Comment Thread for 500W PSU Roundup

[SKYMTL]

Please Post your comments, questions and discussions regarding SKYMTL's 500W+, Sub-$105 PSU Roundup here.

Here is the roundup if you need to refer back to it:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/hardw...u-roundup.html

Let the discussion BEGIN!!!

[sswilson]

Well I have to say that I'm impressed.

I wouldn't have thought that a 500W PSU would run those cards in SLI, let alone a "budget" one.

The enermax was certainly a disapointment, but worst of all is that there is no clear indication of why it didn't perform in the fps test.

I know you did the test 4 times so it is obviously valid, but any idea of what actually caused the problem?

[SKYMTL]

Originally Posted by sswilson

I know you did the test 4 times so it is obviously valid, but any idea of what actually caused the problem?

Personally, I think there might have been a voltage drop that was localized to the PCI-E connector but it might have been something else altogether.

I wouldn't have thought that a 500W PSU would run those cards in SLI, let alone a "budget" one

Considering that the cards were seriously bottlenecked by my processor, I don't think that I would really consider it "running" SLI. I'm sure if I was running a X6800, I would have had quite a few more problems with these PSUs. Or maybe not....

[b1lk1]

Sounds to me like Enermax has the PCI-E connectors sharing the same rail. That is the most logical reason it fell on it's face. Sure makes me very happy I have the Silverstone Element in my PC. I will be running 7900GTO SLI very soon so if I have any power issues I will report back.

Excllent review, and I too was surprised at how well both top contenders did. I am a huge Silverstone fan and always felt they were one of the premier PSU sellers. Enermax were great in the days of hte P4, but it looks like they are sitting on their name instead of making sure it stays on top.

Anyhow, excellent review!

[SKYMTL]

Personally, I think the biggest surprise for me was the Mushkin's performance. I feel like it still had a bit in the tank even in the SLI tests.

[sswilson]

If you still have the PSUs kicking around, one of the folks I work with wants to know if you can post the weights of them.... (Looking for the truth in the "heavier PSU is generally better" theory)...

[SKYMTL]

Sorry, I don't have them anymore.

Plus even if I would I don't have a scale accurate enough to tell me the weights with any accuracy.

What I CAN tell you is the Mushkin is the heaviest. This is probably due to the extra weight of the modular interface and the sheer physical size of it contributing to its weight.

[sswilson]

Ok thanks.

I'll pass that on.

[GarakTwilight]

Thanks for the excellent reviews, SKYMTL. I own an Antec Sonata II so was happy to read an independent review of the Smartpower 450.

One question: In the first round, you reviewed SLI performance in regards to voltage regulation. Each of the PSU's in Round 1 had only 1 PCIe power connector. How did
you power two 7900 cards for the SLi testing?

I am about to buy one or two 8800GT cards which come with molex-to-6pin adapters, so no problem for me. Just curious how you did it for the 7900.

Cheers from Moncton!

[SKYMTL]

Originally Posted by GarakTwilight

How did you power two 7900 cards for the SLi testing?

The Molex to 6-pin adaptor. Almost the same was I powered a pair of overclocked 2900XT cards with a BFG 800W that only has a pair of 6-pin connectors.