PSU buyers guide

• Section 1 what a system consumes.
  now this is a big controversy right now so i will try and leave some of that on the side. Rigs will be color coded as to what PSU they will need.
  
  Low power system "150-400w"
  
  
  CPU
  
  Intel (when at stock clocks)
  -core 2 duo
  -core 2 solo
  -pentium 2
  -pentium 3
  -pentium 4 M
  -pentium 4 HT
  -pentium 4 D
  -core i3
  -core i5*
  
  AMD (when at stock speeds)
  -Athlon
  -Athlon XP
  -Athlon 64
  -Athlon 64 X2
  -Athlon II X2
  -Athlon II X3
  -Athlon II X4*
  -Phenom I*
  -Phenom II*
  
  Via
  -all models/specs
  
  Video Cards
  
  Nvidia
  -6600GT and older/below (300w)
  -7600GT and below (300w)
  -8600GT and below (350-400w)
  -9800GT Low Power and below (400w)
  -GT240 and below (200w)
  
  AMD/ATi
  -X700 and below/older (300w)
  -X1650XT and below (350w)
  -HD2600PRO and below (350w)
  -HD3650 and below (350w)
  -HD4650 and below (400w)
  -HD5650 and below (400w)
  
  Via
  -all models/specs
  
  if you own a combination of any one cpu and one GPU in this category you are just fine using a "blue" rating powersupply. I have given a recommended minimum wattage based off of the highest end GPU in each series if your GPU is a lower spec you can use a lower wattage PSU.
  
  *refers to only the low wattage versions of this series ie AMD Phenom I 9100e, 9150e
  
  
  Mid power system "450-600w"
  
  
  CPU
  
  Intel
  -core 2 duo (mild overclock)
  -core 2 quad (mild overclock)
  -core 2 solo (any overclock)
  -pentium 2 (any overclock)
  -pentium 3 (any overclock)
  -pentium 4 M (any overclock)
  -pentium 4 HT (any overclock)
  -pentium 4 D (any overclock)
  -core i3 (any overclock)
  -core i5 (mild overclock)
  
  AMD (when at stock speeds)
  -Athlon (any overclock)
  -Athlon XP (any overclock)
  -Athlon 64 (any overclock)
  -Athlon 64 X2 (any overclock)
  -Athlon II X2 (any overclock)
  -Athlon II X3 (mild overclock)
  -Athlon II X4 (mild overclock)
  -Phenom I (mild overclock)
  -Phenom II (mild overclock)
  
  Video Cards
  
  Nvidia
  -6600GT-6800ultra up to 2 cards SLI (450w-550w SLI)
  -7600-7900GTX up to 2 cards SLI (450w-600w SLI)
  -7950GX2 NO SLI (500w)
  -8600GT-8800GTS up to 2 cards SLI (450w-600w SLI)
  -8800GTX/Ultra NO SLI (500w)
  -9600GSO-9800GT up to 2 cards SLI (450w-600w SLI)
  -9800GTX(+) NO SLI (450w)
  -9800GX2 NO SLI (600w)
  -GTS250 NO SLI (450w)
  -GTX480 NO SLI (600w)
  
  AMD/ATi
  -X850XT up to 2 cards crossfire (450w-550w crossfire)
  -X1600-X1900GT up to 2 cards crossfire (450w-600w crossfire)
  -X1950XT/XTX NO CROSSFIRE (500w)
  -HD2600-HD2900GT up to 2 cards crossfire (450w-600w crossfire)
  -HD2900PRO/XT NO CROSSFIRE (500w)
  -HD3650-3850 up to 3 cards crossfire (450w-600w crossfire)
  -HD3870 up to 2 cards crossfire (500-600w crossfire)
  -HD3850X2/HD3870X2 NO CROSSFIRE
  -HD4650-4850 up to 3 cards crossfire (450w-600w crossfire)
  -HD4870 up to 2 cards crossfire (500w-600w crossfire)
  -HD4850X2/4870X2 NO CROSSFIRE
  -HD5770 up to 3 cards crossfire (450-600w crossfire)
  -HD5850/HD5870 up to 2 cards crossfire (500-600w crossfire)
  -HD5970 NO CROSSFIRE (600w)
  
  If your rig uses one of these cpu's and a videocard(s) listed your rig should be powered by a "green PSU." This one is a little more complicated on the GPU side first number is single card second is multi-GPU.
  
