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

[jonnyGURU]

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

Suggestions welcome!

Criteria:

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

For SLI/Crossfire recommendation, needs to have at least 34A on the combined +12V rail and have either just one +12V rail or three or more

[Gas Pipe Jimmy]

Thanks Johnny.
So ranking power supplies by price-point and functionality can be done after all.

[jonnyGURU]

Originally Posted by Gas Pipe Jimmy

Thanks Johnny.
So ranking power supplies by price-point and functionality can be done after all.

Well, so far these are all 80 Plus power supplies (except the Corsair, but that's based on Seasonic which has every one of their models 80 Plus certified) that I'm familiar with and approve of.

[DaDuck]

great list. Definitely going to look here before my next purchase.

Thanks for helping the PSU illiterate learn a little!

[Kab]

Antec TruePower Trio 550W? $79.82
http://www.provantage.com/antec-tp3-550~7ANTS02K.htm

/650W? $89.99
http://www.shop.com/op/~TruePower_Trio_650_Power_Supply,_PCI_E,_SATA-prod-37216004-49690801?sourceid=298

Antec NeoPower 550W? $104
http://www.shop.com/op/~Antec_NeoPower_550w_ATX_12v_Power_Supply-prod-27404537-36228283?sourceid=3

TT Toughpower 600W? $127.77
http://computerpartsinsider.com/comp...art/Itemid,26/

Seasonic S12-SS 650W? $139.38

Enhance ENP-5150G 500W? $72

Enhance ENS-0560G-G 600W? $139.38

FSP Group FX600-GLN 600W? $122

Zalman ZM600-HP 600W? $139.38
http://computerpartsinsider.com/comp...art/Itemid,26/

Silverstone Strider 600W? $105
http://www.case-mod.com/silverstone-...74.html?src=fr

Silverstone Olympia 650W? $127
http://www.eastluna.com/hardware/details.php?id=2469

Silverstone Zeus 650W? $109
http://www.eastluna.com/hardware/details.php?id=0577

NB: I think its a good idea to stick a note effectively saying that the "prices are correct as of the <date>"

[Gas Pipe Jimmy]

Originally Posted by jonnyGURU

Well, so far these are all 80 Plus power supplies (except the Corsair, but that's based on Seasonic which has every one of their models 80 Plus certified) that I'm familiar with and approve of.

I'm glad you took the time to make out this list.

I think many people waste a bunch of money on over-buying PC components for what they are really going to use them for in their own computers.
Sure, we would all love to have the latest 1,200 Watt monster from PC Power & Cooling (and they do sell wonderful power supplies), but after a certain point most people are just wasting money chasing wattage numbers.

I would like to see an article on how much power supply the average and "enthusiast" user really needs.
I'm sure many here would be surprised in finding that out for real by someone that is not a fanboy.

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally Posted by Gas Pipe Jimmy

I would like to see an article on how much power supply the average and "enthusiast" user really needs.
I'm sure many here would be surprised in finding that out for real by someone that is not a fanboy.

Look over at SPCR in the power section, as that work has been done for mid-range systems.


OP, What about the Enhance ENP-5140GH you reviewed?

[jonnyGURU]

Originally Posted by Kab

Antec TruePower Trio 550W? $79.82
http://www.provantage.com/antec-tp3-550~7ANTS02K.htm

/650W? $89.99
http://www.shop.com/op/~TruePower_Tr...1?sourceid=298

Antec NeoPower 550W? $104
http://www.shop.com/op/~Antec_NeoPow...283?sourceid=3

I could add. But remember: I said they were all 80 Plus certified, except for the Corsair. I know the Antecs you mentioned are all Seasonics, but they're cheaper models and probably would not pass 80 Plus.

Originally Posted by Kab

TT Toughpower 600W? $127.77
http://computerpartsinsider.com/comp...art/Itemid,26/

Efficient?

Originally Posted by Kab

Seasonic S12-SS 650W? $139.38

Couldn't find it < $150, and I'm not familiar with this vendor.

Originally Posted by Kab

Enhance ENP-5150G 500W? $72

This is different than the 5150GH how? And why is it worth $2 more at a vendor I've never heard of?

Originally Posted by Kab

Enhance ENS-0560G-G 600W? $139.38

Not very efficient.

Originally Posted by Kab

FSP Group FX600-GLN 600W? $122

This is a list of RECOMMENDED power supplies. Not "any power supply that's efficient and under $150."

Originally Posted by Kab

Zalman ZM600-HP 600W? $139.38
http://computerpartsinsider.com/comp...art/Itemid,26/

Forgot that one! Again.... who is this vendor?

Originally Posted by Kab

Silverstone Strider 600W? $105
http://www.case-mod.com/silverstone-...74.html?src=fr

Same as ENS-0560... Not really that efficient.

Originally Posted by Kab

Silverstone Olympia 650W? $127
http://www.eastluna.com/hardware/details.php?id=2469

I should add that.

Originally Posted by Kab

Silverstone Zeus 650W? $109
http://www.eastluna.com/hardware/details.php?id=0577

Not efficient.

Originally Posted by Kab

NB: I think its a good idea to stick a note effectively saying that the "prices are correct as of the <date>"

Yes. I also plan to update prices as they change, so any input from folks about dropping/rising prices is appreciated.

Originally Posted by GalvanizedYankee

OP, What about the Enhance ENP-5140GH you reviewed?

Yep. I should add that as well.

[Spawne32]

http://www.directron.com/zm600hp.html
Zalman ATX12V & EPS12V 600W Computer Power Supply ZM600-HP, Active PFC, Supports SLI, RoHS, w/ 120mm Fan

more reliable and cheaper vendor

oh btw jonny, i think this list is exactly what most people will be looking for now adays not many people want to spend more then 150 for a psu despite its importance

[davidhammock200]

Originally Posted by Spawne32

oh btw jonny, i think this list is exactly what most people will be looking for now adays not many people want to spend more then 150 for a psu despite its importance

Hell, I remember when we couldn't get them to invest $50 in a PSU!