EggXpert

agreed, this should replace the old tier sticky

CompWiz:

freezy:

It was moved because it is a discussion thread, albeit technical.

but it was moved to the technology news section, not some discussion section. 

Also, the Computer Building & Upgrades section of the forums, of which the power supply forum is a part of, says right in the description: "Discuss anything about computer hardware."  Isn't that exactly what we're doing?  

freezy:

The support forum is for folks seeking help and folks answering those requests. There was a note passed around making this distinction.

It helps keep the advice from being buried

 well, how about you sticky this list up at the top where the "Recommended Power Supplies" thread is now.  We have updated and fixed problems with the tiered power supply list that was posted in that thread.  If this is stickied there, it will not bury the power supply buying advice, and it will help people who are choosing power supplies.  No one is going to look in the Technology news section to find power supply buying advice. 

Is your final version your first post? Write it up in the power supplies subforum and I'll sticky it. Unless I get fired beforehand.

CWiz,

Check this out, external radiator? LOL http://www.mgecompany.com/xg/products_powersupplies_magnum.php

Clubit has this on sale, http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A6224501 , calling MSRP $155 !!! lol.

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Penewah!

freezy:

Is your final version your first post? Write it up in the power supplies subforum and I'll sticky it. Unless I get fired beforehand.

Well, this is an ongoing process. I can't say this is the final version, as new power supplies are coming out all the time, and there are a lot of reviews being written covering previously unknown power supplies.  We are continually updating and correcting this list to keep it current.  Would I not be able to edit the post after you stickied it? 

Couldn't you just move this entire thread to the power supply forum and sticky it?  People who just click on the thread will be shown the first page, where the power supply tiered list is.  They can also scroll down to see more detailed information about a lot of the power supplies listed.  People who wish to can continue discussing changes, as we have been, and I can keep updating the first post to reflect the most up to date information we have. 

If this is not possible, I'll get the first post updated and set for that.   

Penewab2007:

CWiz,

Check this out, external radiator? LOL http://www.mgecompany.com/xg/products_powersupplies_magnum.php

Clubit has this on sale, http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A6224501 , calling MSRP $155 !!! lol.

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Penewah!

yeah, I've seen that power supply before, they've had it on sale a few times.  It's actually a pretty good power supply, and for $44 it's certainly a good price for a passively cooled unit.

Jonnyguru reviewed the Seventeam 500watt external power supply a while ago, and apparently that power supply is pretty much the same as the XG magnum 600watt unit.  I can't find the review right now, as ever since the jonnyguru.com site redesign all of the old links don't work.  I don't see the review listed under his reviews, the search doesn't turn anything up, and the Internet Archive seems to be down right now.  I do remember that the review turned out well, the power supply worked fine.  If I wanted a passively cooled power supply I'd certainly get that one at this price.   

If you'd like to try searching it out, the old link to the review was http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/ST-500EAZ/.  Also, that's probably the model number of the power supply in the URL there.  Once the Internet Archive starts working again, you can look up the review by running that old URL through it.  

Penewab2007:

CW - you ever see this brand before?  http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/X-Spice/Kira_CS_530W , whatta yah think?

 

I was just reading a review of an X-Spice Kira power supply at Jonnyguru.com.  It performed very nicely, although it does use an older group-regulated design.  It seems to have a very quiet fan, a short length(which would be nice for cases like the Apevia X-QPack), and very high efficiency.  It seems like the X-Spice Kira power supplies would fit nicely into tier 3.  I don't think that they'd belong in tier 2, since they do use a group regulated design, which certainly has some drawbacks, although it should be fine for almost anyone running a modern computer.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I was looking at the Zephyr power supplies recently on newegg(you were wondering about those units a few posts back), and there seems to be a relatively large number of people who had problems with it.  Hec responded to some of the user reviews, generally blaming the problems on shipping damage, but that seems to be stretching the truth a bit.  In some cases the power supply destroyed many of the components in the computer.  I still am not sure where these power supplies belong.  On one hand, they are nVidia certified, and that should indicate that they have been tested up to their rated wattage.  On the other hand, many users seem to be having problems with the power supply turning off when the computer load increases, which would seem to indicate that the Zephyr power supplies are considerably overrated.  I don't know if I should put them into tier 5, however, every brand has some defective units, and I would think that this tiered power supply list would be rating only non-defective units.  But, are these defective units, or are they just the normal retail units, with cherry-picked units sent to nVidia for their testing?  If someone would just publish a good review of one Zephyr unit, this would be very easily solved, but until then, I don't think I'm going to list them.  I just have no idea where to put them. 

