I created this thread to help members appreciate the PSU as a critical component of the PC. This would also be a learning resouce and Q&A thread for PSU suggestions/computations to help members in their buying decisions.
This thread will be updated from time to time as more information becomes available. The sources of the data will be included where applicable.
Most PSU models that will be discussed here are those available in local shops or from TPC members. Branded and generic PSU models included.
I welcome any of your suggestion and correction to further improve this thread. Cheers!
Contents:
PSU - Heart of the PC
PSU Connectors
PSU Standards
The Rating Label
PSU Rails
How much power does a typical PC use?
What PSU is inside a retail PC?
Things to consider when choosing a PSU
How to compute your power requirement
Checking the connectors
Power Efficiency
Safety Parameters
Modular Cable Management
Why generic PSU seems to work
Why generic PSUs are cheap
How much power can a generic 500W PSU really deliver?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The PSU\'s Brothers -- AVR, UPS, Etc.
PSU Review Links
PSU Owners Thread in TPC
Generic PSU Brands
>>> PSU tier list 2.0 (from Tom\'s Hardware forum)
>>> PSU Ratings (by kenneth03)
>>> 500W PSU List (by Godai_Yusaku)
********************
PSU - Heart of the PC
The power supply unit (PSU) is probably the most neglected component on the PC.
When buying a computer, most users will consider it as the least important part and will just place it at the bottom of his consideration list. Example:
1. Processor (CPU)
2. Motherboard
3. Video card
4. RAM
5. HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
6. ODD (Optical Disk Drive)
7. Casing
8. PSU
Majority of the budget will be used to purchase the top hardware and what remains would go to the PSU. Most of the time, users would just buy a casing with built-in generic PSU.
We forget to remember that the PSU is the one that \"fuels\" all those PC parts. If the processor is considered as the brain of the PC, the PSU should be considered as the heart of it, supplying \"blood\" to your hardware. A good-quality PSU can increase the durability of your equipment and reduce your electricity bill.
On the other hand, a low-quality PSU can cause a variety of problems that are mostly difficult to solve. Examples:
- Intermittent resets and freezes
- BSOD errors
- Hard disk bad blocks
In worst cases, a low-quality PSU would literally \"explode\" when loaded to its rated power and ultimately damaging your PC hardware.
********************
PSU Connectors
24(20+4)-pin Main Connector
- connects to motherboards
- 20-pin for ATX12V 1.x
- 24-pin for ATX12V 2.x (provide extra power to PCI-E slots)
4-pin (Big) Peripheral Connector
- connects to ATA devices (IDE HDD/ODD), fans, case lightings, etc.
- a.k.a. \"4 pin Molex\"
4-pin (Small) Floppy Connector
- connects to floppy drive
- sometimes used to provide auxiliary power to AGP video cards
15-pin SATA Connector
- connects to Serial ATA devices (SATA HDD/ODD)
4-pin ATX12V Connector
- connects to the motherboard
- a.k.a. \"P4\" cable
- added two +12V lines to power the CPU and motherboard
8(4+4)-pin EPS12V Connector
- connects to the motherboard (newer models)
- a.k.a. \"P8\" cable
- added four +12V lines to power the CPU and motherboard
6-pin PCI-E Connector
- connects to PCI-E expansion cards
- a.k.a. \"PEG\" (PCI-E Graphics)
- provide auxiliary power to PCI-E video cards that require >75W
8(6+2)-pin PCI-E Connector
- connects to PCI-E expansion cards
- provide auxiliary power to PCI-E video cards that require >75W
<click here for link>
********************
PSU Standards
AT
- introduced by IBM in 1986
ATX
- introduced by Intel in 1996
ATX12V 1.3
- introduced in 2003
- added two extra connectors to ATX power supplies: the 4-pin ATX12V connector and 6-pin auxiliary power connector
- ATX12V 1.3 introduced the Serial ATA power connector.
ATX12V 2.x
- introduced in 2007
- upgraded the main motherboard power connector to a 24-pin model
- introduced the PCI Express auxiliary power connector
EPS12V
- introduced in 2007
- created by SSI (Server System Infrastructure) for entry-level servers
- added a new CPU power plug, called \"EPS12V\"
Any PSU that only has one (1) +12V rail automatically falls into the v1.3 specs. A PSU with two (2) or more +12V rails will fall under one the v2.x specification.
PSU conforming to v1.3 specs was designed for systems that used the +5V rail for primary power. PSU conforming to v2.x specs was designed for systems that used the +12V rail for primary power. Example of two 550W PSU having different power distributions:
********************
The Rating Label
The rating label affixed on the PSU itself defines the operating range of the PSU. Some manufacturer such as Corsair choose to underrate their products, i.e. the PSU can deliver more power than what is stated on its rating label. On the other hand, generic PSU manufacturers intentionally overrate their products, i.e. the PSU can deliver much less than what is stated on its rating label.
The HX620 has a combined +3.3V & +5V limit of 170W and a combined +12V limit of 600W (50A).
Notice that the +12V limit is not simply the sum of the 3 rails (18A + 18A + 18A = 54A).
Rated and Peak Power
Rated power and peak power are different. Generally, rated power refers to the continuous (stable) power that the PSU can deliver consistently, while peak power refers to the elevated maximum (surge) power that the PSU can deliver for a very short period of time (e.g. 2 seconds).
Some manufacturers put peak power on the rating label (as a marketing strategy) so always double-check this value on the manual or technical data sheet. Example, Gigabyte Superb 550 has a rated power of 460W and a peak power of 550W.
********************
PSU Rails
PSU rails or voltage rails refer to the voltage outputs provided by a PSU, i.e. the +3.3V, +5V and +12V rails.
The +12V rail is the most heavily used rail. The CPU, motherboard, video card, HDD, ODD, fans, and lightings all use +12V.
Multiple +12V rails
The multiple +12V rail configuration was introduced to address the safety provision of ATX12V v2.2 standard:
3.2.4. Power Limit / Hazardous Energy Levels
Under normal or overload conditions, no output shall continuously provide more than 240VA under any conditions of load including output short circuit, per the requirement of UL 1950/ CSA 950/ EN 60950/ IEC 950.
240VA power is enough to overheat the wire and melt the insulation and possibly start a fire.
This limits the maximum amount of current that may pass through the +12V rail to 20A (240VA / 12V = 20A).
Most multiple +12V rails employed in PSUs are not fully independent. They are all connected to a single high-current +12V source but have separate current-limiting circuits. This works similar to a circuit breaker panel in our homes with many small circuit breakers installed to distribute the power.
When the PSU has multiple-rail overcurrent protection (OCP), if any rail reaches that limit, the entire power supply will shut down automatically.
+12V rail distribution
According to ATX12V v2.2 standard for dual +12V rails, +12V2 must power the CPU (using the 4-pin P4 connector) and +12V1 must power everything else.
However, not all manufacturers follow the standard and they apparently use +12V2 to power other devices.
