350-450W Roundup: 11 Cheap PSUs
by Martin Kaffei on July 3, 2012 1:30 PM ESTbe quiet! System Power 350W Measurements
Voltage Regulation
+3.3V Regulation/Ripple and Noise | |
Load | Voltage |
5% | 3.41V (9mV) |
10% | 3.37V (12mV) |
20% | 3.36V (14mV) |
50% | 3.34V (22mV) |
80% | 3.33V (31mV) |
100% | 3.31V (35mV) |
110% | 3.30V (41mV) |
Crossload +12V max. | +1.52% |
Crossload +3.3V/+5V max. | +0.00% |
+5V Regulation/Ripple and Noise | |
Load | Voltage |
5% | 5.04V (7mV) |
10% | 5.03V (13mV) |
20% | 5.00V (15mV) |
50% | 4.98V (25mV) |
80% | 4.97V (33mV) |
100% | 4.94V (39mV) |
110% | 4.91V (42mV) |
Crossload +12V max. | +2.00% |
Crossload +3.3V/+5V max. | -6.20% |
+12V Regulation (Worst Ouput)/Ripple and Noise (Worst Output) | |
Load | Voltage |
5% | 12.14V (11mV) |
10% | 12.08V (15mV) |
20% | 12.05V (19mV) |
50% | 11.99V (31mV) |
80% | 11.95V (51mV) |
100% | 11.87V (59mV) |
110% | 11.86 V (61mV) |
Crossload +12V max. | -2.92% |
Crossload +3.3V/+5V max. | +8.67% |
Noise Levels
Sound Pressure Level (Ambient: 16dBA, 1m distance) and Temperatures (Δϑ to 24.2 °C ambient temperature) | |
Load | Opinion |
5% | 18 dBA (0.5°C) |
10% | 19 dBA (1.6 °C) |
20% | 19 dBA (2.5 °C) |
50% | 19 dBA (3.4 °C) |
80% | 22 dBA (5.2 °C) |
100% | 24 dBA (6.4 °C) |
110% | 24 dBA (8.5 °C) |
Efficiency and PFC
Efficiency and Power Factor 115 VAC | ||
Load | Efficiency | PFC |
5% | 68.34% | 0.872 |
10% | 76.16% | 0.902 |
20% | 82.67% | 0.926 |
50% | 84.92% | 0.938 |
80% | 84.49% | 0.942 |
100% | 83.78% | 0.949 |
110% | 83.33% | 0.957 |
Efficiency and Power Factor 230 VAC | ||
Load | Efficiency | PFC |
5% | 69.49% | 0.866 |
10% | 77.75% | 0.880 |
20% | 83.21% | 0.917 |
50% | 85.86% | 0.925 |
80% | 85.58% | 0.934 |
100% | 84.52% | 0.938 |
110% | 83.73% | 0.940 |
be quiet! is clearly out of ATX specification during the second crossload test while noise and temperatures are low. The 3.3V and 5V rails start slightly above specification during 10% load; they then drop, reaching 3.30V and 4.91V at maximum load. The 12V rails start high at 12.14V and drops to 11.86V with 10% overload. These voltage drops will not cause any problem at all when this PSU is in use in a system.
67 Comments
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pvdw - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - link
Here's some good ones to look at in 350W-450W range:Seasonic X-400 Fanless
Seasonic S12II-380
Silentmaxx Fanless 400W MX460-PFL01
Nexus Value 430
Seasonic M12II-430
And just above the 450W range, but unlikely to use any more power in most systems are these good ones:
Enermax Modu/Pro87+ 500W
Kingwin STR-500
pvdw - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - link
BTW, though I really enjoy most Anandtech articles, your PSU ones can't beat SilentPCReview. But then I can't see how you could do better without an anechoic chamberCheck out their list of recommended supplies:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_PSUs
A5 - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - link
The cheapest PSU on that list is well over $100, which is more than double the most expensive one in this article, which is about finding a good "cheap" PSU.I'm glad AT did this article as it should encourage a little more competition in the low-end space.
knutjb - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - link
In my experience I've had a couple low end PSUs do bad things to MBs even though they were modestly loaded. After using a number of different manufacturers all I buy are Seasonics. I get them when they are on sale.I have a 9 yr old 600 S-12? on its second system and the output measures the same as it did when new. Blow out the dust occasionally and it just works. Even in low end systems I don't trust inexpensive PSUs, their quality control is all but non-existent with wide variation in samples.
You get what you pay for and I don't like buying things twice.
pvdw - Thursday, July 5, 2012 - link
A quick search turns up this link:http://www.amazon.com/Seasonic-ATX12V-S12II-430-BR...
The Seasonic S12II 430 for $60 shipped. Or the 380W for $54 shipped.
clarkn0va - Friday, July 6, 2012 - link
Seasonic SS-350ETSupposedly not as quiet as their retail offerings, but always inexpensive. I would like to see how this one holds up against similar offerings.
Maybe AT needs a Bench section for PSUs?
Belard - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - link
I've bought some CX models for bottom end PCs for clients...But I picked up two 500w models, both were defective.
1) Defective power connector (at the motherboard)...
2) Flutter fan noises.
Returned them, bought Thermaltake TR2s.
piroroadkill - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - link
When the Corsairs first hit the scene, the HX series were all Seasonic.Corsair is a nice rebrander, but I go straight to Seasonic for my own system's PSU these days. I have a Seasonic X-660..
Arnulf - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - link
Great article !I wish you could round up even more models and/or present the results in a common bench-like database (you know, like the CPU comparison etc.) where different models coudl be added over time.
silverblue - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - link
Enermax NAXN ENP450AWT-B 450W - £60 at Scan:http://www.scan.co.uk/products/450w-enermax-naxn-8...
(Unfortunately, out of stock)
Rasurbo RAP350 350W - £44 inc. delivery on eBay:
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/280832584568?var=lv...
The 450W variant - £58 inc. delivery on eBay:
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/280758645995?var=lv...
Corsair CX430 V2 430W - from £35 inc. delivery:
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=Corsair...
You can find FSP Hexa, Aurum and Fortron PSUs quite easily; the Aurum 80 PLUS Gold 500W is £62 inc. delivery.