Power Supply Units

ThunderPants73 · 23-01-2011, 14:31

Hi guys,

The power supply unit in my 4 year old PC has burnt out, it would cost me 78 quid to exactly replace the unit but I really don't have the cash for that. I've seen cheap units on the likes of Amazon which are selling for around 15 quid, seeing as I don't really use my pc for anything strenuous, would one of these cheaper units be okay?

23-01-2011, 14:36

well ive seen cheap power supplies go pop quick and ive seen em last years same can be said for higher priced branded ones. I would not normally recommend one of that price but you may well be fine with it

jrhnewark · 23-01-2011, 14:38

What's the current power output on your PSU - and what's the power output on the cheaper ones you've seen on Amazon?

ThunderPants73 · 23-01-2011, 14:42

The power output on the dead thing was 250, the ones I was looking at were around 400

23-01-2011, 14:44

I would risk it myself. Ive used cases in budget builds thats had a case and psu for 20 so you know you aint getting much and its lasted years. Give it a punt

ThunderPants73 · 23-01-2011, 14:47

Thanks sweetie, I will, but if it were to fail, would it go like my old one? ie crackling and stinking or just cut out 'cos I often leave my pc on for days and I don't want it to burn my house down.....

23-01-2011, 14:53

cracking and smelling most likely is the capacitors bulging and eventually blowing which is the pop some go with a proper bang. More expensive ones could suffer exactly the same

Ive looked on amazon and they don't do any of the low end better branded ones. Antec do a basic but with delivery from elsewhere your looking at 30 quid

---------- Post added at 13:53 ---------- Previous post was at 13:51 ----------

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114928

ThunderPants73 · 23-01-2011, 15:04

I like the look of the one on your ebuyer link, and 24 pin too. Thanks a lot. x

Lister of Smeg · 23-01-2011, 22:02

I'd always get a decent brand PSU, it is the heart of your system. Going cheap on this part will most definitely cause you heartache in the future... I recommend any from Tagan, Corsair, OCZ, Akasa, Antec (although they're fans are noisy)

23-01-2011, 22:03

it wont definately at all

Kymmy · 23-01-2011, 22:04

A cheap 600w PSU for less than Â£20 can be just as good as an expensive 400W psu for Â£50

Unless you need dual/triple 12v rails then I honestly would stick with one of the cheaper versions

Stuart · 23-01-2011, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lister of Smeg

I'd always get a decent brand PSU, it is the heart of your system. Going cheap on this part will most definitely cause you heartache in the future... I recommend any from Tagan, Corsair, OCZ, Akasa, Antec (although they're fans are noisy)

You may or may not be right. You would be right if the OP did things that really strained the PSU (running games on an SLI rig for example), but if he is just going to be browsing the web, doing emails etc, he is unlikely to put enough strain on the PSU to really test it.

Lister of Smeg · 23-01-2011, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by ooogemaflop

it wont definately at all

So you're saying if he has an sli setup quad core 4+ GB of RAM and is using a cheap & nasty 500W winpower, he is not likely to fry his machine!

---------- Post added at 22:03 ---------- Previous post was at 21:59 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

You may or may not be right. You would be right if the OP did things that really strained the PSU (running games on an SLI rig for example), but if he is just going to be browsing the web, doing emails etc, he is unlikely to put enough strain on the PSU to really test it.

I would only ever recommend a value PSU for just that basic use i.e. for a office machine or just browsing the web.

A Cheap PSU...

Is very unlikely to supply the stated wattage - none of the cheaper ones do
Is very likely to be noisy, either immediately or after using it for a short while
It might not have enough connectors or the right sort
It's very unlikely to be '80 plus' certified http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_PLUS

It's a false economy basically, but if you must use a cheap PSU get one at least 100W higher

23-01-2011, 23:04

what I will say is she hasnt because I have partook of the whole thread and know she does not need a high end psu

---------- Post added at 22:04 ---------- Previous post was at 22:03 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lister of Smeg

So you're saying if he has an sli setup quad core 4+ GB of RAM and is using a cheap & nasty 500W winpower, he is not likely to fry his machine!

---------- Post added at 22:03 ---------- Previous post was at 21:59 ----------

I would only ever recommend a value PSU for just that basic use i.e. for a office machine or just browsing the web.

A Cheap PSU...

Is very unlikely to supply the stated wattage - none of the cheaper ones do
Is very likely to be noisy, either immediately or after using it for a short while
It might not have enough connectors or the right sort
It's very unlikely to be '80 plus' certified http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_PLUS

It's a false economy basically, but if you must use a cheap PSU get one at least 100W higher

did you not bother to read the thread? did you not see this

Quote:

The power output on the dead thing was 250

get it right before you criticize

Lister of Smeg · 23-01-2011, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by ooogemaflop

what I will say is she hasnt because I have partook of the whole thread and know she does not need a high end psu

---------- Post added at 22:04 ---------- Previous post was at 22:03 ----------

did you not bother to read the thread? did you not see this get it right before you criticize

Touched a nerve