Do we really need these powerful psus?

[Phil2008]

Heres another test ive just done with the PSU plugged into the power meter

105watts, idel in vista
152watts, running orthos
167watts, running linx
169watts, running Intel Burn test v2.2
191watts, running furmark
226watts, running OCCT
270-282watts, running OCCT + Intel Burn test v2.2

OCCT is a killer on gfx cards btw, cos temp in furmark got to 86c, and temp in OCCT got to 101c and was still climbing, but I didnt want to burn out my card so I stopped it. It sounded like a hoover

 

[CurlyWhirly]

Most people will be fine with a 400-600w good quality PSU for a reasonable gaming rig.

Is OCZ a quality brand?

I bought a 600W model a while ago for when I upgrade to a Direct X 11 graphics card.

I currently have a 500W PSU which I don't think will be enough.

 

[JonJ678]

OCZ are good, but not as good as corsair, be quiet, seasonic, pc power and cooling. I believe they used to be respected for psus, but since the merger with pc power and cooling the best the company release are branded pc p&c.

The ocz stealthxtremes are pretty solid based on reviews and one of my mates using one. A large % of the elitextreams die, peacefully and without hurting anything, about 3 to 6 months after purchase and are replaced by pc power and cooling models via rma. I'd expect your psu to harm nothing if it died, and be replaced quickly and effectively, if not with a better model, by ocz. However I would not expect it t odie in the first place. If you're worring about it, I'll look forward to seeing it in MM.

 

[CurlyWhirly]

OCZ are good, but not as good as corsair, be quiet, seasonic, pc power and cooling. I believe they used to be respected for psus, but since the merger with pc power and cooling the best the company release are branded pc p&c.

Nice to know, thanks.

The ocz stealthxtremes are pretty solid based on reviews and one of my mates using one.

That's the model I bought - a 600W StealthXStream !

If you're worring about it, I'll look forward to seeing it in MM.

I'm not worried about the PSU that I'm using now as it's only around 6 months old but as it's unbranded (I can't see a logo on the PSU despite taking it out of the PC case ), I prefer to replace it with a branded make.

Perhaps I should have gone for a Corsair instead - oh well not to worry

 

[Mr-White]

not really

MW

 

[warriorscot]

A big part of the PSUs are what they do with the power. Part of the thing with the higher wattage PSUs is that they can more reliable deliver power. Some cheaper PSUs can't deliver enough power on the rails so that's why they struggle to power some higher end cards.

Better PSUs deliver more power, more reliably across all their outputs.

 

[Admiral Huddy]

Some ppl buy them so that they can deliberately run them under capacity as the PSU will run quieter when running below ~60% load - if you're after a silent system it's a valid enough reason.

But on the whole - most ppl buy more power than they need out of semi-misguided security and future proofing (i bundle myself in this latter group as mush as the first.)

I agree with what plec says here.

For most systems, even with a Quad core CPU, a HD 4870, a single disk, a few fans and an optical drive, I've found that when testing on load, it rarely creeps above 300w. So with that said a 400w PSU is ample.

 

[Schizo]

i need power...lol

my 1200 watt is probably bit to powerful but that's what i got with my p190.

if i could sell my 2 psu's for one then i prob would.