Question What is the highest quality low price PSU right now?

[punkncat]

Power supply prices are nuts right now. Not really sure what continues to drive this, I guess the power hungry graphics cards and CPU currently out. Basically, this has decimated the sub $40 space, and anything that should be $50-60 is typically much closer to $100 or more.

I am currently assisting in a gaming build for a someone who has an extremely tight budget. It is most likely that this build will end up being something along the lines of an R5 5500 and an RX 6600. Minimum recommended power supply for that graphics card is 500W. Their current rig was built up back in 2014 and is using an old Antec "high current gaming" PSU that was a couple of years old even then. I don't trust to use it, particularly, however the options available in budget are such as the Thermaltake "Smart" series.

I have used the "Smart" series in office builds but not anything with a graphics card that requires supplemental power. I have utilized their "Toughpower" series, but nothing is in budget for that unit. Both of these units should be costing a LOT less than they currently are. Corsair units are outside of budget by an even longer margin, even on their 'value' lines.

Is there any possibility of finding a unit as close to $40 as possible that isn't inviting a house fire?
Ketchup and mustard, non-modular units would be fine. I just need something inexpensive but reliable as possible.

The system in question is going to look something like:
R5 5500, maybe a 5600 if it can be squeezed out, stock cooler either way
B550 el cheapo motherboard with 4X RAM slots, maybe an A520 for nothing but price concerns
M.2 drive and one supplemental 2.5" SSD (already owned)
2x8gb of (probably) Ripjaws or if anything is on sale at similar known quality
least expensive M-ATX case possible
RX 6600 or similar level of performance to a GTX 1080 - will be used for 1080 gaming

The budget on this is as close to $400 as possible. The CPU/mobo/GPU/RAM is currently putting me right at ~$360 give or take a sale price.

 

[--SID--]

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/pG...ertified-atx-power-supply-ps-tpd-0600nnfagu-2 is the cheapest I recommand. https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qv...tified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-hg2-750 is an amazing deal if you can use the promo code.

 

[punkncat]

Thanks, yes I would like to step up to that level of Toughpower but it simply isn't in their budget. That FSP unit is nice but the promo code price was the $86.

If it were my money to spend I would not have issue going to a higher quality pricier unit, it just isn't there. As it stands, I might be utilizing the old case even. I would probably even suggest they use the old graphics card for budget to get a better power supply, but its performance would basically hold the PC back at a very similar performance level to the current build. I might try to help them consider a 5500XT to free up a few bucks for that first recommend.

edit- OUCH, did not realize just how much of a step down from a 1080 the 5500XT is....

 

[Misgar]

Before buying a PSU, see if your choice is in this list:

https://cultists.network/140/psu-tier-list/

If you discover it's rated "Tier F - replace immediately" consider something better.

My recommendation for a gaming rig if you're on a budget would be something in "Tier B - Mid Range," certainly no worse than "Tier C - Low end".

However, if you're prepared to risk destroying your new CPU, GPU and mobo, any cheap PSU will do. It might last for years, or go bang tomorrow.

Even good PSUs die eventually, but they generally have enough overload protection not to take out everything else when they expire.

 

[punkncat]

As of right now I have selected a R5 3600 alongside an A520 motherboard that come in at $122 from MicroCenter, I just have to drive there which also (technically) will be coming out of budget or I have to eat it. Just the motherboard alone loses me $30 if I go Amazon, etc.
I selected the P3 Plus for $27, some Silicone Power Value Gaming RAM for $30. which puts me at ~$181 still needing a power supply, graphics card, and case. If I go with the cheapo 'Smart Power' 600W version gets me around $226-ish. At this point I am basically stuck fitting even a 6600 ($190) because this puts the build @$16 over budget before taxes and such.

It appears that I am going to have no choice but to inform the buyer that the budget isn't sufficient and have them see if they can come up with another $100 to put in it, which will allow for a better PSU and a new case, I think.

I appreciate the thoughts and suggestions above.

 

[Misgar]

If your buyer does not accept the argument for a higher quality PSU, will there be any repercussions if you fit a $20 heap of junk and their house catches fire?

Remember, "the customer is always right" even when they're wrong.

Alternatively, you could to the "right" thing to protect your reputation as a PC expert (and their safety) by refusing to fit a stupidly cheap PSU.

Perhaps a pre-built system with a much lower spec would be a safer option, even if it runs like a snail and is useless for gaming.

 

[punkncat]

Nice point.

Even to call what I do a "side hustle" at this point would be misleading. My bread and butter for this venture was in the older Dell business class, but once W11 requirements came out I could no longer give them away (and did a few of them). This particular situation isn't even a money maker, I am doing the build for free for this individual.

 

[Misgar]

I often end up giving away old hardware and once donated nine Windows 7 laptops back in 2017 to gifted high school students in a village I visit from time to time on my trips abroad.

Hardware that seems antiquated to us is received with great enthusiasm and it's good to give old kit a new lease of life. In return I get the occasional bottle of the local home distilled firewater.