Hardware Discussions

[kenny_dope]

Can't work out which brand of PSU to buy? Frustrated by having all those crappy 'Goldengrow' and Dell-branded PSUs crap out on you? I've been looking for one of these lists for a long time and just stumbled across this while browsing xtremesystems (all credit to perkam for this one, and hope they don't mind the blatant cut & paste )

dolynick added the PSUs from JonnyGuru's list of recommended PSUs as well and I have added them to this initial post



===============================================================================


Tier 1 can handle 4Ghz Conroe or 3Ghz AMD along with Oced Quad Crossfire/SLI With Ease.
Tier Z offers quality and power unequalled in its wattage range and is second only to other Zippy units.
Tier 2 offers almost as much power and stability as Tier 1 at Comparable Wattage levels with lower price/better availability.
Tier T offers the high quality components of Tier 2 with slightly less Rail stability due to Topower internals.
Tier 3 is ONLY Recommended if Price difference is present between Tier 3 and Tier 2 or due to availability issues with Tier 1/2 PSUs.
Tier 4 is recommended for stock or low power systems if Tier 3's are more expensive or are not available.
Tier 5 are NOT RECOMMENDED, but some brands have high/medium quality components in Tiers 2 through 4.

-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----

Tier 1 Brands - The Most Powerful And Stable Components On The Market
Enermax Galaxy
PCP&C TurboCool
PCP&C Silencer >610
Zippy/Emacs SSL
Zippy/Emacs GSM
Zippy/Emacs PSL
Silverstone ZF (Etasis 85/75/56)
Seventeam ST >600 (SSI, V2.91)
Silverstone OP/DA >700W

Tier Z - Less Powerful Than Tier 1 Zippy Units...but they're still Zippys
Zippy/Emacs HG2
Zippy/Emacs HP2

Tier 2 Brands - Top Quality components With Top Notch Stability - For Those With Price/Availability Issues With Tier 1
Antec Neo HE
Akasa PowerGreen 80+
CoolMax CTG-750W/850W/1KW
Cooltek CT
Corsair HX
Enermax Liberty
Enermax Infiniti
Enhance ENP-GH
Fortron (FSP) GLN
Hiper Type-M >650W
Hiper Type-R >650W
iStarUSA PD2
iStarUSA PD3
OCZ GameXStream
OCZ EvoStream
PCP&C Silencer <610
Seasonic S12
Seasonic M12
Seasonic Energy Plus
SevenTeam ST <600
Silverstone EF
Silverstone OP/DA <700W
Supermicro/AbleCom
Thermaltake Toughpower >600W
Xclio GreatPower
Zalman ZM
Ultra X3
Ultra X-Pro

Tier T - High Quality PSUs Made With Topower Internals - Less Rail Stability Compared To Tier 2 But Still Better than Tier 3
Mushkin Enhanced
Tagan U95
Tagan U25
Tagan U15
Tagan U22
OCZ PowerStream

Tier 3 Brands - High Quality and Stability, Second Only To Tier 2 Brands
Acbel Polycom
AMS Mercury
Akasa PaxPower
Akasa PowerPlus (>500W Models)
Antec Phantom
Antec TruePower III
Antec True Power II
Antec True Control II
Antec Neopower 480W (Old Model)
Antec Smart Power 2.0
Athena Power Space Shuttle Series
Be Quiet Dark Power Pro
Channel Well
Enermax Maximum Plus
Enermax Noistaker II
Enermax Noisetaker
Enermax Whisper II
Enermax CoolerGiant
Enhance ENS-G
Epower Xscale
Fortron (FSP) GLC
Fortron (FSP) THN
Fortron AX
Fortron HLN
Fortron PFN/PN/PA
Seasonic Super Versatile
Silverstone F
Sparkle FSP
Spire Rocketeer V/VI
Sunbeam Nuuo
Thermaltake Purepower
Thermaltake Toughpower <600W

Tier 4 - Not Recommend With Tier 3 In same Price/Wattage Range
Aerocool
Asus Atlas
BFG
Coolermaster Real Power
Coolermaster iGreen
Delta
Enlight
E-Power
Futurepower
Hiper
HIPRO
Lite-On
Masscool
MGE XG
Mushkin HP
NorthQ 4775-500S/BU
OCZ Modstream
Scythe Kamariki
Sintek
Thermaltake TR2
TTGI/Superflower
Ultra Xfinity/X2

