Bigger PSU = Bigger Bills?

Plodicus

Plodicus

Plodicus

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Looking to upgrade my 7800GT later this year for a DX10 card. However I am unsure if my 480W Tagan will provide enough juice, but the proof is always in the pudding as they say :D

The problem is running costs, If I need a new PSU I would get a Seasonic 700W, but that seems like it will just suck so much power that it will cost a fortune in leccy :( The reason I say this is that I have my PC, my partners PC (which is about 30% slower than my rig) and a laptop running most nights as we're both gamers. Obviously I have noticed a big increase in my bill but I wondered if it would increase by a lot with a 8800GTS/GTX and the new PSU?

It seems that us PC Gamers are doing the environment no good by drawing out so much juice! I bet it won't be long till we're taxed on it lol!!! :p
 
efficiency is the key.

bigger supplies are better built using better compenents. the 700w ocz gamexstreme for example is something like 85% efficient. the corsair 620w im getting is around 82.5%. that's more efficient than smaller supplies, meaning they will actually use LESS wattage to power a pc.
 
Plodicus said:
The problem is running costs, If I need a new PSU I would get a Seasonic 700W, but that seems like it will just suck so much power that it will cost a fortune in leccy
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even though it's rated for 700W it will only draw what's required which may be only e.g. 400W
 
Power usage

I picked up an AC power meter a few weeks ago to see how much power my PC uses as I'm building a media centre and was thinking of the bills.

Currently I'm a little board and waiting for CityLink with my HSF, HDD and DVD so have Orthos running main PC - Opt 165 @2.5Ghz, 2GB, 2 HDD, DVDRW, 7800GTX.

Idlw (C&Q) ~ 95w
Running Orthos ~ 180w
Games ~ 230w max

Using a 3 year old Enermax 460w PSU

Your PC will only use what it needs regardless of the PSU wattage.

Cheers

AD
 
the electricity draw will be converted into heat, since that's the end result of all the 700w your PSU consumes.... in winter that can be nice... might not need to turn on any electric heaters then...
 
One thing to keep in mind is that even though the PSU does only draw what it needs, they are to an extent "optimised" to be decently used. For example, a 400 Watt PSU might be most efficient around 200 - 300 Watts load, while a 700 Watt PSU might be around 350 - 550 Watts load.

That said, the decent quality PSUs tend to be very efficient at any level of load.

In relation to your Tagan it should be no problem with a 8800 GTS (providing the rest of your rig isn't too power hungry) and prolly ok with a 8800 GTX too (same condition).

Tagan usually have pretty strong +12v rails (do you know what they are and the combined +12v wattage?) and are well capable of handling the heavier loads a gaming system puts on them :)
 
Tetras said:
One thing to keep in mind is that even though the PSU does only draw what it needs, they are to an extent "optimised" to be decently used. For example, a 400 Watt PSU might be most efficient around 200 - 300 Watts load, while a 700 Watt PSU might be around 350 - 550 Watts load.

That said, the decent quality PSUs tend to be very efficient at any level of load.
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thats right, the difference is minimal really. my corsair has been testes between 79% and 84%. 84% efficiancy being at the highest load of course.:)
 
james.miller said:
thats right, the difference is minimal really. my corsair has been testes between 79% and 84%. 84% efficiancy being at the highest load of course.:)
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Yeah, unless I am much mistaken Corsair PSU's are designed and built by SeaSonic, who make some of most efficient PSU's at any power level. While many PSU's are reaching 80%+ efficiency Seasonic/Corsairs maintain 80+% across a much wider range, typically anything from 10% load to 95% load and still 80% or better efficiency.

Great PSU's :)
 
I was wondering about the heat issue. From a physics/energy sort of view, where does all the energy go? Most will go to heat I assume, with a very small proportion to overcome friction in moving parts, sound (friction due to air mostly), and a very small amount of light. Is that really it? If so, the logic to keep the machine on and use less heating looks sound to me. I might feel less guilty at leaving machines on all the time. Thoughts?
 
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