Simplicity and Reliability: TOP 5 Affordable PC Power Supplies

The GM-500 from Gamemax is one of the most affordable power supplies on the market. Only frank Chinese is cheaper, which is as far as possible from the word "reliability". Outwardly, the GM-500 is no different from its counterparts in the low-cost segment: the dimensions, the location of the ventilation holes, the configuration of the output cables are all standard. There are no special complaints about the build quality. The body panels, although not the thickest, are not "made of foil" either.

At the same time, it’s even hard to say offhand what exactly they saved on here. The available amount of cables is enough to assemble an entry-level and mid-level system. There is even a separate 6-pin connector for connecting additional power to the video card, which in the future expands the scope for an upgrade when replacing a video card with a more powerful one.

According to the passport, the power supply boasts an efficiency of 80% and an 80 PLUS certificate. In real tests, in the range of loads typical for this power supply (100 - 300 W), the energy efficiency of the GM-500 sags slightly and stays in the range of 72 - 78%. Given that this is one of the most affordable PSUs on the market ($20), you can turn a blind eye to the slightly overestimated efficiency.

In addition, the GM-500 has a fairly quiet fan, a good output ripple filtering system, as well as a sufficient number of connectors for connecting peripherals (5 SATA, 3 IDE), which makes it an perfect candidate for offices and institutions with a large number of working machines. . In this case, saving a few dollars on each power supply can result in a rather tangible amount.

Of the minuses of the block, heating can be distinguished at a peak load of 340-350 watts.

Aerocool Value Plus VX Plus 500W is a modified version of one of the best value for money power supplies in the low-cost segment.

Compared to the original Aerocool Value PSU, the Plus version has significantly improved the quality of stabilization, but at the same time it has become noisier in “heavy” modes. Otherwise, the unit is built on the same reliable Andyson electronic platform, the total power that it can be supplied through the line is 408 watts. In relation to the rating of the block, the efficiency is 81 percent, which is only a little short of the high energy efficiency standard of 80 PLUS. However, for an inexpensive power supply, from which, first of all, you need “to make it work,” this is a normal indicator.

A standard 20 + 4-pin connector is provided to power the motherboard, an extended eight -pin 4 + 4-pin is provided to power the processor. Everything is in order here - compatibility problems are excluded, there is room for an upgrade for the future. Also, any entry-level video card with one 6-pin connector and power consumption up to 150 watts is connected without any problems. And this is an important point that you should pay attention to when buying - the main power line of the unit is divided into two sub-lines, so even despite the presence of 4 + 4 pins for powering the processor, it will not work to install a particularly voracious processor (or video card) into the system.

Interestingly, among its equally gray "classmates" (500-watt models of similar cost), Value Plus VX Plus stands out with its stylish black color and original grille shape. But the family disease in the form of a noisy fan remained. If the old Aerocool value under peak load gave out noticeable up to 31 dB, the Plus version became even louder. Therefore, the model can be recommended for purchase for a mid-range gaming system that already has noisy components like a reference video card. Then the power supply will not be heard.

Q-DION 80+ is quite a typical entry-level PSU with a tempting price tag, group voltage stabilization, an 80 PLUS certificate and a decent real efficiency in the region of 75 - 77%.

The block is equipped with 20 + 4-pin connectors for powering the motherboard and CPU 4-pin for powering the processor. The latter is not a very good solution, the buyer may need an adapter to connect some modern motherboards with an eight-pin connector to the block. To power the video card, a single six-pin connector is provided. But the length of the cables for connecting the processor and the motherboard is 45 mm, which eliminates any problems with installing the power supply in the case.

The disadvantages of the model include a small number of connectors for connecting peripherals - only 2 SATA and 2 Molex. However, taking into account the fact that power supplies of this price level are usually installed in very modest computer configurations, you can somehow put up with such a poor cable system.

Where the big minus is the strange algorithm of the cooling system, which at the initial level produces almost 1600 rpm and then only grows. Given the non-gaming specifics of this PSU, this is a rather strange decision by the manufacturer, which adversely affects the noise level.

Chieftec iARENA GPA-450S8 is an updated version of a fairly popular PSU Chieftec iARENA GPA GPA-450S . The main innovation was increased efficiency to 80 percent, now meeting the 80 PLUS standard.

Of the total 450 W, the Chieftec iARENA GPA-500S8 delivers 343 W of electricity through the +12 V line. At the same time, the line is divided into two virtual channels: up to 24 A for CPU and motherboard and up to 21 A for the video card (but not more than 33 A at the same time).

This means that the total power of the Chieftec iARENA GPA-500S8 is enough to power a gaming PC even with an overclocked Core i7 or Ryzen 7 processor and a mid-range graphics card. True, given the presence of only one 8-pin power connector for video cards, an adapter with Molex may be required.

The advantages of the model include a fairly quiet cooling system, which only speaks under loads in the region of 300 watts. Even in this case, the noise level can be described as average. Only a relatively short processor cable (38 cm) can become an unpleasant surprise, which is why the iARENA GPA-450S8 is not very suitable for large cases or systems with a bottom PSU.

Many users underestimate the importance of choosing a good power supply. It seems to be the first candidate for savings during PC builds, but no. A cheap power supply with low-quality electronics and low efficiency can bring a bunch of unexpected surprises. This is probably why FSP PNR is so popular. It just works as stated by the manufacturer.

The total power of the 12 V line is 408 A (or 81.6% of the "nominal"). The total load is up to 120 W. The unit is not 80 PLUS certified. A notable advantage of this block against the background of most competitors in the class is the presence of two PCI-E connectors (6-pin and 6 + 2-pin). This means that this model can be used even as part of a very productive gaming system without adapters.

Now about the nuances. Firstly, this block cannot be called silent, so when assembling a special “quiet” PC, it is better to look at other models. Secondly, the length of the cords for connecting the processor and the motherboard is only 31 cm, and when installing this power supply in a large case, they may simply not be enough. In a regular case, everything is installed without a hitch.