350-450W Roundup: 11 Cheap PSUs
by Martin Kaffei on July 3, 2012 1:30 PM ESTSinan Power VP-430 430W Measurements
Voltage Regulation
| +3.3V Regulation/Ripple and Noise | |
| Load | Voltage |
| 5% | 3.37V (8mV) |
| 10% | 3.37V (14mV) |
| 20% | 3.36V (24mV) |
| 50% | 3.35V (45mV) |
| 80% | FAIL |
| 100% | FAIL |
| 110% | FAIL |
| Crossload +12V max. | FAIL |
| Crossload +3.3V/+5V max. | FAIL |
| +5V Regulation/Ripple and Noise | |
| Load | Voltage |
| 5% | 5.11V (2mV) |
| 10% | 5.09V (15mV) |
| 20% | 5.08V (18mV) |
| 50% | 5.04V (29mV) |
| 80% | FAIL |
| 100% | FAIL |
| 110% | FAIL |
| Crossload +12V max. | FAIL |
| Crossload +3.3V/+5V max. | FAIL |
| +12V Regulation (Worst Ouput)/Ripple and Noise (Worst Output) | |
| Load | Voltage |
| 5% | 11.97V (6mV) |
| 10% | 11.95V (20mV) |
| 20% | 11.93V (38mV) |
| 50% | 11.87V (56mV) |
| 80% | FAIL |
| 100% | FAIL |
| 110% | FAIL |
| Crossload +12V max. | FAIL |
| Crossload +3.3V/+5V max. | FAIL |
Noise Levels
| Sound Pressure Level (Ambient: 16dBA, 1m distance) and Temperatures (Δϑ to 24.9 °C ambient temperature) | |
| Load | Opinion |
| 5% | 19 dBA (1.4°C) |
| 10% | 19 dBA (3.4 °C) |
| 20% | 24 dBA (8.5 °C) |
| 50% | 28 dBA (11.3 °C) |
| 80% | FAIL |
| 100% | FAIL |
| 110% | FAIL |
Efficiency and PFC
| Efficiency and Power Factor 115 VAC | ||
| Load | Efficiency | PFC |
| 5% | - | - |
| 10% | - | - |
| 20% | - | - |
| 50% | - | - |
| 80% | - | - |
| 100% | - | - |
| 110% | - | - |
| Efficiency and Power Factor 230 VAC | ||
| Load | Efficiency | PFC |
| 5% | 56.00% | 0.655 |
| 10% | 66.98% | 0.712 |
| 20% | 73.40% | 0.730 |
| 50% | 74.13% | 0.725 |
| 80% | FAIL | FAIL |
| 100% | FAIL | FAIL |
| 110% | FAIL | FAIL |
As you can see, the PSU turned off after 50% load. All the rails are still within specification at 50%, but efficiency is low staying below 75% all the time. +12V stays stable with more than 11.87V at all tested loads, but naturally the failure at 80% load is a major black mark. PFC is as low as expected and still acceptable for a passive-PFC unit. We've seen such results quite often.
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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.