[REQUEST] Best PSU for Diagnostics?

[Appletax]

Want to have a known-good PSU on hand that's at least semi-modular and that could be sold to a customer if they need a new standard ATX PSU.

What should I get?

Looks like PSU prices have went up a lot. An EVGA white PSU is over $70.

Don't mind rebates.

 

[Porthos]

I keep one unopened PSU for sale and one for testing.
I have only the non-modular in stock.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H33SFJ...olid=2TQS0RXE0MIAU&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

They have increased in price for sure. The last time I got one on Feb 10 it was $47.49

 

[sapphirescales]

Looks like PSU prices have went up a lot. An EVGA white PSU is over $70.

Tell me about it. I recently quoted $180 for a PSU I can normally buy for $130 but when I actually went to order it, it was like $330. I don't normally keep high-end PSU's in stock but I've stocked quite a bit these past few weeks because the prices are just freaking retarded.

I just bought some 550w Thermaltake PSU's. I usually stick with Corsair/EVGA, but Thermaltake was the only brand left that was decently priced ($45) and wasn't some weird knockoff Chinese brand. I haven't bought a Thermaltake power supply in 5+ years. Started having problems with their fans in the TR2 series. But these were cheap and had a 5 year warranty so hopefully they'll be fine. I got my last 8 yesterday (or maybe the day before - the days are blending together sitting at home all day) so I've got a total of 34 now.

 

[frase]

As for testing purposes only I would get @ least a 750W. Due to you may need to test a GFX card that needs it. Does not matter which brand I am either ThermalTake or Corsair in general. They have shot up in price a Corsair Modular 750 is $AUS189.00

 

[sapphirescales]

s for testing purposes only I would get @ least a 750W

Honestly it's just for testing. I use an old Corsair CX430 (ya know, back when they were green). It's not like you're going to be running it for an extended period of time. Just long enough to make sure it POSTS. If it POSTS with the testing power supply but it doesn't with the currently installed one, it's time to replace it. THEN you can worry about wattage and stuff.

Now that I'm thinking about it, my CX430 has only been used for testing, but it's at least 5 years old by now. Probably time to replace it. I've got some new CX450's on the shelf. Maybe I should use one of those from now on.

 

[MichaelBits]

Cable length and power output.
I keep a couple power supplies around that have extra long cables. Makes them handy to just sit next to the desktop and plug in for testing.

 

[Sky-Knight]

A known working one?

I go through PSUs like socks, I have stacks of them... I pull used units out of every tower that passes through my hands... and I have a small junk yard full of them. Get a voltage tester, learn how to read it, and use what works.

Yes, I have a few brand new ones in stock too... about the only part I ever consistently stock.

 

[Your PCMD]

I pull used units out of every tower that passes through my hands... and I have a small junk yard full of them. Get a voltage tester, learn how to read it, and use what works.

Me too. I have a couple of these testers and they work perfectly. I have 6 EVGA 500 watt PSU's left out of 15 I bought last Black Friday for a mere $27/ea. from Microcenter. I don't sell them too often.

 

[Sky-Knight]

@Your PCMD, that looks very much like my two testers... and the only reason I have two is because I lost track of one for a bit.

They can give false results at times, but mostly work rather well.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Back when I was building custom gaming rigs, my favorite rock solid top notch PS brand was Seasonic.

 

[thecomputerguy]

I keep one unopened PSU for sale and one for testing.
I have only the non-modular in stock.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H33SFJ...olid=2TQS0RXE0MIAU&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

They have increased in price for sure. The last time I got one on Feb 10 it was $47.49

That's literally the same exact PSU I stock ...

I had to move away from it because they were out of stock for so long ... I'm stocking a 500W EVGA White now

 

[frase]

Honestly it's just for testing. I use an old Corsair CX430 (ya know, back when they were green). It's not like you're going to be running it for an extended period of time. Just long enough to make sure it POSTS. If it POSTS with the testing power supply but it doesn't with the currently installed one, it's time to replace it. THEN you can worry about wattage and stuff.

Now that I'm thinking about it, my CX430 has only been used for testing, but it's at least 5 years old by now. Probably time to replace it. I've got some new CX450's on the shelf. Maybe I should use one of those from now on.

Yea but you stated you wanted to sell it as well. A lot of variables there, if just for testing a corsair 550 modular I use.

 

[sapphirescales]

Yea but you stated you wanted to sell it as well.

No, I have a dedicated PSU for testing and I sell another PSU if it turns out the one in the client's computer is bad. I might sell the exact same model and wattage as my testing PSU, but I'd never sell the PSU that I use for testing. When I retire my CX430 I'll install it in some old Dell tower or something and then sell the old Dell tower. That's ethical because I'm selling a used computer and the power supply is used. It would be unethical to sell my testing PSU to someone that came in for a PSU replacement (unless of course I told them it was used, but nobody wants a used replacement part).

90% of the PSU's that I sell are low-end like the CX450 or the 500w EVGA. Most of my clients don't need anything more than that. My CX430 is capable of testing 99% of the computers that come through here. One notable exception is one time someone came in with a system that had 4x GTX 1080 graphics cards and a suspected bad PSU. I had to open an AX1200i that I had on the shelf just to test the thing. It turned out it was a PSU problem (he bought some crappy off-brand 650w PSU and used molex to PCI-e power adapters to connect the graphics cards).

He was a cheapwad and didn't even buy a replacement from me. He took the computer back and was going to work to RMA the cheapo power supply. I tried to tell him that the new one would probably blow up too, but he didn't believe me. Some people really can't accept that cheap stuff is cheap because it's crap. They think that companies that charge more for products are just ripping people off and that there's no real difference between a Seasonic 650w power supply for $130 and a piece of crap Apivia power supply for $26. All you can do is shake your head and move on.

 

[frase]

Yeap well one cant fix stupid. Let them go and RMA a $30 PSU. Which may surge other components in PC along the way. Same I never sell used parts unless I state refurbished - I always install a new PSU though as is critical.

This is my high tech psu tester, even comes with cat fur. Everything does with me as have 2 Ragdoll fluffballs

 

[sapphirescales]

Yeap well one cant fix stupid. Let them go and RMA a $30 PSU. Which may surge other components in PC along the way. Same I never sell used parts unless I state refurbished - I always install a new PSU though as is critical.

This is my high tech psu tester, even comes with cat fur. Everything does with me as have 2 Ragdoll fluffballs

View attachment 11858

This is the tester I use. Best I've been able to find:

https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Automated-Supply-Oversized-Supplies/dp/B005F778JO

 

[Diggs]

Geez! You guys and your digital testers. Mine is so old all it has is idiot lights. I probably should upgrade but its never been wrong.

 

[River Valley Computer]

Don't you love it when people come in that are scared of cats and you have to put him up while they are there. Then the ones allergic to them.

 

[Porthos]

Don't you love it when people come in that are scared of cats and you have to put him up while they are there. Then the ones allergic to them.

Pretty Kitty.

 

[River Valley Computer]

Pretty Kitty.

His name is Mouse and he says "THANK YOU".