1 Kilowatt PSUs

[Denholm]

Hello everyone,

With the ugly demise to PC Power & Cooling, I basically have no idea who makes decent Power Supplies these days. Here's my situation, I understand a Power Supply running about 65 Amps on the +12V rail will supply my current needs. However, there's a chance those needs will expand due to increasing system requirements.

I'm currently planning to build the following:
Computer Case: NZXT Tempest
Cost: $109.99

Power Supply: PC Power and Cooling S75CF Silencer 750W Quad Power Supply Ati Crossfire and 80+ Certified (Red)
Cost: $135.95

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-USB3P
Cost: $139.99

Memory: G.SKILL, 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800), F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ
Cost: $109.99

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale
Cost: $189.99

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black, 500GB 7,200RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0GB/s, WD5001AALS
Cost: $69.99

Video Card: RADEON HD 5870 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Eyefinity 6
Cost: $499.99


Yes, I know the E8500 is a strange choice for such a system and I'm also aware I did not pick a manufacturer for my video card. However, right now I'm still hanging loose about both of those options and will make a decision about them later. Right now my concern is with the power-supply. There's a chance I'll need to expand this system to include two HD 5870's. The power requirement to run one is already fairly high; much more so running two at the same time. So I want decent overhead to ensure everything gets adequate power. That's why I'm planning on dumping my PC Power & Cooling PSU choice (which is available at Amazon) for something a bit more powerful.

Currently I've been eying this power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341028

I really dislike it being modular, seems I'll have to compromise. What do you guys suggest?

[Spikes]

What is your budget? I'd personally suggest getting the EP45-UD3P mobo if you're going LGA775.

[Denholm]

Currently not in stock. However, the one I chose seems to have a few advantages. For instance, USB 3.0 support and DDR3 being its memory standard.

[Spikes]

Currently not in stock. However, the one I chose seems to have a few advantages. For instance, USB 3.0 support and DDR3 being its memory standard.

Oops

Forgot you were looking at DDR3. Well you should be good with a 750watt PSU I think. Also the case is the Tempest EVO right? Not the Tempest?

[Denholm]

Yes, the case is a tempest EVO.

[Dragon]

Not to put a bad spin on the OCZ power supplies, but on my last build it went poof upon hitting the switch.  Threw sparks and let the smoke out, scared the bejesus out of me.  Gave new meaning to "let's fire this thing up".  Replacement showed up 2 days later and works great.


For close to the same price range, I'd look into the I series processors instead of the 8500.


my .02




Skuzzy has mentioned Seasonic.  Might want to look in that direction as an option.

[Denholm]

Seasonic doesn't make 1KW PSUs. I figured I had an iffy choice, just not much available in the 1KW range.

[Skuzzy]

OCZ power supplies are made by the same Chinese company that also makes the supplies for Corsair, Thermaltake, Antec, and a plethora of others.  Sometimes the only difference is the color of paint on the power supply cover.

Enermax and Seasonic make their own supplies.  Seasonic makes supplies for a bunch of OEM's and other power supply resellers.  PC Power & Cooling used to make their own supplies, but OCZ shut that down.

The problem with extremely high output power supplies is getting one that outputs really clean power.  The higher the output the larger the components to generate and regulate that output which gets tight fitting it in the PC-ATX power supply case.

[Dragon]

Oops

Forgot you were looking at DDR3. Well you should be good with a 750watt PSU I think.

Or, to be on the safe side, go 850. 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151067

[Denholm]

OCZ power supplies are made by the same Chinese company that also makes the supplies for Corsair, Thermaltake, Antec, and a plethora of others.  Sometimes the only difference is the color of paint on the power supply cover.

Enermax and Seasonic make their own supplies.  Seasonic makes supplies for a bunch of OEM's and other power supply resellers.  PC Power & Cooling used to make their own supplies, but OCZ shut that down.

The problem with extremely high output power supplies is getting one that outputs really clean power.  The higher the output the larger the components to generate and regulate that output which gets tight fitting it in the PC-ATX power supply case.

Yeah, I figured that was the case, yet couldn't confirm it. I suppose I'll look for the highest-output Seasonic PSU.

EDIT: How does one get information on the amperage output of Seasonic PSUs? To be more precise, this Seasonic PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151083

EDIT 2: Never mind, found it on the SeaSonic website. 70A on the +12V rails (combined).

[BaldEagl]

I don't know what a RADEON HD 5870's power consumption is but I had 2x 8800 GTS 512's in my machine along with 4xHD's, 2xOD's, 1xFD, 4xRAM, sound card, etc. all powered by my PCP&C 750W silencer without a hicup.

[Spikes]

I don't know what a RADEON HD 5870's power consumption is but I had 2x 8800 GTS 512's in my machine along with 4xHD's, 2xOD's, 1xFD, 4xRAM, sound card, etc. all powered by my PCP&C 750W silencer without a hicup.

The newer cards are less power and less heat. I run two 5770s, quad core, two hdds, a few LEDs on an OCZ 600W, no problems.

[Getback]

I wish I had purchased a couple more of PC power & Cooling Power Supplies.

[cattb]

kinda curious is why go with a lg775 when theres no upgrade path. The newer Intel sockets should have a upgrade path for the future

[Denholm]

This system is for testing purposes.