need help deciding (PSU)

TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
edited October 2003 in Hardware
I'm looking at 2 different PSU's
power +3.3 +5 +12 -5 -12 -5VSb
Enermax----460w 35A 35A 33A 1A 1A 2.2A
AntecTRUE--430w 28A 36A 20A .5A 1A 2A

all in all i think the enermax looks like a stronger power supply, i especially like the #'s on the 12v rail. but a lot of people around here are known to swear by antec... so what do you guys think?

i tried really hard to make those line up ... :shakehead

Comments

  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2003
    The Antec has a major advantage though- it's rails are all separate. The Enermax has a combined wattage limit on the 3.3 & 5v rails. Antec TruePowers do not. What this means is that the antec can deliver 28a @ 3.3v, AND 36a @ 5v, AND 20a @ 12v, all at the same time. And, I believe it's more tightly regulated than the Enermax is.

    Also see this:
    http://www.pcpowercooling.com/pdf/Turbo-Cool_510_vs.pdf

    Normally, I'd say that it's just marketing BS, but it's not. When I was looking at a PS for my dual AMD system, I did some very careful reading on Enermax's, PC Power and Cooling's, and Antec's sites. And you know what? All of the stuff they say on there is true, and all of it can be found on Enermax's website.

    It's all right here in this quote from that ad:
    Turbo-Cool 510 derating spec: full load @ 40*C, decrease to 90% load @ 50*C.
    So-Called 550 manufacturer's spec: full load @ 25*C, decrease to no load @ 70*C.

    And, the 550w PS they use is an Enermax.

    That help your decision at all?
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited October 2003
    yes indeed... im gonna go find some prices on those psu's

    hm... looks like i'll be going with the antec then :thumbsup:
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited October 2003
    The Antec is a good PS. The only thing better is PC Power
    & cooling, and judging by your post, I'd say you've seen their drawback... they're EXPENSIVE AS HELL. They're the best you can get, but they're too expensive IMO, even for me... I generally go for the best stuff around, and I had to "settle" for a 550w Antec True Control for my dual cpu system because the PC Power & Cooling was just too expensive.
  • ClutchClutch North Carolina New
    edited October 2003
    You cannot go wrong with the Antec TruePower series, I am running one in my main system right now, very good psu besides a pc power & cooling, but Im sure you don't want to spend too much on it.

    Geeky has pretty muched summed it all up in the above posts, go with the Antec and godspeed my son, hehe
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited October 2003
    yeah i think the $30 450w allied just isn't cutting it... it undervolts the 12v rail as well as my vcore, and overvolts my vdimm by .1v . plus, i think it may be the source of the wierd noise that i cant hear (some wierd high pitched whine, im thinking its either the psu or my aluminum case is resonating)
  • JimboraeJimborae Newbury, Berks, UK New
    edited October 2003
    I've had 2 enermax 350 psu's, one the voltages are fine, the other undervolted quite alot on 5v & 12v rail. I won't be buying enermax again.

    Mikim has lent me an Antec true prower 480w psu to go in my watercooled rig, once its built, so hopefully that will be a good'un and I'm told that you can adjust the pots in it too.
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited October 2003
    Baron,

    If you are running an NF2 system the 12v line will be more important than it has been in the past. I am in the middle of doing a report comparing PSU's, chipsets and the readings "we see" on the 5v and 12v lines in particular. The NF2 boards are 12v power hungry. So get something with a strong 12v line also, especially if you have one of the power-hog vid cards. When I finish this report I will be submitting it to S-M. However to do a thorough job and be accurate is taking a very long time.
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited October 2003
    well i'm running an 865 system that i'd like to oc ... my current PSU way undervolts the 12v line, but its a cheapo, which is why i was liking the #'s i saw on the enermax. i may go for a higher wattage truepower, as they have a stronger 12v line... but i still dont like how the 430w truepower only has a 20a 12v line, even IF it can still say that its 3.3v and 5v lines are seperate
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited October 2003
    For Intel Enermax has always been the preferance while Antec was generally more AMD friendly. We will see a new trend here with the AMD NF2 systems when I am done!
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