OCC Recommended Power Supplies List
This list was last updated on 20th December 2008



Introduction

When it comes to putting together a list of components for a new build nowadays, power supplies aren't as overlooked as they once were.
More people generally appreciate that it is an important part of a system, so buying a unit of adequate quality is important.
Of course, this raises another issue: How do you know what a good PSU is?
This list aims to remedy that by providing you with a reference of units that can be trusted (to varying degrees of course), to supply power to your precious components.

At this point I could go into a lot of background detail about what exactly goes into making a good PSU, but I'll save you the reading for now.
One point I will make though is the importance of choosing a suitable power supply for the system you are building.
It is also worth noting that recently there has been a trend for manufacturers to release more and more powerful units.
1KW PSUs aren't that uncommon any more, there are a number of them out there. Units which exceed this rating are becoming more common also.
My personal opinion is that these have very limited use, but they will still be included on the list as they are generally high quality units and may be useful for extreme builds.

With an enthusiasts mindset of bigger/more powerful = better, it is easy to think that you might require one of these monsters.
The fact is that 95% of you (and that's a conservative estimate) won't.
Unless you're packing some serious multi-GPU action then you're not even going to get close to needing one. Unless you just like to brag of course.
Consider this seriously when you are buying and if you are not sure, then don't be afraid to ask. That's what we are here for
(I would suggest asking anyway, even if you are sure. It can't hurt)

If you are interested in reading more about Power Supplies and some of the information that has been used to compile the list, then check out the following links:

Evidence Collection for Power Supply Requirements

Everything You Need to Know About Power Supplies - Highly Recommended Reading
By: Gabriel Torres @ Hardware Secrets

How Much Power is Enough?
By: Steven Walton @ LegionHardware

Power Supply Fundamentals
By: Mike Chin @ SPCR

Why 99% of Power Supply Reviews Are Wrong
By: Gabriel Torres @ Hardware Secrets

Anatomy of Switching Power Supplies
By: Gabriel Torres @ Hardware Secrets

OEM Database @ JonnyGuru

XS Tiered PSU Manufacturer Brand Listing
By: perkam @ XtremeSystems

80 Plus Certified PSUs

Test Data From:

Jonny Guru
Silent PC Review
[H]ard|OCP
Hardware Secrets
PC Perspective
HardwareLogic
OverclockersClub


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The List

Power Supplies are listed by brand and important features are noted alongside the listing.
'Quiet' in this case means acceptable for use in what some may commonly call a 'silent' system.
Basically they are quiet enough to be matched with other 'silent' products such as case fans etc. without causing too much of an upset.
Be sure to ask if you are planning a quiet system as even those labelled as quiet will vary in noise level.
(note: Some of the PSUs may be quiet but haven't been labelled as such yet because of the lack of reliable evidence)
'Modular' should be a familiar concept, allowing you to add or remove power cables as needed.
Listings link to the official product page for the PSU/PSU Series in question
I will attempt to keep the list as up to date as possible, I'm sure you realise how quickly things move.
Take a deep breath, and begin:


Antec

- Earthwatts 380W - Quiet
- Earthwatts 430W - Quiet
- Earthwatts 500W - Quiet
- Earthwatts 650W
- NeoHE 380W - Modular - Quiet
- NeoPower 430W - Modular - Quiet
- NeoPower 500W - Modular
- NeoPower 550W - Modular
- NeoPower Blue 650W - Modular
- TruePower Trio 430W
- TruePower Trio 550W
- TruePower Trio 650W
- Antec TruePower Quattro 850W - Modular
- Antec Signature 850W - Modular


BeQuiet!