To avoid hitting the current limit and shutting down the PSU, it is necesary to distribute the power load to each available rail. You must know which power connector is hooked to which rail.
Some PSUs provide the output distribution on the rating label:
If it is not indicated on the rating label, check the user manual or manufacturer\'s website or contact technical support.
********************
How much power does a typical PC use? <click here for link>
System 1 (Entry Level):
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500, 4GB Memory, P35 chipset motherboard, ATI Radeon HD 3650, an optical drive, and one hard drive.
At idle, this computer requires around 90W of power. At full load on the graphics card, processor, and optical drive, total power consumption is only 140W.
System 2 (Midrange):
AMD Phenom X4 9850 BE, 4GB Memory, AMD 790X Chipset, ATI Radeon HD 3870X2, an optical drive, and two hard drives.
At idle with Cool & Quiet enabled, this system uses almost 168W of power, while it needs at most 341W when fully loaded.
System 3 (High End):
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850, 4GB Memory, NVIDIA 780i Chipset, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra SLI, an optical drive, and four hard drives.
The idle power consumption for this setup is around 310W, while at full load on everything power consumption increases to 544W.
For entry-level systems, a good 250W-300W PSU is enough as seen inside most commercial PC brands:
********************
What PSU is inside a retail PC?
Here are few examples of retail PC available in the market. Only high-end gaming PC uses 700W+ PSU. This is to accomodate system tweaking, extreme overclocking and SLI/CrossfireX setup using the latest PCI-E video cards.
********************
Things to consider when choosing a PSU
Important:
1. +12V rail loading
2. Total system power requirement
3. Type of connectors
4. Power efficiency
5. Safety parameters
Optional:
6. Modular cable management
7. Voltage stabiliy, noise and ripple
8. Thermal management
8. Single rail or Multi-rail
9. Brand preference
10. Active PFC
11. Noise Level
********************
How to compute your power requirement
To optimize your PSU selection, you need to determine your power requirement first. Here\'s what you should do:
[Step 1] List down your hardware specification.
[Step 2] Compute the +12V rail load manually.
[Step 3] Compute the total system load manually. (Optional)
[Step 4] Check the recommended PSU wattage online. (Optional)
Let\'s begin.
[Step 1] List down your hardware specification.
Example:
Intel Quad Q9550 2.83Ghz (95W TDP)*
GTX 280 (178W @ 100% 3D Load)**
2 x 2GB DDR2 RAM
1 x 1TB HDD (SATA)
1 x DVD Writer (SATA)
6 x 120-mm Fans
1 x USB Mouse
1 x USB Keyboard
*CPU\'s TPD is indicated on the CPU box or at the manufacturer\'s website.
**Video card\'s actual power consumption @ 100% 3D Load can be found here >> <click here for link> or <click here for link>
**Video card\'s max power draw can also be found here >> <click here for link>. Just click on your video card name.
[Step 2] Compute the +12V rail load manually.
Use the \"Current Consumptions\" chart. I made this chart based on my own hardware spec and information from manufacturer sites. I selected the highest values to be safe. If you know the actual current consumption of your device, use it for the computation.
You only need to consider devices that use the +12V rail.
+12V rail
Mobo: 1 x 0.3A = 0.3A
CPU: 95W / 12V = 7.92A
Video: 178W / 12V = 14.83A
HDD: 1 x HDD = 2A
Optical: 1 x 1.5A = 1.5A
Fans: 6 x 0.25A = 1.5A
Total = 28.05A (336.6W)
You can now select a PSU model that has a max current limit of above 28.05A @ +12V rail.
Our PC utilizes the +12V rail mostly. The CPU, motherboard, video card, HDD, ODD, fans, and lightings all use +12V. Thus it is more important to compute the +12V rail loading. Generally, any PSU with sufficient +12V rating will have adequate capacity at lower voltages. As long as the PSU has enough +12V power, then it can handle the over-all system power requirement as well.
[Step 3] Compute the total system load manually. (Optional)
This time we need to consider devices that use the +5V and +3.3 rails.
+5V rail
Mobo: 1 x 2A = 2A
RAM: 2 x 3A = 6A
Optical: 1 x 1.5 = 1.5A
HDD: 1 x 0.8A = 0.8A
USB: 2 x 0.5A = 1A
Total = 11.3A (56.5W)
+3.3 rail
Mobo = 1 x 3A = 3A
Total = 3A (9.9W)
Total system load = 336.6W + 56.5W + 9.9W = 403W
You can now select a PSU model that has a rated power of above 403W.
Here is the tabulated result:
[Step 4] Check the recommended PSU wattage online. (Optional)
To double-check your computation, use the Antec Power Supply Calculator to get a recommended PSU wattage >> <click here for link>
Using the online calculator at default settings (85% TDP, 90% System Load and 20% Capacitor Aging), we get:
From [Step 3] we computed that we need a PSU above 403W and in [Step 4] the online calculator suggested a 431W PSU. This verifies that our computation based on the chart is correct.
********************
Checking the connectors
At the moment, the cheapest PSU that can handle our example above is the HEC Raptor 500W. It has a max load of 32A @ +12V rail.
HEC Raptor 500W (R500)
+3.3V: 22A | +5V: 15A | +12V1: 19A | +12V2: 19A
+3.3V & +5V limit: 130W
+12V limit: 384W (32A)
Rated power: 500W
PCI-E connectors: 2 x 6-pin PCI-E
However, the GTX 280 needs 1 x 8-pin PCI-E and 1 x 6-pin PCI-E and the R500 has only 2 x 6-pin PCI-E. A GTX 260 would be appropriate for the R500.
Our next practical choice would be the HEC WIN+ 550. It has our needed connectors and can provide more +12V rail power and higher efficiency.
HEC WIN+ 550W -- 80PLUS Bronze
+3.3V: 24A | +5V: 15A | +12V1: 28A | +12V2: 20A
+3.3V & +5V limit: 120W
+12V limit: 480W (40A)
Rated power: 550W
PCI-E connectors: 1 x 6-pin PCI-E & 1 x 8(6+2)-pin PCI-E
The connectors provided by the PSU determine the types of devices that can be connected to it. Therefore it is extremely important that you choose a PSU with all the connectors (type and number) your components require.
********************
Power Efficiency
Efficiency is the ratio between the power being pulled from the wall and the power actually being delivered to the PC.
For example, if your PC is consuming 250 W and your PSU is pulling 350 W from the wall, this means that the PSU efficiency is of 71.4%.
The higher the efficiency, the better for us consumers. Why?
First, it means less money spent on electricity bill. Good-quality PSU will provide an efficiency of at least 80%.
Second, it means less heat produced and lower temperature. In the example above, the extra 100W consumed by the PSU is converted into heat.
Third, it means higher quality components inside. It is not easy to produce a high-efficiency PSU. It involves good design, research and proper selection of qualified components to attain the best efficiency.
