Best budget PSU?

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

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Having a look at these - the FSP is only £20 and tempted - I really cant spend that much - Building PC for friend and got £50 budget on case and PSU. Powering E5200, 640gig HD, DVDRW, ATI 800XL

Trust PowerMaster 420W PSU PW-5250

FSP PSU 350W Intel ATX-350PNF

Hiper PSU 425W HPU-4S425
 
I wouldn't skimp on a PSU to be honest. In terms of both reliability and it's efficiency you are best off paying that bit extra for. CPC have a good PSU review this month.. Well worth a read. The OCZ ModxStream Pro 500w is rated at 85% efficient and is 100% stable. With 2 x 12v rails each @ 18 amps and modular design, it's a steal at around £50.

This would be the absolute minimum for any system I'd build.

Can I also recommend the case if you are on a budget.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-160-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29

It's a superb case for the money.. You may need a 12cm front intake fan.. but again, it's a really good case for the price.
 
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Vegetarian said:
Theres an ASUS Case Ive found with 360watt PSU TA212 for £33 ... Any good?
Click to expand...

For £33 you've got to ask what you are getting. If the the PSU is only 50% effective, for example, it will draw more electricity and produce more heat. Worse it might not supply stable voltages and you could end up paying more in the long run. As i said, above, the PSU shouldn't be compromised.
 
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Think of the PSU as being the "heart" in a system, it needs to be good as otherwise when it goes (and it WILL go) it'll take out anything it's connected to worst case.
 
Here are my options - which is better?

Coolermaster case Elite 330
Hiper PSU 425W HPU-4S425(S023883)
Akasa Internal System Fan 12cm clear +4 colour led(AK-174CC-4RAB)

total £75

or

Antec case NSK4480BII midi black with 380W PSU

£72
 
I'd go with the Antec.

Not only do many people speak about how bad the Hiper PSUs are, but I have first hand experience of how good Antec stuff is, especially their case+psu bundles.

A 380W should be ok for the components you are putting inside it.
 
The Antec case/psu combinations are very good. The 380w Earthwatts psu's are very reliable and efficient. I have used them several times in builds. 380w will also be plenty for that rig. I have a more power hungry E5200 rig with a HD3850 Pro powered by a Enermax Pro 82+ 385w and peak power draw is only 205w (at the wall) when running Orthos and Fur stability test at the same time. Idle is 81w and normal load is 155-171w.
 
Ive built lots of cases with antecs in the past... love them to bits. This build I have to keep costs down.

Got Coolermaster Elite 330 with Coolermaster 480Watt PSU in the end for £55. Hope Coolermaster PSU's are ok?
 
It was at my local PC shop in manchester - I should have paid £65 and asked him if he could do it any cheaper - £55! That included an internal card reader thrown in too :)
 
I aways bargin - Got a wedding comming up - got the venue to drop the bill by over £700 by haggling!

Just be nice but firm... do the good old make the seller feel sorry for you and you are a nice guy bit! :)
 
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