The Power Supply Unit tier list Discussion thread

[Novuake]

If there was a Tier 2C, I would consider moving the ZT series into it IMO as LOTS of reviewers on Amazon said that these PSUs were very loud.

Update November 4th 2014 -

Added PSUs to tiers are the following -

Currently untiered -

Chieftec A-130 series
Xigmatek Maverick S series

Tier two Class B -

Fractal Design Integra M series

Removed PSUs from tiers are the following -

Currently untiered -

Fractal Design Integra M series (Moved to Tier 2 Class B)

Tier 3 -

Rosewill RP2 (Discontinued a long time ago)
Sigma SP series (Company defunct)
Sunbeam Nuuo series (Company defunct)
Thermaltake Purepower RX series (Discontinued a long time ago)
XG Magnum (Company defunct)
X-spice Kira series (Company Defunct)

As a reminder for people who are still confused with PC Power and Cooling PSUs and OCZ PSUs changing the branding to Firepower, please be advised that OCZ did own PC Power and Cooling since becoming bankrupt. Firepower Technologies purchased all of OCZs PSU divisions and facilities, including PC Power and Cooling. So if you saw in the past for example, PC Power and Cooling Silencer MK3, it's now changed to Firepower Silencer MK3.

Excellent, thank you for the thorough work.

 

[dottorrent]

Another idea!

What about coloring the PSU model series in the 80+ colors (obviously for 80+ i'll leave it plain)?

You know, something like this -

80 Plus
80 Plus Bronze
80 Plus Gold
80 Plus Platinum
80 Plus Titanium

What do you guys think? Yeah or Neigh?

 

[ImDaBaron]

I think that's a good idea....love the list btw.

 

[MeteorsRaining]

Another idea!

What about coloring the PSU model series in the 80+ colors (obviously for 80+ i'll leave it plain)?

You know, something like this -

80 Plus
80 Plus Bronze
80 Plus Gold
80 Plus Platinum
80 Plus Titanium

What do you guys think? Yeah or Neigh?

That'd be a great idea. Definately a Yeah. A tiresome task but will definately be worth it

 

[Novuake]

Just not that particularly yellow, its horrible on the white background.

 

[LukaBoki]

Yeah,don't go with that yellow,you can go with this one,I think it'll be nicer.
Also platinum should be something like this IMO and titanium something like this.
So:
80+
80+ Bronze
80+ Gold
80+ Platinum
80+ Titanium
In my opinion. 😉

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Yeah that would look great color coding them. I did notice a mistake though the Firepower ( formerly PCP&C ) Silencer Mk III should be tier 2a not tier 1. The original Silencer was in tier 1 in the old eggxpert list.

In fact since they all seem to still be in production based on the Realhardtechx database the Silencer and Silencer MK III should be in tier 2a and the Silencer MK II should be in tier 2b.

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page1418.htm

 

[tsuneo6]

great idea!

 

[dottorrent]

Yeah,don't go with that yellow,you can go with this one,I think it'll be nicer.
Also platinum should be something like this IMO and titanium something like this.
So:
80+
80+ Bronze
80+ Gold
80+ Platinum
80+ Titanium
In my opinion. 😉

Yeah that would look great color coding them. I did notice a mistake though the Firepower ( formerly PCP&C ) Silencer Mk III should be tier 2a not tier 1. The original Silencer was in tier 1 in the old eggxpert list.

In fact since they all seem to still be in production based on the Realhardtechx database the Silencer and Silencer MK III should be in tier 2a and the Silencer MK II should be in tier 2b.

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page1418.htm

They are definitely not in production anymore. Only the Silencer MK III stands tall in the silencer series of units, but I can't see the MK II returning to the list, due to the fact that nobody is selling them anymore, since the whole point of a successor is to replace the predecessor.

Besides, they are all based on Seasonic and Super Flower platforms, though the platinum model is based on an early Leadex platform. Maybe the lower wattage models will go to Tier 2 Class A, but IMHO the 1200w model is just fine in Tier 1.

On a side note, thanks for the great response on the efficiency color marking scheme. I'll get right on it.

 

[ko888]

80 PLUS Org's standard HTML Color Codes:

Standard: #FFFFFF
Bronze: #A27129
Silver: #999999
Gold: #E1B545
Platinum: #E1E1E1
Titanium: #766E6D

 

[Novuake]

Make that platinum a bit darker, not that familiar with the color coding.

