New Power supply

**cracks2** · August 19, 2009, 05:59 AM

Hey guys,

Okay I bought an AXP supernova 1000W power supply for my new build, little risky I know but It looked good.

Its broken and I've got store credit, what would yuo recommend a quality brand replacement for my system? I though cooler master was a good make but I hear different on this forum.

Thanks for any suggestions.

**GrnEyedDvl** · August 19, 2009, 07:58 AM

Antec makes good power supplies, as does Thermaltake.

**Wheelchair** · August 19, 2009, 08:50 AM

Yes, I'd go Antec.

For you I recommend the Antec Quattro 850W Modular. It's what I have and it's my favorite partof my system

**Doono** · August 19, 2009, 04:26 PM

Antec, PC Power & Cooling, Corsair and Enermax are what i would typically look at for an excellent grade psu

**Strelok** · August 19, 2009, 04:57 PM

Antec and Corsair are brands that I trust

For what to look in a power supply, don't always look at the wattage.

If you have farly low-power components, you would benefit from multiple 12V rails.

If you have power hungry components, you may want a single 12V rail PSU but with a very high ampage. The reason is that multiple 12V rail PSU's run those rails at a fairly low ampage (usually not higher than 25A) and one specific component may need to draw more than 25A from the 12V rail.

12V rail quantity & ampage and brand quality are things to look for along with wattage.

**Freddie** · August 19, 2009, 06:14 PM

Most PSU's will come with multiple 12v rails to compile with the Underwriters Laboratories safety standards on how much voltage amps a 12v rail can carry. I think the limit is 20 but it may be 25 now but 25 amps over 2 or 4 rails is plenty for most PC's unless you into a huge multi video card setup.

The best PSU's can be garnered almost by price using the old philosophy 'you get what you pay for', in this case Bequiet! and Seasonic make the best PSU's, they are ultra efficient and ultra quiet but if noise isn't an issue you can look at cheaper makes like the Antec, Corsairs, PC Power & Cooling, OCZ and Enermax's. Theremaltake, Zalman (again expensive), Tagen are other brands that are also just as good. However before you make a purchase do your research and make sure the PSU in that range are sound and don't have any glaring problems or long term issues (read review sites, google for reviews etc).

**Top-Tier-Tech** · August 19, 2009, 07:03 PM

I vote Corsair, they have the best performance in all the reviews you can find for all different sizes.

**mrmouth** · August 19, 2009, 09:20 PM

First off, 1kw is overkill for that system, by a lot. I have the same build, except for GPU, and I'm running a 620w corsair. Mostly because I had it already when I built my i7 rig, but even then, I wouldn't have been looking to go over 800w if I had to buy a new PSU. However, because I also bought the Antec 1200, I would have went with the Antec CP-850, because it has been called the best PSU on the market, is dirt cheap, and is exclusive to the Antec 1200 case. If you happen to have that case, it is a no brainer.

If you are hell bent on a 1kw PSU, you can do no better than the Enermax Galaxy line, or the new Revolution line but you are also going to pay a premium. Best looking PSU's, hands down. Just understand, that by the time you are going to use all that juice, it will be 2-3 builds down the road, and many years. Warranty will be long gone. You want to future proof yourself, but nobody needs 1kw unless you are running a super server.

**cracks2** · August 20, 2009, 02:29 AM

Hi gents,

Thanks for the quick replays and good advise,

The best PSU's can be garnered almost by price using the old philosophy 'you get what you pay for', in this case Bequiet! and Seasonic make the best PSU's, they are ultra efficient and ultra quiet but if noise isn't an issue you can look at cheaper makes like the Antec, Corsairs

This sounds like pretty sensible advise and I've found just the right power supply, Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 1000 Watt. Its a little more expensive but I hope then Ill notice an Improved noise reduction...

First off, 1kw is overkill for that system, by a lot. I have the same build, except for GPU, and I'm running a 620w corsair. Mostly because I had it already when I built my i7 rig, but even then, I wouldn't have been looking to go over 800w if I had to buy a new PSU. However, because I also bought the Antec 1200, I would have went with the Antec CP-850, because it has been called the best PSU on the market, is dirt cheap, and is exclusive to the Antec 1200 case. If you happen to have that case, it is a no brainer.