80PLUS Certified
The 80Plus certification can help consumers to quickly check the efficiency of PSU models. <click here for link> I recommend buying an 80PLUS certified PSU.
Efficiency Curve
Efficiency varies according to load and usually the PSU achieves its highest efficiency when delivering between 40% and 60% of its maximum capacity. Efficiency is also higher when the PSU is operating at 220V.
To achieve maximum efficiency, get a PSU with a maximum rated power greater than your required power. Ideally, twice as much power. Example, if you need 250W power, get a 500W PSU so that it would work at 50% load.
********************
Safety Parameters
ATX12V and EPS12V standards only require Over-Voltage Protection (OVP), Short-Circuit Protection (SCP) and Over-Current Protection (OCP). All other protections are optional and it depends on the manufacturer to implement them. Protection is always desirable as long as it is working. The more, the better.
Over-Voltage Protection (OVP)
Turns off the PSU if the voltage at any of the unit’s outputs goes above a trigger value.
Short-Circuit Protection (SCP)
Turns off the PSU if any output is shorted.
Over-Current Protection (OCP)
Turns off the rail that it is monitoring if that rail is pulling more than the trigger current.
Under-Voltage Protection (UVP)
Turns off the PSU if the voltage at any of the unit’s outputs goes below a trigger value.
Over-Power Protection (OPP) or Overload Protection (OLP)
Turns off the PSU if you pull more than a trigger power from the unit.
Over-Temperature Protection (OTP)
Turns off the PSU if the temperature inside the PSU reaches a trigger value.
With protections working, the PSU will turn off automatically when something wrong happens preventing the PSU from burning or exploding. The PSU will turn on again and work once you corrected the particular cause of the problem. Otherwise, it will refuse to turn on.
********************
Modular Cable Management
To provide better airflow and organization inside the PC, the modular cabling system was introduced. Instead of being permanently attached to the PSU, peripheral cables are attached to the unit using connectors. Thus, you can remove the cables you won’t use.
Modular PSU
Non-modular PSU
Is modular cable better?
This is what PC Power & Cooling has to say <click here for link>
Due to their look, convenience, and cost savings for manufacturers, modular plugs have become a popular power supply feature. Unfortunately, there has been little or no discussion of the impact of this feature on overall performance and reliability. The fact is, modular plugs limit power by adding to electrical resistance. The voltage drop can be as much as would occur in 2 feet of standard wire. Worse yet, modular plugs utilize delicate pins that can easily loosen, corrode, and burn, creating the potential for a major system failure. That\'s why professional system builders specify uninterrupted wire!
How much the modular cables would affect power efficiency is not yet that quantified. Even the Enermax Revolution85+ 850W and Seasonic M12D 850W that are 80PLUS Silver certified are using modular cables.
Note that PC Power & Cooling PSUs are all non-modular, but it\'s parent company OCZ is offering both modular (ModXstream series) and non-modular models.
Thus, the decision to use modular or non-modular PSU is a personal choice.
********************
Voltage Stability
We want the voltage outputs of the PSU to be stable or as close to their nominal values as possible, i.e. the +12V rail must output +12V.
ATX12V specification states:
3.2.1. DC Voltage Regulation
The DC output voltages shall remain within the regulation ranges shown in Table 2 when measured at the load end of the output connectors under all line, load, and environmental
conditions. The voltage regulation limits shall be maintained under continuous operation for any steady state temperature and operating conditions specified in Section 5.
Ripple & Noise
Ripple and noise is sometimes referred to as periodic and random disturbances. The diagram below shows how ripple and noise may look When viewed on an oscilloscope that is attached to the output of a typical PSU.
The output \"ripple\" frequency is primarily determined by the switching frequency of the PSU. The \"noise\" spikes are generated by the fast rise and fall times of the pulses associated with the switching and rectification components of the PSU.
ATX12V specification states:
3.2.6. Output Ripple/Noise
The output ripple/noise requirements listed in Table 10 should be met throughout the load ranges specified in Section 3.2.3 and under all input voltage conditions as specified in Section 3.1.
Ripple and noise are defined as periodic or random signals over a frequency band of 10 Hz to 20 MHz. Measurements shall be made with an oscilloscope with 20 MHz bandwidth. Outputs should be bypassed at the connector with a 0.1 µF ceramic disk capacitor and a 10 µF electrolytic capacitor to simulate system loading.
********************
Why generic PSU seems to work
A typical question goes like this:
\"Can a generic 500W PSU run my ATI \"X\" or NVDIA \"Y\" video card?\"
Then someone would answer:
\"Yes. I am using ATI \"X\" or NVDIA \"Y\" video card. Working great.\"
\"This Brand \"Z\" generic 500W PSU is okay. I am using it in my LAN shop. 24/7 operation. No problem.\"
\"I have an SLI setup using 2 x NVIDIA \"Y\" and generic 700W PSU.\"
Here\'s my explanation:
(1) A typical PC used by most user only needs 200W-300W power. It does not even need 300W all the time. The load varies depending on the tasks being run by the PC. A generic 500W PSU typically provides 250W-300W power so it would work for this setup.
(2) Not all video cards are power-hungry monsters. Some newer video cards even require less power than old models. It depends on the GPU chipset.
Examples of NVIDIA video cards running @ 100% 3D load with corresponding +12V rail loading:
7300GT -- 29W (2.42A)
8600GT -- 52W (4.33A)
9500GT -- 35W (2.92A)
9600GT (512MB) -- 61W (5.08A)
7300GS SLI -- 29W (2.42A)
7900GT SLI -- 98W (8.17A)
8600GTS SLI -- 79W (6.58A)
An example of an actual generic 500W PSU rail distribution:
+3.3V: 9A | +5V: 15A | +12V: 11A
As long as the +12V load does not exceed 11A, then the PC is safe.
But one problem with generic PSU is that the rating label cannot be trusted. Most would specify 15A or higher on the +12V rail when it could only provide 11A or less.
(3) Not all PC systems are built alike. Telling that you are using this video card model without specifying the rest of your hardware would be incomplete. You might be using a mid-range/high-end video card, but if the rest of your system are low-power devices, then the generic PSU will be able to handle it.
********************
Why generic PSUs are cheap
- Provide dirty power (power noise level is very high)
- Overrated (can deliver 50-60% of power rating only)
- Use thin wires (uses 20AWG instead of the standard 18AWG)
- Has limited or few power connectors
- Has low current limit on the +12V rail
- Use cheap material and components
- Remove components from filter stage (missing capacitors and coils)
- Has poor cooling solution
- Limited or no safety parameters (over-voltage, under-voltage, over-current, over-temp, etc.)
- No PFC (power factor correction)
- No certification (UL, CUL, CE, CB, TÜV, CCC, C-tick, etc.)
- ATX v1.x compliant only (not ATX v2.x)
- No online/manufacturer support (data sheet, reviews, efficiency chart, noise level chart, etc.)
