PSU Suggestion

[Eric_Cartman]

It seems to me that for the topic creator's budget and needs the CX750M would actually be the best fit.

It is in his budget. It is backed by Corsair's great warranty. And it is a quality unit.

From the research I've read it is actually the same unit as the TX750M, but they just used weaker caps on the secondary rails, and hence rate the 3.3v and 5v rails slightly lower than the TX750M.

But since nothing really uses those rails, it doesn't really matter.

The caps are still Japanese made though, so it isn't like they are putting some made in china shit caps in there.

@m1dg3t: My CX400 died in 2011, likely due to a brown out killing it.

At that time Corsair replaced it with a CX430.

It powered a C2D@4GHz and a GTX 460 for a year, then I rebuilt my computer and the CX430 continued to power my FX-6300@4GHz and GTX 660 Ti for another year until I finally upgraded to the CX750M to prepare for a second video card.

The CX430 is still working perfectly in my bro's rig with my old GTX 460 and i5 760@3.6GHz.

Also, all these rigs fold 24/7.

The CX430 has never even hiccuped.

 

[EarthDog]

That is part of what we are saying, he doesnt remotely NEED 750W, regardless if his has budget money for it. If he wants it, great, have at it, but you can easily be UNDER budget and still fulfill his needs.

 

[Eric_Cartman]

That is part of what we are saying, he doesnt remotely NEED 750W, regardless if his has budget money for it. If he wants it, great, have at it, but you can easily be UNDER budget and still fulfill his needs.

I certainly agree.

However, if you have the money now, I say spend it and get the best possible PSU you can.

Make sure you're ready for whatever comes in the future.

He could stay way under budget and get a CX430M and be fine, but what if he wants to upgrade in the future?

Why not be prepared?

And the 550w unit you say is a solid choice is $90, so pretty much his whole budget anyway.

So why not spend the same amount of money on a quality 750w unit instead?

That makes no sense to suggest a $90 550w unit over a 750w unit of pretty much the same quality at the same price just because he doesn't NEED 750w, that's stupid logic.

 

[EarthDog]

Prepared for what though? Power consumption has, for the most part, been going DOWN. So I'm not sure what one would be preparing for by going bigger than what he needs.... If he is going SLI/CFx, then sure, 650-750W is perfect. Otherwise CX500M is perfect.

As far as the two PSUs for the same amount, one is much more efficient higher quality and modular, but certainly not reason to spend the same money. The OP can easily use a CX500 and save the bux vs that Seasonic that was suggested. I was more on wattage than any specific model, note. My apologies if I came off any other way.

 

[Fourstaff]

Given the same price, and as long as it is better than minimum quality, I would choose one with higher wattage. Ignoring efficiency aside, that is. TX650 for compromise, perhaps?

 

[EarthDog]

ANY will work, absolutely, and I dont think anyone would fault that decision really. To me, its just a money thing so long as the quality of the unit and wattage on the 12v rail is there. If he is even thinking about a multi GPU setup (which is a whole different can of worms as far as 'should I'), 650W would be the direction I go.

Id rather be fine for my needs and save $20 than have headroom not needed and be out $20. I dont know. I have been involved in a lot of project management at the office lately and though I have a budget, I do my best to serve the commission's needs and get the most for their dollars. I take that same strategy home and when building PCs too I suppose. Just because one has the money doesnt mean they need to spend it. There are other variables as discussed that should be considered before spending the pot is all I am really saying.

 

[Mindweaver]

I'm using the cx430 in a few rigs that crunch 100% 24/7 with out a hiccup. I've also got a couple setting on the shelf waiting to replace any other cruncher that need it. 2 crunchers using it have 2500k's overclocked to 4.5ghz.

 

[Eric_Cartman]

ANY will work, absolutely, and I dont think anyone would fault that decision really. To me, its just a money thing so long as the quality of the unit and wattage on the 12v rail is there. If he is even thinking about a multi GPU setup (which is a whole different can of worms as far as 'should I'), 650W would be the direction I go.

Id rather be fine for my needs and save $20 than have headroom not needed and be out $20. I dont know. I have been involved in a lot of project management at the office lately and though I have a budget, I do my best to serve the commission's needs and get the most for their dollars. I take that same strategy home and when building PCs too I suppose. Just because one has the money doesnt mean they need to spend it. There are other variables as discussed that should be considered before spending the pot is all I am really saying.

That is the thing though, the PSU YOU SUGGESTED isn't saving $20.

It is the same price as the CX750M.

And a multi-GPU setup is exactly what I was talking about when I said it is better to be prepared.

And power consumption has only gone down the last generation with GPUs, CPUs have stayed pretty much the same.