 

[dottorrent]

MAJOR UPDATE November 4th 2014 -

A new efficiency color coding system is now in place. It goes as follows -

Standard
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Titanium

Now because some PSUs in a series have different efficiency ratings (I'm looking at you Firepower Silencer MK III), I will now be adding different wattages to most series if wattages have a different efficiency rating next to the series of power supply. If the majority is of one efficiency, it will be color coded, but if different wattages have higher or lower efficiency ratings, they will be added and color coded beside the series of unit.

Now overtime, if I don't fall asleep on my own volition, they will be added. So one day some are done, the next day they're done. Some PSUs don't have their efficiency confirmed yet or they don't have one, so they won't be color coded.

Let me know if this goes well.

Added PSUs to tiers are the following -

Tier one -

XFX
Pro series Black Edition / Black Edition Limited (Kudos to CGurrell for reminding me they still exist)
Pro series XXX / Semi-modular (They're actually based off the Seasonic M12-II platform, just the higher wattages though. Again, the XXX models are still for sale. My mistake :S)

Tier three -

Antec Basiq series (It still exists)


Removed PSUs from tiers are the following -


Tier two class A / Tier three -

Thermaltake Toughpower series 600w lower and greater (Re-reviewed until further notice, as most have been killed off in favour of newer models)

Tier two Class B -

Xigmatek
HC Series
MC Series

Tier four -

Xilence XQ series

More update soon. And again, thank you for your support on this new idea.

 

[LukaBoki]

Seems all good to me,can't wait to see what it's gonna look like.

 

[zeyuanfu]

If there's a darker color for 80+ Platinum, it would be nice as it's impossible to read.
Something like this would be better, IMO.

 

[RazerZ]

MAJOR UPDATE November 4th 2014 -

A new efficiency color coding system is now in place. It goes as follows -

Standard: #FFFFFF
Bronze: #A27129
Silver: #999999
Gold: #E1B545
Platinum: #E1E1E1
Titanium: #766E6D


Let me know if this goes well.

Definitely would be a nice touch to the list.

 

[zeyuanfu]

Also, for the Cooler Master GX II 650 watt PSU, I would put it in Tier 2B, Tier 3 at the limit. here are two reviews, two positive (HiTechLegion and PureOverclock) and one negative (HardOCP):
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/08/19/cooler_master_gxii_650w_power_supply_review/#.VFlz8PnF-YQ
http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/power-supplies/37752-cm-gxii-650
http://www.pureoverclock.com/Review-detail/cooler-master-gx-ii-650w/

 

[tiny voices]

I would dump that in tier 3 for sure.

 

[zeyuanfu]

The GX II 650 seems to have a decent Enhance platform...

 

[tiny voices]

It fails 80+ certification by 1% and has AWFUL voltage regulation on 3.3v and 5v rails. Plus for the same money you can get a WAY better unit.

I say tier 3 at best. If this was labeled a 550w unit it would score about better, but at 650w it exceeds ATX specs almost everywhere.

 

[zeyuanfu]

Plus for the same money you can get a WAY better unit.

Could I have a suggestion please?

 

[tiny voices]

XFX550.

 

[ko888]

Also, for the Cooler Master GX II 650 watt PSU, I would put it in Tier 2B, Tier 3 at the limit. here are two reviews, two positive (HiTechLegion and PureOverclock) and one negative (HardOCP):
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/08/19/cooler_master_gxii_650w_power_supply_review/#.VFlz8PnF-YQ
http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/power-supplies/37752-cm-gxii-650
http://www.pureoverclock.com/Review-detail/cooler-master-gx-ii-650w/

HiTech Legion's and Pure Overclock's reviews are pretty much worthless. They don't perform any cross load testing that stresses the limits of the PSU. There's no description of the circuit topology. They don't do any hot box testing. HiTech Legion doesn't even measure electrical ripple and noise levels. Neither of them measure any transient loads.

Only [H]ard|OCP's review is worth its salt. Their stress testing is much more difficult to pass. At least [H]ard|OCP's review has a more detailed tear-down and discussion of the internals. The GXII 650W died during their testing so reliability becomes a big issue.

The Cooler Master GXII Series is based on an old group regulated circuit design and isn't Intel Haswell compatible.

It should be in Tier Three with the GX II 550 / 750 Watts entry.

 

[tiny voices]

^ 100% agree.

 

[MasterMace]

For the Corsair AX series - only the 1200 is a Gold. The rest of them are Platinum.

 

[MasterMace]

The XFX ProSeries Limited Black Edition Platinum Certified is the 1000W unit, not the 1250W unit. The 1250W unit is a Gold Certified Black Edition (not Limited)