Noise level measured on +5V rail when PSU was delivering 250W:
Both charts are in the same scale (2 ms T/div and 0.02 V/div). Noise level for the generic 500W PSU was @ 200mV. Noise level for Antec 500W was @ <20mV.
How much power can a generic 500W PSU really deliver?
<click here for link>
********************
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Does a 500W PSU mean it would consume 500W electricity?
A: No.
The 500W rating means the PSU can provide a maximum of 500W power. If your hardware only needs 250W, then a 500W PSU would just provide 250W.
Q2: Are multiple +12V rails better than a single +12V rail?
A: No.
The single +12V rail actually has the advantage of full power utilization, i.e. it can transfer 100% of the 12V output to the computer.
A multi-rail 12V design has distribution losses due to power being \"trapped\" on under-utilized rails. For example, if the 12V rail is rated @ 19A and the CPU only uses 6A, the remaining 13A is unusable and isolated from the rest of the system.
Also, most multi-rail PSU is limited to ~20A (240VA / 12V = 20A). High-power components that draw over 20A from the same rail are subject to over-current shutdowns.
Q3: Can an SLI-certified PSU always power high-end video cards?
A: No.
The ability to play high-end video cards still depends on the +12V rail capacity. For example, the HEC Cougar 450W is SLI-certified but it cannot support the latest GTX 280 in SLI mode.
Q4: What is Power Factor?
A: Power Factor in AC systems is the ratio of Real power to the Apparent power, and is frequently expressed as a percentage (0.9 PF = 90% PF).
Real power is power that is useable by the system. Apparent power is power that is generated but not used by the system, and often is dissipated as heat.
Q5: Does active-PFC (Power Factor Correction) lower my electricity bill?
A: No.
PFC is not related to efficiency so it has no effect on your electricity bill.
The benefit of active-PFC is that it draws less current than passive-PFC unit. This helps reduce stress on the wires in your home. Also, using less reactive power means less heat or lower temperature.
Q6: Are voltage-monitoring software accurate?
A: No.
Softwares (MBM, Speedfan, BIOS, etc.) typically give incorrect readings. But if readings are way off, there may really be a problem with the PSU. So just use it as a helpful hint.
Use a DMM (Digital Multimeter) to verify your PSU output voltages. Important: To avoid injury or damage, only qualified persons must do the testing.
Connect the Black probe to Black (Ground) wire. Connect the Red probe to:
+12V rail - Yellow wire
+5V rail - Red wire
+3.3V rail - Orange wire
Q6: What is the airflow of my PSU? Where is the intake and exhaust?
A: The PSU will always exhaust hot air at the back (the part with AC cord).
Q7: What is TDP?
A: Thermal Design Power.
Processor manufacturers usually release two power consumption numbers for a CPU, the typical thermal power, which is measured under normal load, and the maximum thermal power, which is measured under a worst-case set of instructions.
For example, the Pentium 4 2.8 GHz has 68.4 W typical thermal power and 85 W maximum thermal power. When the CPU is idle, it will draw far less than the typical thermal power.
Datasheets normally contain the Thermal Design Power (TDP). Some CPUs (i.E. newer Intel-CPUs) have the typical power consumption defined as TDP and some (like CPUs from AMD) have the maximum power consumption defined as TDP.
Q8: How will I know the OEM of my PSU?
A: The easiest way is to check the UL file number, if one is provided on the PSU box or label.
Go to UL Online Certifications Directory - File Number Search page <click here for link>, then input the UL number of your PSU.
Jonnyguru also has a database of PSU OEM, websites and UL numbers <click here for link>
For other options of determining the PSU OEM, refer to this article from hardwaresecrets <click here for link>
Q9: I want a silent PSU. What model can I get?
A: Silenpcreview has a list of recommended PSUs. <click here for link>
Caution: When it comes to the noise they make, PSUs of the same brand, even of the same series, are not that closely related sometimes. While some PSU brands are pretty consistently quiet (Seasonic is a good example), individual models still vary. So be warned. Don\'t assume that since Super Quiet 500 received an Editor\'s Choice award, the same brand\'s Ultra Silent 1000 must be very quiet too.
********************
The PSU\'s Brothers -- AVR, UPS, Etc.
Here are power-related devices that can be used to safeguard our PC and electrical/electronic equipment:
AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator)
UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
Power Conditioner
Surge Protector
AVR is a device that can control output voltage. It is best used in places where electrical power supply is unstable. If your AC main supply frequently varies between 180V-240V, using an AVR is recommended to maintain the output voltage to 220V.
Two most common AVRs are:
Electronic (IC) type
- a.k.a. Relay-type
- uses a multi-tap relay transformer
- have faster response time (only if good quality) but poor precision
- regulates voltage electronically over a fixed preset jumps (for example, 20V increments) rather than volt-to-volt regulation
- usually packaged with desktop PCs (price is ~P300 for 500W)
Servo-type
- uses a toroidal transformer and servo-controlled motor
- highest precision in voltage stabilization
- regulates voltage by positioning the armature (voltage tap) over the transformer windings
- performs volt-to-volt regulation, i.e. small variations in input voltage will move the armature in small, corresponding increments to stabilize output voltage
- you should buy this type of AVR
Most AVR models have Power-on Delay circuits. After a brownout and power is restored, the AVR will delay the power that goes to your hardware, typically 5 minutes. This allows the power source to stabilize first. You can enable or disable this feature by toggling an override switch.
Here are recommended AVR brands. All are servo-type and most have lifetime service warranties. Similar to PSUs, you get the quality that you pay for. Get an AVR with maximum power greater than your required power.
Stavol* (Matsunaga Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Japan) - 1500W ~P13,000
Stac* (Nippon Keidenki Works Ltd, Japan) - 1000W ~P8,500 | 1500W ~P10,000
Stavor (Taiwan) - 500W ~P4,300 | 1000W ~P6,100
Hossini - 1000W ~P3,300 | 2000W ~P4,700
Omni** - 500W ~P2,000 | 1000W ~P3,000 | 1500W ~P4,000
Yaden - 1500W ~P2,400
Panther - 1000W ~P5,000 | 1500W ~P6,800
Sieg - 1500W ~P2,100 | 2000W ~P3,500
Voltplus - 500W ~P1,600 | 5000W ~P8,500
CD-R King*** - 1000W ~P1,250 (3-months warranty only)
*These are medical-grade equipments so are the most expensive. There are fake Stavol and Stac AVR in the market so be sure to check the manufacturer. Originals are made in Japan.
**I am using Omni 1000W + Belkin Mastercube for my PC and HT gears.
***CD-R King SVC-1000. Made in China. Cloned from a Stac AVR model. Generic but with acceptable quality. Take note: Warranty is 3-months only. Pictures and comments can be found at www.pinoydvd.com.