  
  
  Lower-high end system "600-850w"
  
  
  CPU
  
  Intel
  any model/spec/overclock
  
  AMD
  any model/spec/overclock
  
  Video Cards
  
  Nvidia
  -8800GTX/ultra up to 3 SLI (800w SLI)
  -9800GTX(+) up to 3 SLI (750w SLI)
  -9800GX2 up to 2 SLI (800w SLI)
  -GTS250 up to 3 SLI (750w SLI)
  -GTX470/480 up to 2 SLI (850w SLI)
  
  AMD/ATi
  -HD2900PRO/XT up to 2 crossfire (750w crossfire)
  -HD3850/HD3870 up to 4 crossfire (750w crossfire)
  -HD3850X2/3870X2 up to 2 crossfire (850w crossfire)
  -HD4850/4870 up to 4 crossfire (850w crossfire)
  -HD4850X2/HD4870X2 up to 2 crossfire (850w crossfire)
  -HD5850/5870 up to 4 crossfire (850w crossfire)
  -HD5970 up to 2 crossfire (850w crossfire)
  
  If your rig falls in here you have an "orange" system. I have a feeling that this section will cause controversy, but I am using personal experience of myself for this.
  
  High-end systems "860w+"
  
  
  CPU
  
  Intel
  any model/spec/overclock
  
  AMD
  any model/spec/overclock
  
  Video Cards
  
  Nvidia
  -GTX470 3 way SLI 900w, 4 way SLI 1000w
  -GTX480 3 way SLI 900w, 4 way SLI 1000w
  
  AMD/ATi
  -all cards/spec/overclock
  
  Pretty simple on this one if you fall in here you need a "red" PSU.
  

• [ABS] Tagen
  These are built by ToPower they are good units up to around 700w and around that point ToPower gets kinda flaky they can handle the loads but are not as stable.
  these are ok for blue, green and some orange.
• Antec
  They have been around for ages and use multiple OEM's depending on the model you look at.
  
  Stay away from the Smartpower, Truepower II, and Phantom series they are garbage.
  
  The best of Antec are the Quattro series built by Enhance these are great for all blue, green, orange and red rigs.
  
  The next best units from Antec are the Seasonic built ones those that use Seasonic are the NeoHE, Truepower Trio, Earthwatts and Solution series. These will work fine with all color rigs blue, green, orange and red.
  
  Antec also carries the Basiq series which is build by FSP a good OEM with the same basic issue as E-Power. Good to go on blue units.
  
• Akasa
  Not super well known but uses the Enhance OEM which is one of the best OEM's out. These will work fine with all color rigs blue, green, orange and red.
  
• Apex
  Crap do not buy.
  
• Apevia
  They make cheap fans, cases and powersupplies...A lot like Raidmax not a great brand and uses Youngyear as an OEM not to well known I wouldn't use them over a blue rig.
  
• Athena Power (athenatech)
  There is only one ToPower built model in the line up AP-P4ATX50-F12 and it is an old style one don't expect a 24pin or 8pin not that great of units the 500w will get you by do not buy.
  
• Azza
  I have no heard anything bad about them they are new...UL listed however I cannot find by who. Going to give the benefit of a doubt as there are no negative reviews of explosions for now they are approved blue and green until further research can be done.
  
• Broadway Com Corp
  Garbage not approved for a LED light don't buy them don't sell them don't even be in the same room as them I heard its contagious.
  
• BFG
  Only OEM used by BFG is ToPower same applies for BFG as Tagen they are good up to a point blue, green and some orange.
  
• CoolerMaster
  Well CoolerMaster is all over the place older units using garbage OEM's and newer ones using Enhance and Seventeam (AKA the best)
  
  Real Power Pro <850w are bad do not buy
  Real Power Pro >850 are good made buy enhance and the eXtremePower series is made by Seventeam good for blue, green, orange and red.
  
• Coolmax
  Caught whatever Broadway had garbage PSU's do not buy.
  
• Corsair
  If you got one its either built by Seasonic or CWT both are very good these are great powersupplies approved for blue, green, orange and red.
  
• Delta
  Another bad brand stay away
  
• DiabloTek
  Last review had the 1050w rated powersupply blow at 600w its not a good brand. Stay away not approved for any rig.
  
• Dynapower
  Another one of those crappy brands do not buy.
  
• Eagle Tech
  Can't find any info on them no UL is listed assume the worst they look very very cheap. Do not buy.
  
• Enermax
  Good brand builds all of its own powersupplies Enermax is the OEM approved for blue, green, orange and red.
  
• Enhance
  Retail brand for well Enhance approved for blue, green, orange and red.
  