Tier 5 - Other than the units listed above for any of these brands, NOT RECOMMENDED
A-TOP Technology
APEX (SUPERCASE/ALLIED)
Aspire(Turbo Case)
ATADC
Athena Power
ATRIX
Broadway Com Corp
Cooler Master
Coolmax
Deer
Diablotek
Dynapower USA
EagleTech
FOXCONN
I-Star Computer Co. Ltd
In Win
JPAC COMPUTER
Just PC
Kingwin Inc.
Linkworld Electronics
Logisys Computer
MGE
MSI
NMEDIAPC
Norwood Micro/ CompUSA
NorthQ
NZXT
Powmax
Q-Tec
Raidmax
Rosewill
SFC
Shuttle
Skyhawk
Spire Coolers
Star Micro
STARTECH
TOPOWER TOP
Ultra X-Connect
Wintech
XClio
XION
YoungYear
Zebronics

-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----

Phase III compensates for overcrowded Tier 1, while clumping together previously Tier 2 and 3 PSUs if only because no definite way to categorize then as good enough for Tier 2 or bad enough for Tier 3.

Jonnyguru's PSU Recommendations for High End Gaming PC's 

This
tier breakdown cannot be compared to the other lists as these are high
end PSUs only.  All of them are good, this is more of an ordering of a
"best of the best" type.

Tier 1:

PC Power and Cooling Turbo-Cool product line

• Built like a server PSU, but with the home user also in mind
• Zero ripple
• Louder than a leaf blower
• 1kW is 8800GTX SLI certified
• 1kW is Crossfire X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 850W is 7800 and 7900GTX SLI certified
• 5 year warranty

Etasis Gaming Power product line

• Server grade
• Fairly quiet for PSU's with 80MM fans
• ET-750 and ET-850 are both 8800GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Silverstone Zeus and Nightjar product line

• Based on Etasis units, a company known for server grade PSU's
• Not very loud, even when outfitted with 80MM fans.
• Often sleeved cables, etc. Geared more towards the enthusiast than other server grade PSU's.
• ST85ZF is Crossfire X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• ST75ZF is 8800GTX SLI certified
• ST56ZF is 7800 and 7900GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Zippy GSM and PSL product line

• Typically server power supplies and can be loud
• PSL model has 40MM fan which has a high pitched sound when running
• There
  is a "gaming" product line that offers all of the necessary connectors
  for almost any high end gaming rig, a nicer finish and has a much
  quieter fan than the server models.
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• PSL-6850P(G1) is 8800GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Tier 2:

Enermax Galaxy product line

• Lots of power
• Semi-Modular
• Very quiet
• Very efficient
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 8800GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Enermax Infiniti product line

• Semi-Modular
• Very quiet
• Very efficient
• Crossfire X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 8800GTX SLI certified
• 80 Plus certified
• 3 year warranty

Andyson's server line (recognized by dual 80MM fans) and high-efficiency line (recognized by single 130MM fan.)

• Extremely affordable
• Solid performance and quality components
• High efficiency models are 84% typical and very quiet
• Not commonly found in U.S. or E.U.
• End user warranty unknown

Hiper Type-M 670 and 730W and Type-R 730W

• Based on server grade Andyson AD-800 units
• 3 year warranty

Ultra X-Finity and X-Pro 800W

• Based on server grade Andyson AD-800 units
• 3 year warranty/Lifetime with product registration

Ultra X3 800W & 1000W

• Based on Andyson AD-800
• Quiet and efficient
• Cooled w/ 135MM fan
• 3 year warranty/Lifetime with product registration

Silverstone Olympia OP1000

• Uses SevenTeam 1kW server platform
• Very stable power
• 80A continuous power on a single 12V rail
• Single, rear mounted 80MM fan can be loud
• 8800GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Thermaltake Toughpower 1000W & 1200W product line

• Built by CWT, but without all of the Fuhjyyu capacitors
• Capable of outputing nearly 100% of it's capability on the +12V rail
• Very efficient
• Cooled w/ 140MM fan
• Modular
• 5 year warranty

Tier 3:

Silverstone Olympia OP650, OP750 & OP850 and Decathalon DA650, DA750 & DA850

• Design by Impervio Electronics Co.
• Built in Taiwan
• Quiet and efficient

Antec True Power Quattro product lines

• Built by Enhance
• Very good voltage regulation
• Very efficient at loads > 20%
• Very quiet, despite the 80MM fan solution
• Modular
• Fully sleeved cables
• HD2900 XT Crossfire certified
• 3 year warranty

Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000W

• Built by Enhance
• Very good voltage regulation
• Very efficient
• Very quiet
• Fully sleeved cables
• 8800 Ultra SLI certified
• 5 year warranty

Seasonic S12 and M12 product lines

• Very good voltage regulation
• Very efficient
• Very quiet
• M12 series is modular
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• S12 650W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Corsair product line

• Based on same platform and component quality as Seasonic S/M12
• Very efficient
• Very quiet
• Modular
• HX620W is 7800 and 7900GTX SLI certified
• 5 year warranty

PC Power and Cooling Silencer product line

• Based on same platform and component quality as Seasonic S/M12
• 750W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Coolmax Greenpower product line

• Based on ATNG server platform
• A little on the loud side
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 3 year warranty

SevenTeam SSI EPS 12V 2.91 Series and "Fanless" product lines

• Strong regulation
• Efficient and quiet, despite being based on a server platform
• Good price, but rarely available in the U.S.
• 2 year warranty

MGE/XG Duro and Magnum

• Based on SevenTeam's higher end units
• Lifetime Warranty

Tier 4:

Enhance products up to 750W

• Efficient and quiet
• Very affordable
• Often does not come with sleeved cables
• Only 1 year warranty

Silverstone Element product line and Strider ST60F and ST75F product

• Based on Enhance's higher end products
• 3 year warranty on PSU's > 500W. All others are only 1 year warranty

Xclio Stablepower product line

• Based on Enhance's ENP 850W and 1000W products
• Cooled by quieter 140MM fan (as opposed to pair of 80's)
• 2 year warranty

Antec Trio/NeoHE/EarthWatts product line

• Built by Seasonic, but not the same build quality as above Seasonics
• NeoHE is modular
• Trio 650W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• NeoHE 550W is X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 5 year warranty

FSP Epsilon product line

• Compact size
• Fairly efficient and quiet
• Notable ripple issue
• Inexpensive
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 700W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified

OCZ GameXstrem product line

• Based on FSP Epsilon mentioned above
• 3 year warranty

AOpen AO700-ALN

• Based on FSP Epsilon mentioned above
• Only 1 year warranty

Thermaltake Toughpower < 1000W product line

• Built by CWT, but without all of the Fuhjyyu capacitors
• 550W is X1800/X850/X800 Crossfire certified
• 600W, 700W and 750W are X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified and 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• 750W is modular
• 5 year warranty

Xclio GreatPower product line

• Supposedly same construction as Toughpower (??? need confirmation)
• 650W, 700W and 750W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• 2 year warranty

Enermax Liberty 620W

• Excellent voltage regulation
• Modular
• Very quiet
• Crossfire X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• Only 1 year warranty
• Bumped down to tier 4 due to a number of reports of failure in the line of duty

Jonnyguru's Recommended Sub-$150, high-efficiency PSU's 

Listings of good quality power supplies in the lower price brackets.

Criteria:

At least 30A on the combined +12V rail
Confirmed 80% and better efficiency

Prices last updated 09/22/2007

High efficiency, suitable for SLI/Crossfire:

Antec EarthWatts 500W $72.93 @ J&R

• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have two +12V rails, but actually only has one (34A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Antec True Power Trio 550W $83.50 @ Provantage

• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have three +12V rails, but actually only has one (42A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Antec True Power Trio 650W $97.49 @ Provantage

• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have three +12V rails, but actually only has one (52A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Corsair HX520W $99.69 @ Provantage

• Modular
• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have three +12V rails, but actually only has one (40A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Corsair HX620W $149.99 @ Buy.com

• Modular
• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have three +12V rails, but actually only has one (50A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Corsair VX550W $90.99 @ ZipZoomFly (Free Shipping!)

• Channel Well OEM
• Single +12V rail (41A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Seasonic M12 500W $120.00 @ eWiz

• Modular
• Claims to have four +12V rails, but actually only has one (38A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Seasonic S12 650W $139.99 @ XPCGear

• Has four +12V rails (52A combined)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Cooler Master iGreen RS-600-ASAA $98.99 @ Sundial Micro

• Acbel Polytech OEM
• Three +12V rails (38A combined)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Ultra X-Pro EE 600W $97.99 @ ZipZoomFly (Free Shipping!)

