Which PSU should I buy?

Jose Ruiz2 said:460W... that’s pretty weak. I suppose it could be swapped out—could I just put in something slightly better than 550W?

Well, if it's a Neon unit, then we have a problem—but if it's something from Cooler Master or Gigabyte, it might actually pass. I guess we really need the specific manufacturer and the exact model of the power supply before anyone can say for sure whether it’s actually decent quality or not.

The power supply says it's a Colormaster Extrem Plus 460W...

So what actually counts as a decent PSU?

It’s nothing to write home about, honestly... but hey, it’ll get the job done for you.

So, I’ve got a bit of a situation here... my sound card recently kicked the bucket, so I went out and grabbed a new one. Got it installed, everything seemed fine, and it actually worked... but then I tried to reboot the PC and the whole thing just refused to boot up. It's like, dead silent. So I pulled the sound card out, restarted, and suddenly the computer works perfectly without any issues. I've tried reinstalling the drivers a bunch of times now, but it’s the exact same story every single time... the machine runs totally fine when the card isn't in there. Does anyone have any clue what might be causing this mess? 🤷😕
thanks

Jose Ruiz2 said:Is there any other way to get inside besides opening the case? I can't even open the chassis because they slapped a sticker right over the seam that says REMOVING THIS STICKER VOIDS YOUR 3-YEAR WARRANTY.😠

What a joke... they put the warranty seal right on the edge of the case opening. 🤣

By the way, check out Downtown Manhattan. They’ve got some solid power supplies there - LINK.

Drew Sanchez82 said:What an absolute joke... they actually went ahead and slapped the warranty seal right on the edge of the chassis opening. 🤣

By the way, I was thinking about that area around Downtown Manhattan. They actually carry some decent power supplies there. I have provided the link below for your convenience.

It’s almost laughable, really. If you head down to Downtown Manhattan, you’ll find they have one of the most pathetic, overpriced selections of computer hardware out there—especially when it comes to power supplies. 😂

Regarding that warranty sticker, they typically slap it right on the edge of the chassis, though if you’re careful enough, you can peel it off without leaving a single trace behind. 😉

Drew Sanchez82 said:What a joke... they put the warranty seal right on the edge of the case opening 🤣

btw. Downtown Manhattan. They have decent power supplies there - LINK.

Wow, you clearly know everything there is to know about high-end power supplies, don't you? 🙏
If you're just guessing, please stop giving people bad advice. 👍

Alex Harris32 said:Haha, honestly, if you head down to Downtown Manhattan, you’ll find they have some of the most overpriced and underwhelming tech gear around—especially when it comes to power supplies. It's a joke. 😂

About those warranty stickers—I usually just stick mine right on the edge of the case. But hey, if you're careful with it, you can actually peel it off without leaving any nasty residue behind. No big deal. 😉

Bryan Evans77 said:It’s pretty obvious you really know your stuff when it comes to picking out a solid power supply. 🙏
Look, if you don't actually know what you're talking about, please just don't go around throwing unsolicited advice at people. It's not helpful. 👍

I don't see what the big deal is with those EVGA power supplies, and honestly, I'm not seeing the issue with Microsoft ones either, because... $67 That’s cutting it a bit close for a 550W power supply. Honestly, I wouldn't push it if I were you.
I’ve got something similar, around 450W—actually, what I had before was a bit pricier—and honestly, it hasn't given me a single headache in years. It just works.

Look, if my suggestions aren't really your cup of tea, then honestly, just go do your own thing. No big deal. 👍

So you’ve got a 500W power supply priced at $17.. which doesn't exactly mean it's any good..

Looking at Downtown Manhattan's inventory, they only have five different power supplies available. That should tell you everything you need to know about how serious this business is.

Regarding that 550W Microsoft unit they're selling for $73, you can find it for $60 at other retailers—though they aren't exactly household names, since there's no point stocking Microsoft parts unless it's a few specific units custom-built by FPS.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Microsoft+550w

The bottom line? They aren't competitive on price or selection. If I'm going to shop at Downtown Manhattan, I'll stick to buying a refrigerator or a washing machine instead.

Drew Sanchez82 said:I don't see what the big deal is with that EVGA unit, and honestly, neither with Microsoft power supplies, because $67 it’s not a huge amount for a 550W PSU.

You can tell everything just from this. Besides, wattage isn't the only thing that matters when you're looking at a power supply 😉.

