~300w PSU reccomendations.

Hak Foo · 29-April-06, 11:42 PM

I've got a smallish "media" system (Duron 1.6, 256M memory, one 7200rpm hard disc, one optical, TV card, and a ~10" LCD and small speaker set driven off the 12v line)

It all ran swimmingly with a Sparkle FSP300-60BT(12v) I've had for like five years (since a Athlon 1.2C was a hot system!). But I needed to reallocate the Sparkle to another machine (another brand of PSU fried).

Since the machine is decidedly "optional" (I can watch TV on a real TV if I choose), I want to do things on the cheap.

I also don't want a POS. An honest 300 does the job, but I doubt a "Tchang Zu PSU and Shrimp Company" 300 will be reliable. I was going to hook up an L&C 350 I grabbed at the comp graveyard, but it made a high-pitched squeal which would be too annoying to bear when I tried it with some "scrap" hardware.

I'd get another Sparkle FSP300, but I run into two problems:
-Several of their newer models are "P4" or "K8" style-- lots of +12, only 120w on the 3.3 and 5. My board is pre-P4-plug design and was happy with a 200w on the 3.3/5v rails design.
-They're pretty pricey; a new FSP300 series model costs about 30 dollars delivered.

Any more affordable reccomendations? Should I buy some off-brand "450" or "500" and hope it's good enough to match a real 300?

HigHTecHReDNecK · 30-April-06, 12:27 AM

Fry's has an ULTRA V series 350w for $39.99, i just got one for a old pc i fixed, and it works great and has a 120 fan / sata / atx 20+4 / pci-e so if you needed it later for something else its up to date

EDIT : oops , missed yer price range , ok frys also has a 380w Nupower for 19.99 w/$7 rebate

Hak Foo · 30-April-06, 02:30 AM

I know the mobo is damn finicky about PSUs... it's an Elitegroup K7S5A, which you may remember as being incredibly troublesome even among Socket A boards.

PurpleDiamond · 30-April-06, 10:46 AM

I have a L&C 350W (which is considered a generic PSU) and it has served me well . I would use it, just replace the fan (mine has a CoolerMaster blue led fan). All the rules about opening a PSU apply.

Hak Foo · 30-April-06, 02:18 PM

Actually, the fan was dead (frozen rock hard) when I first tried testing it; the PSU whistled then; I replaced it with a similar spec fan and it still whistles.

29-April-06, 11:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hak Foo Apex Elite Tech Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,231	~300w PSU reccomendations. I've got a smallish "media" system (Duron 1.6, 256M memory, one 7200rpm hard disc, one optical, TV card, and a ~10" LCD and small speaker set driven off the 12v line) It all ran swimmingly with a Sparkle FSP300-60BT(12v) I've had for like five years (since a Athlon 1.2C was a hot system!). But I needed to reallocate the Sparkle to another machine (another brand of PSU fried). Since the machine is decidedly "optional" (I can watch TV on a real TV if I choose), I want to do things on the cheap. I also don't want a POS. An honest 300 does the job, but I doubt a "Tchang Zu PSU and Shrimp Company" 300 will be reliable. I was going to hook up an L&C 350 I grabbed at the comp graveyard, but it made a high-pitched squeal which would be too annoying to bear when I tried it with some "scrap" hardware. I'd get another Sparkle FSP300, but I run into two problems: -Several of their newer models are "P4" or "K8" style-- lots of +12, only 120w on the 3.3 and 5. My board is pre-P4-plug design and was happy with a 200w on the 3.3/5v rails design. -They're pretty pricey; a new FSP300 series model costs about 30 dollars delivered. Any more affordable reccomendations? Should I buy some off-brand "450" or "500" and hope it's good enough to match a real 300? __________________

30-April-06, 12:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
HigHTecHReDNecK Sophist'Hoe"cated ReDNecK Reviewer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: HALF A BUBBLE OFF PLUMB Posts: 3,500	Fry's has an ULTRA V series 350w for $39.99, i just got one for a old pc i fixed, and it works great and has a 120 fan / sata / atx 20+4 / pci-e so if you needed it later for something else its up to date EDIT : oops , missed yer price range , ok frys also has a 380w Nupower for 19.99 w/$7 rebate __________________ HIDE NOTHING AND WATCH FOOLS SEARCH FOREVER Last edited by HigHTecHReDNecK; 30-April-06 at 12:32 AM.

30-April-06, 02:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Hak Foo Apex Elite Tech Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,231	I know the mobo is damn finicky about PSUs... it's an Elitegroup K7S5A, which you may remember as being incredibly troublesome even among Socket A boards. __________________

30-April-06, 10:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
PurpleDiamond Apex Tech Maniac Supreme Join Date: May 2003 Location: Newington, CT Posts: 1,093	I have a L&C 350W (which is considered a generic PSU) and it has served me well . I would use it, just replace the fan (mine has a CoolerMaster blue led fan). All the rules about opening a PSU apply. __________________ Intel Q6700 @ 3.0GHz............ASUS Maximus Formula 4GB OCZ PC2-8000.............................nVidia 8800GTS 2 x Seagate 1TB (RAID1)........................Corsair 750W Coolermaster Hyper 212.......................Cosmos 1000

30-April-06, 02:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hak Foo Apex Elite Tech Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,231	Actually, the fan was dead (frozen rock hard) when I first tried testing it; the PSU whistled then; I replaced it with a similar spec fan and it still whistles. __________________

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