I thought that couldn't possibly be correct, but you're right. The cheapest "premium" SFX PSU that anyone would actually want to put in a build (modular, 80+ Gold, etc) is $87.99.
As of the time of this post, a fully modular 80+ Gold "Rosewill PHOTON-550" retails for $59.99, while a "Corsair RM550x" retails for $69.99.
Relatively speaking, SFX is costing ~1.33x as much for the same crap. And honestly, I wouldn't care if it was modular, so long as the cables were short enough for a SFX case build.
Unfortunately the Corsair jumped in price since I last posted about it.
Still, my point stands that SFX power supplies are much more expensive than ATX power supplies, of the same class and features, and there's very little reason for it.
Miniaturization isn't free. Or to put it the other way around, full ATX PSUs can use bigger and cheaper components because they have more space to play with. Economies of scale also come into play on the side of full ATX units.
On the other hand, I am paying more money for less mass in materials, many of which are precious materials used in capacitor, transistor, and other circuitry, a smaller whinier fan, etc. I hardly doubt the slightly smaller components have a huge factor between ~500w ATX and SFX PSUs. SFX PSUs just get an absurd markup which adds to the already uncomfortable cost of going with a small form factor build.
Seeing as Thermaltake was manufacturing it, and Thermaltake does provide lower price competition, my hope is that they help push prices down on these PSUs to more reasonable levels.
"Since both PSUs have only one PCIe 6+2-pin power connector, they are compatible with modern graphic cards that use only one 8-pin PCIe auxiliary power input. "
According to TT's web site both models include a cable with *two* 6+2 connectors on it, so you could run two 225W or one 300W GPUs to fully utilize the output from the 600W model.
The 450 includes the same cable; although using it to try powering a pair of GPUs that each need an 8 pin connector runs the risk of overloading the PSU and causing it to shut down.
If it's out of spec, it would be far from the first time PSU makers did so in favor of usability for a few years before the spec catches up (eg single 12V rail models). In this particular case, dual 6+2 cables have been common for a while. The standard wire gauge is thick enough to be rated for 300W. (Although to carry the higher loads possible from OCing, I'd hope 2x 8pin cables used a heavier gauge.)
These look like they may be rebadges of the venerable Silverstone SFX units. Silverstone may discontinue them under their brand now they've got newer and higher-rated units on the market or coming in.
If you compare with the Silverstone SFX units (e.g.: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReview... not only are they identical externally, but the internals are also identical barring some silkscreening. It is pretty certain that these are the exact same Enhance PSUs with a different sticker (and possibly some slightly cheaper capacitors).
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JoeyJoJo123 - Tuesday, August 2, 2016 - link
Please please please please don't be $90+ for a basic 500w 80+ gold, like the other price gouging SFX power supply manufacturers.ImSpartacus - Tuesday, August 2, 2016 - link
I thought that couldn't possibly be correct, but you're right. The cheapest "premium" SFX PSU that anyone would actually want to put in a build (modular, 80+ Gold, etc) is $87.99.http://pcpartpicker.com/products/power-supply/#t=1...
Morawka - Tuesday, August 2, 2016 - link
i dunno, $90 is dirt cheap imo especially for fully modularFlunk - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
I wouldn't buy a Thermaltake Power Supply unless it was dirt cheap.JoeyJoJo123 - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
Not really.As of the time of this post, a fully modular 80+ Gold "Rosewill PHOTON-550" retails for $59.99, while a "Corsair RM550x" retails for $69.99.
Relatively speaking, SFX is costing ~1.33x as much for the same crap. And honestly, I wouldn't care if it was modular, so long as the cables were short enough for a SFX case build.
Morawka - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
That corsair you listed retails for $119.99, show me where you can buy it for $70. and the Rosewell is $69.99 with a $10 rebate lol...F rebates on power supplies. i hate them
JoeyJoJo123 - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
Unfortunately the Corsair jumped in price since I last posted about it.Still, my point stands that SFX power supplies are much more expensive than ATX power supplies, of the same class and features, and there's very little reason for it.
DanNeely - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
Miniaturization isn't free. Or to put it the other way around, full ATX PSUs can use bigger and cheaper components because they have more space to play with. Economies of scale also come into play on the side of full ATX units.JoeyJoJo123 - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
On the other hand, I am paying more money for less mass in materials, many of which are precious materials used in capacitor, transistor, and other circuitry, a smaller whinier fan, etc. I hardly doubt the slightly smaller components have a huge factor between ~500w ATX and SFX PSUs. SFX PSUs just get an absurd markup which adds to the already uncomfortable cost of going with a small form factor build.Seeing as Thermaltake was manufacturing it, and Thermaltake does provide lower price competition, my hope is that they help push prices down on these PSUs to more reasonable levels.
DanNeely - Tuesday, August 2, 2016 - link
"Since both PSUs have only one PCIe 6+2-pin power connector, they are compatible with modern graphic cards that use only one 8-pin PCIe auxiliary power input. "According to TT's web site both models include a cable with *two* 6+2 connectors on it, so you could run two 225W or one 300W GPUs to fully utilize the output from the 600W model.
The 450 includes the same cable; although using it to try powering a pair of GPUs that each need an 8 pin connector runs the risk of overloading the PSU and causing it to shut down.
ImSpartacus - Tuesday, August 2, 2016 - link
2 6+2s make sense for a generous 600W psu, but a 450W model needs to stingier. That's very odd.Gigaplex - Tuesday, August 2, 2016 - link
If they've got a cable that splits into two, they'd be putting the single 8 pin modular connector out of spec on the output of the PSU.DanNeely - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
If it's out of spec, it would be far from the first time PSU makers did so in favor of usability for a few years before the spec catches up (eg single 12V rail models). In this particular case, dual 6+2 cables have been common for a while. The standard wire gauge is thick enough to be rated for 300W. (Although to carry the higher loads possible from OCing, I'd hope 2x 8pin cables used a heavier gauge.)HomeworldFound - Tuesday, August 2, 2016 - link
Knowing Thermaltake these probably catch fire and explode. Remember those times they tried watercooling?Morawka - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
thermaltake makes some excellent water cooling parts.. dunno what your talkin about.. check out guru3d's rig of the month.http://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/guru3d-rig-of...
jtd871 - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
These look like they may be rebadges of the venerable Silverstone SFX units. Silverstone may discontinue them under their brand now they've got newer and higher-rated units on the market or coming in.edzieba - Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - link
If you compare with the Silverstone SFX units (e.g.: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReview... not only are they identical externally, but the internals are also identical barring some silkscreening. It is pretty certain that these are the exact same Enhance PSUs with a different sticker (and possibly some slightly cheaper capacitors).