Power Supply - System Component Background Information

Power Supply Information
The power supply is what converts your AC power from the outlet into usable DC power to your computer's components. The wattage rating on the power supply is an indication of just how much power the unit is able to provide before being overloaded. Having more and higher-end components in a system usually means a higher wattage power supply is necessary, but to help you make the best decision we have designed a power supply calculator that you can see on our custom configuration pages. On some of our smaller, more specialized pages we have already selected a model that is appropriate to the needs of the other hardware available on that page.

Included in Case

Some of our cases include power supplies already, so you don't necessarily need to spend more on a separate unit. All such cases will list a power rating as part of the case name - like "380W".

If you have any questions, be sure to contact our sales consultants at sales@pugetsystems.com. They will be happy to help you find the right power supply for your specific needs.

Seasonic 500W (80mm fan)

This power supply does not have a side 120mm fan, which is sometimes necessary in low profile cases, were there is no room for airflow at the side of the power supply.

Corsair TX 650W

Puget Preferred Part!

Enthusiasts looking for the optimal in price performance PSU technology will find the Corsair TX series of PSUs will meet even the most demanding of required specifications.

The Corsair TX power supplies are engineered using advanced technology and components typically found with high performance power supplies. With design features such as a dedicated, single +12V rail offer the maximum compatibility with the latest system components.

If you have any questions, be sure to contact our sales consultants at sales@pugetsystems.com. They will be happy to help you find the right power supply for your specific needs.

Puget Professional Advice:

Jon Bach (President) Says:
We have a long happy history with Seasonic power supplies, and I'll let you in on a secret: Seasonic manufactures these units for Corsair. And in the process, Corsair has made some improvements. Check out my blog post on the subject for more details.

John works full time in our production department, working directly with the hardware. He assembles machines, and works on repairing machines. He has some of the most first-hand hardware experience in the company.

John (Production Technician) Says:
The TX650W PSU from Corsair is nearly silent and incredibly reliable. While it won't meet the power requirements for very high-end systems, this is a great PSU for the mid-range.

Antec CP 850W

Puget Preferred Part!

The CP-850 features a unique design with an advanced cooling system, exclusively compatible with some of Antec's most cutting-edge Gamer and Performance One enclosures - including the Twelve Hundred, P183 and P193. By breaking the mold of standardized power supply size restrictions, the CP-850 design is able to provide an excellent price-to-performance ratio. A silent rear 120mm Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) fan and dual PCB layout also ensure optimal cooling performance and reliability.

Note: Compatible only with Antec 1200, P183, and P193 chassis.

Puget Professional Advice:

William George (Customer Service) Says:
Normally I don't like proprietary components - things that will only work with a few specific systems. However, Antec does make a compelling case for these new power supplies: the larger-than-normal dimensions allow a better cooling layout, and the reviews I've read of this unit (and the similar CP-1000) bear out that it is a high-quality power supply. If you are going for one of the Antec cases that will accommodate this it is worth serious consideration.

Ruben Romero (Production Technician) Says:
I am not a huge fan of Antec power supplies, though this one is special. It's quiet, efficient, modular, and is compatable with one of my favorite cases, the P183. If your looking for a really quiet system make sure this is powering it. Granted it only fits inside three of Antec's cases, but it's well worth it.

John (Production Technician) Says:
The Antec CP-series power supplies are a great option for the cases that were designed to use them--the P183, P193, and Twelve Hundred. The increased height allows for a 120mm fan to be mounted vertically for cooling, with plenty of space for the air to move. The result is a reliable, extremely quiet PSU, for both the mid-range 850W and high-end 1000W models.

Antec CP 1000W

The CP-1000 features a unique design with an advanced cooling system, exclusively compatible with some of Antec's most cutting-edge Gamer and Performance One enclosures - including the Twelve Hundred, P183 and P193. By breaking the mold of standardized power supply size restrictions, the CP-1000 design is able to provide an excellent price-to-performance ratio. A silent rear 120mm Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) fan and dual PCB layout also ensure optimal cooling performance and reliability.

Note: Compatible only with Antec 1200, P183, and P193 chassis.

Puget Professional Advice:

William George (Customer Service) Says:
Normally I don't like proprietary components - things that will only work with a few specific systems. However, Antec does make a compelling case for these new power supplies: the larger-than-normal dimensions allow a better cooling layout, and the reviews I've read of this unit (and the similar CP-850) bear out that it is a high-quality power supply. If you are going for one of the Antec cases that will accommodate this it is worth serious consideration.

Corsair TX 850W

Seasonic X 750W 90% efficiency!

Puget Professional Advice:

Jon Bach (President) Says:
This power supply is extremely efficient, and will completely turn off its fan under low load (such as when your PC is idle). It is a great pick for a silent PC.

Daniel Brown (Customer Support - Lead Technician) Says:
I really like this power supply. The 80 Plus Gold certification is pretty impressive - this is one of the few power supplies to qualify for that certification. 80 Plus Gold means this power supply is one of the most efficient on the market. The fact that the fan will turn completely off in some usage scenarios is great! I'm tempted to buy one for my own home machine, even though I don't currently require anywhere near the power this unit is capable of providing.

Corsair HX 850W 90% efficiency!

This is one of the newest power supplies from Corsair, using state-of-the-art DC to DC power conversion that helps boost efficiency past 90% under most conditions... and earning this unit 80 Plus Gold certification. It is also a modular power supply, making cabling nice and clean inside your computer, and the 140mm fan is quiet compared to most other power supplies in this wattage range. If you are looking for high quality and efficiency then you can't go wrong with the Corsair HX 850W.

Corsair HX 1000W

Puget Preferred Part!

The Corsair HX1000W features six PCI-Express connectors, both 6-pin and 8-pin compatible, to power multiple high-end graphics cards and two EPS12V connectors for dual CPU configurations. The truly independent dual transformer, dual rail design allow for optimum load balancing resulting in greater performance and stability. I ndustrial-grade 105°C primary, secondary and solid state capacitors provide up to four times the lifespan of traditional components.

Puget Professional Advice:

Jon Bach (President) Says:
Check out my blog post on these power supplies, and why we love them.

Silverstone 1500W

Reaching 1500W DC output (1600W peak), the Strider ST1500 is effectively at the limit of what an internal PC power supply can achieve in terms of wattage rating. For SilverStone, getting to this maximum power was only part of the goal for a consumer-level power supply so every desirable feature know were added to create a dream product. The list starts with unprecedented eight +12V rails with each capable of up to 25A and continues with features such as 100% modular cables, 80 PLUS Silver worthy efficiency ratings, and quietness level that matches most 500W PSUs. If there is one upgrade that will likely outlast a PC enthusiast’s interest in computing, the ST1500 may just be it.

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