Power supplies

[prelude4ws]

Think I need to get a new PSU for my PC, I use a high end 3D modeling and render program a lot and noticed the when you hit the render button you can hear all the fans slow down rather a lot

anyone know of any good quality brands and places to get them from? think I'm looking for about 500W (its 300 or 350W now, cant remember!)

want something nice and quiet and reliable!

oh PC is:

2.8GHz P4
2GB RAM
80 GB HDD
256 GeForce FX5600 (soon to be changed for a Quadra4 card)
LG CD-ROM
and some thing called a floppy disk that never gets used!

[john_p]

A decent 350w should be enoguh for that lot, a crappy 350w probably won't be. If you're getting a new one get a 500w though, makes things a little more futureproof.

I use overclockers and have not had a problem before
www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Power_Supplies_123.html

Antec and Enermax are good makes.

[rsvmilly]

Enermax seconded. And they have a variable speed control for the fans - to keep the noise down.

[prelude4ws]

Funniliy enough after much probing () around the 2 names i come up with before checking back here for any replies, are Enermax and Antec! Thanks for the responses guys as always the pistonhead collective is all knowing and wise!

[JonRB]

I tend to use Novatech quite a bit. Their prices seem fairly good and their customer service is very good too.

I had a delivery that was due to be delivered yesterday on their "Next Day Delivery" service and it didn't arrive until today. I sent an email to customer services informing them and really expecting no more than an apology, but instead got an email written by a real person (ie. not auto generated) back within an hour or so not only apologising but telling me they were refunding the delivery charge. Bonus.

Edit: Having said that, I suppose it's a poor reflection on companies in general that something like that is considered noteworthy.

>> Edited by JonRB on Thursday 30th September 12:59

[JonRB]

Oh yeah, if you are upgrading to a newer graphics card then many require a power feed directly from the PSU (using one of the cables you'd normally provide power to, say, a hard disc). So you really should go for a 500W anyway.

[pesty]

I just bought an Enermax windtaker* somthing like that.
It was 480W I think or somat like that.

Anyhow It looked exceptionaly well made. some of the cables had shielding on them and its very very quiet.

also the fans stay on for a while after you have turned off the pc so the PS dosnt cook itself to death

was very impressed with it.