Looking for a PSU for new High-End build

[jnick]

I have finally finished my "wish list" for my new Conroe system which I will be building around Christmas time. The only thing I'm not sure about is my Power Supply. However before I drive you all crazy, I'd like you to know that I have done research for hours on this subject.

I currently have an OCZ PowerStream 520W-SLi powering my system [see sig].

However, here are the parts I plan on buying for my new system:

E6600 // 680i Mobo // 8800GTX // 2GB DDR2-800 :: Will be overclocking (not video card though)

I also am eventually planning on going water cooling.

My budget is around $200. I was potentially looking at the PC P&C 750W. The 12v rail has a lot of juice, I've heard nothing but great things, and Pc P&C are known for quality. However, I don't know if I should consider others, such as the Corsiat HX620, the Seasonic M12, etc (lower end?).

Though it does seem as if quality PSUs are hovering around PC P&C, Silverstone, and Enermax. Which of those would best fit my build? I'm looking for a rock solid PSU.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you!


EDIT: Seems as if my sig isn't working right now. Current specs below
-----------

DFI Lanparty UT nF4 Ultra-D [R.AE0]
AMD Opteron 170 [2500Mhz - 1.45v]
2GB G.Skill HZs [250mhz, 3-4-4-8, 2.6v]
eVGA 7950GX2
Creative X-Fi XM
74GB WD Raptor // 250GB WD
OCZ Powerstream 520W-SLi
Thermalright SI-120 // Panaflo L1A

[CAD4466HK]

I have finally finished my "wish list" for my new Conroe system which I will be building around Christmas time. The only thing I'm not sure about is my Power Supply. However before I drive you all crazy, I'd like you to know that I have done research for hours on this subject.

I currently have an OCZ PowerStream 520W-SLi powering my system [see sig].

However, here are the parts I plan on buying for my new system:

E6600 // 680i Mobo // 8800GTX // 2GB DDR2-800 :: Will be overclocking (not video card though)

I also am eventually planning on going water cooling.

My budget is around $200. I was potentially looking at the PC P&C 750W. The 12v rail has a lot of juice, I've heard nothing but great things, and Pc P&C are known for quality. However, I don't know if I should consider others, such as the Corsiat HX620, the Seasonic M12, etc (lower end?).

Though it does seem as if quality PSUs are hovering around PC P&C, Silverstone, and Enermax. Which of those would best fit my build? I'm looking for a rock solid PSU.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you!


EDIT: Seems as if my sig isn't working right now. Current specs below
-----------

DFI Lanparty UT nF4 Ultra-D [R.AE0]
AMD Opteron 170 [2500Mhz - 1.45v]
2GB G.Skill HZs [250mhz, 3-4-4-8, 2.6v]
eVGA 7950GX2
Creative X-Fi XM
74GB WD Raptor // 250GB WD
OCZ Powerstream 520W-SLi
Thermalright SI-120 // Panaflo L1A

Why don't you just go with this for $10 more?
And it's SLI DX10 Certified;)
And 750cont.@50C instead of 40C for the Silencer:) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817256006

[jnick]

Thanks for the suggestion, however after I did some more research last night, I'm now looking more towards a single rail PSU.

Any more suggestions are welcome. In fact; the more the better!

Thanks!

[CAD4466HK]

Thanks for the suggestion, however after I did some more research last night, I'm now looking more towards a single rail PSU.

Any more suggestions are welcome. In fact; the more the better!

Thanks!

So basically, you perfer the Silencer over the Zeus:eek:
So if I told you that most of these 2-3-4-5x 12v railed PSU's are really just
single railed PSU's split up on the PCB,what would you say then?
Ask jG;)
Don't believe the hype:)

[GilmourD]

So basically, you perfer the Silencer over the Zeus:eek:
So if I told you that most of these 2-3-4-5x 12v railed PSU's are really just
single railed PSU's split up on the PCB,what would you say then?
Ask jG;)
Don't believe the hype:)

I've always wondered how they split and isolate different 12V rails, anyhow. Sounds like it would involve lots of isolating transformers.

[CAD4466HK]

I've always wondered how they split and isolate different 12V rails, anyhow. Sounds like it would involve lots of isolating transformers.

I suggest you read more of jG's reviews:p

[GilmourD]

I suggest you read more of jG's reviews:p

Well, I've seen where he notes that sometimes what's advertised as multiple rails are just two separate solder points being fed by the same trace... But I should read them all. :-P

I'm waiting for him to review one of the modular Striders. :-P

[CAD4466HK]

Well, I've seen where he notes that sometimes what's advertised as multiple rails are just two separate solder points being fed by the same trace... But I should read them all. :-P

I'm waiting for him to review one of the modular Striders. :-P

jG should be ready for another run at the ST75F{I hope}:D

[GilmourD]

jG should be ready for another run at the ST75F{I hope}:D

I see one problem with him doing a review of it... I don't have that much money. LOL I'm thinking ST50EF-Plus for myself and maybe the Thermaltake add-on PSU if I happen to need more for hardcore video cards later on (but I'm probably going to end up with 7900GSs in SLI, which 36A of 12V should be able to handle).

[CAD4466HK]

I see one problem with him doing a review of it... I don't have that much money. LOL I'm thinking ST50EF-Plus for myself and maybe the Thermaltake add-on PSU if I happen to need more for hardcore video cards later on (but I'm probably going to end up with 7900GSs in SLI, which 36A of 12V should be able to handle).

