Take a poll... win a PSU!

[jonnyGURU]

Some aspects of a PSU can be somewhat subjective. Modular vs. non-modular vs. semi-modular. Lights vs. no-lights. Ribbon cables vs. clusters of wires.

Other aspects are very objective, but some people hold certain performance features at a higher priority than others. For example: When I do a review and praise a power supply for being super efficient, I'll get dinged by some people for not being more judgemental about the voltage regulation of non-primary (+3.3V and +5V) rails.

So now I want to hear what our readers expect out of a PSU. I know what I like, but what I like may not be what others like, so now's your chance to sound off.

By taking this poll, and posting in this thread, you are entered to win a Corsair AX-850. This isn't even the AX-850 I opened up for the review I did. This is a second unit I had to confirm certain findings and has never even been opened up. Only the box has been opened and a few load tests performed on it.

Please be honest with your poll results. No Christmas treeing please. There are only 9 questions and no question has more than four option answer options.

The survey is here at Survey Monkey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QGMD3PP

Both Survey Monkey and vBulletin log IP addresses so we can confirm when a user both takes the survey and posts in this thread.

A winner will be drawn on October 1st, 2010.

Thanks!

[sblantipodi]

Just voted...
Thanks for this good site and for this opportunity.

[Tator Tot]

I really like the wording on the final question's second answer. That really summed up my feelings on the issue well beyond "Yeah I like multi-rail"

[Icarus]

I filled out the poll. I'd like to learn more aobut what is actually more important (voltage regulation, ripple, etc.) instead of me thinking I know about something I really don't

[shinji2k]

I'm already stuck on the first question . Fully modular is more of an aesthetic thing. It makes re-sleeving easier since you wouldn't have to crack open the housing and it looks more uniform, but there are a few connectors that you would always need so there is no real need to remove them. But then again, there are plenty of modular PSUs that include hard-wired connectors that only a small number of people need (like two 8-pin CPU or an 8-pin and a 4-pin).

[sdbardwick]

Huh. I guess I'm just a function-before-form kinda guy; didn't really care about rail topology, modularity, lighting, or anything else besides the functional aspects.

[jonnyGURU]

Originally Posted by Icarus

I filled out the poll. I'd like to learn more aobut what is actually more important (voltage regulation, ripple, etc.) instead of me thinking I know about something I really don't

Well... there is a specification that everything needs to be within in order to be "within ATX specification". Just some PSU's do some things better than others. Some people consider some things more important than others. Thus the three questions in the survey.

Originally Posted by shinji2k

I'm already stuck on the first question . Fully modular is more of an aesthetic thing. It makes re-sleeving easier since you wouldn't have to crack open the housing and it looks more uniform, but there are a few connectors that you would always need so there is no real need to remove them. But then again, there are plenty of modular PSUs that include hard-wired connectors that only a small number of people need (like two 8-pin CPU or an 8-pin and a 4-pin).

True. There's ALWAYS cables that you're going to need. But there are some people that love fully modular, especially modders. And system builders, for example, love being able to pull out a PSU without having to undo all the cables.

[C'DaleRider]

Done with the poll. Good questions.....

[Proximon]

I did my best but felt like I wasn't represented by the questions well.

For instance, I put efficiency last but would not consider anything not at least 80 Plus Bronze rated these days.

Because historically I have seen so many issues from PSUs when waking up from sleep mode, I also put emphasis on transient load tests.

I wish instead of this I had a big list of evaluation points to which I could assign my own weights. If you had say, 100 samples like that you could add them up and get a very clear picture I think.

[Sphere]

Done, Thanks!