UPS (a.k.a. \"backup battery\") provides uninterrupted emergency power to equipment, typically 5-15 minutes, until equipment safely shuts down, power is restored, or auxiliary power (generator) can be turned on.
If your place frequently experiences electrical brown-outs or black-outs, using a UPS is recommended. Important: Not all UPS have voltage-regulation feature.
Types of UPS:
(1) Offline/Standby - No voltage regulation. AC power is directly passed to PC. There are set points for large over voltage at under voltage situations. If voltage exceeds the set points, internal battery will be used for power. This is the cheapest UPS. Price is around P2,000.
(2) Line-Interactive - Has multi-tap variable voltage transformer inside that serves as semi-voltage regulator. (Note: The toroidal transformer inside a servo-type AVR is more precise and better than this.) There are set set points for large over voltage ang under voltage situations. If voltage exceeds the set points, internal battery will be used for power. More expensive than Offline/Standby UPS.
(3) Double-conversion/Online - Internal battery is used all the time so output voltage and frequency is much more controlled. Has faster response time during brown outs since battery power is passed to the PC at all times. More expensive than Line-Interactive UPS.
(4) Hybrid Topology/Double Conversion on Demand - Has the highest efficiency. can function as Offline/Standby and Double-conversion/Online depending on the power situations. Most expensive UPS type.
You can use the online UPS calculator from APC for suggestions on actual APC UPS model that suits your power requirement >> <click here for link>
You can check how long a UPS model can power your system at APC website >> <click here for link>
In this example, if your load consumes 300W (~480VA), the BR500I UPS will last 5 mins. while BR800I UPS will last 15 mins.
Power conditioner (a.k.a. \"line conditioner\" or \"power line conditioner\") is a device intended to improve the quality of the power that is delivered to electrical load equipment. This is done by filtering out EMI/RFI noise to smooth out the voltage of the electricity they supply.
Surge protector (a.k.a. \"surge suppressor\") is a device designed to protect electrical devices from voltage and current spikes.
Spikes and surges are two forms of power fluctuations. Generally, an electrician defines a surge as any increase that last more than three nanoseconds and a spike as one that lasts less than that. No matter how like a fluctuation lasts, it can cause lasting damage that will only find you replacing the electronics in your home if they are not properly protected.
Principal components of surge protector devices include Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) and Transient Voltage Suppression (TVS) diodes. MOV and TVS can absorb or shunt away surges so they will not reach your hardware, thus you have full protection.
Fuse interrupts excessive current (blows) so that further damage by overheating or fire is prevented. Fuses are selected to allow passage of normal current and of excessive current only for short periods. Surges can still reach your hardware so it is not fully protected.
Fuse Speed
A standard fuse may require twice its rated current to open in one second, a fast-blow fuse may require twice its rated current to blow in 0.1 seconds, and a slow-blow fuse may require twice its rated current for tens of seconds to blow.
Some devices combine the functions of power conditioner and surge protector. Examples are the Belkin Mastercube and Monster Power Strip.
********************
PSU Review Links
These are comprehensive PSU reviews from www.hardwaresecrets.com and www.jonnyguru.com.
AcBel Polytech iPower 660 <click here for link>
Antec EarthWatts 500W <click here for link>
Antec Signature 800W <click here for link>
Antec TruePower New 750W <click here for link>
Antec TruePower Quattro 850W <click here for link>
CoolerMaster eXtreme Power Plus 460W (RS-460-PMSR-A3) <click here for link>
CoolerMaster eXtreme Power Plus 500W (RS-500-PCAR-A3) <click here for link>
CoolerMaster RealPower Pro 850W <click here for link>
CoolerMaster RealPower Pro 1000W (RS-A00-EMBA) <click here for link>
CoolerMaster UCP 700W <click here for link>
Corsair AX850W <click here for link>
Corsair CX400W <click here for link>
Corsair HX520W <click here for link>
Corsair HX620W <click here for link> <click here for link>
Corsair HX750W <click here for link>
Corsair HX850W <click here for link> <click here for link>
Corsair TX750W <click here for link> <click here for link>
Corsair TX850W <click here for link>
Corsair VX450W <click here for link> <click here for link>
Corsair VX550W <click here for link>
Corsair HX1000W <click here for link> <click here for link>
Enermax Galaxy EVO 1250W <click here for link>
Enermax Liberty ECO 500W <click here for link>
Enermax Liberty DXX 500W <click here for link>
Enermax PRO82+ 525W <click here for link>
Enermax PRO87+ 500W <click here for link>
Enermax REVOLUTION85+ 920W <click here for link>
FSP Bluestorm II 500 <click here for link>
FSP Everest 700W <click here for link>
FSP Everest 900W <click here for link>
Gigabyte Odin GT 550W (GE-S550A-D1) <click here for link>
HEC ACE 480UB <click here for link>
HEC WinPower 480W <click here for link>
Huntkey Green Star 350W (LW-6350HG) <click here for link>
Huntkey Green Star 450W (LW-6450SG) <click here for link>
Huntkey Green Star 550W (LW-6550SG) <click here for link>
OCZ StealthXStream 600W <click here for link>
OCZ StealthXStream 2 600W <click here for link>
OCZ Fatal1ty 700W <click here for link>
OCZ EliteXStream 1000W <click here for link>
SilverStone Strider 500W (ST50F) <click here for link>
SilverStone Strider 750W (ST75F) <click here for link>
SilverStone Strider 850W (ST85F) <click here for link>
Silverstone Strider 1200W (ST1200) <click here for link>
SilverStone Decathlon 700W <click here for link>
SilverStone Decathlon 850W (DA850) <click here for link>
Silverstone Olympia OP650 <click here for link>
********************
RealHardTechX Power Supply Review Database
<click here for link>
********************
PSU Owners Thread in TPC
Here are some TPC threads about specific PSU models to get user feedback:
Coolermaster EX460W <click here for link>
Corsair HX620 Owners <click here for link>
Corsair HX1000 PSU Owners <click here for link>
FSP Blue Storm 500w vs HEC Raptor 500w vs Gigabyte Superb 550w <click here for link>
Gigabyte Superb Series <click here for link>
HEC PSU Users <click here for link>
HEC Cougar 700W PSU <click here for link>
iMaster Pro 600W Feedback <click here for link>
Task 350W PSU <click here for link>
Zumax PSU <click here for link>
Generic 500W PSU <click here for link>
How good IS a generic PSU? <click here for link>
Tacens Supero Power Supply <click here for link>
********************
Generic PSU Brands
Here are some generic PSU brands available locally. If you know of other generic PSU brands, please inform the thread.
Astone
CD-R King
Dynamo/Dynamo Pro
iCute (except iCute Titanium Series)
iMaster/iMaster Pro/iMaster SLI
Intex
Orion
Powerlogic
Rise
Task
Techwill
Tornado
Trendsonic
Zeno
********************
PSU tier list 2.0
<click here for link>
This list looks at the main and critical sectors of a Power Supply Unit -
Components - Higher quality components means more stable functionality, thus longer life on power supply and components of PC. Low quality components can affect the life of the unit and all components of your PC.
