Cheap Power Supply Benchmark: 55 Budget Gaming PC PSU
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Date: 2021-10-19
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Comments and reviews: 10
Chuu
We found that [the fan] was sealed by molded plastic. -- That's probably the strongest point against this PSU. In my experience, failed fan lubrication is by far the most common failure mode for PSUs, and I've already repaired several by just relubing the fan. One of them had this kind of sealed fan, and it was a complete PITA to drill and gouge it open and questionable to reseal it with adhesive tape. Also PSU fans seems to be of custom models and not easily replaceable with standard fans, so not having serviceable fan would be a very strong argument for me to choose a different PSU, as there are probably similarly priced ones that are serviceable.
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We found that [the fan] was sealed by molded plastic. -- That's probably the strongest point against this PSU. In my experience, failed fan lubrication is by far the most common failure mode for PSUs, and I've already repaired several by just relubing the fan. One of them had this kind of sealed fan, and it was a complete PITA to drill and gouge it open and questionable to reseal it with adhesive tape. Also PSU fans seems to be of custom models and not easily replaceable with standard fans, so not having serviceable fan would be a very strong argument for me to choose a different PSU, as there are probably similarly priced ones that are serviceable.
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shane
G'day Snowflake, Steve, Patrick & Andrew,
PSU testing is a welcome addition to GN's Quality Product Reviews, I can't wait for Fans too,
While I don't really Understand the Actual Parts & their Job in a PSU, Patrick pointing out where the Good/OK/Bad parts are does help Understanding if Quality was Compromised to keep the price low & will be more evident as to how they affect performance & product life when there are more PSUs on the Comparison list.
PS. I DON T envy Andrew's job trying to Zoom in on those Tiny PSU components when Patrick was pointing to them, You do an Awesome Job Andrew
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G'day Snowflake, Steve, Patrick & Andrew,
PSU testing is a welcome addition to GN's Quality Product Reviews, I can't wait for Fans too,
While I don't really Understand the Actual Parts & their Job in a PSU, Patrick pointing out where the Good/OK/Bad parts are does help Understanding if Quality was Compromised to keep the price low & will be more evident as to how they affect performance & product life when there are more PSUs on the Comparison list.
PS. I DON T envy Andrew's job trying to Zoom in on those Tiny PSU components when Patrick was pointing to them, You do an Awesome Job Andrew
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Tam s
What is the point of checking the deviation of rails in % when electircal components have a tolerance of 0.3-0.6Volts on 3.3V and 5V designs?
What is the point of showing 12V rail deviation when that never directly ends up in any component directly but it will be transformed to 1.2V 1.8V 3.3V anyway?
You cant not know what are the input requirements/specifications of the components because manufacturers won't release it thus even absolute deviation is kind of meaningless thus % is even more uninformative other than just a comparision base?
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What is the point of checking the deviation of rails in % when electircal components have a tolerance of 0.3-0.6Volts on 3.3V and 5V designs?
What is the point of showing 12V rail deviation when that never directly ends up in any component directly but it will be transformed to 1.2V 1.8V 3.3V anyway?
You cant not know what are the input requirements/specifications of the components because manufacturers won't release it thus even absolute deviation is kind of meaningless thus % is even more uninformative other than just a comparision base?
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MassNoobness
One quip I would personally like added, especially in this price tier is that fan noise during specific loads IMO should be considered part of the value. in certain scenarios, a PSU fan can end up being the loudest component in a csae, and isn't well documented publicly on whether a said PSU had a loud fan.
Take for example earlier models of the Corsair SFX gold psus vs Corsair SFX Platinum. Early models of the gold had an aggressive fan curve which made the annoyingly loud, which IMO plays a huge role in value.
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One quip I would personally like added, especially in this price tier is that fan noise during specific loads IMO should be considered part of the value. in certain scenarios, a PSU fan can end up being the loudest component in a csae, and isn't well documented publicly on whether a said PSU had a loud fan.
Take for example earlier models of the Corsair SFX gold psus vs Corsair SFX Platinum. Early models of the gold had an aggressive fan curve which made the annoyingly loud, which IMO plays a huge role in value.
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Vitor
Its possible to design a tool to open sealed Fan with minimal chance of breaking it.
