The power supply is a very important component of a personal computer, which converts 220 V, going through the mains, into a voltage of 3.3 to 12 V - depending on the needs of a particular element. Many users are reckless about buying such a device, buying it with the case, so to speak, for change. However, if you plan to assemble a fairly powerful and high-performance machine, you should approach the choice of such an element with all responsibility.
The fact is that a poor-quality or inappropriate power supply will quickly disable various parts, for example, a video card, motherboard or processor, the repair or replacement of which will be quite expensive. In this regard, we decided to devote our today's review to the best power supplies of this year that are only on the market. However, before proceeding with the analysis of the characteristics and operational capabilities of a particular model, let's first look at the key points that you need to pay attention to when buying such a device.
Summary of the rating:
How to choose the right power supply for your computer?
First, let's take a closer look at what voltage is designed for which elements. 3.3 V is designed to power all cascades of system logic, including the motherboard itself and RAM. 5 V is used for PCI logic and IDE elements, and SATA devices also belong here. 12 V is the busiest line, as it is used to operate the video card and processor. The first two lines are in most cases not loaded too much, so you can not pay special attention to them when buying - even the minimum values will almost always be enough.
The load on the last line is very high, since the most demanding in terms of resources video card and processor are fed from it. Be sure to pay attention to the number of connectors in this device. Blocks of the latest generations are able to provide additional power to the video card, especially since they are released more and more powerful, respectively, the requirements for the amount of resources will be much higher.
The overall dimensions do not play a special role - they can be selected for the case, but sometimes they do the opposite: first choose a device, and depending on its size they buy a case. The most common is the ATX standard, however, there are more compact models on sale - SFX, TFX, CFX. They are suitable for users seeking to create a system that takes up a minimum of free space. Be sure to pay attention to the efficiency of the product. It is not very difficult to calculate the required power of the unit - you need to add up all the indicators of the elements and add 15% of the margin in case you plan to upgrade the computer in the future.
When compiling our rating of the best power supplies, we took into account the feedback of users and professionals, the ratio of price and quality of the model. In order to make it more convenient for you to read it, we decided to divide it into three groups - cheap, medium and expensive. We hope that after reading this review, you can easily select the necessary equipment for yourself.
Inexpensive price segment
3.GIGABYTE GZ-EBS50N-C3500W
This is a good enough choice for a home or office personal computer, which is planned to be used mainly when working with documentation. The main element is a DC-DC converter, which can provide all the elements with the necessary voltage. In addition, there is a special protection system inside that protects the device from a short circuit. This allows you to maintain the health of the elements in a personal computer. The rated power of this equipment is 500 watts - this is enough to connect a medium-power video card and a quad-core processor. In addition, under the case there are several more protection systems - from overload and from power surges, which can also have a very negative effect on the entire computer. The diameter of the fan is 120 mm - this ensures high-quality cooling of the elements and prevents overheating of the equipment. Overall dimensions are 15x8.5x14 cm - standard indicators that are suitable for most system units.
Connectors are enough to connect a large number of devices. For the motherboard, the type of connector is 2- + 4 pin, for the processor 4 + 4 pin, for the video card 6 + 2 pin. In addition, there are three 15 pin connectors for connecting various types of SATA devices (usually they are hard drives), there is one 4 pin Floppy connector, which is used to power the drive. The device is housed in a black-painted stainless steel metal case. The surface of the casing is perfectly smooth, which protects it from dust accumulation. The hole for all wires is equipped with a rubber ring that does not allow fraying of the braid. The cooler is closed by a thin wire grill, thanks to which there is a large access to fresh air, moreover, right through it you can get to the fan and clean it.
Benefits:
- Beautiful appearance;
- One of the lowest prices in the entire market;
- There are all the necessary connectors.
Disadvantages:
- Tests revealed that the real power is only 350 watts, which is 150 watts lower compared to the claimed manufacturer.
2. FSP Group Q-Dion QD450
This model goes on sale without packaging, and therefore, from the configuration there is only an elastic band that allows you to keep the cables in a compact state. The case is made of thin steel, a stamped grille is located above the fan. The lid has a not quite familiar shape. The screws holding it in place are installed on the sides, in addition, it has special locking protrusions located on the same side where the loops come out. On the back is a power switch. Special capacitors are installed at the input, which are able to function normally at temperatures up to 85 degrees, capacitors located at the output can withstand a higher temperature - up to 110 degrees. In total there are 5 loops - for the motherboard 20 + 4 pin (its length is 34 cm), a loop for connecting to the processor 4 pin (length - 32 cm), loops that allow you to connect a PATA hard drive and drive (its length is 28 + 15 cm) , as well as two loops for installing SATA hard drives.