Stability - A power supply that can output it\'s wattage and ampere current at a stable temperature and beyond or below capable with minimal ripple and without shutting down shows that the unit is more than capable of powering any PC within it\'s labelled wattage. A power supply that can\'t must be avoided.
Efficiency - Although not really relevant to the quality or the stability of any power supply, but it can contribute to saving money on energy bills and can even be close to virtually silent. Perform research on your desired PSU to see if it can reach its labelled efficiency rating. Link above for more information.
Safety - A power supply must be capable of working without short circuiting or causing any serious harm to you or others around you if it fails. Perform critical research on your desired PSU to make sure it is safe to use with all safety switches, such as over-temperature protection included. Stay away from units with close to no safety switches at all, for the safety of you and others around you.
List updated - July 21st 2015
___________________________________________________________________________
Tier One
The highest quality and most stable Power Supply Units available. Protected by industrial grade protection circuitry and can output wattage at a rated maximum temperature of 50°C or below. These units are also Haswell certified, meaning they can cope with the C6 and C7 sleep states of 0.05Amps without triggering the under-current protection switch. May even go over labelled wattage and still work until it safely shuts down.
Antec High Current Pro Platinum Delta Electronics
Be Quiet
Dark Power Pro P10 / 850w FSP (550w - 750w) / Seasonic (850w - 1200w)
Dark Power Pro P11 850w FSP
Corsair
AX / AXi series 760w - 1200w Seasonic (AX) / Flextronics (AXi)
AX1500i Flextronics
HXi Channel Well Technology
RMi 750w Channel Well Technology
Cooler Master V series / V series 1200w Seasonic
EVGA
SuperNova G2 / P2 / T2 Super Flower
Supernova GS Seasonic
Supernova PS Seasonic
Enermax DigiFanless 500w Channel Well Technology
Firepower Silencer MK3 1200w Super Flower
FSP Aurum PT FSP
LEPA G1600 Enermax
Seasonic
Platinum series Seasonic
Snow Silent 1050w Seasonic
X series / X series XM2 Seasonic
Silverstone Nightjar Platinum 520w Seasonic
Super Flower
Leadex Gold / Platinum Super Flower
Golden King Super Flower
Golden Silent / 430w Super Flower
XFX
Pro series Black edition Seasonic
Pro series Black edition Limited Edition 1000w Seasonic
Pro series XXX / Semi-Modular Seasonic
XTR series Seasonic
XTS Fanless Seasonic
___________________________________________________________________________
Tier Two
As above, just slightly lower quality. Still safe to use and are all stable for any PC of today\'s standards, including Haswell C Stepping certification and 100% Japanese Capacitors. It is rare to find a PSU here with Taiwanese Capacitors and perform very well here, but they are here just in case.
Andyson
Platinum-R 1200 Andyson
Titanium N 700w Andyson
Antec
EDGE Seasonic
Earthwatts Delta Electronics/ Earthwatts Platinum FSP
High Current Gamer Delta Electronics (Non-Modular) / Seasonic (Semi-Modular)
Truepower Classic Seasonic (Essentially a Non-Modular version of the EDGE series)
Azza Platinum Super Flower
Be Quiet Straight Power 10 FSP
Cooler Master VS Series Enhance
Corsair RM 850w Channel Well Technology
Enermax Platimax Enermax
EVGA Supernova B2 Super Flower
Firepower
Silencer MK III 400 500 600 / 750 850 Super Flower
ZX Great Wall
Fractal Design Edison M Seasonic
High Power / Sirfa Astro GD Sirfa
Rosewill
Capstone series Super Flower
Lightning series Super Flower
Quark 1000w Enhance
Silent Night 500 Watts Super Flower
Tachyon series Super Flower
Seasonic
G series / G series V2 Seasonic
M12-II EVO (fully modular) Seasonic
S12G (Think of 2011 - 2013 Seasonic G series) Seasonic
S12-II Seasonic
SilentumPC Supremo M1 Gold 550w Sirfa
Silverpower
SP 460w Fully Modular Seasonic
SP Semi-modular Seasonic
Silverstone
Strider Gold Evolution Enhance
Strider Plus 750w 850w 1000w 600w Enhance
Super Flower Golden Green / Modular / HX series Super Flower
Sentey Golden Steel Power 850 Watts Super Flower
Thermaltake
Toughpower Gold 850M Enhance
Toughpower Grand Platinum 850w 1200w Enhance
Toughpower DPS Gold Channel Well Technology
XFX TS 430w / 550w-SEW Seasonic
___________________________________________________________________________
Tier Three
Some Haswell compatible, some not (maybe unconfirmed). Still safe to use and stable, just lower quality components. Some capacitors maybe Japanese, but can include the Taiwanese capacitors. Not really ideal in serious overclocking or super-high load situations, such as a Bitcoin mining rig or a high end gaming system.
Antec VP / VP w/P or F suffix Delta Electronics
Be Quiet
Power zone series 650 850 750 1000 FSP
Pure Power / Pure Power CM HEC Compucase
Straight power E9 FSP
Cooler Master
G Modular Channel Well Technology
GX II Enhance
Silent pro M2 / Gold / Platinum Enhance
Corsair
CS Great Wall
RM Channel Well Technology (450w - 650w, 1000w) / Chicony (750w)
VS Channel Well Technology
Deepcool Quanta 750w 1000w 1200w Channel Well Technology
Enermax
naXn ADV 650 Watts Enermax
Revolution X\'t series Enermax
Triathlor / Triathlor FC series Enermax
EVGA
430W / 500W HEC Compucase
500B / 600B HEC Compucase
Supernova NEXB / NEXG 750 Watts FSP
Firepower
Fatal1ty 2012 1000w Gold Channel Well technology
ZT series Sirfa
FSP
Aurum 92+ FSP
Aurum Gold FSP
Aurum S FSP
Aurum Xilencer FSP
Fractal Design
Integra M series High Power / Sirfa
Newton R3 Series ATNG
InWin
Commander III InWin / Powerman
GreenMe series InWin / Powerman [/b]
Kingwin Powerforce 850w High Power / Sirfa
LEPA
G500 Enermax
Lepa G900 Enermax
NZXT Hale 90 V2 FSP
Rosewill
Fortress Series ATNG
Hercules 1600 Watts High Power / Sirfa
Hive / Hive S series High Power / Sirfa
Photon 750w High Power / Sirfa
Silverstone Strider Essential 400w 500w 600w High Power / Sirfa
Thermaltake
London 550w Channel Well Technology
Toughpower1200M 1350M 1500M Channel Well Technology
Toughpower Gold 1200w Enhance
Toughpower XT 775M Channel Well Technology
Toughpower XT Gold series (Really confusing name, since they are rated Platinum) Channel Well Technology
Toughpower XT Platinum 1275w (Please don\'t confuse this one with the XT Gold line) Channel Well Technology
XigmatekMaverick S 500w Andyson
Xilence Performance A series HEC Compucase
___________________________________________________________________________
Tier Four
No Japanese capacitors found. Only Taiwanese capacitors and may even include Chinese capacitors. Very basic safety circuits or even thin gauge wiring used. Not for gaming rigs or overclocking systems of any kind. Avoid unless your budget dictates your choice.
