Cheapest Power Supply Possible

[RadiatingLight]

@Energycore

I'm building a SUPER low-budget gaming build for my friend.

I picked up an EVGA GTX 970 SSC for $100 (Holy Crap What A Steal), but the problem is, it has an 8-pin and a 6-pin connector. I was originally planning on buying a VS400 PSU, because it was the cheapest one around, but since it doesn't have that many PCIe power plugs, I can't.

What's the cheapest PSU that's at least tier 6 or above on the PSU tier list which has an 8-pin and 6-pin PCI-e

currently looking at VS 500W, but that's not only low quality, but it's $20.

Just want to make sure there's not a better option.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  (Purchased For $33.00)
Other: Intel i3 4160 (Purchased For $35.00)
Other: GTX 970 EVGA Super SuperClocked (Purchased For $100.00)
Other: 120 GB Sandisk SSD & 700GB HDD - From Me (Purchased For $20.00)
Other: Intel stock cooler - From Me (Purchased For $0.00)
Other: 8GB DDR3-1600 - From Me (Purchased For $20.00)
Other: Random Red Case - From Me (Purchased For $10.00)
Other: Power Supply - VS500? Used EVGA B500? ($20.00)
Total: $238.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-04-28 01:05 EDT-0400

[ArduinoBen]

One thing to note, generally, PSUs aren't very good things to cheap out on.  If you get a bad one, it could kill your whole PC and cause very significant data loss......

[RadiatingLight]

14 minutes ago, ArduinoBen said:

One thing to note, generally, PSUs aren't very good things to cheap out on.  If you get a bad one, it could kill your whole PC and cause very significant data loss......

I know, but for a PC with a $240 budget, it's necessary.

obviously, I wouldn't cheap out on a PSU for my personal PC, or anything more expensive than this.

[Tsuki]

16 minutes ago, RadiatingLight said:

I know, but for a PC with a $240 budget, it's necessary.

then you need to expand your budget. i refuse to spend any less than $50 on a psu. anything less, you should get fire insurance to go with it

[-rascal-]

Tough decision.

If you are able to extend your limit to say... $25 ~ $30, that would help a bit.

 

Are you okay with Mail-in rebates..or trying to avoid them?

Tier 5, semi-modular, 80 PLUS Bronze....Rosewill Glacier 600W for $25 after $20 MIR.\

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4LkwrH/rosewill-power-supply-glacier600m

 

You could check the used market in your area...

[genexis_x]

Used Delta PSUs. Or second hand PSUs with excellent build quality.

[Daniel Z.]

3 minutes ago, ZM Fong said:

Used Delta PSUs. Or second hand PSUs with excellent build quality.

and safe sonics

[Daniel Z.]

s12II 520 bronze is ok

[RadiatingLight]

6 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

Tough decision.

If you are able to extend your limit to say... $25 ~ $30, that would help a bit.

 

Are you okay with Mail-in rebates..or trying to avoid them?

Tier 5, semi-modular, 80 PLUS Bronze....Rosewill Glacier 600W for $25 after $20 MIR.\

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4LkwrH/rosewill-power-supply-glacier600m

 

You could check the used market in your area...

Holy fuck.

I found an Antec 620W Neo-Eco (Tier 3) Used for $20

it's a no-brainer, right?

[rip]

Evga N1 would be the cheapest I could find

You did ask for cheap, not for something good so

Costs only 29.99 w/ free shipping on newegg

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438038&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker, LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

Comes with 1x6+2 pin and a 1x6 pin so should be no problem

 

[-rascal-]

Just now, RadiatingLight said:

Holy fuck.

I found an Antec 620W Neo-Eco (Tier 3) Used for $20

it's a no-brainer, right?

 

That works too!

 

Whereabouts are you in the Bay Area?

I spotted somebody selling a Corsair HX 750 for $20.

It should be the older variant (e.g. 80 PLUS silver, semi modular)

 

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/sop/6102115546.html

[RadiatingLight]

Just now, -rascal- said:

 

That works too!

 

Whereabouts are you in the Bay Area?

I spotted somebody selling a Corsair HX 750 for $20.

It should be the older variant (e.g. 80 PLUS silver, semi modular)

 

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/sop/6102115546.html

Not close enough to there to make it worth it over the Neo-Eco

 

Anyway, thanks for the recommendation to look used!

 

anything I should look for in a PSU when buying used other than doing the basic paperclip test to see if the fan spins?

[Clyne]

Just wait for some B-Stock sale on PSUs.

[-rascal-]

4 minutes ago, RadiatingLight said:

Not close enough to there to make it worth it over the Neo-Eco

 

Anyway, thanks for the recommendation to look used!

 

anything I should look for in a PSU when buying used other than doing the basic paperclip test to see if the fan spins?

 

Would be nice if you could test it in a computer, but the paperclip test ( + fan? if you want) would be a quick and dirty way.

Have a look at the physical condition of the damn PSU, peek into the inside through the vents / fan side to make sure it looks okay...no dead caps...

Check the ends of the cables, make sure they're not damaged or abused.

 

Good luck bruh!

[Droidbot]

12 minutes ago, RadiatingLight said:

Holy fuck.

I found an Antec 620W Neo-Eco (Tier 3) Used for $20

it's a no-brainer, right?

It's OOOOLD asf, tbh go for a $29AR CX450M. Solid DC-DC PSU built for new systems and Haswell.

[Megah3rtz]

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151074&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker, LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/zNK7YJ/evga-power-supply-100b10500kr

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139146&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker, LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139147&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker, LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

[Energycore]

Generally I would say that on a budget system it's fine to use a lower-end PSU, but that's because generally those systems consume less than 200W at full load. With that 970 you're looking at 250W sometimes. That said between the VS500 (grey) and the EVGA 500B it's awash, the 500B is likely a little better.

[RadiatingLight]

8 hours ago, Droidbot said:

It's OOOOLD asf, tbh go for a $29AR CX450M. Solid DC-DC PSU built for new systems and Haswell.

But it still should work better than a VS 500W, right?

 

And it should work with Haswell if I turn off the low power states in the BIOS?

[STRMfrmXMN]

11 hours ago, RadiatingLight said:

Holy fuck.

I found an Antec 620W Neo-Eco (Tier 3) Used for $20

it's a no-brainer, right?

It's a yes-brainer because it's used. Is it still under warranty? Does the owner have the original receipt? Is it from Amazon or Ebay or some other retailer that favors the buyer or is it from Craigslist or the like?

 

It's rare that I would recommend a used PSU as some manufacturers won't honor the warranty if the part was bought used (Intel, for example) and it would be best to make extra sure that all the receipts and necessary goods come with it.

[TVwazhere]

13 hours ago, RadiatingLight said:

but the problem is, it has an 8-pin and a 6-pin connector.

I was about to say wait a minute, my FTW only has two 6pin connectors! But then I realized you actually are getting the SSC+ which added an extra two pins

[Czeekaj]

On 4/27/2017 at 10:22 PM, ArduinoBen said:

One thing to note, generally, PSUs aren't very good things to cheap out on.  If you get a bad one, it could kill your whole PC and cause very significant data loss......

Not just that you kill any upgradability down the line and will have to replace it if you get just enough anyway. However if you can run a new machine with a 20 dollar PSU go for it. Just remember if you leave room for upgrades you can still be 'budget' but have the machine preform at generation standards for a year or two longer without too big of compromise. But for under 400 dollars and out preforming a rig that a few years ago could cost 1000 dollars is pretty impressive.