Quiet, Quality Power Supply

[ShmooDude]

I've done some searching on Anandtech forums but couldn't really find an article/forum post on the subject. I'm upgrading my computer with the following:

DFI Ultra-D NF4 Motherboard
Athlon64 3000+ Venice core w/ Zalman CNPS700B-ALCu Heatsink
Gigabyte X800 Silentpipe

I'd like one that's quiet, good quality with a PCI-e plug (in case I upgrade to a video card that requires one at a later date) and 2 floppy power plugs (one for mb and one for my floppy drive). I can pickup a Y cable at a local computer store if it doesn't have one on its own. Any help will be appreciated.

EDIT:
I think I'll go with an S12 based on www.silentpcreview.com research.

The question is do I go with the 430W @ $100 or the 500W @ $130. Now I know my computer (or chances are anything built in the foreseeable future) will pull even close too 430W, the issue is connectors.

The difference between the 500 and the 430 is the 430 has zero PCI-e connectors and the 500 has two.

The DFI board will eat up one molex and one floppy. My hard disk and CD-ROM will eat up two more molexes. I will also be hooking up a floppy drive as I need that for college (teachers usually prefer things turned in on floppies...). That leaves three molex connectors. Should I add a graphics card using >125W? at some point that will eat two more and leave me with one.

So, the question is do I spend an extra $30 on an already expencive power supply and not have to worry about it or get the 430 and possibly end up using a Y cable sometime in the future? Are there ever problems with using a Y cable?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Take a look at Seasonic's S-12 series.

 

[rise]

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=22480

 

[birdpup]

Read through Power Supply 101 for more information. I believe that power supplies with a single 120mm fan are quieter than power supplies with two 80mm fans. I have two computers with 120mm fan power supplies and have never noticed the noise from them in comparison to the rest of the system.

 

[Deinonych]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Take a look at Seasonic's S-12 series.

:thumbsup:

 

[suicidalpigeon]

seasonic or tagan.

 

[DerelictDev]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Take a look at Seasonic's S-12 series.

:thumbsup:

 

[ShmooDude]

Originally posted by: rise4310
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=22480

Nice link!

It looks like the S12 series seems to be the verdict. The first model to come with a PCI-e connector is the 500W model and that's about $60 ($130 vs $70) more than most of the PSU's (like the Antec TruepowerII480). Though by getting an extremely strong (and quiet) PSU now should prevent me from needing to upgrade it for a long time (barring another speification change).

And thanks for the help.

 

[John]

OCZ PowerStream's are also extremely quiet and have adjustable rails, plus you get a 5yr. warranty. You also get a PCI-E and a ton of other connections.

My rail testing:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1649622&enterthread=y

 

[IeraseU]

How quiet do you need it? They do have some fanless powersupplies out there, although usually pricey.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Seasonic S12's are the quietest you can get. OCZ Powerstreams/Modstreams ARE quiet, but if you're a maniac about quietness, Seasonic S12's or PCP&C Silencers (Seasonic makes them) are definately the quietest you can get.

-TPG

 

[Bona Fide]

Seasonic ftw.

 

[teutonicknight]

Originally posted by: Deinonych

Originally posted by: Kensai
Take a look at Seasonic's S-12 series.

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

For more about silencing a computer, go here.

 

[Matt2]

I can't hear my Fortron Bluestorm 500w over my XP-90, so I'm assuming it's pretty quiet.

Only ~$70

 

[Ansris]

Whats the deal with the ultra x psus? Everyone on these forms seem to trash them up and down, but what exactly is so bad about them?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Deinonych

Originally posted by: Kensai
Take a look at Seasonic's S-12 series.

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

Originally posted by: Ansris
Whats the deal with the ultra x psus? Everyone on these forms seem to trash them up and down, but what exactly is so bad about them?

Simple, it's a low quality PSU marketed by Tiger Direct; all the trashing it get's it's earned.

 

[furballi]

Fortron or Enermax will give you more value in a PSU. My favorite is the Enermax 495 Noisetaker V2.0. +75% efficiency. Very quiet. 3 yr warranty. $75.

http://www.3gplaza.com/estore/control/C...r3G/productdetails?id=34336&srccode=PW

 

[ShmooDude]

I think I'll go with an S12 based on www.silentpcreview.com research.

The question is do I go with the 430W @ $100 or the 500W @ $130. Now I know my computer (or chances are anything built in the foreseeable future) will pull even close too 430W, the issue is connectors.

The difference between the 500 and the 430 is the 430 has zero PCI-e connectors and the 500 has two.

The DFI board will eat up one molex and one floppy. My hard disk and CD-ROM will eat up two more molexes. I will also be hooking up a floppy drive as I need that for college (teachers usually prefer things turned in on floppies...). That leaves three molex connectors. Should I add a graphics card using >125W? at some point that will eat two more and leave me with one.

So, the question is do I spend an extra $30 on an already expencive power supply and not have to worry about it or get the 430 and possibly end up using a Y cable sometime in the future? Are there ever problems with using a Y cable?

Thanks.

 

[w00t]

modstream.

 

[ShmooDude]

Originally posted by: w00t
modstream.

I'd rather go with an S12 for the better effiency and quieter running (they're both fairly quiet though, quieter is all relative). The S12s are extremely efficent which should cut down on the heat in my room (now if only I could afford some LCDs to replace the heat pumping CRTs...) somewhat. The question is will I regret not having the extra plug two or three years down the line...

 

[ShmooDude]

bump

 

[thirdlegstump]

I like the ValuePower Rainbow 5000. Was only $13.99 at K-Mart. Does a great job powering my FX53 rig.

 

[ShmooDude]

Once more to see if anyone can answer my last question otherwise I'll probably pay it safe and get the 500 model.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: John
OCZ PowerStream's are also extremely quiet and have adjustable rails, plus you get a 5yr. warranty. You also get a PCI-E and a ton of other connections.

My rail testing:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1649622&enterthread=y

John is almost always right. Listen to John