I already opened old sealed fans by stacking paper/plastic around the sides of the fan until it pops out of the bearing. After cleaning and adding the grease all you have to do and press fit it back.
I also usually heat a needle and make a very small hole true the bottom of the bearing housing so I can easily grease it again in the future with a syringe. Remember to put a tape/sticker on the back to stop the grease from leaking.
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Its possible to design a tool to open sealed Fan with minimal chance of breaking it.
I already opened old sealed fans by stacking paper/plastic around the sides of the fan until it pops out of the bearing. After cleaning and adding the grease all you have to do and press fit it back.
I also usually heat a needle and make a very small hole true the bottom of the bearing housing so I can easily grease it again in the future with a syringe. Remember to put a tape/sticker on the back to stop the grease from leaking.
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Eazon
Had this (as a 550w) in my brother's pc for about a year until a few months ago when it suddenly started to refuse to power on, then after waiting a few hours (and actually that, not just unplugging and emptying everything by pushing the power button), it would work again, perfectly until you shutdown the pc. then at some point it never wanted to power on again.
Probably just unlucky. But the retailer swapped it for a Seasonic 550w Focus PX Platinum with a 10 year warranty as replacement, so can't complain here.
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Had this (as a 550w) in my brother's pc for about a year until a few months ago when it suddenly started to refuse to power on, then after waiting a few hours (and actually that, not just unplugging and emptying everything by pushing the power button), it would work again, perfectly until you shutdown the pc. then at some point it never wanted to power on again.
Probably just unlucky. But the retailer swapped it for a Seasonic 550w Focus PX Platinum with a 10 year warranty as replacement, so can't complain here.
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LS
Eh, I will stick with my PC Power & Cooling Silencer mk 2, purchased just as they were acquired by OCZ. After years of seeing MaximumPC rave about how good PC P&C was, actually buying one was like winning the lottery except I was spending money, not winning it. But it was and is a darn good PSU. No way to test it of course. It just works. Or did. I haven't actually had a working desktop PC for like five years. But I still have that PSU for whenever it is time to build a new one.
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Eh, I will stick with my PC Power & Cooling Silencer mk 2, purchased just as they were acquired by OCZ. After years of seeing MaximumPC rave about how good PC P&C was, actually buying one was like winning the lottery except I was spending money, not winning it. But it was and is a darn good PSU. No way to test it of course. It just works. Or did. I haven't actually had a working desktop PC for like five years. But I still have that PSU for whenever it is time to build a new one.
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ZmBiUnicorn
I don't know if it's just me or what but I've bought 3 of these and also tried other low-end PSU's from them, within 2 years they just stop working out of no where. I've had many different PC configurations in the time, completely different setups, in different houses/Other peoples pc's and have had the same exact issue with every single one.
I've also bought their mid tier PSU's and had the same issue.
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I don't know if it's just me or what but I've bought 3 of these and also tried other low-end PSU's from them, within 2 years they just stop working out of no where. I've had many different PC configurations in the time, completely different setups, in different houses/Other peoples pc's and have had the same exact issue with every single one.
I've also bought their mid tier PSU's and had the same issue.
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csx296
It's great that they pass the stress test, but I'll never buy Cooler Master PSU's again. Both I've used in my flip builds have died. After a certain amount of time they stop powering up the pc unless I leave it unplugged for 1 hour +-.
The Corsair CV series has been much more reliable in my builds.
Cooler Master support was slow and useless also.
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It's great that they pass the stress test, but I'll never buy Cooler Master PSU's again. Both I've used in my flip builds have died. After a certain amount of time they stop powering up the pc unless I leave it unplugged for 1 hour +-.
The Corsair CV series has been much more reliable in my builds.
Cooler Master support was slow and useless also.
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Joseph
What a world we live in where it didn't explode is the benchmark Greatly appreciate that you're starting at the budget end of major brand for this these should all basically be it's fine , more or less. I'll be interested to see where outliers might live. I do have some basic expectations from HEC and Cooler Master, and I'm glad they're being met.
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What a world we live in where it didn't explode is the benchmark Greatly appreciate that you're starting at the budget end of major brand for this these should all basically be it's fine , more or less. I'll be interested to see where outliers might live. I do have some basic expectations from HEC and Cooler Master, and I'm glad they're being met.
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