEC units are pretty bad. Probably not.

That is quite the blanket statement and largely false. They make a wide range of products and are also used as a contract builder for many of your so-called "tier 1" products.

 

[Karadjgne]

Well to be fair, the HEC brand units aren't that good, and the Evga 430W-600B series are pretty mediocre, not good, but not bad either, but what tier 1's does HEC sub for? I remember hearing some scuttlebutt that SuperFlower was going to sub out prolly some golden greens, to FSP I believe, but not the Leadex designs, but I think that was just rumors. This would be a first I'm hearing of HEC doin similar

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Well to be fair, the HEC brand units aren't that good, and the Evga 430W-600B series are pretty mediocre, not good, but not bad either, but what tier 1's does HEC sub for? I remember hearing some scuttlebutt that SuperFlower was going to sub out prolly some golden greens, to FSP I believe, but not the Leadex designs, but I think that was just rumors. This would be a first I'm hearing of HEC doin similar

Superflower outsources a lot of units to HEC. Superflower is not that big and I'm quite sure EVGA has given them a lot more demand than their factories alone can handle. If I remember HEC making Superflower units was confirmed by the Tomshardware German PSU editor on jonnyguru.com. Can't find the source but my mind is solid.

 

[Karadjgne]

Ohhhhh so rumor was partly right then, but it was HEC not FSP. Cool. Good to know.
Are there any distinguishing characteristics in model numbers etc? Do they pass SuperFlower QC? Or is HEC just making units like the BQ etc? Be interested to know if my Evga G2 550w is really a HEC made unit vrs SuperFlower factory unit.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

I got no idea.

 

[ko888]

Super Flower outsources to ShenZhen RuiShengYua Technology (SZRSY). SZRSY's quality control isn't as good as Super Flower's own factory.

 

[Karadjgne]

Wait. So who's right and who is wrong? Turkey says he's sure a TH German psu reviewer confirmed HEC, yet ko888 I've never known to be that wrong about any psu. Yet JonnyG also says many T1 units are also HEC, but then again I wouldn't think either Seasonic or Channel Well would have a need to outsource as large as they are.

I don't mean to start a war, even of words, but I have enough trouble trying to get stuff straight as to who is OEM for what brand without having to wonder over things like recommending a certain level of decent psu only to find out that the actual OEM is someone entirely different who doesn't live up to the standard of quality of the original. If that makes any sense. I'd not be pleased to find out that all those years I'd said 'sure, that XFX is a great unit, built by Seasonic, I'd lied through ignorance, because it was really built by HEC.

 

[Sakkura]

XFX should still be all Seasonic, apart from the new(ish) XT series. That's also outsourced to that Shenzhen factory.

(Seasonic's own factory is actually pretty close, but not literally in Shenzhen)