Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

[KenOlson]

Need to replace a Dell 2400 http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/del...-30824846.html Power Supply.

Would like to use this older PC for testing & wiping hard drives and testing CD/DVD drives so would like to get an ATX PSU that can withstand a lot of abuse. At this time do not plan to use it for testing older video cards.

Also "Best" means like Consumer Reports "Best Buy" because my budget is very limited and hope to buy the PSU when on sale.

Did some checking and noticed some PSU Mfr recommendations have changed recently. Thought would post question here because of the actual repair experience of many readers.

Thanks

Ken

[Mrx3750]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Were it me, I'd buy a cheapo one from Micro center, then recap it before I used it. However even that's no guarantee.

Your Dell 2400 is pretty old by now and shouldn't need anything special besides the P4 connector. You'd be best off looking for a cheap used brand name power supply on eBay, rated at 300 watts minimum.

[KenOlson]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Mrx3750,

Thanks for the cheap used brand name power supply recommendation. Had not thought about that possibility.

Any specific Brands...?

Ken

[jetadm123]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember that the ATX connector on Dell power supplies was custom wired and a standard ATX power supply would not work. This may not apply to the 2400 you have, but I thought I'd mention it.

[mariushm]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

The cheapest "decent" power supplies here in Romania are probably the ones made by "Sirtec" - in US they should be HIGHPOWER but I see Newegg doesn't really sell their cheap models, or highpower only sells these to east europe (or europe) :

http://www.pcgarage.ro/surse/sirtec-...ent-plus-400w/
http://www.pcgarage.ro/surse/sirtec-...ent-plus-500w/

That 150 RON translates to about 50$ which is cheap for Romania considering we have a 24% VAT.

The power supplies are ok, with average fans, good heatsinks, 80% bronze, decent soldering, teapo capacitors in general (so no crappy chinese capacitors)...

Some OK cheap power supplies are also made by cooler master, which may also be sold in US:
http://www.pcgarage.ro/surse/cooler-...wer-plus-460w/ (~ 36$ incl. the 24% vat)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171046 (different product number but the insides may be the same, not sure)

In US, look at Rosewill brand on Newegg, it's Newegg's label.. some of the power supplies are actually good, not just noname chinese psus (like diablotek bombs) relabeled.
But always look for reviews for those models before buying, some are not worth it, some are.

[KenOlson]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

mariushm,

"Some OK cheap power supplies are also made by cooler master, which may also be sold in US:"

After posting was searching the Internet for inexpensive PSUs.

Found
http://www.spoofee.com/cooler-master...4#.UhUkdNjviCg Cooler Master 460W Power Supply for $9.99 Shipped After Rebate

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-De...-/251138594284 Brand New Delta DPS350AB-8A DPS-400RB A 480W 480 Watt Power Supply 251138594284
Price: US $27.79

Hope the Cooler Master 460W is Good Enough for my purposes! What do you think?

Thanks for your detailed tips like "look at Rosewill...it's Newegg's label.. some of the power supplies are actually good...But always look for reviews for those models before buying, some are not worth it, some are."

Totally Agree!!!

Thanks again

Ken

[c_hegge]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Use the CoolerMaster and recap it. The picture on that listing for the Delta is actually a Logisys

You could also use something like this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hipro-250wat...item1e7e4fe1de) - A Hipro 250W for $10. They can sometimes get bad caps, but they usually last forever if you recap them.

[jamesbo]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

I have had one of the Cooler Master 460's in my son's machine for several years now. It is made by FSP, it is actually a 400W PSU. But it has been fine.

[c_hegge]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

^
Some are made by FSP, but others are made by AcBel Polytech.

[jamesbo]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Many are models are AcBel but the Elite 460 was FSP, so was the Elite 400W.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/artic...ly-Review/1005

[shovenose]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

seasonic makes a good basic 300w unit you can buy on newegg but I have an antec psu you could have for the price of shipping if you are in the us...

[Pentium4]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Where do you live? I have a bunch of recapped power supplies in the 300W-500W range

[lti]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Those Dell cases only had cutouts on the back for the fan and AC power connector. The Hipro power supplies from that time period fit, but most power supplies don't. If you want to put any power supply in it, you will have to cut out the full power supply opening. That is why there are so many "Dell compatible" power supplies, even though Dell has used standard ATX power supplies for years.

[c_hegge]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

^
Some Dells from that era did have the funny cutouts, but the Dementia 2400 doesn't. I've replaced those PSUs with others before. (see http://phantomroms.com/wp-content/up...-2400-back.jpg)

[shovenose]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

^
Some Dells from that era did have the funny cutouts, but the Dementia 2400 doesn't. I've replaced those PSUs with others before. (see http://phantomroms.com/wp-content/up...-2400-back.jpg)

This.
Except for a weird front panel connector those are Standard MicroATX cases.

[Pentium4]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

^
Some Dells from that era did have the funny cutouts, but the Dementia 2400 doesn't. I've replaced those PSUs with others before. (see http://phantomroms.com/wp-content/up...-2400-back.jpg)

Oh nice, they don't have the cutouts. Is that an Allied?

[shovenose]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Oh nice, they don't have the cutouts. Is that an Allied?

Unfortunately looks like one!

[c_hegge]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Oh, Deer Me!!

At least that isn't my picture

[Sparkey55]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

Use the CoolerMaster and recap it. The picture on that listing for the Delta is actually a Logisys

You could also use something like this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hipro-250wat...item1e7e4fe1de) - A Hipro 250W for $10. They can sometimes get bad caps, but they usually last forever if you recap them.

That Hipro 250W that you link to is full of Teapos both primary and secondary sides. Also has a lot of the evil brown (what used to be yellow) dried glue splattered everywhere inside. Otherwise OK.

[c_hegge]

Re: Best Inexpensive ATX Power Supply?

^
That's why I said that they can get bad caps. Most of the Hipros I've worked on have had white silicone glue, not the conductive yellow stuff.