• Andyson OEM
• Single +12V rail (36A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Ultra X-Finity EE 600W $99.99 @ TigerDirect

• Andyson OEM
• Single +12V rail (36A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

SilverStone Olympia OP650 $128.00 @ PC Extreme

• Single +12V rail (54A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Silverstone Olympia OP750 $159 @ PC Extreme

• Single +12V rail (60A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Zalman ZM600-HP $119 @ Directron

• FSP OEM
• Four +12V rails (42A combined)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

High efficiency, but not recommended for higher end SLI/Crossfire due to 240VA limited rails and/or low combined +12V:

Corsair VX450W $72.64 @ Buy.com

• Seasonic OEM
• Single +12V rail (33A)

Enhance ENP-5150GH $67.00 @ eWiz

• Has two +12V rails (18A each, 36A combined)
• Suitable for ANY single video card

SilverStone Element ST50EF-Plus $80.75 @ Deadeye Data
MAKE SURE TO HAVE "VISITOR CODE" OF "JONNYGURU" FOR AN ADDITIONAL 8% OFF AT CHECKOUT!

• Enhance OEM
• Has two +12V rails (18A each, 36A combined)
• Suitable for ANY single video card

Cooler Master iGreen RS-500-ASAA $79.99 @ XPCGear

• Acbel Polytech OEM
• Has three +12V rails (6A, 13A, 14A, 33A combined)
• Suitable for ANY single video card

Message Edited by kenny_dope on 12-23-2007 02:16 AM

[AcydRaine]

Very nice list. I will be checking this out when I upgrade PSU after Xmas.

[Transco901]

Yea nice list, looks like I made it to Tier 2.

[kenny_dope]

Tier 3 for me. Doh. Ah well, I just found a place here in Hong Kong that stocks Seasonic, Enermax, Swiftech, Koolance, PC P & Cooling and XFX (with eVGA soon to come!)....looks like things are looking up here in terms of hardware availability

[jwhx]

Seems I'm in tier 3 also. Oh well, my smartpower is about to get replaced anyway.

[chemgeek]

Anyone who buys a Tier 1 PSU please call me up and I will come over punch you in the face. 

[AcydRaine]

Wow, how are the Ultra X-Connects so shitty, and the X and X-Pro so good. Odd...

[Bowhunters]

---

chemgeek wrote:
Anyone who buys a Tier 1 PSU please call me up and I will come over punch you in the face. 

---

Hahahahahahaha!

If you read a few pages into that thread you'll see where its not based on tests or even inspection of PSU's to see which are made out of stronger or higher quality materials.

That list is based on which ones the members of that forum personaly like and little else from what i've read, watching them add and move PSU's from Tier to Tier based on a person's experience with a particular PSU proves its not based on testing, just personnal experiences.

I'm not saying that some of their Tier placements aren't dead on accurate, i'm just saying its a happy list, not a scientific one.

[aznsniper911]

Jonny's list on his forums is a bit different then that of the XS one. I do disagree that some shouldn't bne in Tier one but oh well.

[Stalker_Loner]

I managed Tier 2 as well. Nice list!

If it were a list of best cable-managed PSU's, mine would be in Tier 7

[supercharge]

Tier 3 for me also...

Message Edited by SuperCharge on 10-30-2007 06:40 PM

[aznsniper911]

---

AcydRaine wrote:
Wow, how are the Ultra X-Connects so shitty, and the X and X-Pro so good. Odd...

---

Different makers, I mean look at Antec they use different OEM, some are crappy and some are pretty good.

[parrina]

hey i made t2
not bad-should be good for my next cpu/gpu upgrade

[AcydRaine]

---

parrina wrote:
hey i made t2
not bad-should be good for my next cpu/gpu upgrade

---

LoL, I would hope a 1k PSU would be in T2 and work for next upgrade cycle. Hell, next few upgrade cycles.

[aznsniper911]

That also reminds me, does anyone know where I can get a zippy in the usa for a decent price?

Message Edited by aznsniper911 on 10-30-2007 09:01 PM

[dolynick]

You could try here.

I don't know if those prices are what you were hoping for or not.  I've dealt with the Canadian part of that retailer and they're pretty good.

-dolynick

[AcydRaine]

Ill pass on the Zippy. Not a fan of the 60/80mm fans on PSU. I have to have a 120mm. I like to not hear it. Not to mention the 170$ for the cheapest model that I would go for. I will take a 120-130$ Seasonic.

