PSU tier list 2.0

[turkey3_scratch]

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.

I actually found what I was looking for. I was off a bit.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13572&page=2

 

[logainofhades]

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)

According to this, they are seasonic eco plus.

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page625.htm

 

[Deleted member 217926]

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)

According to this, they are seasonic eco plus.

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page625.htm

Outsourced though.

http://www.orionpsudb.com/xfx

 

[Xsanchi]

Hi, guys! May you help me to buy a new psu? I've found only these two units in my local store: EVGA G3 650W and XFX TS 550W bronze. I know that G3 is supposed to be better but it costs 40$ more! So does it worth? Or should I just get the xfx?
*I need a unit that could deliver more stability when it comes to overclock Q9650 @4.25GHz

 

[Karadjgne]

Both are very good - excellent psus, both will easily power that cpu, BUT! It's the gpu you have that's going to determine actual size. Then there's 1 other consideration, the XFX is standard fully wired, the Evga is fully modular. That makes a difference with some ppl who are concerned with looks, wiring and space. So we need to know what else you need to power, but mainly the gpu.

 

[Xsanchi]

Both are very good - excellent psus, both will easily power that cpu, BUT! It's the gpu you have that's going to determine actual size. Then there's 1 other consideration, the XFX is standard fully wired, the Evga is fully modular. That makes a difference with some ppl who are concerned with looks, wiring and space. So we need to know what else you need to power, but mainly the gpu.

Thanks for your concern. Here's my specs:
Rx480 4GB (maybe I will OC in the future after getting a new platform)
DDR2 4x2GB @2.2v
3x sata 7.2k
I also have a question, is the difference between bronze and gold huge?

 

[Karadjgne]

You are fine with either choice as far as power goes.
Thats not an easy question to answer. Gold rated 80+ psus are more efficient (slightly) than the Bronze 80+, but efficiency really only affects the heat the psu puts out, 3-5%ish more and the amount of power actually pulled from the wall. Being more efficient, you'd also expect to find better designed and built circuitry, thereby creating a better ripple and better stability at high OC levels. But thats only in general terms. There's Gold rated psu lines that have considerably worse ripple than a different manufacturer Bronze, so if you think that way, the only real comparison is in units in the same line. So the Evga G2, will have better ripple and efficiency than the Evga B2.

Out of the 2 choices, the Evga G2 is a better psu by a good margin, but that margin covers many different factors, each individual factor, it's not a landslide victory, but more of a squeek. But the XFX is still a very solid unit, just not quite as good.

 

[King Dranzer]

Is Corsair TXM Series Tier 1 or Tier 2

 

[Sakkura]

It's an upgraded version of the Great Wall-built CXM series. Jap caps, rifle bearing fan, no semi-fanless mode. The difference between tier 1 and 2 isn't very well defined, so you could argue either way. Doesn't matter much anyway, tier 1 and 2 are both good stuff.

https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/corsair-tx-750m-power-supply-review-80-plus-gold/

 

[Karadjgne]

I'd prolly stick it in the old tier 2 A category, close enough to tier 1, but not the same caliber as the HXi or AXi etc

 

[FahdK]

Is there a newer version of this tier list? OP shows next update Q2 2017 but I can't seem to find a newer version. Is there one in the works?

 

[Karadjgne]

Dottorrent has been extremely busy with IRL concerns, so when and if he'll do any revisions is anyone's guess. There's also many whom have undue criticism for the list as such, not using it as a general tool, but aiming to chop at specifics, and causing undue amounts of grief. It's a guide, not gospel, and done to give general results based on professional testing, but still based in opinion. With all that grief, I'd imagine it's also not high on the priority list to get updated.

Your best bet currently for new psus or older ones that aren't specifically listed is to just ask.

 

[d1versify]

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

i cant understand how can be quiet system power b8 being a 80 plus psu , be a close to tier 2 psu man

 

[okcnaline]

Because efficiency isn't end-all-be-all.

