Need a little help.

[NickS]

Hello everyone..

I'm in the market for a new PSU, as my Enermax Noisetaker 420w just can't take my system anymore. (Lock's up in games once in a while, especially in very taxing games like HL2: Lost Coast)

I've already tested CPU & Video Card stability (seperately) but, when everything is being used @ one time, it just get's too stressed.

(ie, when playing a game...CPU, RAM, Video, Sound Card, HDD's)

(And I had a random reboot yesterday when OC'ing my card a bit more)

Anyway..

I've chosen two.

Antec Truepower 2.0 TrueControl 550w

or...

OCZ Modstream 520w

---

I know what you're thinking, why not the Powerstream? A bit too expensive, soz. I'm quite young (I'm in ninth grade, age 13.)..so my budget's a bit limited to around $115, $120 (not including shipping.)

I've looked @ the Forton (FSP) Bluestorm or whatever, then I read that Hexus PSU review--and it failed it. :rolleyes:

Another Enermax is out of the question (they're kickass PSU's but..) they all failed Hexus' review and shut off @ about 465w..

---

Pro's and con's between the PSU's...

Well first off the Antec has adjustable pot's, which come in handy wehn OC'ing and getting good stability.

Also, I'm not a fan of Modular PSU's (more connections = more electrical resistance & noise, etc etc), so the Antec's good there too.

I also like the way the Truepower looks (yes, cosmetic's matter a little bit :))

I don't care for the baby-blue (gay, WHAT?) looking connectors on the OCZ Modstream.

But, I know the OCZ Modstream is a VERY capable PSU that can put out about 600w @ peak, more than my system will ever use.

So, can you guys help me here? Other suggestions are welcome (max $120).

Here's my detailed rig spex.

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice E6 0535 @ 2.6Ghz, 1.545v Vcore
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum
2x512MB GeIL Golden Dragon PC3200 @ 217MHz, 2-3-3-7-1T Dual Channel
Connect3D Radeon X800GTO @ 540/510, 16 Pipes (ram clock is low to rule out video card as culprit)
RAID0 Array Consisting of..
1x Seagate Barracuda 80GB SATA150 7200RPM HDD w/8MB Cache
1x Western Digital 80GB SATA150 7200RPM HDD w/8MB Cache
...and for storage
1x Hitachi 80GB UltraATA/100 7200RPM HDD w/2MB Cache
SB Live! 5.1
Compro Videomate TV/FM/PVR Card
NEC NR-9300A 48x CD-RW
NEC ND-3540A 16x DVD+RW
Floppy Drive

2x UV Cold Cathodes
2x 120MM Coolermaster LED Fan's
Panaflo M1A on XP-90
Antec SmartFan (pulling air from HDD bays)
and Numerous USB Devices & 2 Lan Devices

...all piled in my little Antec Super Lanboy :D

Current PSU Specs:

Enermax Noisetaker 420w ATX 2.01
+12v1/18a +12v2/18a +5v/30a +3.3v/30a (Total Combined +12v = 29a)*

*Says that on label :rolleyes:

This PSU is 1.5 years old. Fan speed is always on MAX. :)

[craig588]

The best cheap PSU you can buy is a FSP 530. It's as good as PCPNPs 510 line.

Just make sure you upgrade the fan in it, the stock one is nearly silent and too weak to exhaust enough air.

No one should ever get a Modstream, it's one of the worst concepts ever. It's a waste of good components.

[Dave in Daytona]

The best cheap PSU you can buy is a FSP 530. It's as good as PCPNPs 510 line.

Just make sure you upgrade the fan in it, the stock one is nearly silent and too weak to exhaust enough air.

No one should ever get a Modstream, it's one of the worst concepts ever. It's a waste of good components.You are NUTS! :slap:

Those were great back in the day, when the CPU was powered from the +5V rail!
These old & discontinued Fortrons only had +12V@18A! :fact:


Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550W Only $89!

