Regarding Pico PSUs!

[GordonFreemanInTheFlesh]

Recently I have been wanting to build a home theatre PC and have compiled a parts list of various low power components mainly consisting of: a mini itx/ax MB, 16gb 3200mhz, Ryzen 7 5700g, samsung ssd.
Since this PC is going to sit in my living room under my TV normally I would like it to be as sleek/stealthy as possible but my issue again is the PSU!
I have been looking around for flex psus and they are all too big for my case!
Also I stumbled upon a line of PSUs called "PICO".
And looking around I also found the official website (RGEEK) and while scrolling through the endless list of PICO PSUs I found this:

Ë

http://imgur.com/a/xIxctWv

This PSU is rated at 450W

This PSU has everything I need, granted I have to run dual 220v to 12v, 20A power bricks!
But that's not an issue.

450w for such a system is overkill but in the future I would like to re-use this system by installing a medium/low end GPU.

 

[tabascosauz]

It's harder to find the AC-DC brick than the picoPSU itself. It was very hard looking for any 200W+ single brick. I remember there were a few custom ones (sale on forum threads only, no website), and maybe a Meanwell 480W? Choices might be better now that GaN is starting to hit the market.

If you are happy with 5700G, stick to a picoPSU between 150-200W. If you aren't 100% happy with 5700G, just build in something that takes FlexATX or SFX. Even if you add a good slot-powered 75W card, a decent quality 200W should still hold up fine. If not slot powered, just get a PSU or 400W Hifi.

I'm gonna be honest with you, if the case is over 5L in volume, zero reason to be using a picoPSU. SFF has come a long way and there are plenty of good SFX/FlexATX cases. Some of these vendors also sell PSUs. I hope your HTPC case is made of solid gold because I can't think of a case valuable enough to justify jumping through all these hoops just to be stuck on picoPSU.

Store — VELKASE
Densium 4 Plus V2
Lazer3D | Home
etc.

An alternative is the HDPlex ecosystem. Only drawback is that they run 19V, which completely changes the bricks that you can pair with them, but fortunately Dell sells both new and old bricks that work. They have two interesting "brickless" choices:

• HDPLEX 400W HiFi DC-ATX Converter - powerful but needs to be paired with the 400W AC-DC
• HDPLEX 250W GaN Passive AIO ATX Power Supply - just came out, no brick at all

I run two of their 200W setups, one brick (200W DC-ATX with Dell 220W brick) and one brickless (200W DC-ATX with 200W AC-DC). Solid stuff

 

[Toothless]

I just did a build recently with a pico. It came with a 120w brick and it's so easy to plug and go. Also has a PCI bracket for the plug to go through so it's neater.

Which site are you going to use?

 

[GordonFreemanInTheFlesh]

It's harder to find the AC-DC brick than the picoPSU itself. It was very hard looking for any 200W+ single brick. I remember there were a few custom ones (sale on forum threads only, no website), and maybe a Meanwell 480W? Choices might be better now that GaN is starting to hit the market.

If you are happy with 5700G, stick to a picoPSU between 150-200W. If you aren't 100% happy with 5700G, just build in something that takes FlexATX or SFX. Even if you add a good slot-powered 75W card, a decent quality 200W should still hold up fine. If not slot powered, just get a PSU or 400W Hifi.

I'm gonna be honest with you, if the case is over 5L in volume, zero reason to be using a picoPSU. SFF has come a long way and there are plenty of good SFX/FlexATX cases. Some of these vendors also sell PSUs. I hope your HTPC case is made of solid gold because I can't think of a case valuable enough to justify jumping through all these hoops just to be stuck on picoPSU.

Store — VELKASE
Densium 4 Plus V2
Lazer3D | Home
etc.

An alternative is the HDPlex ecosystem. Only drawback is that they run 19V, which completely changes the bricks that you can pair with them, but fortunately Dell sells both new and old bricks that work. They have two interesting "brickless" choices:

• HDPLEX 400W HiFi DC-ATX Converter - powerful but needs to be paired with the 400W AC-DC
• HDPLEX 250W GaN Passive AIO ATX Power Supply - just came out, no brick at all

I run two of their 200W setups, one brick (200W DC-ATX with Dell 220W brick) and one brickless (200W DC-ATX with 200W AC-DC). Solid stuff

View attachment 260892

Thank you for the indepth explanation!
I have made up my mind and I will get an overkill 1U server PSU (HP1200w) unit and by using a compact breakout board that is compatible with my PSU I will be getting the much needed 12v,40A DC for my PICO!

You might ask why in the world would I do such a thing...well as we all know server PSUs are loud af so by pulling ⅕ the rated PSU capacity I will be running the server PSU pretty much inaudibly(This particular "HP1200w" unit has a 0 rpm mode for when the load is ⅓ of its capacity!)

Example

http://imgur.com/a/Jp1xHIO

 

[defaultluser]

I only used a pico psu as it was the only way to replace the passive 65w psu in my ancient Antec ISK 300-65

it works, but has an incredibly short power cable.