Long term PSU Choice

Arthalen · 11 Oct 2010 at 16:36

OK, time for me to pick up a PSU for my new build. Criteria is that I'm looking for a top spec efficiency PSU for the long term. It also must be fully modular.

Expected Watt usage is around 450watts at load (see below), so my thinking is for top efficiency, very low noise levels at around 50%ish usage this equates to a minimum 750watt PSU, preferably a 850watt.

With that in mind, I'm thinking the Corsair AX850 is the way to go. £155 is also conveniently my budget limit for a PSU.

Expected Spec:
- i7 950 @ around 4.0Ghz+
- Rampage 3 Gene
- 6x2GB DDR3 (Geil Black Dragon)
- GPU - 5870 spec or above (looking at a single top end 6xxx series GPU when released)
- Sound Card
- 2 Optical Drives
- 2 SSDs
- 1 Hard Drive
- 6x LED Fans

Thoughts? Comments? Any other suggestions?

kalvindeane · 11 Oct 2010 at 16:53

The AX series is full of incredible PSU's. I wouldn't recommend anything else (except possibly for a more powerful Corsair AX PSU for future upgrades)

Hagar · 11 Oct 2010 at 16:56

Look at seasonic X series gold, I have the 650 watt, they come in 750 and I think 850 capacity also. I believe that they also make the AX series for corsair.

My PSU is silent nearly all the time, if the fan does ever spin up, I have not noticed it, see my spec, I also have four hard drives and one optical.

andy

Arthalen · 11 Oct 2010 at 16:58

kalvindeane said:
The AX series is full of incredible PSU's. I wouldn't recommend anything else (except possibly for a more powerful Corsair AX PSU for future upgrades)

I had a TX750 and that handled everything I threw at it without missing a beat. If it was a more efficient PSU and quieter under heavy load, I would have kept it!

nkata said:
Look at seasonic X series gold, I have the 650 watt, they come in 750 and I think 850 capacity also. I believe that they also make the AX series for corsair.

andy

*Grin* I think the AX850 is basically the X-850 series PSU

....

Nyoron · 11 Oct 2010 at 17:02

Aye, Seasonic or Corsair would be my recommendation aswell.

Arthalen · 11 Oct 2010 at 20:27

Thanks guys. Off to buy the AX850

Big.Wayne · 11 Oct 2010 at 20:34

Arthalen said:
Off to buy the

Corsair Professional Series™ Gold AX850

£154.99 inc

Are you kidding me!

Arthalen said:
Expected Watt usage is around 450watts at load

danewesley · 11 Oct 2010 at 20:58

hx 850 +1

jakesnake · 11 Oct 2010 at 21:01

@BigWayne

"very low noise levels at around 50%ish usage"

if he wants a psu powerful enuff to run a 450W load at around 50% then a 850W is correct. is it necessary to get double the size of psu than your full load just for it to be quiet? i dont know lol

Savvy · 11 Oct 2010 at 21:03

Howabout modular PSU? like the Corsair HX750

danewesley · 11 Oct 2010 at 21:04

the ax series are modular

Big.Wayne · 11 Oct 2010 at 21:49

jakesnake said:
if he wants a psu powerful enuff to run a 450W load at around 50% then a 850W is correct

Why would Arthalen want or need to add such a "ridiculous" overhead . . . and how long is the system going to be running at 450 watts each day? . . . during gaming sessions and then back to idle wattage or? . . .

jakesnake said:
is it necessary to get double the size of psu than your full load just for it to be quiet? i dont know lol

No not really, it totally depends on the PSU, how well cooled the PSU is (top of bottom of case) and how hot the PSU gets under load . . . a carp PSU with a carp fan running in a hot and stuffy case will make some noise when loaded right up . . . a half decent PSU with a half decent fan running in a well ventilated case will not make much noise at all when heavily loaded!

Is there a good reason why someone wants to spend at three times the amount of money on something? . . . or is it just spending money £££ for the sake of spending money £££

VonScar · 11 Oct 2010 at 22:00

I have the Corsair HX 750 and the HX 520 they both run very well, one after three years...I wouldn t bother with the Ax series I have heard they do not offer much over the HX series....but it is down to choice eh.

Cheers

Von

setter · 11 Oct 2010 at 22:07

Got the HX850W version here, extremely quiet unit, even at load with a 4ghz i7 and sli gpu's.

stulid · 11 Oct 2010 at 22:07

Yeah Corsair are quality, depending on the model its either a Seasonic design or CWT.

I say a HX750 will be good, nice long cables to so even if you have a huge "Monolith" sized case it will still reach all the parts.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Corsair-HX750W-Power-Supply-Review/775

Big.Wayne · 11 Oct 2010 at 22:20

setter said:
Got the HX850W version here, extremely quiet unit, even at load with a 4ghz i7 and sli gpu's

Corsair HX 850W ATX Modular SLI

£142.99 inc

Hey setter

is there a good "reason" someone would want to spend that much money when they could spend almost a 1/3? :confused:

. . . what is it you guys know that I don't!

Sapphire Pure 625W Modular

£49.98 inc

Strepsils · 11 Oct 2010 at 22:23

Big.Wayne said:
Why would Arthalen want or need to add such a "ridiculous" overhead . . . and how long is the system going to be running at 450 watts each day? . . . during gaming sessions and then back to idle wattage or? . . .

No not really, it totally depends on the PSU, how well cooled the PSU is (top of bottom of case) and how hot the PSU gets under load . . . a carp PSU with a carp fan running in a hot and stuffy case will make some noise when loaded right up . . . a half decent PSU with a half decent fan running in a well ventilated case will not make much noise at all when heavily loaded!

Is there a good reason why someone wants to spend at three times the amount of money on something? . . . or is it just spending money £££ for the sake of spending money £££

I lol'd

setter · 11 Oct 2010 at 22:26

Mine was bought secondhand wayne, princely sum off £90.00 on MM,

as im running sli gpu's i wanted a reputable unit with enough overheads for any future upgrades.

stulid · 11 Oct 2010 at 22:26

Big.Wayne said:
Hey setter

is there a good "reason" someone would want to spend that much money when they could spend almost a 1/3? . . . what is it you guys know that I don't!

SLI GTX470 or 480's?

Big.Wayne · 11 Oct 2010 at 22:28

stulid said:
SLI GTX470 or 480's?

Hardware Canucks said:
Processor: Intel Core i7 920(ES) @ 4.0Ghz (Turbo Mode Enabled)

Memory: Corsair 3x2GB Dominator DDR3 1600Mhz

Motherboard: Gigabyte EX58-UD5

Cooling: CoolIT Boreas mTEC + Scythe Fan Controller (Off for Power Consuption tests)

Disk Drive: Pioneer DVD Writer

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB

Power Supply: Corsair HX1000W

Monitor: Samsung 305T 30” widescreen LCD

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate N x64 SP1

Sapphire Pure 625W Modular

£49.98 inc