ATX Power supply shopping, any tips?

scottiebabe over 1 year ago

I think its time to retire my Thermaltake Toughpower 650W ATX power supply.

Using the 80 plus test database seems like a good start

https://www.clearesult.com/80plus/manufacturers/115V-Internal?page=7

Fingers crossed LTT starts publishing PSU reviews with that test setup, just wow....

A random interview with a PSU designer:

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obones over 1 year ago +3

Do not go on the cheap side for this, I've seen to many horrors. And always take a "bigger" power output than you currently need. It will give you a bit of leeway should you change some components and…
JWx over 1 year ago +3

I have observed that ATX supplies parameters have changed sometime in the past - old ones provide most of the power on 3.3V/5V rails, but modern ones on 12V - to the level that 500W modern PSU cannot power…
dougw over 1 year ago +2

Cool stuff but I think he got the color code wrong - white is neutral, not hot, and black is hot in Canada. Such a mistake could have been exciting.

anniel747 over 1 year ago

Take the biggest you can. Bigger fans also reduce noise level.
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obones over 1 year ago

Do not go on the cheap side for this, I've seen to many horrors.

And always take a "bigger" power output than you currently need. It will give you a bit of leeway should you change some components and less fatigue on the PSU in the long run
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anniel747 over 1 year ago in reply to obones

You certainly mean do NOT.

obones said:
Do go on the cheap side for this, I've seen to many horrors.
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anniel747 over 1 year ago

Look on newegg for Corsair 1000W modular.
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dougw over 1 year ago

Cool stuff but I think he got the color code wrong - white is neutral, not hot, and black is hot in Canada. Such a mistake could have been exciting.
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Gough Lui over 1 year ago

https://cultists.network/140/psu-tier-list/
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scottiebabe over 1 year ago in reply to Gough Lui
Wonderful, thanks for the link. Looks like I'm on the right track as currently I fall in the

Tier F • Replace immediately

Any units released more than 12 years ago, bought more than 10 years ago, or made for ATX spec v2.2 or earlier due to the age of design and components
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Gough Lui over 1 year ago in reply to scottiebabe

As does mine - I'm running a Thermaltake TR2 Bronze 850W which I've replaced the fan on. My machine has a nice electronics burning smell every time I turn it on ... but it still hasn't failed almost a year after this started happening. I suspect the capacitors are drying up in mine ...

Nevertheless, usually it's the OEM that matters more than the brand on the side. If the budget stretches, Seasonic stuff is usually decent. But other than that, Corsair usually has fairly decent OEMs too, especially for their higher end lines.

Overall, the 80-plus program seems to have pushed most reputable brands to at least a baseline level of quality, not like the mid-2000's when there were so many dangerous units out there.

- Gough
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anniel747 over 1 year ago in reply to Gough Lui

Careful with the badcaps, it's a good way to kill your hard drive. In the PS as on MB.
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obones over 1 year ago in reply to anniel747

Woops, typing too fast here, you are definitely right, I edited my original reply
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ATX Power supply shopping, any tips?

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Tier F • Replace immediately