PSU Advice for mini-ITX system.

[Frick]

I was just sitting there checking out the web and suddenly the loudest bang I ever hered,
For an electrical piece of equipment plugged into a 240 volt wall socket I don't expect it to explode.
My opinion was sealed from that day forward
The guy who posted wanted peoples experience and opinions, That's far from a factual topic because we all have a different opinion.

I just want to point out that anything can fail, no matter who made it. It Is The Way Of Things, and it is the reason there are warranties for things.

 

[64K]

I know of someone who went with a SFX PSU in an mITX build to aid in air flow.
SILVERSTONE ST45SF-G 450W SFX12V 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular

The best way to get a cat fight going around here is to ask about PSU's. Why? I blame the PSU manufacturers. Ever wonder why the PSU manufacturers don't have "what size PSU do I need" tools? I think they want people to purchase PSU's that are larger than they need. I'd think that there would be bigger margins on the bigger PSU's. Look at the PSU reviews here on TPU. The average wattage for the last 10 PSU reviews is 1013 watts and 954 watts for the last 25!

So you are sizing your PSU for 100% load at 50% of PSU capacity. Will you run this system at 100% load 100% of the time? Where PSU's are most inefficient is at low wattages. Take that Silverstone that I linked to. Yes, it is most efficient at 50% load, but it stays close to that peak efficiency up towards 80%. But if you look at the curve below 50%, you will see that it quickly drops off. (look at the chart carefully, it's 100% to the right, but 20% to the left) I believe in sizing the PSU so that 100% system load is 80% capacity. In your case, you only need a 275 watt PSU! (pcpartpicker says 219 watts for that system) Although this isn't as big of a deal as it used to be, I think you should still try to stay above 20%, which is 110 watts on that G550. Do you think you'll use 110 watts browsing the Internet? Now we just need the PSU manufacturers to start making 80+ Gold PSU's with capacities under 400 watts. Nothing wrong with an Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D.

Actually, that's an older version of that PSU. Current version: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=373

Yeah, I was just trying to pick one from the choices he listed. Selection is limited in some places.

I looked at a review using a 2550k and a R7 250 on Tom's Hardware and the max system draw with GPU loaded was 150 watts. OP certainly doesn't need a 550 watt psu.

OP what online retailer do you use?

 

[Ferrum Master]

Again... bunch of philosophers.

Okay... TOP from those OP stated.

Corsair RM550, it's fanless till decent load kicks in, new design, overall nice one for your tasks, over and out.

I hate a bit seasonics and(same platform based corsairs) for one thing, coil whine... (YES they are super nice otherways) it is a lottery, for corairs it is more often(AX series), they lack glue and use less cherry picked transformers. It may be luck, it may be hell.

Enermax? Gosh, I have not read and used them they use OEM's?, despite I used the venerable ENERMAX GALAXY EGA1000EWL-DXX since 2008... I know it is their own inhouse design, the caps at least bulged after 6 years of use... (I bought it in ebay for 70 quid, Mussels style). The only thing I know still about new ones from friends, they are loud, because they intend to lover RMA rates, and extend the life of capacitors, keep in mind that argument.

Haven't met other mentioned ones.

 

[GhostRyder]

First of all, thanks to everyone for submitting your opinion, you're a lot!
Going to order, the most important thing is to keep the noise preventing overheating. Based on this review http://www.computerbase.de/2014-08/netzteile-500-550-watt-vergleich/8/ my choice would be between the BeQuiet, the Enermax and Corsair (RM550 - that would be completely fanless though). What do you think, explosions and mishaps included? XD

PS: The wattage is higher than necessary to keep the load of around 50% so the psu working less, heats less, and makes less noise

Heat is not going to be an issue even under high loads because you will not exceed or get close to the max of your PSU (450+) even if you went fanless so do not worry about that.

As far as quality goes, like stated everyone has different experiences but I can safely tell you that Corsair are just fine and honestly a lot of times end up in the great value area while Seasonic for me would be best in terms of over all performance and quality but at a price. I like BeQuiet as well but I do not have as much experience with them as other brands (Albeit the experience I do have is good) so I would not worry one bit.

I would get the Corsair RM550 if I was you at this point just because where I see it the price difference would make it more appealing to me.

 

[djostizier]

OP what online retailer do you use?

I should use www.amazon.it or alternatively other amazon in Europe (.es/.de/.fr).

I would get the Corsair RM550 if I was you at this point just because where I see it the price difference would make it more appealing to me.

Do you think that the RM450 might be good anyway ? I didn't put in the list because I did not found any numerical data about the fan and noise, but only opinion.

 

[64K]

I should use www.amazon.it or alternatively other amazon in Europe (.es/.de/.fr).



Do you think that the RM450 might be good anyway ? I didn't put in the list because I did not found any numerical data about the fan and noise, but only opinion.