- Dark Power Pro 430W - Modular - Quiet
- Dark Power Pro 530W - Modular
- Dark Power Pro 600W - Modular
- Dark Power Pro 750W - Modular
- Dark Power Pro 850W - Modular


BFGTech

- ES-800
- LS-550
- LS-680


Coolmax

- CUQ-1350B 1350W - Modular


Cooler Master

- Real Power Pro 850W
- Real Power Pro 1000W


Corsair

- HX 520W - Modular - Quiet
- HX 620W - Modular - Quiet
- VX 450W - Quiet
- VX 550W
- TX 650W - Quiet
- TX 750W
- TX 850W
- HX 1000W - Modular


Enermax

- Pro82+ 525W - Quiet
- Modu82+ 625W - Modular - Quiet
- Galaxy 850W - Modular
- Galaxy 1000W - Modular
- Revolution 85+ 1050W - Modular


Etasis

- ET750
- ET850


FSP

- Green PS 300W (FSP300-60GLN)
- Green PS 350W (FSP350-60GLN)
- Green PS 400W (FSP400-60GLN)
- Blue Storm II 400w
- Blue Storm II 500w


Hiper

- Type R II 880W
- Type M 880W


Kingwin

- ABT-1220MA1S - Modular


NorthQ

- Giant Connector 850W - Modular


OCZ

- StealthXStream 500W
- StealthXStream 600W
- ProXStream 1000W
- EliteXStream 800W
- EliteXStream 1000W


PC Power and Cooling

- Turbo-Cool 510 SLI
- Turbo-Cool 510 ASL
- Turbo-Cool 860W
- Turbo-Cool 1KW
- Silencer 610
- Silencer 750 Quad


Seasonic

- S12II 330W - Quiet
- S12II 380W - Quiet
- S12II 430W - Quiet
- S12II 500W - Quiet
- S12 Energy+ 550W - Quiet
- S12 Energy+ 650W - Quiet
- M12 500W - Modular - Quiet
- M12 600W - Modular - Quiet
- M12 700W - Modular - Quiet
- M12D 850W - Modular - Quiet

Silverstone

- Zeus ST65ZF
- Zeus ST75ZF
- Zeus ST85ZF
- Zeus ZM1200M - Modular
- Olympia OP650
- Olympia OP750
- Olympia OP1000
- Olympia OP1200
- Decathon DA750


Thermaltake

- ToughPower 550W
- ToughPower 600W
- Purepower RX 600W - Modular
- ToughPower 650W
- ToughPower 700W
- ToughPower 700W Cable Management - Modular
- ToughPower 750W
- ToughPower 750W Cable Management - Modular
- ToughPower 850W - Modular
- ToughPower 1000W
- ToughPower 1000W Cable Management - Modular
- ToughPower 1200W
- ToughPower 1200W Cable Management - Modular


Topower

- Powerbird 900W


Tuniq

- Ensemble 1200W


Ultra

- X-Pro 750W
- X-Pro 800w
- X3 1000w - Modular


Zalman

- ZM360B-APS
- ZM600-HP - Modular
- ZM750-HP - Modular
- ZM1000-HP - Modular - Quiet


Zippy

- GSM-6550P
- GSM-6600P
- PSL-6720P
- PSL-6800P - (available with PCIe x 4)
- PSL-6850P - (available with PCIe x 4)

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Credits:
Many thanks go out to the people behind all of the resources used to compile this list (check out the links at the top of this post), without them it wouldn't have been possible.


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A note on pricing: The cost of power supplies is certainly an important factor when you are going to buy, but as this can tend to vary over time and by region it is given a relatively small consideration when adding units to this list. If a PSU is good, then it's good and I'll leave the shopping around to you.

I hope that reading this has helped you make a decision on which power supply is right for you.
If you're still not sure, then please ask in the forums and we'll be very happy to help.
Even if you have made up your mind, run your decision by us for more input.

Feedback is always welcome.
Disagree with how a PSU is tagged? Think something does / doesn't deserve to be on the list? Then let me know.

This post has been edited by jammin: Dec 20 2008, 08:43 AM

The List has just received a major overhaul.

Wow, that is one good looking guide. Great job Jammin!!

Thanks (and you left out roadkill.. though I'm sure you didn't mean to )

I'll take this opportunity to encourage members to post feedback.