[gregorov_14]

^ exactly. I managed Tier 3, and my brother idk, as he has the corsiar vx series that works, and an antec neo he series that doesn't, and the neo he was tier 2, while the corsair is unranked. Hm...

[Transco901]

XClio made the bottom of the barrel; interesting as Trogdor had some pretty good success with that brand (for folding I believe).

[AcydRaine]

Yes, those Corsair PSUs look pretty good as well.

[qmakowski]

According to this, i'm running a T5 power supply. Oh well, Rosewell has always been really good to me, and many of their PS last over 3 years in my systems....

[aznsniper911]

---

dolynick wrote:

You could try here.
I don't know if those prices are what you were hoping for or not.  I've dealt with the Canadian part of that retailer and they're pretty good.
-dolynick

---

Yeah I saw it there but thought the price was somewhat high but if I can't find it anywhere else for cheaper I guess I have to go with them. Oh well, thanks!

[DoomTrooper]

I made it to Tier 2 with my Corsair HX. Most Corsairs are re-branded Seasonics from what I've read.

[AcydRaine]

---

doomtrooper wrote:
I made it to Tier 2 with my Corsair HX. Most Corsairs are re-branded Seasonics from what I've read.

---

I kind of see this when I look at those Corsairs. In the pics they look almost exactly like the Seasonics.

[aznsniper911]

---

AcydRaine wrote:

---

doomtrooper wrote:
I made it to Tier 2 with my Corsair HX. Most Corsairs are re-branded Seasonics from what I've read.

---

I kind of see this when I look at those Corsairs. In the pics they look almost exactly like the Seasonics.

---

Well the HX series are Seasonic rebranded, the VX are by CWT which isn't as good as Seasonic but it's not crappy either.

[dolynick]

---

chemgeek wrote:
Anyone who buys a Tier 1 PSU please call me up and I will come over punch you in the face. 

---

Hey now... The PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W Quad in my fileserver is ranked tier 1...  I didn't know a free punch in the face came with it when I bought it though.

-dolynick

Message Edited by dolynick on 10-31-2007 09:09 PM

[Transco901]

---

dolynick wrote:

---

chemgeek wrote:
Anyone who buys a Tier 1 PSU please call me up and I will come over punch you in the face. 

---

Hey now... The PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W Quad in my fileserver is ranked tier 1...  I didn't know a free punch in the face came with it when I bought it though.

-dolynick

Message Edited by dolynick on 10-31-2007 09:09 PM

---

Yea I was just about to get a PC Power & Cooling PSU and at the last minute went with Seasonic.  I don't see anything wrong with PC P&C; I think one bitch used to be their prices, but they really are in the same range as Seasonic (a forum favorite).

[dolynick]

Yeah, I didn't think $175 CAD was at all unreasonable for a high quality 750W power supply from PC Power & Cooling unit when a lot of other well known brands were $150 for 600W-800W units.  If I recall correctly, my Thermaltake Toughpower modular 850W ran $250-$275 and I think its a pretty safe bet that the PC Power & Cooling PSU is probably of higher quality, though it's lower power and lacks the convenience of modular cables.  I thought that 750W might be a bit excessive for a fileserver but when I checked with the Extreme PSU Calculator, it reported a possible draw of nearly 400W with the current 6 HDs (putting it right in around the higher efficiency ranges of the 750W Silencer I believe).  If I were to ever fully expand the RAID array and end up with 14 HDs, the draw could be as much as nearly 700W (to a bit of my surprise).

Now, there are a lot of power supplies listed there as tier 1 that do run $350 and up...  A bit exhorbinant maybe but those units are also the more extreme variety as well and if someone doesn't mind paying that much for what might be considered "the very best" in power supplies then all power to them.  Of course, a $400 1200W Olympia is most likely overkill for just about any home PC but that's another debate.

-dolynick

Message Edited by dolynick on 11-01-2007 01:43 AM

[AMDnewbie2005]

While we're at it why not copy the extremeoverclocking list :smileyveryhappy:
Class 1: These are the Best:

PC Power & Cooling (All Turbo Cool & ULTRA-QUIET SILENCER 610W & 750W),
Seasonic (S-12, S-12E+, M-12),
Corsair,
Silverstone (Zeus models ST56ZF, ST75ZF, and ST85ZF),
Etasis &
Zippy.