This device is cooled by a fan with a diameter of 120 mm, which is able to rotate at a speed of up to 1650 rpm, it is equipped with a plain bearing. For its price, this unit is characterized by excellent work efficiency - it can reach about 84-85%.
Benefits:
- Acceptable temperature
- Reliable cooling system;
- It gives a high coefficient of performance.
Disadvantages:
- The fan is quite noisy, regardless of its load.
1. AeroCool VX500500W
Despite the rather low cost, this power supply is characterized by high power indicators, attractive appearance. It is well suited not only for ordinary office or home computers, but also for sufficiently powerful gaming machines.The design provides support for C6 / C7 modules, which makes it suitable for placement in system units where such a device is located below. The body is painted black, the grill has a very original shape, which makes the unit more stylish. Despite the fact that the fan has a diameter of 120 mm, it functions almost silently. But the butt is a sticker on which all the power characteristics of this device are indicated. The mass of the block is 1375 grams. All cords are braided in plastic, which is characterized by good reliability. To connect the motherboard there is a cable with a 20 + 4 pin connector, for the processor - 4 + 4 pin. The wires are quite long - 44 and 47 cm, so they are enough even for a fairly large system unit. In addition, there is a 6 pin cable for powering the video card, a large number of connectors are provided for connecting various SATA, Floppy and Molex devices.
The level of efficiency is quite high. Even with a significant load on the unit, the noise does not increase. The voltage on all connectors is stable, there are no subsidence or power surges. Power indicators strictly coincide with those declared by the manufacturer.
Benefits:
- The wires have a reliable plastic braid;
- The power supply itself looks pretty stylish;
- There is practically no noise during operation;
- Several protection systems are provided - from overload, short circuit and power surges;
- Perfectly stabilizes input voltage.
Disadvantages:
- Not found.
The best mid-range power supplies
3. Deepcool DQ550ST 550W
For its power indicator, which is 550 watts, this device is not too expensive. The model is equipped with a steel case painted black, and its overall dimensions strictly correspond to the ATX format, which is installed in most system units, so there should be no problems with the placement of this device inside the computer. On the top cover there is an original grill, under which a fan with a diameter of 120 mm is hidden. There is a sticker on one of the sides - it shows all the key operational qualities and technical indicators of this equipment. A 12 V line allows you to give out current up to 45 A, there are also 3.3 and 5 V lines - they give less - up to 20 A. The power of the first is 540 W, the second - 110 W. Fixed cables, protective braid in this design is not provided. A set of connectors is enough to form a modern personal computer.
The efficiency is very high - over 90%. For this price category, such an indicator is simply excellent. Accordingly, the efficiency of such equipment will be at its best. Thanks to him, the work of computer hardware will be as stable as possible, even if the user decided to overclock the speed of the processor and video card. The unit has a decent margin of safety so that all indicators are in the required range. As users note, at the moment this model is one of the best in terms of value for money.
Benefits:
- A rather high efficiency, and it does not change at all with increasing load;
- Even under severe load, the noise level is quite low;
- The device provides a stable voltage.
Disadvantages:
- Fixed wires.
2. FSP Group ATX-600PNR
The rated power of this device is only 400 watts, which makes it not too suitable for powerful gaming computers. This model is characterized by excellent reliability and a long period of operation - in these parameters, it is significantly ahead of most existing products on the market. The appearance of the model is quite simple - the body is metal, unpainted. Instead of a grill, there is standard stamping. Through it, fresh air passes through the fan, and heated air passes through the cells located on the rear panel. All other faces are solid.Standard dimensions for the device in ATX format are 140x150x86 mm. The case also has a power on / off button. The wires are made in the form of loops, but they are quite short, so this model is best suited for installation in a PC case with a lower location of the power supply. The diameter of the fan is 120 mm, it is equipped with 7 blades, the total power of its work is 3.6 watts.
The design provides for a passive cooling system, presented in the form of a pair of radiators, which will remove excess heat from the main power elements. A power factor correction module is not provided, due to which the power consumption is significantly increased. Input capacitors can withstand temperatures up to 85 degrees, they are of good manufacturing quality. The efficiency is not too high - at peak loads it can reach 78.5%. The cooling system works very efficiently, so that all the elements of the power supply do not heat up to temperatures above 40 degrees - this can significantly extend the life of this equipment.
Benefits:
- For its price, it has an acceptable power;
- It stabilizes the voltage in the system unit well.
Disadvantages:
- If the load is more than 500 watts, the device may automatically turn off.