If you are hell bent on a 1kw PSU, you can do no better than the Enermax Galaxy line, or the new Revolution line but you are also going to pay a premium. Best looking PSU's, hands down. Just understand, that by the time you are going to use all that juice, it will be 2-3 builds down the road, and many years. Warranty will be long gone. You want to future proof yourself, but nobody needs 1kw unless you are running a super server.

Yes I understand your point but in fact it's not so over kill as you think,

With the specs that I have and a little over clocking I score a rating of 850w needed, that's on a power supply calculator on a site from a trusted supplier of all brands. (yes I am aware that some brands can vary)
That’s 850W with the I7, HD4870x2, 3 HDD, 3 optical drives, 3 case fans, and thermaltake bigwater cooling system..

Now, my next upgrade when needed would be something like x3 4890 in crossfire and a fourth 3.5" 500GB HDD so I can put my data on a raid1 set up. I already have a second SSD installed but I don’t think they use as much power...

So with the above setup, that’s one upgrade away and my power supply is recommended a 1000w. So I didn’t just go Okill for no reason

**Wheelchair** · August 20, 2009, 10:13 AM

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Well, those calculators calculate the maxed out wattage you need, that means when the cards and CPU are running at 100%, which don't happen.

**mrmouth** · August 20, 2009, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by cracks2

Hi gents,

Thanks for the quick replays and good advise,

This sounds like pretty sensible advise and I've found just the right power supply, Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 1000 Watt. Its a little more expensive but I hope then Ill notice an Improved noise reduction...

Yes I understand your point but in fact it's not so over kill as you think,

With the specs that I have and a little over clocking I score a rating of 850w needed, that's on a power supply calculator on a site from a trusted supplier of all brands. (yes I am aware that some brands can vary)
That’s 850W with the I7, HD4870x2, 3 HDD, 3 optical drives, 3 case fans, and thermaltake bigwater cooling system..

Now, my next upgrade when needed would be something like x3 4890 in crossfire and a fourth 3.5" 500GB HDD so I can put my data on a raid1 set up. I already have a second SSD installed but I don’t think they use as much power...

So with the above setup, that’s one upgrade away and my power supply is recommended a 1000w. So I didn’t just go Okill for no reason

Well, again, this is my setup:

i7-920
Asus p6t
Noctua x2 fans/push pull
Dominator 6gb 1600mhz
300gb V-raptor
250gb Barracuda
250gb Caviar
Auzentech X-fi Forte
Antec 1200 x7 fans
Corsair HX620

So all that on a 620 PSU. I also overclocked to 4ghz stable, and could add another GTX 280 if I wanted, no problem.

I'm happy that people have finally awakened to the importance of the PSU. But along with that, has come this overkill scenario, and it is spurred on by PSU calculators, and some manufacturers, till a point now, where people acutally upgrade their 1kw PSU's, to 1250w PSU's, for no reason. Nobody is utilizing 1kw, despite what they may think. And dont get me wrong, I would love an Enermax Revolution, and if I had the money to blow, I would easily plunk down $260 for it just because it is beautiful. But it wouldn't mean I could even utilize that in the next 3-4 years, or maybe even five.

The best PSU calculator I have come across, is Corsair's. I enter my specs, and it recommends a 750-850W PSU. And that is exactly what I would be looking for, to future proof myself a bit, had I not already owned a 620w PSU from a previous build.

**cracks2** · August 21, 2009, 03:30 AM

Well I've ordered the 1000w

Be Quiet! darkpowerpro, ill be sure to drop a line on it when it's up and running. thx all.

The best PSU calculator I have come across, is Corsair's. I enter my specs, and it recommends a 750-850W PSU. And that is exactly what I would be looking for, to future proof myself a bit, had I not already owned a 620w PSU from a previous build.

Well thanks for the advise anyhow, I guess its all about estimation and personal preference... Ill leave on a nice american saying which kind of sums up my personal preference:

"It is better to have a gun and not need one, than need a gun and not have one"