Need a good psu for <$120

[mbucari1]

OK, thanks! $120 is low-end?

Anyway, why should I post before I hook up the HDD's?

[lynx]

OK, thanks! $120 is low-end?

Anyway, why should I post before I hook up the HDD's?

To make sure that it does. You need to be sure that the mobo is ok before you proceed any further.

If you connect other things up and it doesn't work, how do you know where the problem is? The only way is to remove everything again. Take those few seconds to prove that it is ok and you don't have that worry.

[clocker]

OK, thanks! $120 is low-end?

Yes, it is.
Given my druthers I'd have specced a higher output unit for your rig just to have some headroom but the budget didn't allow.

[Elvenmunky]

this is a noob question but is ATX a brand or type of PSU?

..and is ThermalTake a good make?

[clocker]

"ATX" describes the technical specs of the unit, not the brand.

Thermaltake (like many other brands) rebadges units made by other makers.
Thus, one "Thermaltake" PSU may be excellent while another is junk.

Check out Jonnyguru's website for the best info about power supplies.

[Elvenmunky]

cheers mate

[Seedler]

I've personally built over 30 PCs using the Corsairs (probably 20 of the 520's and 10 of the 620's- including my personal machines) with absolutely no indication of a PSU related problem, so I'm sure you'll be fine.
It's my favorite low end PSU.

When you first install it, leave everything unhooked save the motherboard and vid card (if required) and POST the PC.
Assuming all goes well- we'll keep our fingers crossed for you- connect the HDD and rePOST.
Then the opticals.

Bon chance.

You call the Cosair a LOW-END PSU?

WTF?

What do you consider mid-range, high-end, and top-of-the-line in terms of PSU?

[Virtualbody1234]

Remember that clocker defines low-end differently than everyone else.

[clocker]

Remember that clocker defines low-end differently than everyone else.

Not everyone but yeah, probably differently than most.
Forget for a moment my personal machines- which are toys/hobbies-and look at the PCs I sell.
After I've overcome the huge price/advertising hurdle of competing with the big guys and actually convinced a customer to have us build their computer, I can't afford to have something as mundane as the PSU take out the machine. Furthermore, power supplies can be the root cause of all sorts of weird little glitches that can take hours to track down, if they get caught at all. It's just not worth the post-sale trouble to cut corners and save a few bucks.

Also, it's common for my customers to willy-nilly add components with no thought whatsoever of the increased power draw, so I have to build in some headroom to account for all sorts of contingencies just so we don't look bad after Little Johnny decides to upgrade his video setup to SLI or something.

So calling a Corsair 520 "lowend" isn't snobbery (although I have no problem with that description at all), it's actually self-preservation and to a certain extent, protecting the customer from himself.

@Seedler...the units I consider "high end" change constantly...I monitor Jonnyguru's website almost daily and make decisions based on the most current info (and availability).
I'm not a "bigger is always better" advocate (I have yet to sell a >1KW PSU) but I also realize that although power supplies are not as sexy as say, vid cards, they are a very important core component of a nice PC and shouldn't be ignored.

[Elvenmunky]

sorry to be off topic but does anyone recommend me getting a ThermalTake PSU?