350-450W Roundup: 11 Cheap PSUs
by Martin Kaffei on July 3, 2012 1:30 PM ESTFSP Raider 450W 80Plus Bronze
FSP sent a pre-production sample with the name "Raider", a new series for retail market. There's no package or delivery contents so we focus on the internal design and fan. All we know is that this PSU has 80Plus Bronze, a "SATA Array Cable Design" and a standard case with those unattractive ventilation holes at top. In addition FSP offers a 5 year warranty.
FSP uses a 120mm fan from Yate Loon with a sleeve bearing. The product number is D14SM-12 and it takes 0.30A. A FDB fan would be better but the price could be a problem and Protechnic is still a reason to buy the more expensive Aurum series. FSP differentiates between the two lines by modifications such as this, which helps them reach lower cost markets.
| Cables and Connectors | ||
|
Connector type (length) |
Main | 1x 24-pin (50cm) fixed |
| ATX12V/EPS12V | 1x 4+4-pin (60cm) fixed | |
| PCIe |
1x 6/8-pin (50cm) fixed 1x 6/8-pin (50cm) fixed |
|
| Peripheral | 4x SATA (ca. 55, 60, 65, 70cm) fixed | |
| 1x SATA, 3x HDD, 1x FDD (ca. 55, 70, 85, 100, 115cm) fixed | ||
The internal design looks like a cheaper version of the Aurum series. This time FSP used a Taiwanese manufacturer for all those caps inside. In addition the PCB material is different. However, this is still the active-clamp forward converter we already know, with all advantages and disadvantages given by the design. EMI filtering consists of three chokes, two X-caps and four Y-caps. Both heatsinks are very thin as the components won't heat up too much.
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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.