Class 2:

Antec,
Enermax,
Enhance,
Fortron (FSP),
Hiper (Type-M 670W & 730W & Type-R 730W)
I-Star,
OCZ Technology,
PC Power & Cooling,
Seasonic,
Silverstone,
Sparkle,
Tagan,
Thermaltake ToughPower (Only the ToughPower Line!),
Vantec &
XCilo.

Class 3:

Hiper (Type-R 580W, 530W & 480W)
Mushkin &
Sunbeam NUUO

[Stalker_Loner]

I think there should be a similar list for cases as well. I think a lot of people would find something like that useful. You could classify a case based on size inside (roominess if you will), build quality, airflow/cooling, overall design, weight etc.

[AcydRaine]

^ But then we wouldn't be able to laugh at people like you that put high-end components into a 40$ case with horrible airflow. LoL

[Stalker_Loner]

Like me

*SL lolz at himself for his shitteh case*

Oh well, I'll be putting this horrible case to rest soon.

[dolynick]

Well if we're doing PSU lists we might as well include the ones from jonnyguru.  I think these are based more off of his reviews and testing rather than just "happy" user views as was commented regarding the others.

Jonnyguru's PSU Recommendations for High End Gaming PC's 

This tier breakdown cannot be compared to the other lists as these are high end PSUs only.  All of them are good, this is more of an ordering of a "best of the best" type.

Tier 1:

PC Power and Cooling Turbo-Cool product line

• Built like a server PSU, but with the home user also in mind
• Zero ripple
• Louder than a leaf blower
• 1kW is 8800GTX SLI certified
• 1kW is Crossfire X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 850W is 7800 and 7900GTX SLI certified
• 5 year warranty

Etasis Gaming Power product line

• Server grade
• Fairly quiet for PSU's with 80MM fans
• ET-750 and ET-850 are both 8800GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Silverstone Zeus and Nightjar product line

• Based on Etasis units, a company known for server grade PSU's
• Not very loud, even when outfitted with 80MM fans.
• Often sleeved cables, etc. Geared more towards the enthusiast than other server grade PSU's.
• ST85ZF is Crossfire X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• ST75ZF is 8800GTX SLI certified
• ST56ZF is 7800 and 7900GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Zippy GSM and PSL product line

• Typically server power supplies and can be loud
• PSL model has 40MM fan which has a high pitched sound when running
• There is a "gaming" product line that offers all of the necessary connectors for almost any high end gaming rig, a nicer finish and has a much quieter fan than the server models.
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• PSL-6850P(G1) is 8800GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Tier 2:

Enermax Galaxy product line

• Lots of power
• Semi-Modular
• Very quiet
• Very efficient
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 8800GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Enermax Infiniti product line

• Semi-Modular
• Very quiet
• Very efficient
• Crossfire X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 8800GTX SLI certified
• 80 Plus certified
• 3 year warranty

Andyson's server line (recognized by dual 80MM fans) and high-efficiency line (recognized by single 130MM fan.)

• Extremely affordable
• Solid performance and quality components
• High efficiency models are 84% typical and very quiet
• Not commonly found in U.S. or E.U.
• End user warranty unknown

Hiper Type-M 670 and 730W and Type-R 730W

• Based on server grade Andyson AD-800 units
• 3 year warranty

Ultra X-Finity and X-Pro 800W

• Based on server grade Andyson AD-800 units
• 3 year warranty/Lifetime with product registration

Ultra X3 800W & 1000W

• Based on Andyson AD-800
• Quiet and efficient
• Cooled w/ 135MM fan
• 3 year warranty/Lifetime with product registration

Silverstone Olympia OP1000

• Uses SevenTeam 1kW server platform
• Very stable power
• 80A continuous power on a single 12V rail
• Single, rear mounted 80MM fan can be loud
• 8800GTX SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Thermaltake Toughpower 1000W & 1200W product line

• Built by CWT, but without all of the Fuhjyyu capacitors
• Capable of outputing nearly 100% of it's capability on the +12V rail
• Very efficient
• Cooled w/ 140MM fan
• Modular
• 5 year warranty

Tier 3:

Silverstone Olympia OP650, OP750 & OP850 and Decathalon DA650, DA750 & DA850

• Design by Impervio Electronics Co.
• Built in Taiwan
• Quiet and efficient

Antec True Power Quattro product lines

• Built by Enhance
• Very good voltage regulation
• Very efficient at loads > 20%
• Very quiet, despite the 80MM fan solution
• Modular
• Fully sleeved cables
• HD2900 XT Crossfire certified
• 3 year warranty

Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000W

• Built by Enhance
• Very good voltage regulation
• Very efficient
• Very quiet
• Fully sleeved cables
• 8800 Ultra SLI certified
• 5 year warranty

Seasonic S12 and M12 product lines

• Very good voltage regulation
• Very efficient
• Very quiet
• M12 series is modular
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• S12 650W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Corsair product line

• Based on same platform and component quality as Seasonic S/M12
• Very efficient
• Very quiet
• Modular
• HX620W is 7800 and 7900GTX SLI certified
• 5 year warranty

PC Power and Cooling Silencer product line

• Based on same platform and component quality as Seasonic S/M12
• 750W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• 3 year warranty

Coolmax Greenpower product line

• Based on ATNG server platform
• A little on the loud side
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 3 year warranty

SevenTeam SSI EPS 12V 2.91 Series and "Fanless" product lines

• Strong regulation
• Efficient and quiet, despite being based on a server platform
• Good price, but rarely available in the U.S.
• 2 year warranty

MGE/XG Duro and Magnum

• Based on SevenTeam's higher end units
• Lifetime Warranty

Tier 4:

Enhance products up to 750W

• Efficient and quiet
• Very affordable
• Often does not come with sleeved cables
• Only 1 year warranty

Silverstone Element product line and Strider ST60F and ST75F product

• Based on Enhance's higher end products
• 3 year warranty on PSU's > 500W. All others are only 1 year warranty

Xclio Stablepower product line

• Based on Enhance's ENP 850W and 1000W products
• Cooled by quieter 140MM fan (as opposed to pair of 80's)
• 2 year warranty

Antec Trio/NeoHE/EarthWatts product line

• Built by Seasonic, but not the same build quality as above Seasonics
• NeoHE is modular
• Trio 650W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• NeoHE 550W is X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 5 year warranty

FSP Epsilon product line

• Compact size
• Fairly efficient and quiet
• Notable ripple issue
• Inexpensive
• X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• 700W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified

OCZ GameXstrem product line

• Based on FSP Epsilon mentioned above
• 3 year warranty

AOpen AO700-ALN

• Based on FSP Epsilon mentioned above
• Only 1 year warranty

Thermaltake Toughpower < 1000W product line

• Built by CWT, but without all of the Fuhjyyu capacitors
• 550W is X1800/X850/X800 Crossfire certified
• 600W, 700W and 750W are X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified and 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• 750W is modular
• 5 year warranty

Xclio GreatPower product line

• Supposedly same construction as Toughpower (??? need confirmation)
• 650W, 700W and 750W is 7950 GX2 Quad SLI certified
• 2 year warranty

Enermax Liberty 620W

• Excellent voltage regulation
• Modular
• Very quiet
• Crossfire X1900/X1950 Crossfire certified
• Only 1 year warranty
• Bumped down to tier 4 due to a number of reports of failure in the line of duty

-dolynick

Message Edited by dolynick on 11-02-2007 12:56 AM

[dolynick]

Jonnyguru's Recommended Sub-$150, high-efficiency PSU's 

Listings of good quality power supplies in the lower price brackets.

Criteria:

At least 30A on the combined +12V rail
Confirmed 80% and better efficiency

Prices last updated 09/22/2007

High efficiency, suitable for SLI/Crossfire:

Antec EarthWatts 500W $72.93 @ J&R

• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have two +12V rails, but actually only has one (34A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Antec True Power Trio 550W $83.50 @ Provantage

• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have three +12V rails, but actually only has one (42A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Antec True Power Trio 650W $97.49 @ Provantage

• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have three +12V rails, but actually only has one (52A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Corsair HX520W $99.69 @ Provantage

• Modular
• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have three +12V rails, but actually only has one (40A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Corsair HX620W $149.99 @ Buy.com

• Modular
• Seasonic OEM
• Claims to have three +12V rails, but actually only has one (50A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Corsair VX550W $90.99 @ ZipZoomFly (Free Shipping!)

• Channel Well OEM
• Single +12V rail (41A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Seasonic M12 500W $120.00 @ eWiz

• Modular
• Claims to have four +12V rails, but actually only has one (38A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Seasonic S12 650W $139.99 @ XPCGear

• Has four +12V rails (52A combined)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Cooler Master iGreen RS-600-ASAA $98.99 @ Sundial Micro

• Acbel Polytech OEM
• Three +12V rails (38A combined)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Ultra X-Pro EE 600W $97.99 @ ZipZoomFly (Free Shipping!)