I actually have one of those Linkworld power supplies myself—labeled at 420W—that I picked up for less than $27, but let me tell you, that doesn't make it any good.
(And honestly, just because it’s lightweight and shaped like a pack of cigarettes doesn't exactly leave a great impression 😁)

The wattage listed on the box isn't some golden seal of quality, and frankly, Microsoft isn't exactly known for premium hardware—there's a very good reason why high-end power supplies cost significantly more than $67.
So, my advice? Do your homework, read the reviews, and then maybe give people recommendations 😉

Drew Sanchez82 said:I don't see what's wrong with that EVGA unit, and honestly, neither with the Microsoft power supplies, since $67 550W isn't much for a PSU.
I have something similar at 450W (it was actually more expensive) and I haven't had any issues with it for years.

If my suggestions don't sit right with you, then maybe just mind your own business.👍

Kyle Sanchez4 explained one part of this...

and I'll explain the other...
Just because you aren't having problems doesn't mean it's high quality...
What does that even mean? How do you measure quality? Let me give you a few examples...
-A PC needs steady DC voltage, but AC fluctuates—especially if you live in a neighborhood where some local shop is running a massive industrial machine that makes the grid voltage swing from 190V to 220V. High-quality power supplies smooth out those oscillations to give the PC a constant stream, whereas cheap junk (meaning PSUs under $117 400W) will fluctuate, hitting your components with wild surges (which can fry them)... (a Microsoft unit like that once fried three of my GPUs, two HDDs, and some RAM)..
-The fact that a PC runs for a few years doesn't prove it's good. Maybe you just don't have a demanding rig, so it hasn't struggled yet. But if we hook up components pulling about 300W of full load to a 400W power supply (like a 150W GPU, 125W CPU, an HDD, and some fans)... well, check out this video by Casey Long2 to see what happens to a unit like that... CLICK regardless of the fact that it's rated for 400-500W..
With a quality power supply, that won't happen under full load...
-High-quality units aren't priced randomly. Why would they charge $150 430W, and why is Microsoft smart enough to sell a 550W unit for $67.. ???

I'm done typing this out.🙂

And yeah, your suggestions don't work for me because I don't want people buying a PSU, plugging it in, having it die, and taking everything else down with it just because you recommended Microsoft... 👍
If you want to offer everyone you recommend a Microsoft unit your personal guarantee to replace every single component it fries, hey, that's your choice.. 🙂
If I were looking for a solid PSU recommendation, took your advice, plugged it in at home, and it blew up, I wonder what you'd actually be willing to do to make things right after all that "help" and "advice"...

Kyle Sanchez4 said:So, you've also got that 500W power supply sitting there... how much did that actually set you back? $17...just because it’s happening doesn't mean it's actually any good.

Looking at what they’ve got available downtown in Manhattan, they're offering five different power supplies. Honestly, that alone tells you exactly how serious this operation is.

So, about that 550W Microsoft power supply they're selling... $73It looks like you might have cut off your thought there! What were we talking about? I'm all ears. $60 I don't really see them in other shops—well, I don't know for sure since I don't bother checking, but honestly, there’s zero point in stocking Microsoft gear unless you're one of those custom PC builders making specialized rigs just for them.

I was just poking around online looking for a decent 550W power supply—nothing crazy, just something reliable to keep my rig running steady—and I ended up falling down a bit of a rabbit hole. It’s funny how a simple search for hardware can turn into a twenty-minute deep dive into specs and pricing. Anyway, if anyone else is hunting for a mid-range unit, let me know what you find. I feel like I'm constantly refreshing these pages.

So, my takeaway here is that they just aren't competitive at all—not with their selection and definitely not with their prices. Honestly, if I'm already making the trip down to Downtown Manhattan, I might as well go big and pick up a fridge or a washing machine instead.

Honestly, this is a much more serious operation than Warner Music or The Killers, who just seem to throw whatever "high-quality" gear and tech they find at you without any real thought.
I mean, let's be real—how many stores out there actually carry a decent selection like that anyway? Most places are pretty picked over.

Like I was saying before, around $30 is a totally fair price if you're looking for a decent power supply. Nobody is claiming it’s going to die on you tomorrow, but let’s be real—even the high-end stuff can burn out eventually. It happens to the best of us.
A buddy of mine keeps dropping way too much cash on high-end power supplies that have the shelf life of an open carton of milk at a grocery store. He ends up getting burned pretty often.

