power supply question

[INSTINCT]

regarding the power supply debate ....does anyone know what is better

active or passive pfc?????

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

Power Factor Correction (PFC)

Power Factor Correction (PFC) allows power distribution to operate at its maximum efficiency. There are two types of PFC, Active PFC and Passive PFC. All of our power supplies are either Active PFC Power Supplies or Passive PFC Power Supplies.

Active PFC

The preferable type of PFC is Active Power Factor Correction (Active PFC) since it provides more efficient power frequency. Because Active PFC uses a circuit to correct power factor, Active PFC is able to generate a theoretical power factor of over 95%. Active Power Factor Correction also markedly diminishes total harmonics, automatically corrects for AC input voltage, and is capable of a full range of input voltage. Since Active PFC is the more complex method of Power Factor Correction, it is more expensive to produce an Active PFC power supply.

Passive PFC

The most common type of PFC is Passive Power Factor Correction (Passive PFC). Passive PFC uses a capacitive filter at the AC input to correct poor power factor. Passive PFC may be affected when environmental vibration occurs. Passive PFC requires that the AC input voltage be set manually. Passive PFC also does not use the full energy potential of the AC line.
Non-PFC

Non-PFC power supplies are no longer recommended. In Europe, power supplies are now required to have either active PFC or passive PFC.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

As far as I knew, PFC ws just for if you were to plug in your PC in Europe so you wouldn't fry it.  Just learned something myself.

[INSTINCT]

well smooth based on all the info ive concluded the best power supplies out there now , except the high priced (pcpower+cooling)

will be the antec neo 550  <triple! 12v rails  wow!...thats   12v1@18a  x3   insane!.

the ocz modstream 600   < probably the best looking and modular.

and the enermax noise taker 600  < brute force and reliability.



all are sli and active pfc..so its all a matter of taste from here all are pretty much within range of each other.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103941

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194001

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

Well, there is no Modstream 600, you probably mean the Powerstream 600.  The highest Modstream is 520W, which is modular, but has no SLI support.  The Modstream is offered in 450W and 520W versions while the Powerstream is offered in 520W and 600W versions.  The Powerstream 600W does have SLI support, but is not modular.  Also the Modstream 520 only features a single 12V rail at 28A.

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/power_management/power_supplies

[Kat*{MEOW}*]

Theres a lot of good info on power supplies here:

http://www.hardforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=93

Good forum on power supplies.

[INSTINCT]

of only antec had a 600+ watt version of that neo psu, it would be a lock for me.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

You'll definitely want to check out your board's manual Instinct, I found out that the Asus board I'm going to get recommends a 500W+ PSU.  That Antec is the only PSU I've seen so far with triple rails, I did see Silverstone has a quad rail setup.  Also see if the board manufacturer has forums online and look for any listings of problematic PSU's other people have had.

I'm still looking at that Powerstream 600.  It is a beefy PSU to say the least, but it looks pretty solid.

[Smooth*{MEOW}*]

Couple of nice Fortons.  nVidia SLI cert, quad rails, >85% efficiency, 600 and 700w versions, +3.3@36A,+5V@30A,+12V1@15A,+12V2@15A,+12V3@15A,+12V4@15A,-12V@0.5A,+5VSB@2A

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104014

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104015