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Bang For Your Buck: Four 500 W Power Supplies Reviewed

Bang For Your Buck: Four 500 W Power Supplies Reviewed
By , Patrick Afschar

Enthusiasts often say that you can never have too much performance. However, a 500W power supply is perfectly ample for a majority of mid-range PCs. This is one of those cases where a solid ratio of performance to price is preferable to gross excess.

Editor's Note: If you want more background on how power supply testing plays out here at Tom's Hardware, I recommend that you check out Soon At Tom's Hardware: Full-Scale Power Supply Testing before reading this piece.

Special attention gets paid to the power supply unit (PSU) these days, primarily in the high-performance and gaming community. No wonder, as the requirements of top-shelf PCs with multiple processors and modern 3D graphics cards are constantly increasing. Such computers will suck 800 W or more from the power supply under load, and for short periods that number can be substantially higher.

On the other hand, power supplies are often forgotten in offices and for everyday multimedia applications. Truth be told, compact and mid-range PCs don't require a high-performance power supply. However, investing in a high-quality power supply can pay off in several ways.

First, a good PSU guarantees a reliable and consistent supply of power to all components. This can help extend component longevity. Second, a highly energy efficient PSU helps reduce the energy consumption of a home or office. Additionally, other aspects, such as ergonomics, cable modularity, and cable length can simplify or complicate PC assembly. PSUs with good build quality also prevent nicked fingers or a less-than-optimal fit during installation. Trust us. We've seen it all.

We gathered a few mid-range models for this roundup. A top street price of $150 was our only prerequisite, and we settled on four 500 W models from Cooler Master, Enermax, FSP, and SilverStone. The coveted 80 PLUS logo is emblazoned on each box, except for SilverStone's.

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  • 1 Hide
    irish_adam , 8 July 2010 19:42
    Please dont tell me you just did a a PSU review without anything about noise output. WTF? TBH noise is the main thing i look for when buying a PSU as some can make your computer sound like a jet engine starting up
  • 0 Hide
    jsc , 9 July 2010 17:48
    It is possible that CoolerMaster is finally getting their stuff together with the M-series?
  • 0 Hide
    zipzoomflyhigh , 13 July 2010 21:27
    If you have a decent video card, your not going to hear anything else anyways, let alone the psu.

    Coolermaster has always had their stuff together, even the cheapo RS-XXX-PCAR's never die. Now the GX series takes over the RS and is much better quality. Maximum PC and TH have consistently used Real Power Pro's for their testbeds.
  • 0 Hide
    zipzoomflyhigh , 13 July 2010 21:28
    I think a 500w psu comparison with $140 models is ridiculous. Who spends $140 on a 500w psu when you can have a 750w Corsair for a little more than half of that?? Nobody.

    Not to mention a real 500w psu roundup would have more mainstream models, not just 4 models that aren't even very popular.
  • 0 Hide
    irish_adam , 13 July 2010 23:23
    zipzoomflyhighIf you have a decent video card, your not going to hear anything else anyways, let alone the psu.Coolermaster has always had their stuff together, even the cheapo RS-XXX-PCAR's never die. Now the GX series takes over the RS and is much better quality. Maximum PC and TH have consistently used Real Power Pro's for their testbeds.


    I can only hear my video cards when the fans are maxed out when i'm playing a game. Theres no way you should be able to hear your video card when its idling and i have 2!
  • 0 Hide
    sirrell , 15 July 2010 07:24
    Hey what is the picture of the glowing cable?
    with the link "Bang For Your Buck: Four 500 W Power Supplies Reviewed"
  • 0 Hide
    ksampanna , 16 July 2010 02:15
    Should've also included old pros like 550VX, TP / EW 500