Posted 14 February 2011 - 10:53 AM
Just some things to consider when buying a PSU.
1. How is the output rated? Max watts is what a cheap PSU puts out just before it blows up and takes the rest of your components with it. A good quality PSU can output "max watts" continuously without frying itself or your components.
2 Efficiency. How much energy is wasted? Wasted energy=heat. Even the "top of the line" Sunbeam runs between 76-78% efficiency, which sucks as newer high end units are up in the 87-91% range now. A clue: Does it have a "voltage switch" on the rear of the PSU? If it does, it is an old obsolete design. That model of Sunbeam you have listed doesn't even have an efficiency rating (that I could find).
3: What are the 12V rails rated at as compared to total output? A good PSU can output 90+% of its total watts on the 12V rails, as 12V is the most heavily used. On a modern system, the 3.3V and 5V rails supply very little power. You tend to see big numbers on the 3.3/5V rails on low end/older designs.
Sunbeam 680:+3.3V@30A, +5V@28A, +12V1@20A, +12V2@20A, -12V@0.3A, +5VSB@2.5A
40amps max (480watts) on the 12V
28amps max (140 watts) on the 5V
30amps max (99 watts) on the 3.3V
Corsair 650TX +3.3V@24A, +5V@30A, +12V@52A, -12V@0.8A, +5VSB@3.0A
52amps max (624watts) on the 12V
30amps max (150watts) on the 5V
24amps max (79watts) on the 3.3V
Seasonic X-650 Gold
54amps max (648watts) on the 12V
25amps max (125watts total on the 5V and 3.3V combined) on the 5V
25amps max on 3.3V (see line above)
You can see the trend, from older/cheaper design to newer design as far as the 12V is concerned. Sunbeam is the highest rated PSU, but has the lowest 12V output.
Best sites to check out PSU reviews, HardOCP/JonnyGuru/Hardwaresecrets.
I am a retired Ford tech. Next to Fords, any computer is a piece of cake. (The cake, its not a lie)
3770K @4.5, Corsair H100, GTX780, 16gig Samsung, Obsidian 700 (yes there is a 700)
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