Which PSU should I buy?

The lower the budget, the better, honestly. 🙂 I’m not looking for absolute garbage, but I want something decent enough to carry me through at least two or three years before I finally pull the trigger on a whole new build. Most importantly, I need to make sure it doesn't fry my entire system during those couple of years. I might try my luck hunting for a used deal, too—hopefully, I can snag something a bit higher-end if I get lucky.

And yeah, I realize they aren't quite as high-tier as my current power supply (that ModXStream Pro 500W).

Why not just settle this once and for all by grabbing something high-quality? You'll end up with a unit that works perfectly for your next build too, rather than wasting money buying parts twice. Your current setup is actually pretty solid—just toss in an SSD for the OS, and you’ll have plenty of breathing room to upgrade your GPU down the line since you've got a decent processor and a reliable power supply here.

The only reason not to is if you're on a super tight budget, in which case, at least grab

Go with something high-end; it'll handle your current load without breaking a sweat, though it might struggle if you decide to install a massive, power-hungry GPU later on.

Timothy Kim60 said:Why not just settle this once and for all and grab something high-quality that you can actually reuse in your next build? It beats buying stuff twice. Your current setup is decent enough, though I’d suggest tossing in an SSD for the OS. Plus, if you ever decide to get into gaming, that CPU combined with a solid power supply gives you plenty of breathing room to upgrade the GPU later.

Unless you're tight on cash, in which case maybe just go with at least

http://www.newegg.com/p/evga-power-supply-units/

A quality unit will hold up fine for what you have now; it just might struggle if you try to slap a massive, power-hungry GPU in there down the road.

To be honest, money is a bit tight right now. My next big move will be a completely new build, so this one is really just going to serve as a backup. I spotted two interesting power supplies earlier—fingers crossed they haven't sold out yet.

By the way, that specific PSU you mentioned only has a single 6-pin connector.

Just plug in the adapter (Molex to 6-pin) and you're good to go. It's that simple.

Is it listed in the link or maybe at Best Buy? Does anyone know if Chipotle has a power supply rated up to $67 that isn't absolute garbage? I need something for this prehistoric computer—it doesn't even need more than 400W, but I really don't want to slap some bottom-of-the-barrel junk from Micro Center or something similar inside it...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XXXXXXXX

If that's a bit too steep, maybe check out some used 😉
options.

Thanks for the quick reply, master! I'll see if I can track down that $17 somewhere

Roger Booth2 said:Intel Micro-ATX 650W, 80+ BRONZE

Greetings. Could someone provide an assessment of this power supply unit? Is it any good? I am searching for something relatively quiet, ideally staying under $200 with a capacity of 550 W.

It’s a decent mid-range option—okay quality, I guess, but nothing to write home about.

An EVGA Series might be a better way to go; it doesn't have a ton of extra connectors, but it offers plenty of power and feels a bit more solid than Intel. My only real gripe is the warranty, since it's only for two years.

Anthony Wood11 said:Hey. Can anyone tell me what this PSU is actually like? Is it any good? I'm looking for something quiet up to $200 and 550 W.

crimsonstag84 said:It's mid-range stuff. Decent quality, but nothing special.

An EVGA Series would be a solid pick. It doesn't have a ton of connectors, but it packs enough punch and it's a step up from Intel. The only downside is the warranty—only 2 years.

Maybe go with a Seasonic Focus 650 instead? That should come with a 5-year warranty, and you can grab it for around 590-$200 (Best Buy, Micro Center)...

Yeah, I guess you could go that route, but it probably won't be as quiet and might feel a bit lower quality than that Corsair unit.

Time to grab a new power supply!

Here’s what I’m running right now:
Intel Core i3-2120 3.3
MSI H61MU-E35 RAM 4
4 GB DDR3 Apacer
NVIDIA GeForce GT 630
500 GB Seagate Barracuda SATA III
Plus, I’ve got two external hard drives plugged in too.
My next moves involve picking up an SSD and a better graphics card—so I really need a
power supply that can handle things long-term.

My budget is around $167.
Now, total newbie question here—can I just slap any power supply onto this board (the specs say Micro-ATX), or is there something specific I should be looking out for?
For example, I was checking out something like this:

Any PSU will work since they all use the same slots, so you don't have to sweat it. You picked a solid unit, honestly—go for it. You could probably even get away with something weaker if you aren't planning on cramming some crazy high-end GPU in there later.

I haven't made any final calls on the GPU just yet—but I am definitely looking for something with enough staying power so I can eventually make the jump to an i5 down the road.
So, would this actually be a better move than the option I mentioned earlier?

That link you sent isn't working.
The Thermaltake unit from that link—the Gold 500W—is a solid choice for about $70.

I’m not sure what else you’re looking to build later, but Best Buy has the FSP Hyper Pro 600W listed below $167, and it comes with a 5-year warranty. That said, those top two options from your link are higher quality and definitely more than enough power for your needs.

Hexa 400W vs Antec VP 450P (links)?
Ended up going with the Antec. I have a Best Buy right down the street so no shipping fees, and since I was working with a tight budget, the Hexa's price plus shipping just didn't make sense compared to what I'd pay on a card.

Exactly, Accenture. Once you factor in shipping costs, those lower-tier hexes actually end up being more expensive in the long run.
I put one together in a build for a buddy (g1820 + 250X), and honestly, seeing it in person like this, it looks solid.

Timothy Kim60 said:Yeah, Accenture. Once you factor in shipping, a weaker hexa core ends up being more expensive anyway.
I built a rig for a buddy using a G1820 and a 250X; looks solid in person.

Man, I'm running three Athlon 450s
and a GTS 450.

Low power draw.

What’s the verdict on this LC setup paired with those Zalman power supplies? Is it actually worth the trouble?