Also, I was reading a few reviews of the Zalman power supplies.  While they seem to be pretty good on the whole, their top 1000watt power supply has ripple problems on the 3.3v rail at higher loads.  So, since those Zalman's are currently listed in tier 2, I'm going to push the 1000watt model down a tier.  I'm not sure if I should do more than that, since it is not maintaining ATX specs.  Opinions are welcome.

I have decided to move the OCZ EliteXStream power supply to tier 1.  It is certainly a step up in quality over the other OCZ power supplies, which are already in tier 2.  It seems that OCZ has been learning something from PC P&C since they purchased them.  I am glad, though, that OCZ did not copy the loud cooling and super-high prices as well.  If anyone thinks that the OCZ EliteXStream does not belong in tier 1, please say so, I'd be happy to discuss it with you.  

I'm adding in the following power supplies: Antec Signature: tier 2, Thermaltake PurePower: tier 5(I'm putting it there because of the disappointing review at Hardware secrets, the 430watt unit was actually a 350watt unit.  If anyone knows of some reviews of higher-wattage models, I'd like to split up the Purepower PSU's into multiple tiers if the higher wattage models do better, so post links please), Thermaltake TR2: tier 5(Thermaltake TR2 melted down at a wattage lower than it's rated max load, review here), Sigma Shark: tier 4(reviewed at hardocp.com, it passed all the tests, but came really close to breaking ATX specs, and had strange voltage regulation), Hyper Type-R: tier 5(reviewed at hardocp.com in $50 roundup, overrated, self destructed during load testing), NorthQ: tier 3(Jonnyguru.com reviewed two of their 850watt models.  These are certainly less common power supplies, but they seem to perform very well.  In fact, I half want to put them into tier 2(opinions?).  However, they do use off-brand caps, and the Black Magic one had really high ripple on the 5VSB), and the Cooler Master Ultimate/UCP: tier 2(highest efficiency high-wattage power supplies on the market, not reviewed by any of the main PSU sites yet, but it passed 80plus testing, and it looks to be a very high-end unit. It might even end up in tier 1 once some good reviews come out.  Cooler master certainly can get very good high-end PSU's).  

Also, I'd like to add in the Hyper Type-M power supplies to the list, but I'm not sure exactly where they belong.  Hardocp.com has reviewed both the 580watt model(made by andyson), and the 880watt model(made by CWT).  In the review of the 580watt model, it passed all the tests, but was pretty much an all around mediocre power supply.  So, that seems to be deserving of tier 4 or tier 3.  On the other hand, the 880watt model worked great, but had ripple just slightly over the ATX specs on the 12v rail at high loads(700watts +).  hardocp contacted hyper, and they said that they are aware of this issue, and they are in the process of correcting it.  While the first batch of the 880watt power supplies that went to market had this issue, Andyson is certainly very capable of making power supplies with low ripple(just look at the Ultra X3 1600watt PSU, 20mV at full load), so once they get the new version out(if they haven't all ready), it should be fine.  Also, it had great regulation and good efficiency.  So, once the ripple problem is corrected, it would probably be deserving of at least tier 3, if not tier 2.  Until then, I'll stick it in tier 4. 

One last thing, I'm removing Cooler Master from tier 5.  I'm not sure why it was there, as they have a bunch of great power supplies.  Perhaps back years ago when this list was originally written, their lineup was not nearly as good.   

If anyone disagrees with any of the changes, please say so.  This tiered list is a community effort.  Also, if you have any suggestions of things to add or change, feel free to post them.  

I tried to make a bunch of good changes here and get the list updated, since freezy said he can sticky it up back in the PSU forums. 

well, I updated the list.  In addition to the changes listed above, I put the Thermaltake Purepower RX in tier 3, due to the positive review of that model at hardocp.com.  The Purepower NP I put in tier 5 due to the review of that model at hardware secrets. 

Also, I put the Silverstone ZM in tier 1, it is an amazingly good power supply, with ripple on the 12v rail never going above 12mV, making it the cleanest power output of any power supply on the market.  

Finally, I'm adding in the XG magnum in tier 3.  

freezy: thanks for stickying the the list.  Is there any chance that we could get this thread moved to the power supply section? 

compwiz thank you for keeping up with this list, I reference it often. So don't think that no one uses it just because they are not leaving feedback it is really a great resource.

Kardon, thanks for the feedback.  It's nice to know that people are finding this list to be helpful.  I've noticed a few members here linking this list when talking about power supplies.  Now we just need this thread moved to the power supply forum, and we'd be all set. 

