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New high end Power Supplies for HTPC.

post #1 of 17
5/15/11 at 9:10am
Thread Starter 
I'm building a high end HTPC and wanted to best power supply I could afford (no need to chime in about how overpowered it is, I was looking for 700W-800W for my own reasons) for a Z68 (ASRock Z68 Extreme4 should arrive Monday) system (first Intel build because I want to install Snow Leopard also). I have read that the new Enermax Modu 87+ is probably the best power supply and quietest available (wondering also why Rene hasn't included them in his guide, price?). I saw that the 700W and 800W are both available at newegg for the same price after rebate at $140 so I got the 800W at what I believe is a great price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817194076
I noticed that on Enermax that they've got new versions coming out (ErP Lot 6 with < 1W standby), http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=e...&lv1=25&no=119
but I didn't want to pass up on the rebate so got the current model.


Other Power Supplies I noticed that may interest some here:
Kingwin 550W 80 PLUS Platinum (fan turns OFF if doesn't reach power limit) so completely silent under that level! I'm thinking this might turn into the preferred HTPC power supply if you can afford $150.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817121080

Here's a 80 PLUS Gold power supply by Thortech (haven't heard of them) but has an interesting display and more importantly you can control the fan speed which is rather unique.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817144007
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post #2 of 17
5/15/11 at 10:33am
BTW did you notice Hybrid CFX works a broader range of discrete graphics cards + onboard video?
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post #3 of 17
5/15/11 at 11:11am
Probably the best power supply person in the world although not all the reviews are done by him anymore but people that worked with him.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php...Story&reid=179

"When all is taken into account, this is a very good but not great power supply."


Thortech

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php...tory6&reid=205

Highly recommended

I dont see a way to sort them by the highest ratings.
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post #4 of 17
5/15/11 at 11:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx View Post

BTW did you notice Hybrid CFX works a broader range of discrete graphics cards + onboard video?

Haven't paid much attention to CrossFire-X since I got one system working with it. I recall a year ago looking into it but didn't get much of a response so I'm flattered you remembered. What's the new broader range? Link?

Funny enough, I just noticed today a message to me from January about my Hybrid CrossFireX thread that I just responded to.
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post #5 of 17
5/15/11 at 11:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ogormask View Post

Probably the best power supply person in the world although not all the reviews are done by him anymore but people that worked with him.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php...Story&reid=179

"When all is taken into account, this is a very good but not great power supply."


Thortech

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php...tory6&reid=205


Highly recommended

I dont see a way to sort them by the highest ratings.

I recall quite a few reviews last year stating the Modu 87+ was one of the best power supplies available, I think Anandtech and Silent PC review (SPCR) were two of them with glowing reviews.

Odd, his negatives on this 700W Power Supply were the gold fan, blue heatsinks (are you kidding? Do you notice the color of the fan inside the case, can you even see the blue heatsinks inside the power supply, especially in the case?) and price, but with the MIR it's dropped to $140 and the 800W is the same price now, I don't think these are viable complaints.
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post #6 of 17
5/15/11 at 1:07pm
I think he was implying that for the money there are better power supplies including that thortech one. I thought it was weird he put down them so much for the looks especially since you dont see them but I guess when you review a lot of power supplies you gotta separate them somehow. But I do think they are the best in the biz for power supplies and would go with them over some other sites reviewers.
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post #7 of 17
5/15/11 at 1:45pm
Thread Starter 
Some Modu 87+ reviews:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/...upply_review/9

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/p...w_psu_review/6

http://www.kitguru.net/components/po...0w-psu-review/

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Enermax_Modu87_500W

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2920/15

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/artic...y-Review/900/9
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post #8 of 17
5/15/11 at 1:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ogormask View Post

But I do think they are the best in the biz for power supplies and would go with them over some other sites reviewers.

I agree 100%. Imo this is THE site for psu reviews.

At the TS you got a couple high end cards in sli? Or a beast single card.
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post #9 of 17
5/15/11 at 3:36pm
whiteboy do you know if there is any way to sort the reviews so you can see which is rated best? Maybe they purposely dont do that since it might anger some manufacturers especially since they give them free stuff to test afaik.
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post #10 of 17
5/15/11 at 4:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ogormask View Post

whiteboy do you know if there is any way to sort the reviews so you can see which is rated best? Maybe they purposely dont do that since it might anger some manufacturers especially since they give them free stuff to test afaik.

Sorry I don't. I know the site layout is not the greatest. But the reviews are well respected.
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post #11 of 17
5/15/11 at 5:23pm
While not among the newest, the SilverStone ST75F-P is another power supply to consider. I used one in a prior build, and will use one with the SilverStone PP05 short cable set in my new Z68 build. It is small and the fan runs quiet. If it is any indication of quality, this model is known to consistently handle power loads much higher than it is rated for.
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post #12 of 17
5/16/11 at 5:56am
When you're in the 700-800W category you're looking a gaming system power supplies. For it to be an HTPC power supply low power consumption and reliability are the main factors.
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post #13 of 17
5/16/11 at 6:09am
Has anyone used one of FSP Group's new "Aurum" line of PSUs? They look like they might be pretty good, and the Aurum Gold 400 is the lowest power 80Plus Gold PSU I've found and claims 90+% efficiency. It's also fairly compact so it should fit well in an HTPC case. I was considering using one for my i3 build in a Silverstone GD04 case.

I just wish they made a 300w version.
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post #14 of 17
5/16/11 at 6:36am
Efficiency is not everything. For example, noise and ripple:

Seasonic S12II Bronze

FSP Aurum

Well, Seasonic is exceptionally good, as usual.
LL
LL
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post #15 of 17
5/16/11 at 7:55am
What real-world effect does that have in an HTPC? And how signficant is the difference in noise between those two PSUs in relation to the other sources of electronic noise in the device, from fans etc?
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post #16 of 17
5/16/11 at 9:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx View Post

Well, Seasonic is exceptionally good, as usual.

Agreed. My Seasonic X400 fanless is not put out the most HP but the built, silent and less ripple it is definitely in its class.
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post #17 of 17
5/17/11 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 
Here's a very positive review of the Kingwin 550W power supply:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/...upply_review/1

They compare it to the Seasonic X-560 in the review.
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