Which of these PSUs?

nheather · 20 Sep 2009 at 16:53

Need a PSU upgrade. I tried looking at the 2nd Hand market but the postage brings the cost too close to new price for my liking.

I need something around 550W, but decided to add a little extra margin so looking at 650-700W.

So far have come up with these in my price range

Antec EarthWatts 650W (wired)
Be Quiet Straight Power 650W (wired)
Corsair TX 650W (wired)
OCZ StealthXtreme 700W (wired)
OCZ ModXtreme 700W (modular)

Any of these jump out as 'must have' or to cross off the list.

Cheers,

Nigel

nheather · 21 Sep 2009 at 18:56

I did some research myself and dismissed the two OCZs.

Couldn't really choose between the other three but leaning towards the Cosair or the Be Quiet.

Out of those I had a slight leaning towards the Be Quiet until I read a review. Technically, the Be Quiet does very well, as does the Corsair and the Antec but it was Support where caution was raised.

It said that whilst the Be Quiet offers a 3 year warranty, the contact telphone number is in Germany and worse if you have to get the PSU swapped you have to send it back to Germany (which could be expensive and slow).

Is this correct\still the case?

By comparision, the Antec and Corsair support is UK based.

Cheers,

Nigel

nheather · 22 Sep 2009 at 13:17

Seeming that your budget goes up to £77.99

No it doesn't - not unless OcUK reduces it's prices.

I'm afraid that whilst I would love to be loyal to OcUK, all of the PSUs I'm am considering are cheaper elsewhere.

I learnt recently that a certain online retailer who is a competitor of OcUK offers a warranty service on Enermax and Corsair in the UK, as opposed to the costly exercise of sending them abroad.

I thought Corsair warranty service is UK based. Are you saying that is only the case with certain retaillers?

Cheers,

Nigel

nheather · 22 Sep 2009 at 16:08

Thanks,

So

Corsair = Holland
BeQuiet = Germany
OCZ = Netherlands

So no differentiator, although I have now worked out the retailer who handles the Corsair sales.

Cheers,

Nigel

nheather · 22 Sep 2009 at 18:41

From what I'd read I think the OCZs are fine, and I was sorely tempted by the modular one because I don't have many drives (2 to be precise).

It was when I read some of the test review sites when they stress test and the OCZs failed on regulation or failed to deliver the full stated power - one quote I think said the 700 was realistically a 650.

Don't get me wrong but the others got glowing reviews all the time and are of similar price.

Out of interest the inside of the OCZ 700 is FSP and looks exactly the same as the FSP OEM. There is a certain etailer that sells the FSP OEM for too much £68 but it features regularly in 'Deal of the Day' at £35 and even £27. Now that would be a good deal.

Cheers,

Nigel