Seasonic S12-430; PCI-E? And 48-50C idle temperatures?! AHH

[akwok]

Hi all,

I have decided to finally get a new PSU, and am unsure whether to purchase the S12-430 or the S12-500. The 500w is said to be PCI-Express ready, while the 400w does not state this. Does this mean that it has an extra molex specifically for PCI-e video cards? Will the 430w be able to power PCI-e mobos/video cards in the future? I am looking to use this power supply for at least two years, and I don't know if the little added noise of the 500/600w is justified.

Thanks
-akwok.

By the way, can you guys tell me how much of a temperature change I can gain if I install an XP-120 w/ Nexus & an Arctic Silencer/ Zalman ZMOP1 fan?
Right now my configuration is :

3.2E Prescott @ 3.5
2x PC4000 512mb, DDR500 (Running at DDR500)
ATi Radeon 9800 Pro
2x Raptors 74gb
Thermaltake Purepower 560w (Sigh.. temporary until I get a new one).

My idle temperature is !48C!. Full load.. who knows, scared to even play games right now (most likely 70C full load). I'm running a Zalman CNPS7000AlCu and the 9800 Passively Cooled by a Zalman ZM80D. How big a change will I get in temps if I swap the PSU (I think the Purepower is exhibiting LOTS of heat too), slap in an XP-120 w/Nexus, and a slim fan on the ZM80D? If the temperatures are still that bad I might have to switch to water cooling. Ambient temperature is like 22C.

[ilh]

The 430 does not have the 6-pin PCIe connector that the 500 does. You would have to use an adapter that typically comes with video cards. These adapters typically connect to two 4-pin molexes.

The 430 has a medium-speed sleeve-bearing Yate Loon whereas the 500 has a high-speed ball-bearing Yate Loon. I have to say that I think my 500 has gotten a bit quieter recently. Perhaps the ball bearing has broken in? At least it never ramps up from its minimum speed of 1000rpm. I'm sure a 430 is even quieter.

If I was buying now, I would probably get the 430.

[akwok]

Ahh, I see. Will most likely get a 430w then, as 70w is a minimal difference.

What about my huge idle temperature issue? Any suggestions?

[StarfishChris]

My idle temperature is !48C!. Full load.. who knows, scared to even play games right now (most likely 70C full load).

I wouldn't be too scared since they underclock themselves and shut down if they get too hot, but still - that's quite hot for a Prescott if you have a case fan and/or duct. What's the airflow in your case like?

[ilh]

What about my huge idle temperature issue? Any suggestions?

By an AMD Winchester rather than an Intel Prescott!

(I'm at 38-40C full load folding, overclocked to 240x10, 7000 at minimum speed, ambient of 18C.)

[akwok]

My idle temperature is !48C!. Full load.. who knows, scared to even play games right now (most likely 70C full load).

I wouldn't be too scared since they underclock themselves and shut down if they get too hot, but still - that's quite hot for a Prescott if you have a case fan and/or duct. What's the airflow in your case like?

It's a Coolermaster Wavemaster. Two 80mm intakes in the front, one exhaust on the top, one exhaust in the back.

I am thinking that the power supply is putting out way too much heat. And the fact that the 9800 is passively cooled.

Still, this is the hottest proc I've used so far; 50C web-browsing, YIKES.

[akwok]

Ploop. Going to get the S12-430w, and see how that affects temperature/noise.

Word of advice : Never, EVER buy anything labeled with Thermaltake. I bought their Volcano 7 3 years ago, and it sucked - then I heard people with rave reviews regarding their Xaser II series, so I bought it. It sucked too, gave it away after 3 weeks of use. Last year dumbstruck reviewers gave the Purepower 560w the #1 PSU spot.. and whoo, it sucked bigtime. Hello clicking and ramping land!