I found this for the RM 450

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/80-plus-gold-power-supply-performance,3822-4.html

"Fortunately, Corsair's RM450 doesn't disappoint. Under a 200 W load, the fan didn't spin, and after 30 minutes of heat build-up, we were still waiting for it to make noise. We finally triggered the fan at 360 W, and even then it only generated a barely-noticeable 30.4 dB(A)."

I think this is the PSU for you. The fan will most likely never spin.

 

[GhostRyder]

Do you think that the RM450 might be good anyway ? I didn't put in the list because I did not found any numerical data about the fan and noise, but only opinion.

I think your just going a bit over board on your PSU needs because the type of system your looking at does not need much in terms of power (Heck a 450 could power a 970 and i5 connectors willing) and that can save you money on the end for it to go somewhere else.

Even considering adding the R7 250 you said you would add later, the machine would be fine on something like a 300Watt power supply even (Though I would have to use a high efficiency one to feel good about that).

Here are the choices I would go with based on what site you said you are using:
Seasonic 450 Gold
Corsair RM450 Gold
Silverstone 450Watt SFF Gold (Good because its tiny and quiet)
Corsair CSM 450 (A cheaper alternative and still a good PSU, I have one of the 550 variants and its not noticeable).

I would probably pick based on what your wanting and the prices either the RM450 for the quality and guaranteed quiet or the Silverstone for the size and quietness. The CSM450 is great as well and honestly a nice chunk cheaper so if you want to save a bit of money that might be a great option for you (its also very quiet but I do not believe has the 0 fan mode).

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Go with the RM450 and add a Corsair AF140 Quiet Edition fan in the bottom, but is that where you were planning on installing your HDD?
I don't like this case. Too little air flow.

 

[Devon68]

Well let me start with a little off topic.
Every manufacturer can have a bad PSU, that's just how things work. As someone who reads a lot about different issues with different products. I've seen bad psu's from many manufacturers and I really didn't care. Many said that thermaltake makes bad psu's and you should avoid them but look at me now 2 years later still running fine and if there might be a problem I still have a year of warranty left.

On topic
As to my recommendation I would get a cooler master B series 500W or a Thermaltake Smart SE SPS-530M psu.

I know many people who run much stronger pc's with the FX-8350 and R9 280X with some LC power 600W PSU and have no problems with it even if the psu is one of the cheapest you can buy that still has a brand.
It all comes down to what you fell comfortable with but anything you choose these days is a lottery and you never know if and when it might fail on you but that's why you have your warranty.

 

[djostizier]

I think your just going a bit over board on your PSU needs because the type of system your looking at does not need much in terms of power (Heck a 450 could power a 970 and i5 connectors willing) and that can save you money on the end for it to go somewhere else.

Even considering adding the R7 250 you said you would add later, the machine would be fine on something like a 300Watt power supply even (Though I would have to use a high efficiency one to feel good about that).

Here are the choices I would go with based on what site you said you are using:
Seasonic 450 Gold
Corsair RM450 Gold
Silverstone 450Watt SFF Gold (Good because its tiny and quiet)
Corsair CSM 450 (A cheaper alternative and still a good PSU, I have one of the 550 variants and its not noticeable).

I would probably pick based on what your wanting and the prices either the RM450 for the quality and guaranteed quiet or the Silverstone for the size and quietness. The CSM450 is great as well and honestly a nice chunk cheaper so if you want to save a bit of money that might be a great option for you (its also very quiet but I do not believe has the 0 fan mode).

I think that will buy the RM450! It has the perfect fusion between quality and silent.

Go with the RM450 and add a Corsair AF140 Quiet Edition fan in the bottom, but is that where you were planning on installing your HDD?
I don't like this case. Too little air flow.

I know but this is the best i found for the dimensions of the place where the case will be. I think that I can put the SSD and the HDD in the downside of the case, and in the vertical stand put the fan. Do you think that is possible ?

 

[thebluebumblebee]

I don't have any personal experience with that case, but from what I see on their site, it looks like there are 3 places for HDD's (including SSD's). If you are not using an ODD, a HDD can be placed there. On the bottom of the case, it looks like it's either storage or a fan.

 

[xorbe]

I know of someone who went with a SFX PSU in an mITX build to aid in air flow.
SILVERSTONE ST45SF-G 450W SFX12V 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular

I bought that one, and it's awesome!

 

[de.das.dude]

First of all, thanks to everyone for submitting your opinion, you're a lot!
Going to order, the most important thing is to keep the noise preventing overheating. Based on this review http://www.computerbase.de/2014-08/netzteile-500-550-watt-vergleich/8/ my choice would be between the BeQuiet, the Enermax and Corsair (RM550 - that would be completely fanless though). What do you think, explosions and mishaps included? XD

PS: The wattage is higher than necessary to keep the load of around 50% so the psu working less, heats less, and makes less noise

go for the corsair.
plus... corsair noiseless does mean it can give out more than full load without fans. so adding extra wattage wouldnt be necessary. corsair, among many other manufacturers add an extra overhead.