Aerocool
GT Series 500s 700s 1050s HEC Compucase / Andyson (1050S model only)
Integrator 600w HEC Compucase
Strike-X series 800w 1100w Andyson
Templarius Imperator series Channel Well Technology ( 550W, 650W) / Andyson (750W - 1150W)
Cooler Master Elite II 550w (technically a 500w unit, maybe a typo from design department) Unknown OEM. Possibly HEC Compucase
Corsair CX / CXM Channel Well Technology
Firepower Fatal1ty 2013 High Power / Sirfa
FSP Raider series FSP
InWin Glacier ATNG
LEPA
MaxBron B1000M Yuelin
MX-F1 series (Trigger-happy Overcurrent protection and very poor quality capacitors) Channel Well Technology
NZXT
Hale82N 650w FSP
Hale82 V2 700w High Power / Sirfa
Raidmax Cobrapower 500w (Not to be confused with Akasa\'s Cobra series) Andyson
SilentumPC Vero M1 600w Sama / Guangzhou AOJIE
Thermaltake Smart / Smart M Channel Well Technology (M Suffix, 550P, 650P, 750P) / HEC Compucase (430P, 530P, 630P, 730P) / High Power (1000M, 1200M)
___________________________________________________________________________
Tier Five
Avoid IMMEDIATELY. These units are highly unsafe to use. No such protections added, very thin gauge wiring used, false advertising and too much to list. Reference to a higher tiered unit for a better, money saving and a much safer unit. For your safety\'s sake, please don\'t order or pick one up for use in your system. These units are a potential fire hazard and could even kill you, let alone your system.
A-TOP technology
Apevia
Apex (SUPERCASE/ALLIED)
Artic / Ace (They\'re the same company)
Aspire (Turbocase)
ATADC
ATRIX
Broadway Com Corp
CIT
Coolmax
Deer
Diablotek
Dynapower
Dynex
Eagletech
Enlight
Evo labs
EZ-cool
Foxconn
G7
HEC / Compucase Orion
HEDY (should be WAAAYYY lower down than these units. They\'re that bad)
iBall
iStar computer co.
Jeantec
JPac
Just PC
Linkworld electronics
Logisys computer
Macron
MSi (just stick to their GPUs and motherboards)
NMEDIAPC
Norwood Micro/ CompUSA
Okia
Powercool
Powmax
Pulsepower
Q-tec
Rocketfish
SFC
Sharkoon
Shuttle
Skyhawk
Startech
Storm
Sumvision
Tesla
Ultra
___________________________________________________________________________
Currently un-tiered - Announced PSUs and / or currently awaiting to be reviewed by professionals.
AcBel Polytech iPower 90 / M90 AcBel Polytech
Aerocool
AP / AP Pro series Andyson
CS Series (Not to be confused with Corsair\'s CS Series) Channel Well Technology
Integrator MOD XT HEC Compucase
Rave series Andyson
XPredator HEC Compucase
Akasa
Venom Power 2015
Viper Power
Antec
Earthwatts 2015 450 550 650 Delta Electronics/ 450 550 650
EDGE II
High Current Platinum GRID Delta Electronics
Neo Eco 2015 Channel Well Technology
VPF Bronze Delta Electronics
Chieftech
A Series High power / Sirfa
A90 Series Channel Well Technology
B Series Channel Well Technology
C Series Channel Well Technology
D Series High power / Sirfa
E Series Channel Well Technology
M Series High power / Sirfa
S Series Channel Well Technology
Club3d CSP Gold 750 / 850w Andyson
Cooler Master
B series v2 Channel Well Technology
Digital 1200w Titanium efficiency
GX 2015 Channel Well Technology
Corsair SF600
Cougar
GX V3 series HEC Compucase
GXD series HEC Compucase
A series V3 HEC Compucase
Cryorig Pi series
Deepcool Aurora Channel Well Technology
Enermax
Digityan Channel Well Technology
MaxPro Channel Well Technology
Platimax DS series Channel Well Technology
Revolution FM series Channel Well Technology
FSP Hydro G
G.SkillRipjaws series 850w 1000w 850w 1000w
High Power / Sirfa Overclocking EVO High power / Sirfa
In Win
Serenity series In Win / Powerman
IP-P IQ / IP-P HF TFX series In Win / Powerman
IP-P-Series GQ / GF TFX In Win / Powerman
IP-S GQ seriesIn Win / Powerman
LC Power Office Series Bronze
LEPA
MaxGold 1000w
MaxPlatinum series
N series
NOX
Hummer Bronze
Sense 500w
Raidmax
AP Series
Vampire series
RX
Rosewill
ARC series ATNG
Glacier series Andyson
Quark series ATNG
Tokamak series
Valens series ATNG
Seasonic
ECO 430w Seasonic
Lighting Cube series Seasonic
M12-II EVO 2015 Seasonic
Titanium series Seasonic
S12-II 2015 Seasonic
Seventeam PAP series Seventeam
SilentMaxx Eco-Silent Pro Super Flower
Silverstone
Strider Essential 400w 500w Enhance
Strider Platinum 550w - 750w High Power / Sirfa 850w - 1200w Enhance
Strider Titanium High Power / Sirfa
SX-700
Zeus 2015
Super Flower Leadex Titanium
Thermaltake
Tough power DPS Gold 2015 Channel Well Technology
Tough power DPS Platinum
Tough power Gold 1000M 1500M Enhance
Tough power Grand 1050F 1200F High power / Sirfa
Tough power Platinum 650w 750w 1050w Enhance
Tough power Titanium 1500w Channel Well Technology
Tough power XT Gold 1275M (Yes, it is gold, for a Platinum rated line) Channel Well Technology
TR2 Bronze series
TR2 RX Gold Yuelin
TR2 Gold series High Power / Sirfa
Thortech Platinum Plus High Power / Sirfa
Ultra X4 2015 High Power / Sirfa
Vantec Platinum Enhance
XFXPro V2 450w 550w Seasonic
Xigmatek
Maverick Andyson
Tauro M Andyson
Xilence Performance C
Zalman
EBT High Power / Sirfa
GVM series
********************
PSU Ratings
contributed by: kenneth03
Standard Models:
Brand / Model: AcBel CE2, 500W
OEM: AcBel Polytech
Description: One of the over-rated units out in the market which is able to deliver only about 430W. That is in fact not a 500W unit!
