Mother Board bundles and PSU's

[Fenon]

There are two mother boards bundles I'm trying to decide between. A review said the Sabertooth mobo was better than that Gigabyte one from the other bundle, but that was on an overclockers (Not the website these bundles are from) video review so it maybe geared towards people who do that, I'm not going to I'm getting pre-overclocked bundles so I don't need to worry about it.


Krypton Black OPS Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz @ 4.20GHz Original Edition Overclocked Bundle.

Bundle Specification
- CPU: Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz @ 4.20GHz
- Motherboard: Asus X58 Sabertooth (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard
- RAM: Corsair Dominator (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Triple Channel
- Cooler: Prolimatech Megahalems CPU Cooler w/ x2 Akasa Apache Black 120mm Fans
- Artic Cooling MX-3 Thermal Compound

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=BU-057-OE


Krypton Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz @ 4.00GHz USB3 Overclocked Bundle

Bundle Specification
- CPU: Intel Core i7 950 3.06GHz @ 4.00GHz
- Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3 (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard
- RAM: Corsair XMS3 (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Triple Channel
- Cooler: Akasa Nero S CPU Cooler
- Artic Cooling MX-3 Thermal Compound

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=BU-056-OE



Also not sure which PSU to get, I was looking at the XFX Pro 850W Core Edition Power Supply but I've read one review on it. The Corsair TX 850W ATX SLI Compliant Power Supply is £10 more expensive and I suppose a safer bet. The main thing is that I don't want my PC to get fried if and don't want power to be wasted. I also don't want it to cost a lot as I'm kind of at the edges of my bunget now, I can afford more but I don't like the look of the number.

XFX: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...23&subcat=1497

Corsair: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...23&subcat=1084

[mrcrusty]

An Akasa Nero S cooling an i7 @ 4 Ghz? I don't trust that. It's not built for heavy overclocking.

Based on that alone, I'd go for the Sabertooth set.

It is also a better motherboard, and the RAM is better too. Since you've got pre overclocked, it's not going to make a difference to you really, but it's a nice touch.

As for the PSU, go for the XFX Core Pro. Definitely.

Now, I don't have any results of the XFX PSU when it comes to Transient Overshoot Tests (when the PSU starts up), but out of the rest of the criteria, it beats Corsair 2/3, perhaps 3/3. Depending on the review you read, the XFX has better voltage regulation than the Corsair (KitGuru had it better, Hardware Heaven had it worse), so I'll call it even.

In ripple suppression and efficiency however, the XFX was the clear winner.

So yeah, go XFX.

[Fenon]

Ok thanks, I wanted to go with the XFX I just wasn't sure if I should since I only saw one review and they appear to be new to the PSU's, though I've heard that they where good when they first moved into graphics cards as well.

The bundle with the Akasa Nero S has a sister bundle which gives you the same bundle but you can choose a few things like the cooler, funny thing with that bundle is it costs £15 more before you make any changes.

With PSU's, I've heard that PSU's with all the cables are more efficient than modular PSU's is that true?

[mrcrusty]

Ok thanks, I wanted to go with the XFX I just wasn't sure if I should since I only saw one review and they appear to be new to the PSU's, though I've heard that they where good when they first moved into graphics cards as well.

The bundle with the Akasa Nero S has a sister bundle which gives you the same bundle but you can choose a few things like the cooler, funny thing with that bundle is it costs £15 more before you make any changes.

With PSU's, I've heard that PSU's with all the cables are more efficient than modular PSU's is that true?

Complete myth. I've heard it too, but it's got no basis in fact.

It's probably based on the shaky logic that since modular PSUs require plugged in connectors, it loses efficiency on the transfers from PSU to extra connector. It's not true though. In very rare cases, modular PSU connectors can cause issues with the PSU, but it's almost always a voltage regulation problem and it doesn't happen by design on quality PSUs. Maybe junk or generic modular PSUs or just a bad model, but not by design on good PSUs.

XFX PSUs are quality. All of them are at least partially based on Seasonic designs. The XFX Black Editions are Seasonic M12Ds with green paint. The XXX 650w is a Seasonic S12E (Corsair HX 650) and the Core Edition Pros are heavily modified S12II Seasonics.

[Ishan]

There is no difference in modular and normal PSUs like crusty said it depends upon the make quality.
Though one has to make sure that the wires in modular and plugged properly\tightly to avoid sparking that leads to excessive heat generation and melting of insulation which means PC ed.

And for the bundle i would choose the Sabertooth one ASUS MOBOs are solid, personally a GB fan but i have had ASUS mobo as well so i know it's worth the money. Also it has a better cooler, the other with Akasa Nero S CPU Cooler can also OC i7 at 4Ghz but the temps will be higher in comparison to the first one, lower the temp better the CPU performance and life, besides Prolimatech Megahalems is sweet.

Another difference and choice for first bundle is the RAM it comes with it has C8 while the other has C9, lesser the latency faster the RAM etc better performance = Fenon Happy!

[Fenon]

Ooooo ha ha ha heeee, I think I'll be very happy, till I look at my bank statement.

Overclockers have random offers every week, knowing my luck every week till I get this PC there will be amazing offers and then when I'm ready to get it they will all stop dead.