How long do PSUs last?

[miceormen]

Hello All,

I've got a Corsair AX760 and according to a forum post I unearthed I've had it since 2013.

I'm about to build a new system, replacing my 3570k/z77/RX580 with 5600x/b550/6700XT

The AX760 has been reliable throughout but I'm worried about it going pop and taking out my new ~£1400 mobo/cpu/gpu/ssd.

Should I get a new one, how much of a difference is there between 'Gold' and 'Platinum/Titanium' in terms of heat and electricity, and do you have any recommendations? Currently trying to work out the difference between Seasonic 'Prime', 'Focus' and 'Focus plus' (?).

Cheers!

 

[neur0maniak]

I think you'd be better off getting a new PSU. Even if just for peace of mind and avoiding the frustration of replacing it without being able to use your computer. Your old one would still come in handy as a backup, and for diagnosing faults.
A reliable PSU will eventually die of at around 10-15yrs of daily use, the electrolytic capacitors in them would only last that long in ideal operating temperatures.

For the ratings:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_Plus#Efficiency_level_certifications
The inefficiencies in the power supply gets turned to heat, and at Titanium levels, you're producing half of it compared to a Gold level.
Though gold don't even get warm, so temperatures are a moot point.

 

[Journey]

The AX760 has been reliable throughout but I'm worried about it going pop and taking out my new ~£1400 mobo/cpu/gpu/ssd.

With a PSU of that quality, unless you've had it under heavy load it's entire life, with many off/on and hot/cold cycles every single day then I'd just keep it. It's got all the proper protections in place for if it did go pop, as you put it, then you'd just need to get a new PSU.

The very same PSU you have now is ~£180 and is a Platinum rated, and part of the professional series. It is a Seasonic OEM PSU and pretty one of the best PSU's build in the last decade.

 

[miceormen]

I think you'd be better off getting a new PSU. Even if just for peace of mind and avoiding the frustration of replacing it without being able to use your computer. Your old one would still come in handy as a backup, and for diagnosing faults.
A reliable PSU will eventually die of at around 10-15yrs of daily use, the electrolytic capacitors in them would only last that long in ideal operating temperatures.

For the ratings:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80_Plus#Efficiency_level_certifications
The inefficiencies in the power supply gets turned to heat, and at Titanium levels, you're producing half of it compared to a Gold level.
Though gold don't even get warm, so temperatures are a moot point.

With a PSU of that quality, unless you've had it under heavy load it's entire life, with many off/on and hot/cold cycles every single day then I'd just keep it. It's got all the proper protections in place for if it did go pop, as you put it, then you'd just need to get a new PSU.

The very same PSU you have now is ~£180 and is a Platinum rated, and part of the professional series. It is a Seasonic OEM PSU and pretty one of the best PSU's build in the last decade.

Thanks both. Will hold on to it for this system. Occurred to me that I've basically built a whole new rig now so I will follow it through and buy a new PSU too and the current system will either go to MM/'bay or replace the guts of my currently E5800-driven HTPC so I can sneak a game on the big telly when the gf falls asleep (or vice versa - the more likely event tbh). Went with the Fractal 860P as I couldn't work out which Seasonic wasn't **** (used to be them and Superflower were easy purchases) and the design looks pretty similar to my current box.

 

[rare]

I’ve got the 860p and I like it, outside of the fact that it works as expected (hah) the cables are extremely flexible which helps a lot with cable management, the fan is very quiet and 140mm from memory not the standard 120 that’s often used. It also runs after shutdown for a few minutes which is nice. I like it aesthetically and it matches my S2 colour wise and design.

The only one flaw is that the button for the zero rpm fan mode is on the inside making it essentially unusable. I’ve left the mode off though and can’t even hear the fan at all.