However, the previous generation saw GPU power consumption skyrocket over the generation before it.

In fact up until the last generation of cards GPU power consumption has steadily gone up, so I'm guessing that trend will continue, this one generation of going down with just be a bump in the road.

So buying a weaker PSU for the same price based on the assumption that it is all you need now and power consumption only goes down is even stupider logic.

Because power consumption goes up and down.

If nVidia or AMD release another Fermi or R600 then 750w suddenly becomes the minimum for a dual-card setup and sometimes not enough for even that.

 

[EarthDog]

Well, like I said when I replied to you, "I was more on wattage than any specific model, note. My apologies if I came off any other way." - So apparently I came off that way...LOL!

Fermi was a kick in the teeth, sure. BUt the GTX 285 was what, 225W, then the 580 was 250W, and the 680 is 195W. One thing to note however is that for the same level of performance, power use has gone down. For example, a 7870 and GTX660 ti are around equal to a 580 but use 100W less. So some perspective is also needed.

CPUs, at least on the Intel side, have been going down, slowly, and with more processing power too. AMD's have been the same around 125W, but with more processing power too.

I hear you, I do... and if he is considering CFx/SLI, then 650-750W is perfect. However, regardless of a Fermi like card, I stand steadfast behind my statement that a quality 500W PSU will easily handle any single GPU and CPU overclocked (ambient cooling). Again Im rocking a 4.5GHz CPU and a 690 (both stock and overclocked) with a 550W PSU and it barely flinches...even folding (which is the only way I can get the fan to spin out of the gate).

Cheers.

 

[drdeathx]

LOL just get a 1500 watt PSU and you will never have to ask or create another PSU thread..... hahahahahaha

 

[Fourstaff]

LOL just get a 1500 watt PSU and you will never have to ask or create another PSU thread..... hahahahahaha

Can't find a 1500w PSU for under $100, can you?

 

[drdeathx]

Can't find a 1500w PSU for under $100, can you?

Nope! hahahahaha

 

[newtekie1]

I hear you, I do... and if he is considering CFx/SLI, then 650-750W is perfect. However, regardless of a Fermi like card, I stand steadfast behind my statement that a quality 500W PSU will easily handle any single GPU and CPU overclocked (ambient cooling). Again Im rocking a 4.5GHz CPU and a 690 (both stock and overclocked) with a 550W PSU and it barely flinches...even folding (which is the only way I can get the fan to spin out of the gate).

With modern graphics cards, I agree a quality 500w unit will handle any single card setup. However, I can't agree that it would handle a single card setup if we got another Fermi. When I built Rig4 in my sig I put a single GTX470 in it and a Seasonic 550w, it was about a year old. The Seasonic lasted about 30 minutes after I started Folding on the rig before going up in smoke.

So I'm definitely in the go big if you can club.

 

[EarthDog]

I understand your personal apprehension, but I would have to imagine that was a faulty PSU in your case as a GTX470 at full tilt is 215W. Like I said I folded for 2 weeks in the CC with a 690 (300W) and 4.5GHz 3570K.... and game on it daily (well aware that hex is 125W stock and like 200W o/c, and the GPU is pushing 300W overclocked). If it can handle that, it can handle any single GPU. I have that same exact PSU, see system specs.

 

[newtekie1]

I understand your personal apprehension, but I would have to imagine that was a faulty PSU in your case as a GTX470 at full tilt is 215W. Like I said I folded for 2 weeks in the CC with a 690 (300W) and 4.5GHz 3570K.... and game on it daily. If it can handle that, it can handle any single GPU.

At stock the GTX470 pulls about 230w, but start overclocking and overvolting it and Fermi power consumption skyrockets, same goes for when you unlock overlcock and overvolt a 960T. When I dropped the HX850 in to replace the Seasonic and measure power draw with my Kill-a-Watt it was peaking over 600w from the wall.

Current cards aren't as bad, especially since both AMD and nVidia are putting limiters on their cards to prevent this type of power draw. But who knows what the future will bring, so I say get the most you can for the budget you have.

 

[EarthDog]

I know... I had one... on the same PSU too. Just not an AMD CPU on top of it. Though at the time, I did have a i7 920 around 4.2Ghz so that was between the 960T and SB as far as power consumption goes.

MEH!

 

[Snowcharm]

This :
SeaSonic M12II 650 SS-650AM 650W ATX12V / EPS12V S...

It's in your budget,modular and in the power range specified.

 

[Jetster]

SeaSonic M12II 750 SS-750AM 750W ATX12V / EPS12V S...

I got this on sale for $70 Wait and get whats on sale