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Keen to build a quiet, power-efficient always-on HTPC/media server, I've been looking at mini ITX boards that have their own external power-brick style power supply. These appeal because they are silent, do not contribute to heat in the case and (although I've seen mixed information about this) should be more power-efficient at low wattages like 25W.

However, I've read multiple reports about both this ASUS board and this Zotac board that the power brick included with them is extremely inefficient, using around 20W just by itself (with nothing plugged in) and increasing the overall power usage by 20W, so instead of the 25W draw expected from these devices, it's 45W. Everything, apparently, still works fine. That's incredibly poor power efficiency and I'd do better with an internal 300W seasonic or something.

Here's one review showing this problem for the ASUS model. I've seen others too. Note that others report that power consumption is normal and they did not find this problem.

Are these power bricks just unreliable in general? Why do multiple people (including some reviews) seem to have "bad" ones, even from totally different manufacturers? Should I be avoiding them for an always-on media server/HTPC? I'm not too concerned about the power usage, more that I don't want something to get unnecessarily hot just for no good reason other than a fault.

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    If you want a high efficiency power brick, go buy one. The included one is the cheapest working one the manufacturer could find, as it is impossible to market "Has a high quality power brick!!!".
    – Eroen
    Commented Dec 14, 2011 at 9:29
  • I thought about that, but don't know where to look, both for specs and for buying them (especially in Australia). I haven't seen any "80 PLUS" style accreditation for these things. People speak highly of the PicoPSU but I can't find stats on which bricks come packaged with them and what their stats are. Does anybody have any tips or pointers?
    – thomasrutter
    Commented Dec 15, 2011 at 4:07

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Something like that ASUS board is no different that a PC Laptop. It's geared for low wattage and power consumption. The external power bricks are just like you would find in a laptop or their old media centers. Personally I own both their old media centers CS5111 and several laptops. Of all of the things that have failed on them, the PSU (power brick) is not one.

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