PSU Upgrade from some real PSU Pro's Please.

[xguntherc]

Hello everyone. I've been needed a solid recommendation for a new PSU, and I always love your reviews here.

Anyways, Here's the Deal. Check out my Sig rig. That is currently all being pushed by a PC P&C 750w Silencer, and I've heard this discussion. This PSU IS silent.. I can't hear it over my 30dba Water-cooling Fans. So, I want one of the best, most stable PSU's I can get for around or under $300. I've been having a hard time getting any good suggestions.. I want to make sure my new PSU will be able to handle my Quad at 4.0 Ghz, and up to 4.5 Ghz when it's not summer, but I'm worried about When I upgrade to the new Nvidia GT300 Graphics Card, I don't know if this 750w can handle the next Flagship from nvidia in SLI. not to mention my water loop, and raid0. and all that.

What are some of the best, or better PSU's out right now. Here's what ones I've been seriously considering. (If I even need to upgrade.)

The Corsair HX1000 looks good like always.
HX850 as well, but why get that when it's only 100w more than what I have now when I could spend a little more for the 1000. (even tho the ripple of the HX850 and review looked great)
Also the PC P&C 910w Silencer looks really good, I've been impressed with my current PC P&C, and I can get a GREAT deal on the 910 right now from a friend.
Been considering a Enermax in the 950+ Range, as well as a Silverstone 1000+.

What would you guys recommend. Do I even need a PSU upgrade, I don't now, but what about on my next upgrade.

[shinji2k]

First of all I have to say you have got a nice chip if you can hit 4.5 on the Q9650, very impressive. For now I don't see why your current Silencer can't handle your rig, but it is hard to know what the future holds for 300 series. Hopefully nVidia has learned not to make a huge, expensive, power hungry die but I don't know of any reliable specs relating to power consumption of the 300 series. The Enermax Revo series is one of the better platforms available and 850W+ should be able to handle just about everything. The Silencer 910W from Seasonic should be good, but it is yet untested. The hx1000 is pretty good, but there are better 1kW units (but expect to fork out a little more dough). It's hard to say, I would be tempted to go with the 910W Silencer if it is a good price since it should be able to handle just about any two video card setup.

[xguntherc]

well, actually almost EVERY Q9650 on a decent motherboard can get up to 4.5 Ghz.. 4.0 Ghz was easy as PIE, coming from my Q6700 that couldn't do anything over 3.7 Ghz and even 3.7 took weeks of tuning. the Q9650 did 3.8 on my first try, and 4.0 Ghz on the 2nd w/ 1.304v & was just a BREEZE, they are some of the easiest chips to OC i've ever used, and the EP45-UD3P or UD3R are the best quad clockers ATM

get a Q9650, a good PSU, and a EP45-UD3P and i will bet money you could hit 4.3+ with it. lol. I've seen 4.8 Ghz stable many times. they are great chips.. well and some good 1066+ Ram of course.

Anyways, back to the story at hand. Ya I'm not sure what to expect from Nvidia, but if they are as strong as they said, unless the drop to 40nm chips really helps that much, I think they will be more power hungry than the 280 was. So the Enermax Revo are solid. I was looking at getting the 950. (I didn't know Enermax was such a good brand of PSU's. lol) would the enermax 950 be better than the HX1000. cuz it sure costs more.

and the PC P&C 910 Silencer is a Seasonic? and how it is untested, if it's like my 750 it will be good right?
The reason I'm looking at the PC P&C 910, is because that would basically have me pretty well covered (right?). and I can get one NIB right now for $150, and then sell my 750w for about $80. but then can the 910 really be that good for only retailing at $200. (I'm getting from a friend for $150 if I decide to take it.

Thanks for the reply, and sorry for the long post. lol

[shinji2k]

The 910W Silencer is untested since it is basically a modified Silencer 750W which is based on the Seasonic x900 series. There is nothing comparable to it on the market and there have yet to be any reviews on it (although there should be at least one soon). Since PC Power is the only one to use anything like it and there are no reviews yet, I consider it untested but unlikely to be a bad unit. I would also consider the Enermax 950 to be a good competitor to the Corsair which actually performs a little better compared to the Corsair. But oddly enough the Enermax 1050W tends to be cheaper than the 950W because of rebates. You can look at the reviews on this site to see where the Enermax platform bests the CWT built Corsair HX1000. If the new nVidia flagship is indeed more power hungry than the gtx280 (which is already the most power hungry gpu core at at least 180-200W each), then with your OCed quad and everything else considered I would be hesitant to try that on your 750W Silencer. For $150 the 910W Silencer should be a safe choice. Even though PC Power lost my respect a long time ago, I can't imagine they would release a bad unit.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Silencer 910 review coming up on Sunday

[xguntherc]

So may I ask why they lost your respect??

So it's basically a 750w that has been beefed up or added to or something.. That doesn't sound good. lol. There's no reviews at all of it, or none like HARD OPC, or Jonny do where they honestly test it to the max.

Ya, I'm thinking the new GT300 should be close to the 285 in power draw, a little less than the 280, but you never know with Nvidia "trying" to beat ATI. lol. That is why i think it might be a beast still.

And yes, all things combined the 750 might be pushing it, and if I'm pushing my limits with everything i have, and SLI GT300's. I wont have any room to overclock, and that is something I love to do!!

thanks for the input so far. I appreciate it, but now I'm worried about the 910, but even the weak Guru3d review (even tho doesn't really count) they put SLI 295's for Quad fun, and a GTX 275 for physx as well as a QX9775 at 3.8 Ghz or something and it stayed well close to it's 88% rating "they" claimed, and it was laughing at them to give it a real task.

so it sounds good, but now you've got me worried. lol

Edit* Awesome Wolf.. Thanks, I will wait for it before I buy from my friend. or choose something else. sweeeet

[shinji2k]

I wouldn't be worried about the Silencer 910W. I lost my respect for PC Power mostly due to their marketing decisions, but it's hard to find fault with their PSUs. I'm pretty sure it was Paul from [H] that is working on a review for the Silencer 910 so hopefully that pops up soon, maybe he can comment (Spectre on these forums). I am not an "expert" but I would hope my input isn't completely useless. All things considered the Silencer 910 should be good, but you know what you do when you assume. As long as the 7 year warranty is still in tact it is hard to ignore the deal on it.

[xguntherc]

true.. well that and wolf just said his will be done sunday. so I'll be watching for that review.

thanks Shin

[shinji2k]

Oops, missed OW's post. Looking forward to it.

[xguntherc]

me to