- Tell us what you like and don't like about how the list works (is it easy to use?)
- What other information would you like included (I'll be working on adding tags to PSUs which could be described as 'quiet' for starters)
Other possible information could include efficiency (whether units are 80+ certified) and pricing (though as this fluctuates it may actually be counter productive)
- Even whether colour effects the usability (do you like the neon green btw? I'm not sure if I do)

edit - neon snot green is out and pastel yellow is in, along with a nice lavender for the quiet ones

This post has been edited by jammin: Apr 29 2007, 09:57 PM

Hm... quiet... what does this actually mean? I mean, 'modular' is rather self-explanatory, but quietness.... I dunno.

For instance, the 92mm Noiseblocker fan on my XP-90 is spec'd "to German DIN standards" at 22dBA. It is silent to me. OT, but I do like how they tell you exactly how the fans were measured too. Very honest!

My friend bought all Akasa Amber fans, 92mm and 120mm, which are spec'd at 18dBA for both. He later changed to Xilence fans, as he just preferred the colour, which are spec'd at 19dBA for the 92mm and 21dBA for the 120mm (according to Aria description). He actually says the Xilence are noticeably quieter, regardless of the specs. I'm not sure if it's just a subjective thing, or if the specs are being measured slightly differently.

So, though numbers don't seem to be entirely indicative of "quietness", apparently, I still think it might be a good sort of "guideline" if they were included? :s Or maybe even a 'Silent' tag, or was that was quiet was meant to mean?



How about a tag indicating if it's single / dual / quad rails or whatever? Or are most dual / quad these days? I dunno!


I do remember when I was looking for a new PSU a while back, I was determined to find out what caps were being used as my current Antec is full of Fuj[something] ( sounds very much like f-you, ironically ) 110% garbage. It's hard to find from reviews what's actually inside, but I do think it would be kinda nice to include it if people want to report it. There might be a problem with varying slightly from unit to unit though, which would be a pain. My Antec TC 550 is purely f-you caps, even on the primary mains side! Most people, at the very least, seemed to have Rubycon's there!


I can't remember what the old list looked like now, but this one looks nice and simple!

This post has been edited by markiemrboo: Apr 30 2007, 02:42 AM

Quiet is a bit different than Silent, even though manufacturers like to exchange the two words as if they were the same.
I should probably add a clear definition as to what the 'quiet' tag means.

Quiet in this case means acceptable for use in what some may commonly call a 'silent' system.
Basically they are quiet enough to be matched with other 'silent' products such as case fans etc. without causing too much of an upset.

I didn't want to tag them as 'silent' because they aren't. Only passively cooled PSUs are truly capable of that and don't really have a place in a list on a forum like this as far as I'm concerned.

You are right that manufacturers numbers cannot be trusted, and they also don't measure the 'quality' of the sound.
That's something that can only be done with subjective testing.


Each PSU that is labelled 'quiet' in the list is done so on the basis of review and consumer consensus.
Therefore some of the PSUs on the list may actually be quiet, but aren't labelled as such because of a lack of evidence (or research on my part).
If members can provide adequate evidence they can then also be tagged.
Most of the current 'quiet' PSUs are based on testing performed by SPCR, who's judgement I tend to trust in that regard.



As for labelling PSUs with multiple rails, that only serves to confuse things further I believe.
Most multi-rail PSUs aren't truly multi rail in any case, with all 12v lines being fed from the same source on the PCB.
I'm just trying to find some sources to refer you to on that one.
(edit - it's something Hardware Secrets refer to in PSU reviews quite often)

This post has been edited by jammin: Apr 30 2007, 05:25 AM

oh they are SO you darling

You so can't tell I'm doing a design degree can you.

This post has been edited by jammin: Apr 30 2007, 03:10 AM

why arent the antec truepowers series on there? arent they supposed to be good

I'll be adding the Truepower Trio series actually
They are Seasonic units, but you won't get quite the same build quality you'd get with Seasonic branded PSUs.

Edit - Added Antec TruePower Trio series.

Edit2 - Also added FSP Green PS series. These might be relatively difficult to find (pay attention to the product number in the brackets).
The 300W is currently sold at Newegg

This post has been edited by jammin: May 8 2007, 09:21 AM