 

[Karadjgne]

80+ isn't an actual standard. It's a voluntary testing certification done by a third part, not affiliated with the psu manufacturer or its clients. It basically is just what it says, a unit was donated for testing, shows 80% or greater efficiency, you can now advertise it as such with our approval. That's it.
Has nothing to do with ripple outputs, quality of manufacturing, dependability, quality of components used in manufacture, cables, power ratings etc etc. 80+ isn't usually a qualification applied to tests its a bonus to you, the consumer.
There are outstanding Bronze units like the xfx, Seasonic S12-II, Evga B2 and there are gold rated units in tier 5.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

80+ isn't an actual standard. It's a voluntary testing certification done by a third part, not affiliated with the psu manufacturer or its clients. It basically is just what it says, a unit was donated for testing, shows 80% or greater efficiency, you can now advertise it as such with our approval. That's it.
Has nothing to do with ripple outputs, quality of manufacturing, dependability, quality of components used in manufacture, cables, power ratings etc etc. 80+ isn't usually a qualification applied to tests its a bonus to you, the consumer.
There are outstanding Bronze units like the xfx, Seasonic S12-II, Evga B2 and there are gold rated units in tier 5.

Then how does 80+ make money?

 

[USAFRet]

Then how does 80+ make money?

From rubes that think it actually means something.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Then how does 80+ make money?

From rubes that think it actually means something.

That doesn't make sense. First I had to Google what a rube was, but that doesn't really explain how they keep operating, where their money is coming from.

They must charge the PSU companies a ton of money obviously to rate the unit, making it basically still a business.

(Also I hope you know I don't think it means something)

 

[USAFRet]

Then how does 80+ make money?

From rubes that think it actually means something.

That doesn't make sense. First I had to Google what a rube was, but that doesn't really explain how they keep operating, where their money is coming from.

They must charge the PSU companies a ton of money obviously to rate the unit, making it basically still a business.

If I can sell a PSU simply based on the label of 80+, it can be crap and still sell.
Ergo...people who base their decision solely on 'moar watts' and "80+" (said rubes) will buy anything.
Prompting me to pay to get that theoretical rating.

The unit may be crap, but I still sold some and made a profit.

 

[Karadjgne]

Think about it turkey, think about the millions of psus built and sold on a yearly basis. 80+ doesn't have to do anything more than plug a watt meter into the wall with a load tester attached to the psu and turn it on. Takes just a few minutes to get 10/20/50/100% loads, check output vrs draw and bingo, I want $1 per unit manufactured as payment for my fancy certification you want to advertise. 80+ isn't strapped for cash, and won't ever be as long as that certification has any weight, which it does. Would you buy a Evga x3 if it didn't have an 80+ Gold rating vrs a Seasonic Gold rated psu? Or even when put up against a simple Bronze? The 3rd party vendors will gladly fork over a measly $1 per unit just for the recognition.

 

[Onus]

Barring cherry-picked samples (a big no-no that gets called out if discovered), I'd be surprised if a "real" 80+ unit couldn't at least make tier-4.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

And completely false labels.

But yeah, it at least guarantees rated output at room temperature.

 

[Ylaana]

I've had to RMA my Corsair AX650 as it refuses to power on every now and again. The unit is 5 years old and there is no newer version of it - if they can't replace it with the same type as per their warranty, what would be an acceptable (fully modular) equivalent in terms of build quality and performance? I believe the OEM of this one is Seasonic.

Thanks.

 

[superninja12]

I've had to RMA my Corsair AX650 as it refuses to power on every now and again. The unit is 5 years old and there is no newer version of it - if they can't replace it with the same type as per their warranty, what would be an acceptable (fully modular) equivalent in terms of build quality and performance? I believe the OEM of this one is Seasonic.

Thanks.

hey can u make a thread please

 

[Deleted member 217926]

I've had to RMA my Corsair AX650 as it refuses to power on every now and again. The unit is 5 years old and there is no newer version of it - if they can't replace it with the same type as per their warranty, what would be an acceptable (fully modular) equivalent in terms of build quality and performance? I believe the OEM of this one is Seasonic.

Thanks.

The AX line would have been their flagship line when you bought that. There is still an AX 760 and an AX 860 that are made by Seasonic. I'd assume Corsair would offer you a similarly high end unit as a replacement. I personally would be happy with an AX, AXi, ( unlikely since they will probably match wattage) or, more likely an RMi or RMx. The RM units use CWT as an OEM and they are both excellent.

Just a guess though. My one experience with Corsair RMA ( M65 RGB ) was very easy and painless.