Judging a PSU with a budget.

Cutshaw

Cutshaw

Cutshaw

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I've got a few upgrades coming my way in the next week or so, and I'm sure my PSU is needing to be more powerful as it is, so with the new stuff on the way and planned upgrades, I'm trying to work out what is best.

I've got a 4800+ x2 cpu, 2gb of Corsair XMS 3200 XL Pro (4x512mb), a 74gb raptor, plextor dvd-rom, external DVD-R, another 80gb drive(I think it's a samsung), and about 4-5 case fans. I've got a x1950pro just now, but I'm planning on getting a 8800gt fairly soon. I'm definitely after a decent PSU, nothing too generic, just unsure of what wattage I should be aiming for. I had my eyes on a 500w psu, but I'm not sure.
 
It's a bit over, but it's been screaming "buy me!!" since I read some reviews on it. I reckon I'll push it a bit and grab that one.
 
Well I run a 4200+ 120gb HDD and external HDD 7 case fans dvdrw drive and a X1950 all on a 300w I realised the other day lol!
 
Aero said:
Well I run a 4200+ 120gb HDD and external HDD 7 case fans dvdrw drive and a X1950 all on a 300w I realised the other day lol!
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I know it will run but that will be running at near full whack...

If it's using 250W then it's basicly at 100% usage constantly where as a 500W would be at 50% usage which means it will last longer ;)

I'm the same running my rig off a 485W... Got to upgrade soon:(
 
Cutshaw said:
Ha!


I'm not even sure what to to look for when a PSU is too low, what kind of things go wrong?
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Vague answer ahead, it depends on the quality of the PSU. Some will not start, some will start but quickly shut down, some will start and run but not be very stable, some will be fine unless really pushed under load and some will appear to work fine but are just biding their time to go boom.

The last category are thankfully rare, almost any decent PSU that is overloaded will just not work or just startup and shutdown but it won't damage any other components with its failure to boot. :)

//edit as a very rough guide the weight of a PSU can be used as a judge of quality, the best PSUs tend to be fairly hefty units because they use high quality parts and large heatsinks.
 
semi-pro waster said:
Vague answer ahead, it depends on the quality of the PSU. Some will not start, some will start but quickly shut down, some will start and run but not be very stable, some will be fine unless really pushed under load and some will appear to work fine but are just biding their time to go boom.

The last category are thankfully rare, almost any decent PSU that is overloaded will just not work or just startup and shutdown but it won't damage any other components with its failure to boot. :)
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Someone I know had a PSU that would let them use the pc for 30mins-1hr before shutting down and just not switching back on... If you left it for a day or whatever it started and ran again for 30mins-1hr.

New PSU sorted it but just wondering what would have been wrong with it?
 
Dougiebabe2003 said:
Someone I know had a PSU that would let them use the pc for 30mins-1hr before shutting down and just not switching back on... If you left it for a day or whatever it started and ran again for 30mins-1hr.

New PSU sorted it but just wondering what would have been wrong with it?
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At a guess the polyfuse tripped at a trigger load point, the polyfuse is supposed to reset itself when it is left alone for an extended period of time so it would fit. I couldn't say for sure though without testing it myself. :)
 
semi-pro waster said:
At a guess the polyfuse tripped at a trigger load point, the polyfuse is supposed to reset itself when it is left alone for an extended period of time so it would fit. I couldn't say for sure though without testing it myself. :)
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Is it fixable?

Only asking cause it feels really heavy and quite decent. I replaced it with a £10 PSU as the client asked for. I warned them about **** PSU's but they wanted cheap so... I think it was for a Socket A machine for thier kids so I don;t think it matters to much...

Anywho I still have the other PSU and it works (for me to check mobo's etc) but would be nice to have a proper working spare PSU lying around.
 
Dougiebabe2003 said:
Is it fixable?

Only asking cause it feels really heavy and quite decent. I replaced it with a £10 PSU as the client asked for. I warned them about **** PSU's but they wanted cheap so... I think it was for a Socket A machine for thier kids so I don;t think it matters to much...

Anywho I still have the other PSU and it works (for me to check mobo's etc) but would be nice to have a proper working spare PSU lying around.
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It isn't fixable in the sense that if you overload a PSU there is no way to replace the internals to make it more powerful or at least there is no way cheaper and more effective than simply buying a new, better PSU.

If it is/was the polyfuse then you should be able to use on other less demanding machines without a problem at the moment. If it isn't that then I'd probably guess it will be something to do with hairline cracks in the internals opening up with heat from running for a while but this is starting to clutch at straws slightly.
 
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