new bits

Post by **deject** » March 8th, 2008, 23:32

I need a new PSU as mine is stretched to the limit and probably going to die soon. I figured I'll get a new case at the same time.

Case: Cooler Master Centurion 534 $50
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6811119106

PSU: Mushkin 550250 580W $100
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6817812004

does anyone have an experience with mushkin PSUs or heard anything about them being good/bad? also I'm just wondering about alternatives about the case for the same price. I like how that one looks, and it seems to be sufficient for what I need. Also, I really want a toolless case with at least a place to mount an 80mm fan in front.

Post by **FatherJack** » March 9th, 2008, 0:06

Never heard of Mushkin. That fan on the side of the case looks like a pain in the arse as you can't open it fully without disconnecting it - if you plan your airflow carefully front-to-back I don't see any need for side (or top) fans unless loudness is an issue.

Post by **deject** » March 9th, 2008, 0:11

FatherJack wrote:Never heard of Mushkin. That fan on the side of the case looks like a pain in the arse as you can't open it fully without disconnecting it - if you plan your airflow carefully front-to-back I don't see any need for side (or top) fans unless loudness is an issue.

mushkin is mainly a RAM maker, just getting into the PSU business, kinda like Corsair and OCZ have done.

as for the side fan, that's not a problem as I almost never open up my case unless I'm doing shit to my hardware. my case right now actually has two side fans (which I had to replace because the old ones had seized up). As it stands, my plan is to have a fan in the front, side, and rear. I have the fans to do this just fine, so I'm not worried about the cooling.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » March 9th, 2008, 0:20

I'd probably lean away from a yet-to-be-proven PSU maker, as well known as mushkin are, they've not been in the PSU business for long so they're kinda an unknown.

Post by **deject** » March 9th, 2008, 0:25

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:I'd probably lean away from a yet-to-be-proven PSU maker, as well known as mushkin are, they've not been in the PSU business for long so they're kinda an unknown.

Generally I agree with you, but I'm looking for a modular PSU and This one is substantially cheaper than the other ones I've seen that aren't obvious shit companies that you've never heard of. I'm not that averse to taking a risk on it, unless there's some definite negatives. After all, my shitty PSU is a no name and it's worked until now, where I'm over stretching it a bit.

Post by **FatherJack** » March 9th, 2008, 0:43

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817194002 not enough?

buzzmong · Post by **buzzmong** » March 9th, 2008, 0:47

Or for 15 dorrah more (if you use the apparent rebate)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139001

Which won't be a gamble as they're very good psu's.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » March 9th, 2008, 2:19

I'd get either of the PSUs FJ/Buzz suggested.

Mainly because it's a known item, and there's no way in hell your machine is drawing much over 350w (hell, I suspect chicken's new build won't pull 500w)

Only review sites i trust for PSUs are [H] and Jonnyguru, all I can find on mushkin is This but I can't find the review itself, which is odd.

Post by **deject** » March 9th, 2008, 3:25

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:I'd get either of the PSUs FJ/Buzz suggested.

Mainly because it's a known item, and there's no way in hell your machine is drawing much over 350w (hell, I suspect chicken's new build won't pull 500w)

Only review sites i trust for PSUs are [H] and Jonnyguru, all I can find on mushkin is This but I can't find the review itself, which is odd.

Well all the wattage usage calculators I've checked say I need a minimum of 450W. I'm looking at no less than 550W because I don't want to be buying another one in a year or so when I upgrade again. The Corsair one is the current hotness, and it's a safe bet, but A) fuck rebates and B) it's only 520W. I'd probably pay the extra for the 620W Corsair if I was going to buy one of theirs. If the mushkin is OK and the specs are accurate, it's putting out 2 more amps per rail and it has another rail. I won't be buying this for a bit, so I have some time to think about it.

I found the review of the mushkin 550W here, but that one does not have active PFC whereas the 580W version I'm looking at does. It seems that the mushkin PSU's are OEM'd from Topower, who are at least known, and generally OK from what I've heard. Corsair's PSUs are made by Seasonic.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » March 9th, 2008, 3:38

deject wrote:It seems that the mushkin PSU's are OEM'd from Topower, who are at least known, and generally OK from what I've heard. Corsair's PSUs are made by Seasonic.