Rating: *
Brand / Model: AcBel iPower 510, 500W
OEM: AcBel Polytech
Description: Another unit that is out in the market which is able to deliver only about 400W. That is in fact not a 500W unit!
Rating: *
Brand / Model: AcBel iPower 85H, 500W
OEM: AcBel Polytech
Description: Been able to receive a number of good reviews. Though only has a 200V - 240V input.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Antec BasiQ (VP550P), 550W
OEM: Delta Electronics
Description: A superb choice for efficiency and reliability garnering an amazing price per quality ratio for low/mid-range enthusiasts.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: CoolerMaster Extreme Power Plus, 500W
OEM: AcBel Polytech
Description: Maybe one of the worst units out in the market that is indeed not to be included to my list of suggestions.
Rating: *
Brand / Model: Enermax NAXN Tomahawk II, 500W
OEM: Sirfa International
Description: Units available on the local market is lacking a PFC circuit and an autovolt feature.
Rating: *
Brand / Model: FSP Hexa, 500W
OEM: Fortron Source Power (FSP) Group
Description: Another good choice for low/mid-range enthusiasts.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: FSP SuperSonic, 500W
OEM: Fortron Source Power (FSP) Group
Description: Considered as the \"King of Hit or Miss\". Some units may be good, some may be not.
Rating: ---
Brand / Model: Gigabyte LC (GE-N500A-C2) Series, 500W
OEM: Channel Well Technologies (CWT)
Description: Definitely proves it name. Power, it rocks and it\'s expensive.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Gigabyte Superb, 550W
OEM: AcBel Polytech
Description: Nothing really superb. A 450W unit advertised as a 550W!
Rating: *
Brand / Model: HEC Cougar (RS-550), 550W
OEM: HEC / Compucase Inc.
Description: Another new member of the HEC PSU family. Not to mention the three-year warranty it offers.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: HEC Cougar (ST-500), 500W
OEM: HEC / Compucase Inc.
Description: Probably a watered down version of the HEC-500-TE.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: HEC Rapter II, 500W
OEM: HEC / Compucase Inc.
Description: Often advertised with an 80PLUS certification badge. Some units may be good, and some may be not.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Huntkey GreenPower, 500W
OEM: Huntkey / Shenzhen Chi Yuan
Description: ---
Rating: ---
Brand / Model: iMaster PRO, 500W
OEM: Unknown
Description: Boasts an outdated design and a 500W rating, that is indeed unreachable with the said unit.
Rating: *
Brand / Model: iMaster PRO SLI, 500W
OEM: Unknown
Description: Would an additional PCiE connector and sleeved-cables sound good enough for you? For me, it\'d be a risky buy.
Rating: *
Brand / Model: SilverStone Strider (ST50F-230), 500W
OEM: Fortron Source Power (FSP) Group
Description: Good. Old. And expensive.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: ThermalTake LitePower, 500W
OEM: Channel Well Technologies (CWT)
Description: Another unit that is not to be included to my list of suggestions.
Rating: *
Brand / Model: ThermalTake TR2, 500W
OEM: HEC / Compucase Inc.
Description: Sweetened by a five-year warranty. The TR-500P and Qfan variants are indeed one of the best on their family line-up.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: ThermalTake Smart Power, 530W
OEM: HEC / Compucase Inc.
Description: Good. Somewhat new. And expensive.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Zalman (ZM500-GS), 500W
OEM: Channel Well Technologies (CWT)
Description: With the absence of an 80PLUS certifcation badge matter much?
Rating: **
80PLUS: Bronze Certification:
Brand / Model: Aerocool Strike X, 500W
OEM: Andyson
Description: A new member of the PSU family out in the local market that sports a red theme, an X-design. And comes in modular and non-modular.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Antec BasiQ (BP-500U), 500W
OEM: Fortron Source Power (FSP) Group
Description: Don\'t be fooled with the looks, there\'s always something good inside and the unit is known for it\'s reliability.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Antec Neo Eco, 520W
OEM: Seasonic
Description: A re-badged Seasonic S12-E, comes in modular and non-modular.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Antec TruePower (TP550), 550W
OEM: Seasonic
Description: Not to mention that it\'s an Antec and Seasonic collaboration. Indeed a good formulation yielding a solid performing unit with a great hybrid-modular cabling.
Rating: ***
Brand / Model: CoolerMaster Gamer (GX) Series, 550W
OEM: Seven Team
Description: Looks horrible for a true-rated 550W unit.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: CoolerMaster Silent Pro M500, 500W
OEM: Enhance
Description: Something hard to find. A premium unit from CoolerMaster.
Rating: ***
Brand / Model: Corsair Builder (CX500) Series, 500W
OEM: Channel Well Technologies (CWT)
Description: A good value for the money is awaiting you on the V2.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Corsair Enthusiasts (VX550) Series, 550W
OEM: Channel Well Technologies (CWT)
Description: Would a Corsair name on your build and a five-year warranty sound great? Then, this unit is for you.
Rating: ***
Brand / Model: Enermax NAXN 82+, 550W
OEM: Channel Well Technologies (CWT)
Description: A solid performer with excellent reviews. Warranty coverage is just three-years.
Rating: ***
Brand / Model: FSP Blue Lightning, 500W
OEM: Fortron Source Power (FSP) Group
Description: Another great unit from the FSP Group!
Rating: ***
Brand / Model: FSP Blue Storm, 500W
OEM: Fortron Source Power (FSP) Group
Description: A bit hard to come by nowadays. Something blue, but definitely, it\'s not the LED.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: FSP Raider, 550W
OEM: Fortron Source Power (FSP) Group
Description: Another new addition to the FSP Group for the family line of PSU\'s. Recently announced on the CeBIT this 2012.
Rating: ---
Brand / Model: HEC (550-TE), 550W
OEM: HEC / Compucase Inc.
Description: A true-rated 550W unit.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Huntkey Jumper, 500W
OEM: Huntkey / Shenzhen Chi Yuan
Description: It\'s under-rated and able to deliver around 600W of power.
Rating: ***
Brand / Model: Huntkey Jumper, 550W
OEM: Huntkey / Shenzhen Chi Yuan
Description: It\'s under-rated and able to deliver around 650W of power.
Rating: ***
Brand / Model: NZXT Hale82, 550W
OEM: Seasonic
Description: A non-modular unit with five-years warranty? Worth it and expensive? Might be.
Rating: ***
Brand / Model: OCZ ModXStream Pro, 500W
OEM: Highpower
Description: Affordable and is a good performer. Though, it\'s quite hard to spot one nowadays.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: OCZ StealthX Stream II, 500W
OEM: Fortron Source Power (FSP) Group
Description: Nothing bad for a mainstream product.
Rating: **
Brand / Model: Seasonic (M12II), 520W
OEM: Seasonic
Description: A modular-unit with five-years local warranty? Definitely worth it!
Rating: ***
Brand / Model: Seasonic (S12II), 520W
OEM: Seasonic
De