Look, I don't think you necessarily have to try and undercut everyone else's power supply prices just to stay relevant. Like you said, it’s more about actually doing the job right and making sure the gear works the way it's supposed to.

boldcanyon14 said:You can see it from a mile away. Honestly, it’s not all about how much power that PSU can pump out ;)

I know it isn't. I wasn't actually saying that—well, at least I wasn't hinting at it.

Casey Long2 said:I’ve actually got one of those Linkworld power supplies lying around too—the one they claim is rated at 420W. I picked it up for a steal, honestly. It was way cheaper than anything else I saw on Amazon at the time. $27Look, just because it happened doesn't mean it was actually a good move.
The size doesn't really change anything—even if it’s slim and about as long as a pack of Marlboros, it still doesn't make a better impression. :D

Look, just because a box says it has a certain wattage doesn't mean it actually delivers. It’s a total marketing gimmick. Honestly, Microsoft isn't exactly known for building top-tier hardware like this, so don't expect much. There’s a very good reason why high-quality power supplies cost way more than the cheap stuff you find at a corner store. You get what you pay for. $67.
So, maybe try actually reading some reviews before you start handing out recommendations, huh? ;)

I honestly have no idea where you guys are finding power supplies this cheap. I was scrolling through Craigslist earlier looking for a deal, and I couldn't find anything even close to those prices. It's wild.
And yeah, I totally agree—just because something works doesn't mean it's actually "good." But honestly, that $30 option? It could be pretty solid. It seems like Microsoft is always the scapegoat when it comes to power supplies, but hey, they work as a decent alternative if you need them. Back in the day, when I was broke, I just bought whatever I could actually afford, which was usually something at that mid-range price point I mentioned. It’s not always about having top-of-the-line, premium components in every build; if we all insisted on perfection, nobody would ever have enough money to finish a PC. $5.00. I get that kind of stuff matters more for big corporations, sure, but for regular folks at home, something a bit cheaper gets the job done just fine.
I know Dell makes better power supplies (quality-wise) than Microsoft. But honestly, I don't really go for them myself—mostly because I don't exactly push my PC to the limit or anything.

Bryan Evans77 said:Kyle Sanchez4 actually explained one part of this pretty well...

but I'll explain the other side of it...
Just because you haven't had issues with it doesn't mean it's actually high quality.
So, what does that actually mean? How do you measure quality? Let me try to break it down with a couple of examples...
-A computer needs steady DC power, but the AC coming out of your wall fluctuates. Especially if you live in a neighborhood where some local shop is running a massive, heavy-duty machine that makes the voltage swing anywhere from 190 to 220. A decent power supply handles those spikes and gives the PC a steady stream, whereas cheap junk (like those units under $117 rated at 400W) will fluctuate wildly. That means your components get hit with insane surges at random moments (which can fry them). Personally, an old Microsoft unit fried three of my GPUs, two hard drives, and my RAM...
-Just because a PC runs for a few years doesn't mean the PSU is good. Maybe you don't have a demanding setup, so it hasn't been stressed yet. But if we take a 400W power supply and hook up components pulling about 300W at full load (say, one 150W GPU, a 125W CPU, a hard drive, and some fans)... well, check out Casey Long2's video to see exactly what happens to a cheap unit under that kind of stress... CLICK regardless of what it claims to be rated for...
With a quality unit, that won't happen even at full load...
-High-end power supplies aren't expensive just for the sake of it. Why would they charge $150 for a 430W unit when Microsoft is being clever and selling a 550W version for $67?? ???

I'm not gonna drag this out any longer. : )

And look, I don't like your suggestions because I don't want to be the guy who recommends a power supply to someone, they plug it in, it dies, and takes everything else with it just because I told them to buy Microsoft... 🔝
If you want to give everyone you recommend Microsoft a personal guarantee to replace all the hardware that gets fried along with it, hey, that's your call. : )
If I were looking for a solid recommendation, took your advice, plugged it in at my place, and the whole thing blew up, I don't know what you'd actually be willing to do to make things right after giving me that "help" and "suggestion."

Plenty of people buy power supplies for $20 or $30, or even less, and they're perfectly happy. My goal with the suggestion was just to find something reasonably priced that would actually work.
But it seems like most of you think the more expensive it is, the better, like price is the only way to tell if it's high quality or built to last.
Why buy a Boeing 747 when you can fly just as well in a small private jet?