I've added the Sigma SP series.  It is a decent power supply, that managed to pass all the tests at hardocp.com with good efficiency numbers.  However, it is an older group regulated FSP design, and wasn't particularly special at anything.  I do wonder whether it would be better positioned at tier 3 or tier 4.  If anyone has an opinion on that, please feel free to post it.  

Also, I'm adding the BFG LS series in, although I'm not too sure where to put it.  Like the Sigma SP it has pretty good voltage regulation(group regulated) and good efficiency(although it dropped off when nearing the max load).  Unlike the Sigma, it does have excellent ripple filtering.  I'm basing this on the recently posted review at JonnyGuru.com. 

I'm really wondering about the tier 3/4 distinction.  The real problem is that tier 3 contains Thermaltake Toughpower PSU's, which are certainly better than the group regulated FSP power supplies, like the Sigma SP.  However, I also usually say that power supplies good enough to be recommended should be in tiers 1 through 3.  I don't think that I'd have a problem recommending either this Sigma SP or BFG LS.  However, they do use older group-regulated designs.  

I think for the time being, I'm going to put both of these models in tier 3.  However, this is definitely open to discussion.  if you have an opinion on this, post it.  

Yes it would be nice to get this in psu's I know I still link to the old one sometimes because it's just so much faster to find. (I know, bad Kardon)

maybe you should add a tier like tier T but between 3 and 4 for older group-regulated designs

Kardon:

maybe you should add a tier like tier T but between 3 and 4 for older group-regulated designs

yeah, that is certainly one solution.  However, then someone would have to go through all of the tier 3 and 4 power supplies and figure out which ones are group regulated.   Any volunteers?

Looking around on Playtool.com, I found an excellent video card table.  Not only does it order the graphics cards by performance, it also lists the max wattage for many of the cards.  Video card power draw is really hard to find for older video cards and Radeon cards, so this is a great reference. 

 

That site seems to have all the best guides and references.  

Perhaps now I'll get to work on an Eggxpert System Wattage Calculation Guide. 

Well, I'm bumping the Antec Signature up to tier 1, and it definitely deserves a position there.  It has all Japanese caps, including some Rubycon(among the best quality capacitors on the market).  It regulates all of the rails within 1% of what they're supposed to be, even when heavily crossloaded.  It has amazinly good looking soldering work.  Bronze 80Plus rating for efficiency.  The ripple on the 12v rails never even exceeds 13mV.  Not only that, it has a very quiet fan, and very well tuned fan speed control. 

 I think we have a PC P&C killer here.  

read the review.

wow that antec looks amazing!

At $300 it def needs to come down in price before I recommend it over a PC P&C 750 (unless of course the user doesn't have a budget or actually needs an 850watt psu)

Kardon:

At $300 it def needs to come down in price before I recommend it over a PC P&C 750 (unless of course the user doesn't have a budget or actually needs an 850watt psu)

well, the PC P&C 860watt power supply also has an MSRP of 299, so $300 isn't really out of line for a power supply of this caliber.  I certainly wouldn't pay that much personally, but, if someone wants a real top-of-the-line power supply, and are willing to pay for it, then the Antec is a fine choice. 

hmm, it seems that having this tiered power supply list in the tech news section of the off topic forum is confusing people.  Look at this recent post:

stoicblitzer:

i'm not too worried about the case, i only have one optical and one hdd. i think i can make the 280s fit in there, but i didnt even consider that they wouldnt fit since it was a "gamer case." how foolish of me, eh? if they dont fit, well im gonna go insane.

BTW, the OCZ EliteXStream is not on the list of recommended PSUs anymore...any reason or am i just missing it? it was tier 1 a couple days ago..

The list of recommended power supplies he mentions is the old version of this list, which is now several years out of date.   Is there any reason why we can't replace that old list with this new thread? 

yes penewab is an uber now he should be able to fix the problem. (that is if he is still watching this thread)

I think compwiz has done a fine job of demonstrating his dedication to this daunting task. This thread deserves to be stickied under psus untill it goes inactive.

Well, I threw the Xigmatek MC and HC power supplies into tier 2, since as far as I can tell they are identical to the Thermaltake Toughpowers.  Someone was asking about them in the power supply forum, so I added them and directed the person to this list. 

If anyone thinks that they don't belong there(or if someone thinks that they aren't similar to the Thermaltake Toughpowers), please say so. 

So,basically,spend 200 dollars on a power supply? No thanks.

This needs to be merged and sent to the PSU area this is not Technology News area for this discussion. We can take out the old thread in the PSU area and replace it with this one. 

BTW good job Comp on the list. PM me or any MOD/Uber/Admin if you want this done.