• E-Power
  Retail Brand of ToPower good up to around 700w. Approved for blue, green and some orange. Be careful! some of these still carry very old designs on Newegg cheap ones may be 20pin standards.
  
• Etasis
  Built by Etasis...I would run them on blue and green nothing past that.
  
• FSP
  Built by FSP of course same rules as with ToPower. Approved for blue, green and some orange.
  
• Hiper
  Built by andyson (AKA crap on a stick) do not buy.
  
• Hipro
  If the unit says HP its built by Hipro if it says TOP its ToPower 700w max. Approved for blue, green and some orange.
  
• In Win
  IW/IP prefix is code for do not buy. FSP means its made by FSP these are approved for blue, green and some orange, but only the FSP ones.
  
• Kingwin
  Nope don't buy.
  
• Koolance
  Over rates the units so buy big with them. Approved for blue, green and some orange all units are CWT built.
  
• Leadman
  Do not buy.
  
• Linkworld
  I am out of funny things to say about bad powersupplies these suck too don't buy them.
  
• Logisys
  And the powersupply goes boom! So don't buy them they suck.
  
• MassCool
  Built by seventeam approved for blue, green, orange and red.
  
• Mushkin
  Uses that wonderful ToPower OEM. Approved for blue, green and some orange
  
• Nexus
  Built by FSP so good up to 700w. Approved for blue, green and some orange.
  
• OCZ
  Were to start on OCZ...I will start with the good.
  
  EvoStream and ProXStream built by 3Y and are good units. Approved for blue, green, orange and red.
  
  ModXStream (pro), StealthXStream, Powerstream, and GameXStream the ModXStream PRO's seem very good but due to the OEM only approved for blue, green and some orange units are either ToPower or FSP.
  
• Powmax
  units go "pow to the max" quoted from a newegg review it pretty much describes them. Don't buy me!
  
• PCP&C
  Thats short for best powersupplies sold. Approved for blue, green, orange and red, oh and also approved for Fitseries3 that like red with a tint of black and blue. Silencer series built by Seasonic and Turbo-cool is WinTact who is the best PSU OEM ever...
  
• Raidmax
  It is mandatory to carry one good unit by ToPower the RX-630A if your PSU don't say that it better not say Raidmax to. Don't buy.
  
• Rosewill
  Newegg's house brand and a pretty cheesy one at that. As of now don't buy there are some units that may be good but I do not know them specifically so its not worth the risk.
  
• Scythe
  Built by ToPower good till you hit 700w. Approved for blue, green and some orange.
  
• Seasonic
  They have their own brand and its good. Approved for blue, green, orange and red.
  
• Sigma
  After some research they are a spin off of raidmax. OEM is through Fudin tech ltd. which is owned by Raidtronics AKA Raidmax stay away not approved.
  
• Silverstone
  Alot like corsair they are very good best units are the DA and OP series by seventeam Approved for blue, green, orange and red.
  
• Sparkle
  FSP's retail brand. Approved for blue, green and some orange.
  
• StarTech
  Do not buy. No really I mean it.
  
• SuperFlower
  Not only ruining other companies powersupplies they have their own bad brand that somebody must buy just don't let it be you. Bad powersupplies no approved for LED lights.
  
• Thermaltake
  Mostly built by CWT not a bad powersupply and the toughpower series is very popular and very good. blue, green, orange and red.
  
• Ultra
  Either your PSU will suck or be amazing...X-Pro 750 is built by seventeam and is approved for blue, green and orange .
  
• XClio
  Stablepower series is by Enhance approved for blue, green, orange and red the rest are andyson do not buy them.
  
• Xion
  Good powersupplies by a shitty OEM superflower built but are known to be good I do not know what to put for them...for now approved for blue, green, orange and red. As soon as I hear different they are on my shit list.
  
• Zalman
  FSP built so keep them under 700w. Approved for blue, green and some orange.
  
• Zippy
  and we end with Zippy if I had to use it in a sentence it would be "that sure was zippy how fast your rig died" Don't buy them they are no good.
  
  
  

mlee49 said:

Thanks, I was gonna say that. Thanks for an updated guide! Hope it gets stickied!

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newtekie1 said:

I think the lime is are to read also, really strains my eyes, but maybe that is just me. Perhaps changing it to blue?

Nice guide actually.

I have a feeling you thought I'd be one of the ones causing the controversy, but with a quick glance, I agree with pretty much everything, you see good minimums.

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newtekie1 said:

Ah...I feel so loved.

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