Trying to pick a new PSU...

[Maxxarcade]

I need to replace my aging Vantec PSU w/ Fuhjyyu caps. Help me rank these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151027

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817104022

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817341002

I don't have too much in my system, just a socket 939 w/A64 3700+, 1GB Ram, but I do have 4 hard drives and two dvd drives. I wanted some headroom for upgrades. My current Vantec PSU is 520W, and even with crap caps I have gotten 5+ years out of it so far, probably due to the PSU having 3 fans, and being over-rated for my system specs.

Right now I'm favoring the Seasonic, but the OCZ looks pretty cool too. I Thought it was OEM by Fortron, but I'm not sure. For all my general purpose machines, I usually use Fortron/Sparkle, but if the Seasonic is better, I'll go with that. What kind of caps does Seasonic use? I know Fortron uses Teapo, which I don't care for, but better than Fuhkyyu caps

[starfury1]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

If it was me Id probably go seasoinc S12 from what I read and have heard here

or the Corsair version possibly from forum link Here

(Bit more grunt thought)

but dont go by me I bought a Liberty 620W ...well it had a good review at the time that's my excuse and I am sticking to it...

Others here will have a better advice based on experience I should imagine.

Cheers

[gonzo0815]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

I would opt for the Seasonic (probably the only retail PSu with good UCC caps) or the Corsair.
The OCZ is probably Seasonic or FSP too, but i am not shure what kind of caps they used.
The FSp is probably a decent unit, but may be it is a bit noisy.
The caps are usually not the best too.

I have had some 350w FSP oem 24pin psu`s with 80mm fan, and it is getting realy loud when under load.
Even in idl it dos not compare to any Seasonic PSu i used.

Any way, all psus are realy decent units, so you can`t go that wrong wit either of them.

[kc8adu]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

why not just recap/refan the vantec?

[Galvanized]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

Recap and refan, indeed! Or buy new and recap the Vantec as a spare.

OCZ and the Fortron Epsilon use OST caps on the secondary. Both units go out of ATX ripple spec near full load.
OK Wolf's recapping w/Nipponese caps did not help the situation.

That Seasonic is a bit much $$$. Newegg sucks for PSU price point.

http://www.buy.com/ has the Corsair HX520W for $90 w/free shipping or $80 w/free shipping for first time Google check-out buyers.
This is a very good deal on a Seasonic built unit. It is based on the Seasonic M-12 platform, is semi-modular(easy Gonzo ), lacks the M-12's AUX 60mm fan but has a 5 year warranty vs Seasonic's 3 year warranty.
A review can be found at http://www.jonnyguru.com/ > Reviews.

starfury1, your Liberty should be OK as long as it is not worked at 75+% of capacity. When they do flash-bang no other hardware has been killed, to the best of my limited knowledge.

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

Recap and refan, indeed! Or buy new and recap the Vantec as a spare.

OCZ and the Fortron Epsilon use OST caps on the secondary. Both units go out of ATX ripple spec near full load.
OK Wolf's recapping w/Nipponese caps did not help the situation.

That Seasonic is a bit much $$$. Newegg sucks for PSU price point.

Yep, the plan is to fix the Vantec and use as a spare. I'll go for a Seasonic, since I like UCC caps anyway

[Galvanized]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

Your money but do know that the Corsair is populated with Nipponese caps. Read jonny's review.

Note: Mushkin branded PSUs are crap and Corsair is very much a Seasonic unit, so don't confuse Corsair with other rebranded PSUs.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

Just FYI Hardocp does decent PSU reviews now too, here is one of the Corsair:

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...hlbnRodXNpYXN0

And their list of reviewed PSU's so far:

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/review...h1c2lhc3QsLCw=

A good addition to Johnny Guru's reviews, because good PSU review sites are, erm, well, only those two listed

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

Your money but do know that the Corsair is populated with Nipponese caps. Read jonny's review.

Note: Mushkin branded PSUs are crap and Corsair is very much a Seasonic unit, so don't confuse Corsair with other rebranded PSUs.

Will definately look at the Corsair, also.

[starfury1]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

Thanks Galvanized,
This liberty would hardly be breaking a sweat so I am not to worried but if I was buying again definitely wouldn't due to the issues when pushed towards to the max.

This was part of the reason I bought it...to have bit of grunt head room when I do re gut this box.

I should add too,
After reading some posts around here;
that what a review says and what a model number is does not mean they will have the same caps ...so I suppose there maybe a measure of pot luck here.

Hopefully those that build quality PSU have learned there lessons with regards to caps but dont count on it

As of 13 April 07

I only found 1 supplier of the Corsair hx620 with Static-ice in Australia at $189 AU
(on sale according to them and it only stated 1 year warranty but that could be cause of website)

Seasonic S12 650W were were $215 to around $250 AU depending on supplier (or more likely the last time they updated price)

550W version were around the $190 AU mark

go figure the exchange rates, it must cost a lot to ship here????

HTH somebody out there

Cheers

[wedfighter]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

i'll go for Corsair HX 620w for that price..

anyway from the three list upthere, i'll choose OCZ
IMHO OCZ GAmeXtream is FSP built same as FSP Epsilon series

[yanz]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

i'll go for Corsair HX 620w for that price..

Good choice, wedfighter Im not sure with the epsilon though. It's a good PSU but have an issue with high ripple at high load..
Back in the old day i got my zeus (silverstone) from singapore.. I was trying to find them in jakarta but got nothing..

OCZ and the Fortron Epsilon use OST caps on the secondary. Both units go out of ATX ripple spec near full load.
OK Wolf's recapping w/Nipponese caps did not help the situation.

That's interesting.. Do you have a link to that?

[Galvanized]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

yanz,
The OCZ fanboies really gave jonny hell when he posted his full load o'scope results of their Epsilon based units. 12V ripple was 150mv as the units neared full output. This is why OKW did the recap.
This is the link to OKW's work and jonny's retesting of the units. OKW lives in Canada and jonny lives in Florida, USA. So there was some shipping.
The server is down ATM. http://www.jonnyguru.com/article_details.php?id=109 (i PMed this link to davmax several days ago)

Server is back up. This is the review that started it all. http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=35

[yanz]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

thanks for the links, john

[hardwareguy]

Re: Trying to pick a new PSU...

I'd take the OCZ if the ripple at load issue wasn't present. OEM for them is Fortron.... but you get an extra year of warranty from OCZ.

Looks like I'll use an Ablecom (Supermicro) or Zippy in the next build.