What PSU to get? Still S12E+ 650W / HX620W?

krille · Post by **krille** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:08 am

I'm looking for a ~600W range for a build, including:
* OC'd Intel Quad-Core
* 4GB DDR
* Up to eight HDDs (not for 24/7 but still)
* 8800 GTX OC'd (with possibility of SLI)
* Pump (don't have WC atm, but I need the possibility)
* Abit IP35 Pro P35 Motherboard
* Etc (fans, OD's, sound card...)
~600W should be enough, no?

Anyway, are Seasonic S12Energy+ PSU 650W / Corsair HX620W still the ones to get (for as quiet as possible)? If so, which one is better (quieter, less issues etc, ignore price differences)? If not, which one should I get instead?

Thanks a lot!

Btw, there will be no compatibility issues with the IP35 Pro I hope? I used to have a Seasonic S12 600W and a DFI nF4 LP SLI-DR and they had HUGE INCOMPATIBILITY ISSUES. Don't want that again!

~ Kris

krille · Post by **krille** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:27 am

What about the Seasonic M12 700W - is it as efficient and more importantly quiet as the S12E+ 650W (at the same load)? It's more expensive, but being modular it's well worth its price IF it is as quiet and almost as efficient (with the difference being negligible).

burebista · Post by **burebista** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:50 am

Sorry, but with an OC'ed Quad (?), 2x 8800GTX OC'ed (?), eight HDD's, water pump, your primary concern is how quiet is your PSU?

krille · Post by **krille** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:09 am

burebista wrote:Sorry, but with an OC'ed Quad (?), 2x 8800GTX OC'ed (?), eight HDD's, water pump, your primary concern is how quiet is your PSU?

Well, right now I'm stuck with an 8800GTX (I regret buying it, because of the noise). And I'm too lazy to look into selling it.

I'm actually about to buy a Dual-Core, not considering Quad-Core till Yorkfield / Phenom. Just want to future-proof. The same goes for the 88GTX SLI (I only have one atm). As for the HDDs, I have lots of them lying around and I need to be able to access them all at the same time sometimes. For 24/7 I "only" use 4 HDD:s atm.

Now in the future there are two routes:

Water cooling: Then SLI will be no problem noise-wise (it's still a lot of money though, but since I've had SLI in the past I want to be able to, it's about future-proofing the PSU). If it's water cooled, then I'll make sure the WC system can handle anything I throw at it. (Custom-made of course.)

"Downgrading": I don't go WC. Instead I will have to replace my 88GTX with something much quieter (midrange power-wise)

Anyway, atm I just want a good solid QUIET PSU that can still potentially serve ~600W. See?

If I wanted noise, I'd just hook my PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 850 SSI back in and experience the pleasures of an 80mm tri-bladed delta fan spinning at its loudest. That's what got me into silent computing in the first place. But you are right, currently my PSU (S12 600W) is very much not the main source of noise. However, as my dad's taking over my old rig I might as well get something even better for my new build.

burebista · Post by **burebista** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:38 am

krille wrote:If I wanted noise, I'd just hook my PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 850 SSI back in and experience the pleasures of an 80mm tri-bladed delta fan spinning at its loudest.

OK, I got it.

I have a M-12 500 for about one year. That thing doesn't spin faster or slower regardless of load or room temperature.
But it's a light load (X2 3800+ with BFG 7900GS OC) so I can't speak about @ quad with 8800GTX.
I don't know if I help you but I'm very pleased with my M-12 500.

ryboto · Post by **ryboto** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:54 am

I'd say get the Corsair HX520. Even if you do go SLI, you'll still have nearly ~100W of headroom at full system load.

krille · Post by **krille** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:31 pm

ryboto wrote:I'd say get the Corsair HX520. Even if you do go SLI, you'll still have nearly ~100W of headroom at full system load.

Is it quieter than HX620 and S12E+ 650? If not, then why are you recommending it? If the answer is price, I'd gladly pay extra for that 100W extra, if only to feel more secure.

But, between HX620 and S12E+ 650 you're recommending the HX620, not because of price but because of noise, HX620 is quieter than S12E+ 650?

SnooP · Post by **SnooP** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:06 pm

hx620 is modular, the s12+ isn't, you should be able to chase up extra pcie cables off corsair for it to, so you don't need use molex-pcie adapters to run SLI 8800gtx (which needs 4 pcie connectors, s12+ has 2). Otherwise mentioned m12 700w has 4 pcie connectors.

dhanson865 · Post by **dhanson865** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:54 pm

Code: Select all

Model       Output (W)  150     200     250     300     400     500
        Efficiency
Corsair HX520W          81.0%   84.5%   85.2%   85.1%   83.7%   81.3%
     S12-550E+          81.9%   84.8%   84.3%   84.1%   82.9%   81.2%
Corsair HX620W          79.9%   83.6%   84.5%   84.7%   83.9%   81.9%
     S12-650E+          81.9%   84.8%   84.3%   84.1%   82.9%   81.2%

         Noise (dBA@1m)
HX520W                  22      22      22      22      29      43
S12-550E+               20      20      21      25      38      40
HX620W                  22      22      22      22      29      43
S12-650E+               20      20      21      25      36      43

Energy+ is quieter at low loads, HX series is quieter at high loads. Pick your poison...