Seasonic S12 430 or Energy+ 550

TazmanianD · Post by **TazmanianD** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:37 pm

I have been reading the posts around here and there seems to be a strong consensus that 550W is way more PSU than most of us need and that the 430W PSUs are just fine.

I plan on building a box with a Core 2 E6700 and probably an 8800 Nvidia card. A couple of SATA drives and some other minor devices. Probably no overclocking.

It sounds like 430 is just fine for me, but the 550 has a slightly better SPCR rating (namely "8+" vs. an "8") for noise. Money is not a concern for me, so it there any good reason to *not* get the 550 if it would indeed be even slightly quieter?

GamingGod · Post by **GamingGod** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:59 pm

If money is no object I would get the 550

klankymen · Post by **klankymen** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:34 pm

hmm I've heard that the energy plus exhibits coil whine, or at least more often than the normal s12. If you're using the GTS, you'd probably better stick with the 430, but for the GTX... hmmm

nici · Post by **nici** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:40 pm

The EP versin sohould remins quiet fon higher loads.. My guess is s that the enerhgy plus modle will result in a more quiet setup with a hihg power machine.

echn111 · Post by **echn111** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:54 am

I just installed the Seasonic 550 Energy+ and am reaonably happy with the noise. This is subjective, but I don't hear much of a coil whine if any.

As for 430 verses 550 watts, please keep in mind that many of the comments over the past year are not from people who had or were planning on using high powered gaming cards like the 8800.

Personally, I feel that a 550 watt PSU gives you more options to play around with in the future - if you want.