When a power supply fails, usually just the unit itself dies. I don't see why the rest of the parts should burn up. One time mine didn't even burn out; the PSU just exploded, and everything else stayed perfectly intact.
But hey, sounds like you lost your graphics card and RAM, so maybe it was just bad luck.

Also, those units that die instantly are usually found in bargain bins at places like The Killers or Warner Music, but I don't think Downtown Manhattan is a bad spot to shop.

That last part sounds a little bit like a threat. 🙄
And by the way, I knew that once I made my suggestion (even if people thought it was bad), I'd get roasted, but alright...

Look, this isn't a rant, just a straightforward explanation..

Warner Music and The Killers aren't exactly the places you'd go to pick up a power supply..

If you want actual selection and better prices, you head to IBM, Intel, or Best Buy. And sure, I agree most people don't need anything beefier than a basic Microsoft setup for $67, especially since the average user is running a dual-core with integrated graphics.. but if you're building a rig meant to actually last, you don't skimp on the PSU. Everything else is basically disposable hardware that gets swapped out every six months anyway.

Kyle Sanchez4 said:Warner Music and The Killers aren't exactly places where you'd go hunting for a power supply either..

That’s fair. But honestly, those guys aren't even really retail shops—they mostly just run huge ads all day long. I've actually done some advertising myself back in the day.

Kyle Sanchez4 said:You'll find better selection and lower prices at IBM, Intel, Best Buy, and the like...

And I totally agree that most people don't need anything beefier than a basic Microsoft setup for $67, since most folks are just running dual-core chips with integrated graphics anyway..

Yeah, that was kind of the whole point of my suggestion.
Just getting something solid without breaking the bank.

Regarding those stores, I know Best Buy carries decent stuff (at least from what I've seen, since I don't personally shop there).

Kyle Sanchez4 said:but if you're building a rig meant to last, you shouldn't skimp on the power supply, because everything else is basically disposable gear that gets swapped out every six months

Okay, sure, don't cheap out if you're building a high-end machine, that's true. But you also have to look at how much cash someone actually has to work with. We all want top-tier setups (believe me, I do too), but you need a thick wallet for that. Some people are perfectly happy with a $30 power supply, while others won't settle for anything less than $333.

As for how long things last, it really comes down to how much you use the computer. It can definitely last longer than six months if you aren't pushing it too hard, like with a heavy-duty gaming PC.

It isn’t about whether you’re personally happy with the power supply or not; it’s simply about picking one that can actually handle the build without breaking a sweat.

Drew Sanchez82 said:Nobody is saying it’s going to die immediately, but even high-quality units can burn out eventually.

The reason a premium power supply is much less likely to fail is because it includes various protections that cheap units simply lack. Terms like SCP, OPP, OCP, OTP, OVP, and UVP aren't things you'd ever associate with Microsoft or their tier of power supplies.

Drew Sanchez82 said:And it isn't necessary for them to be competitive with others through their selection, as you say, but rather that they operate correctly.

That's really the point. I suspect Microsoft isn't operating correctly when they pull 100% of the rated wattage for an extended period. By "operating correctly," I mean adhering to ATX standards regarding noise, ripple, and voltage. It isn't right if the 12V rail drops to 11.5V, which I'm fairly certain happens with Microsoft.
Compare that to a Spotify unit, which runs flawlessly at 40°C even while pulling 120% of its rated load, no matter how long you run it.

As for power supplies that fail... Imagine the foundation of a skyscraper suddenly vanishing. The structure might stay standing for a moment.
But what if there was a gust of wind right when those foundations went? The building is coming down.

It's the same with a dying power supply. When it fails, there's a good chance it takes other components down with it. If you get incredibly lucky, the PSU will just burn out without taking anything else with it.

So, I've got a quote out of Jerusalem for about 71 miles or maybe $143 for this power supply...
Where can I hunt down a better deal here in the States, or am I looking at a decent price?

Jonathan Reed50 said:I have an offer in Jerusalem for 71 miles or about $143 for this power supply.
Where can I find something cheaper in America, or is this decent?

It's a fair price for a solid unit.

Jonathan Reed50 said:I've got a quote here in St. Louis for 71 miles or roughly $143 for this PSU.
Can I find anything cheaper in the States, or is this a decent deal?

Prices are the same around here..
meaning at Micro Center it's $150...