350-450W Roundup: 11 Cheap PSUs
by Martin Kaffei on July 3, 2012 1:30 PM ESTFSP OEM 400W APN and GHN -1
FSP doesn't sell these OEM versions directly in the market. Instead, they find their way through various distributors and e-tailers to end-users. They come without any packaging because the companies want to keep this extra strictly to their retail version of the product. Therefore customers get a 2-year warranty. With 120W the 3.3V and 5V rails are rated somewhat lower than we're used to, but there's nothing to worry about since modern systems don't place a huge load on these rails anymore. The GHN model has no rating on 12V, the other one delivers 336W. FSP provides a low number of connectors for both products, but they are always able to customize the configuration e.g. by adding a 4+4-pin CPU connector for an OEM/ODM customer.
This Yate-Loon fan with the model number D12SH-12 and 120mm diameter uses sleeve bearings and seven fan blades. The maximum speed is 2200rpm at +12V. The subjective loudness of the fan (and the electronics of course) will be investigated on the following page.
| Cables and Connectors APN | ||
|
Connector type (length) |
Main | 1x 24-pin (50cm) fixed |
| ATX12V/EPS12V | 1x 4-pin (50cm) fixed | |
| PCIe | 1x 6-pin (40cm) fixed | |
| Peripheral | 3x SATA (ca. 40, 60, 80cm) fixed | |
| 2x HDD, 1x FDD (ca. 40, 60, 80cm) fixed | ||
| Cables and Connectors GHN | ||
|
Connector type (length) |
Main | 1x 24-pin (45cm) fixed |
| ATX12V/EPS12V | 1x 4-pin (50cm) fixed | |
| PCIe | 1x 6-pin (50cm) fixed | |
| Peripheral |
2x SATA, HDD (ca. 30, 45, 60cm) fixed 1x SATA, HDD, FDD (ca. 50, 65, 80cm) fixed |
|
| 2x HDD, 1x FDD (ca. 50, 65, 80, 95cm) fixed | ||
FSP400-60GHN(85)
FSP400-60APN (230V version)
The internal layout consists of three large heatsinks. Both main caps are made by CapXon and rated at 420V. It's also easy to spot the secondary capacitors and their respective manufacturers. FSP uses different suppliers for these PSUs, a few from Teapo and some from CapXon, both of which we have seen many times lately. Since the basic designs are several years old now, we didn't expect to find anything extraordinary within the design. However, both PSUs are still sold today and you can expect good quality from PSUs that use it.
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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.