In Stock
$15.00 Mail-In Rebate
$1.99 Three Day Shipping
(Not available in HI, AK, and PR)

Output +3.3V@32A, +5V@40A, +12V1@19A, +12V2@19A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2A

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931Good Luck,
Dave :toast:

[NickS]

I think I've found the right one. A really good friend of mine (|3ourne) said this wld be the best option for my system...

http://www.ajump.com/ajump/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2163&pf%5Fid=6830034&sku=99%2D99%2D99%2D99%2D99%2D6830034

[Dave in Daytona]

I think I've found the right one. A really good friend of mine (|3ourne) said this wld be the best option for my system...

http://www.ajump.com/ajump/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2163&pf%5Fid=6830034&sku=99%2D99%2D99%2D99%2D99%2D6830034Not my first choice, but tt should work fine. :toast:

[craig588]

You are NUTS! :slap:

Those were great back in the day, when the CPU was powered from the +5V rail!
These old & discontinued Fortrons only had +12V@18A! :fact:


Yes, but they arn't lieing like every other company, they have under rated their PSUs. I'm using two bridged ones for my benching rig right now.

They arn't discontinued either and I didn't bother with PSUs back when CPUs were run off the 5V rail, nothing drew enough of anything back then to make working on a PSU really matter.

They can supply alot more than 18 amps on the 12V line. I had an Enermax 651 that couldn't power a rig one of these could and it was rated at 36 or 40 (I forgot which) amps on every rail.

None of the specs listed on any PSU are worth anything. You need to test them yourself.

For their price PCPNP 510s are very dissapointing. Their ripple regulation was the loosest I ever tested, but was still within ATX specifications, but for 200$ it's not acceptable.

I'm someone who has no budget limit and I'm running 2 heavily modified 530s.

[Dave in Daytona]

I see no hope for you.

But, I do wish that you would stop spreading your non-sense to innocent people seeking help!

Dave :mad: :slapass:

[Major_A]

It's my understanding that Tagan rebrands some of their power supplies and sells them to OCZ.

[Dave in Daytona]

It's my understanding that Tagan rebrands some of their power supplies and sells them to OCZ.No, both OCZ PowerStreams & most (maybe all) Tagan's are manufactured by Topower.

Topower manufactures PSU's for several companies.

The OCZ PS's & Tagan's are different & unique, as they are made under contract to spec.

No rebranding, just subcontracting.

Dave :toast:

[craig588]

You are a serious danger, in that some n000b may believe your BS & act on it!

Your avartar needs to read "Master of Disaster", "Author of Confusion" or
"Minister of Misinformation".

I see no hope for you.

But, I do wish that you would stop spreading your non-sense to innocent people seeking help!

Dave :mad: :slapass:

36 amps is more than 18 amps, but somehow those 36 amps weren't enough and the 18 were.

None of them are worth anything.

Edit: I just noticed you're the same person that tried to explain the merits of the ATX guidelines just by linking to them. As long as you're touting your knowledge explain that to me too.

[NickS]

Ok, so I guess that Tagan is ok, since now craig made this into a PSU flame thread :rolleyes: .


@ Craig, when someone asks for help, you dont start bashing other PSU's. Instead, you think, look @ their rig specs, and find a reasonable PSU in their budget. :stick:

[craig588]

The FSP is fine too. If he had an AIM or MSN account I would have argued with him there.

Just for the record I never made any personal attacks and attemped to keep it simply about PSUs, which made me consider it just a discussion.

[NickS]

FSP...you mean Tagan?

Hehe ;) .

It's ok man, soz. I just got a little mad cuz my thread got totally 'jacked. :p:

[nn_step]

I vote Antec...

[craig588]

I consider Antec in the same class as Enermax. They're both PSUs that look really good but annoy me if I use them.


Go with the Tagen, it seems to be the one PSU we can agree isn't bad.

[NickS]

Antec's are OK PSU's, but Tagan seem's to be better quality, especially judging by the review's I've been reading of the Tagan.