• Andyson OEM
• Single +12V rail (36A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Ultra X-Finity EE 600W $99.99 @ TigerDirect

• Andyson OEM
• Single +12V rail (36A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

SilverStone Olympia OP650 $128.00 @ PC Extreme

• Single +12V rail (54A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Silverstone Olympia OP750 $159 @ PC Extreme

• Single +12V rail (60A)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

Zalman ZM600-HP $119 @ Directron

• FSP OEM
• Four +12V rails (42A combined)
• Suitable for SLI and Crossfire (not necessarily G80 or R600 and up)

High efficiency, but not recommended for higher end SLI/Crossfire due to 240VA limited rails and/or low combined +12V:

Corsair VX450W $72.64 @ Buy.com

• Seasonic OEM
• Single +12V rail (33A)

Enhance ENP-5150GH $67.00 @ eWiz

• Has two +12V rails (18A each, 36A combined)
• Suitable for ANY single video card

SilverStone Element ST50EF-Plus $80.75 @ Deadeye Data
MAKE SURE TO HAVE "VISITOR CODE" OF "JONNYGURU" FOR AN ADDITIONAL 8% OFF AT CHECKOUT!

• Enhance OEM
• Has two +12V rails (18A each, 36A combined)
• Suitable for ANY single video card

Cooler Master iGreen RS-500-ASAA $79.99 @ XPCGear

• Acbel Polytech OEM
• Has three +12V rails (6A, 13A, 14A, 33A combined)
• Suitable for ANY single video card

-dolynick

[aznsniper911]

^ We pretty much can see a general trend though. ALl the good makers are either in Tier one or two in each of these PSU list. Too bad no one here has a zippy to play with!

[dolynick]

That's very true.  The one difference is that in the jonnyguru high end list it can be a bit misleading as a lot of the tier 4 "high end" PSUs he lists are tier 2 or better in the other lists.  Hopefully anyone reading this takes note of my comment in that regard before thinking his Tier 4s are crappy units.

-dolynick

[aznsniper911]

---

dolynick wrote:
That's very true.  The one difference is that in the jonnyguru high end list it can be a bit misleading as a lot of the tier 4 "high end" PSUs he lists are tier 2 or better in the other lists.  Hopefully anyone reading this takes note of my comment in that regard before thinking his Tier 4s are crappy units.

-dolynick

---

I'm thinking this has to do with the forum mentality and what they think "good" is. Jonnyguru is well know for testing PSU, so I would assume their standards maybe higher then that of XS but as you said before XS is a user opnionated list while Jonnyguru most likely got his list from testing various PSU.

[dolynick]

---

stalker_loner wrote:
I think there should be a similar list for cases as well. I think a lot of people would find something like that useful. You could classify a case based on size inside (roominess if you will), build quality, airflow/cooling, overall design, weight etc.

---

A case list would be interesting and I'd be willing to contribute to it.  Not quite sure how you'd break them down or score them compartively when they'd be coming from multiple individual submissions though.

-dolynick

[dolynick]

---

aznsniper911 wrote:

I'm thinking this has to do with the forum mentality and what they think "good" is. Jonnyguru is well know for testing PSU, so I would assume their standards maybe higher then that of XS but as you said before XS is a user opnionated list while Jonnyguru most likely got his list from testing various PSU.

---

His listings are also not based just off of his review scores either.  A lot of the tier 4 power supplies in the high end list scored just as high if not higher than the tier 1 and 2 units in their individual reviews.  What he's also done is consider reliability and quality of internal components as well when he split them up, which didn't necessarily figure into the review score.

An example is the tier 1 PC Power & Cooling Turbocool 1kW and the tier 2 Silverstone Olympia OP1000W.  In the head to head review of the two he did, the Olympia actually scored higher in the review.  He ranks the Turbocool as higher in the tiers because he feels that the guts of that unit will be more likely to last longer under long term use and stress.

-dolynick

[aznsniper911]

Did you see the Pc Power and COoling, amazing almost no ripples at all even with higher loads! But if you think about it, are we really that picky with our powersupply? I mean this forum is more of a causal performance type then that of benchmarking sites and other sites that demand a lot from their hardware.