1. AeroCool KCAS-650M
This is not a very expensive product, but it has a good power reserve of 650 watts. The model is placed in a painted metal casing, there is a toggle switch. The metal of which the body is made is quite thin, which immediately feels to the touch. The grill type fan grill, it is designed so that the blades take the maximum possible amount of air and direct it to cool various devices. All cables are placed in a nylon mesh, which greatly increases their strength indicators. The wires have a cross section of AWG 18. The diameter of the fan is 135 mm. This is logical, given the fact that the device is quite powerful and needs an enhanced cooling system. It rotates on the basis of a special rolling bearing, the maximum speed that it can develop is 1700 rpm.
This power supply is also suitable for gaming computers that are equipped with only one video card. The coefficient of performance is quite high, although not prohibitive. There are practically no ripples at the output, which reliably protects all elements of the personal computer from burnout. Cable selection is limited, but there is everything you need. Despite the decent diameter of the fan, it works almost silently.
Benefits:
- All lines maintain stable voltage;
- Almost no noise during operation;
- A decent level of performance;
- Pleasant appearance.
Disadvantages:
- Not found.
3. GIGABYTE G750H
This device has a modular design, in addition, it is certified 80 Plus Gold, which ensures a high efficiency of the equipment - it can reach about 92%. In the manufacture of high-quality Japanese capacitors are used, which are able to withstand a fairly high temperature, but they themselves rarely when heated above 40 degrees. The power of the equipment is quite high, so the fan is installed large - its diameter is 140 mm, it rotates due to two ball bearings. The cables are characterized by increased stiffness, flat and long enough, well suited for both the upper and lower installation of the power supply.
The design of the model is quite standard for such devices, on one of the faces there is a sticker with the operational characteristics of the power supply. The cables are of different lengths, so they cannot be mixed up. The maximum power of the device is 750 watts. There are several protection systems: which protects against overload in terms of power and amperage, from the passage of high or low voltage. The assembly is high-quality and reliable - this is not surprising at the cost of this equipment.
Benefits:
- Actual power exactly matches the declared;
- Excellent voltage stabilizer;
- High rates of efficiency.
Disadvantages:
- A little noise.
2.Cooler Master V650 Modular 650W (RS650-AFBAG1)
In second place among the best power supplies of this year, located in the expensive price segment was this rather interesting device. First of all, it is worth saying a few words about its appearance. The case is metal, it looks very reliable. The grill, under which the fan is located, is made in the form of cells resembling a honeycomb in shape. In addition, it is enclosed in a tinted steel frame. On the sides of the case are stamped strips. All connectors for connecting cables are signed, so it will not be possible to get confused when installing the device. Overall dimensions are standard - fully fit into the ATX format. The mass of the device is also not too big - only 1.4 kg.
This model can be used to work in electric networks, the voltage of which is in the range from 100 to 240 V. In this regard, you can not be afraid of turning off the device when the voltage drops. The maximum power of the equipment is 650 W, and the efficiency is very high - it can reach 99.7%. The power supply is manufactured using separate voltage stabilization technology, which ensures a long product life.
Benefits:
- Very high coefficient of performance;
- All necessary protection systems are provided;
- A stable current is issued along all lines;
- Modular design - minimum wires inside;
- Long warranty period of 5 years;
- It works pretty quietly.
Disadvantages:
- Not detected.
1. Thermaltake Toughpower DPS G RGB 650W
The leader of our rating of power supplies of the year is this model. It is characterized by a rather interesting appearance - the case is painted black, all connectors are neatly labeled and signed, the ventilation grill has an original shape - the holes are elongated, have a rectangular shape. It is worth noting that such holes are located not only on the cover itself, directly above the fan, but also on the walls, on either side of it. There is an opinion among users that they were made not so much to improve the cooling system, but to make the ring LED fan illumination more noticeable. At the bottom of the case is a sticker with the main parameters of this equipment.
Peak output power is significantly higher compared to that declared by the manufacturer - it is indicated that it is 650 watts, but if necessary, this parameter increases to 780 watts. This allows you to use this equipment to build powerful gaming computers. The device supports input voltage in the range of 100-240 watts. The case is made of fairly thick metal, has a black color. Here, a fan with a diameter of 140 mm and a rotation speed of 1,500 rpm are the main element of the cooling system. Part of its area is covered by a special screen, which allows to optimize the movement of air flows in the product itself.
Benefits:
- Very original appearance;
- Provides RGB LED backlight type;
- The increased number of connectors;
- Superior work efficiency
- There is a computer application that allows you to analyze all the processes occurring in the power supply.
Disadvantages:
- Except for the high price not found.
In conclusion, a useful video
Well, our review of the best power supplies for computers has come to its logical conclusion. We hope you were interested in reading it. If you still have certain questions about this or that model, then you can ask them in the comments to this article. We will try to clarify incomprehensible points to you as soon as possible.
(2 ratings, average: 5,00 out of 5)
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