I think Topower manage ok, but not much more, I only know of one topower PSU personally that's let loose the purple smoke (that was prof's tagan) but general reports put them below good psus.

Having had poked more, i'd take a corsair. (over anything else) at that wattage.

Post by **FatherJack** » March 9th, 2008, 3:49

deject wrote:Well all the wattage usage calculators I've checked say I need a minimum of 450W.

How much do you really need though? The calculators I used massively overestimated reality.

I pulled around 225W last time I tested, since obviously I'm insane I did that by pulling the wires out the plug and putting a multimeter across it - there are safer ways of checking with plug-in devices designed for calculating electricity bills and the like. I used to grab 250W, but that included a CRT monitor.

Since then I have a lower power CPU, which decreases fan speed accordingly - will have to check again sometime, but it's certainly massively lower than my PSU's rated level - that was bought for reliability and stability first, future monster power needs second.

Reviews of quality swayed my decision more than wattage/price ratio.

Post by **deject** » March 9th, 2008, 3:55

Well, I was planning to get this one but it's sold out at the moment or this one. They're both a good bit cheaper, though the HIPER one seems like it's a bit iffy. The next bin up (750W) of the Xigmatek one is $15 cheaper than the 620W after a $25 rebate, so that might be an even better option.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » March 9th, 2008, 4:02

FatherJack wrote: How much do you really need though? The calculators I used massively overestimated reality.

is important.

Mostly I use this but I take it with a pinch of salt and round anything it tells me up, just to be safe, Though, I suspect it's the most accurate psu calculator about.

It tells me the gonk probably draws about 650w, but it's worth remembering the gonk has a few (8) HDDs in there.

On the other hand, newegg's PSU calculator told me my current PSU (1KW) isn't quite up to the job.

Post by **deject** » March 9th, 2008, 4:08

or maybe I should just forget about modular cables and save some cash...

Post by **FatherJack** » March 9th, 2008, 4:23

deject wrote:or maybe I should just forget about modular cables and save some cash...

Well, modular's nice - but all it really does is tidy up the internals and give you flexibility for future upgrades.

While a tidy case helps a lot with airflow and cooling, modular is an expensive luxury if the PSU is one-use-only. I bought mine with the expectation that it will be good for at least my next new build, if not many others in the future and of course they won't all require the same connectors.

Post by **deject** » March 9th, 2008, 4:24

Well, that wattage calculator says I need 318W, and 335W when I include overclocking. Still, I really want a PSU that will be able to last me a long time. I guess that 520W Corsair would be OK.

What about this Enermax?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817194003

It's also cheaper than the Corsair, same price as the mushkin after rebate.

Post by **FatherJack** » March 9th, 2008, 4:34

deject wrote:What about this Enermax?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817194003

Very nice. They cost about £70 here.

Post by **deject** » March 9th, 2008, 5:09

Hmmm, looks like ClubIT has both the Enermax and the case cheaper than newegg does.

http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cf ... o=A6277816
http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cf ... =CA1306832

so I'll probably order those.

thanks for the help you cunts

The Incredible... · Post by **The Incredible...** » March 9th, 2008, 11:13

deject wrote:
Generally I agree with you, but I'm looking for a modular PSU and This one is substantially cheaper than the other ones I've seen that aren't obvious shit companies that you've never heard of. I'm not that averse to taking a risk on it, unless there's some definite negatives. After all, my shitty PSU is a no name and it's worked until now, where I'm over stretching it a bit.

how often have you heard of cheaper being better quality? it just doesn't happen in my experience, you get what you pay for

The Incredible... · Post by **The Incredible...** » March 9th, 2008, 11:15

deject wrote:Well, that wattage calculator says I need 318W, and 335W when I include overclocking. Still, I really want a PSU that will be able to last me a long time. I guess that 520W Corsair would be OK.

What about this Enermax?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817194003

It's also cheaper than the Corsair, same price as the mushkin after rebate.

i have that enermax one and haven't had any problems with it. it can be a little fiddly getting the cables into the psu, but a bit of wiggling gets them in