I'm not too sure about the Tt Power Express being able to handle
any "hardcore" G80's at only 25a peak;)
Unless you run two of them,mabey:confused:

[jnick]

So basically, you perfer the Silencer over the Zeus:eek:
So if I told you that most of these 2-3-4-5x 12v railed PSU's are really just
single railed PSU's split up on the PCB,what would you say then?
Ask jG;)
Don't believe the hype:)

I never said I'd prefer the Silencer over the Zeus. I simply stated that after what I read, I'd prefer a single rail PSU over a multi-rail.

From what I read last night, multi-rail psu's can become rather . . . dangerous (?). Reason being, if each rail only has 18A on it, I know have to plan out what goes on each rail via the connector I use. If I put too much of a load on a single rail rated at 18A, then there goes the stability; which is what I'm after in the first place.

The Zeus is better in the sense that it has 4x PCI-E connectors, which is good if I go SLi, though I doubt I would anytime soon.

The opinions I've read stated that a single rail is better for higher end systems as you do not have to worry about overloading a rail, since . . . well there's only one. :p.

Lastly, noise is kind of an issue. I'm not a freak about it, but I also don't really want anything above 30-32dbA. With that said, Performance is always more important than silence.

With that said, feel free to persuade me to the silverstone ;). If you or others can provide the information that the Zeus is better and that multi-rail psu's are better or equivalent, and will not pose a stability problem for a high-end machine which I will be overclocking (cpu, ram, fsb) - then it will go on the top of my list.

Also, I note you have a Silverstone . . . how is it (noise, stability, performance)

:)

Thanks bud.

P.S - I see you said that the "hardcore" G80 peaks at 25a . . . how would that work on the Zeus if a 12v is 18A max?

Cheers.

[CAD4466HK]

P.S - I see you said that the "hardcore" G80 peaks at 25a . . . how would that work on the Zeus if a 12v is 18A max?

First of all, I said the 'Tt Power Express" peaks at 25a, not the G80:p
And furthermore, the ST75ZF has a max peak of 22a per 12v rail,
max combined 60a@50C

My ST85ZF "IS" the best PSU I have ever owned:D
I've had it on 3 different rigs so far,and I have yet to make the 80mm audible
yet:D

[GalvanizedYankee]

We have a 850W Zippy in our For Sale or Trade Forum, at a fair price w/free shipping.
If I needed that much wattage I'd jump on it. It does have an internal 40mm fan that will intrude at high loadings but that can be delt with.
jonny has a review on this unit IIRC. Read it.

I'd mod that badboy's cover for an external Zalman 80x15 fan and hook it up to the 40's thermal control in a NY minuet :D


CAD's rec of the Etasis built ST86ZF is a good one. I'm a modding fool and most don't want to cut and drill.

[GalvanizedYankee]

bjorn did not put a full load on this Zippy but here's the review anywho.

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=958&pageID=2672

[Slartibartfast]

We have a 850W Zippy in our For Sale or Trade Forum, at a fair price w/free shipping.

I heard the seller's a really great guy, too :D

[GilmourD]

I'm not too sure about the Tt Power Express being able to handle
any "hardcore" G80's at only 25a peak;)
Unless you run two of them,mabey:confused:

Well, I wasn't planning on running more than one card on each, and if I were to go for a G80 based card, it would be whatever the mainstream card is (8500/8600/whatever), so that would have a lower power draw in comparison (like the 7600GT compared to the 7800GT).

I figured that if I got one card, the ST50EF-Plus should handle that, but two cards would be too much, so I'd run the second off the Tt.

[CAD4466HK]

Well, I wasn't planning on running more than one card on each, and if I were to go for a G80 based card, it would be whatever the mainstream card is (8500/8600/whatever), so that would have a lower power draw in comparison (like the 7600GT compared to the 7800GT).

I figured that if I got one card, the ST50EF-Plus should handle that, but two cards would be too much, so I'd run the second off the Tt.

Who knows?
You might get lucky and be able to run SLI with the ST50EF:)

[jnick]

CAD,

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but while the Zeus is Qual SLI certified, it only has 2 PCI-E connectors. The other two are power adapters (molex to pci-e, AUX to pci-e) . . .

[CAD4466HK]

CAD,

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but while the Zeus is Qual SLI certified, it only has 2 PCI-E connectors. The other two are power adapters (molex to pci-e, AUX to pci-e) . . .

Check for yourself, it seems that they made it 4x PCI-e like the ST85ZF:D http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-75zf.htm

[jnick]

Hmm . . . their site does say 4x . . . however while reading some reviews, and looking at various images, it appears as if there are only two PCI-E connectors "hard wired" to the PS. The other two are adapters as mentioned above. Meh, I guess that's one way they can push you towards the 850 :p.

[CAD4466HK]

Hmm . . . their site does say 4x . . . however while reading some reviews, and looking at various images, it appears as if there are only two PCI-E connectors "hard wired" to the PS. The other two are adapters as mentioned above. Meh, I guess that's one way they can push you towards the 850 :p.

Might be a new revision:confused:

[Cornrow Harfoot]

My understanding is that two of the PCI-e's come via some kind of adapter...

Comparing Zeuses, Im looking at under $200 for a 750 and $300 (canadian) for an 850...

Is this increase worth it if I'm not sure I'll be using a quad GPU in the near to mid term future?

Espicially since jG's review says the750w card will theoretically run 4 GPUs anyways?


EDIT: Just recieved my 750 ZEUS, very pleased so far. :)

It now comes with 4 real, dedicated PCI-E connectors

Cables are now sheathed up to first connector

Fan now has a resonable looking grill


I'll put up some picks if someone wants and you promise not to laugh at the rest of my kit.:o