Low power, quality PSU

Gwyn · 28 Feb 2025 at 17:26

Hi there

I have been quoting a friend for a budget office pc. I don’t need much power but there doesn’t seem to be quality 400w psu’s. I’ve always gone for the best I can afford but seems a lot to spend £80/90 on a 650w psu’s on a low power system. Can anyone recommend a low power, quiet psu that’s reliable?

Thanks

Grimley · 1 Mar 2025 at 07:37

I have that dilemma myself if and when my EVGA 550G2 Packs up. I don't think you're going to have a lot of luck finding one new TBH. The better quality PSU's are going to be 650w & above.
Only thing about using a higher power PSU in a lower power rig is the efficiency but that's not a concern for me.
If I were to buy now It would not be without my usual research on make and models. I'm leaning back to Corsair or Seasonic based PSU's. Warranty would be a Factor as well. As for PSU tier lists, I'd make my decision on certain factors there too.
The old adge is as always 'you get what you pay for' but just bear in mind that 'don't skimp on a PSU' if you want your rig to be reliable.

Gwyn · 1 Mar 2025 at 09:47

Thanks for your reply. Yes I completely agree on needing a quality PSU. It’s just a shame there aren’t more low power psu’s for office machines.

mickyflinn · 1 Mar 2025 at 13:06

Work out how much power is going to be needed , some PSUs fans only switch on at 40% load so you could get a PSU where the fan never spins if you do the maths

tamzzy · 1 Mar 2025 at 13:08

i'd just get a cx450/cv450 they're good enough

Gwyn · 1 Mar 2025 at 15:55

Sounds good, thanks for the help

mattyfez · 4 Mar 2025 at 13:57

I have a bequiet 380w powering a stock 6600k and rx480 gpu quite happily all though it's probably close to its capacity at full tilt.

Can't seem to see it for sale anywhere though.
'branded' PSUs seem to be a rare beast under 500w.

Tbh of its just an office machine I'd probably just bang something like this in it https://www.overclockers.co.uk/aerocool-integrator-500w-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-ca-23m-ae.html

Gwyn · 4 Mar 2025 at 14:50

Thanks for the info. Might have to also push the budget and get a Corsair 650 or something.

mattyfez · 4 Mar 2025 at 15:05

Gwyn said:
Thanks for the info. Might have to also push the budget and get a Corsair 650 or something.

Seems daft to do that for an office machine... What's it gonna be needing, 200-300w?

I found a 500w CWT at a competitor site.. For £31.. I can't link to it though as it's a competitor!

Gwyn · 4 Mar 2025 at 18:58

mattyfez said:
Seems daft to do that for an office machine... What's it gonna be needing, 200-300w?

I found a 500w CWT at a competitor site.. For £31.. I can't link to it though as it's a competitor!

I know, that’s the point of my post to be honest. There are very few decent brand low power psu’s.

Tetras · 4 Mar 2025 at 19:02

Gwyn said:
I know, that’s the point of my post to be honest. There are very few decent brand low power psu’s.

This is a more recently updated tier list that may be helpful:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1akCHL7Vhzk_EhrpIGkz8zTEvYfLDcaSpZRB6Xt6JWkc/htmlview#

mattyfez · 4 Mar 2025 at 19:08

Gwyn said:
I know, that’s the point of my post to be honest. There are very few decent brand low power psu’s.

Well CWT is a respected manufacturer and you can get a 500w for £31... I think my Corsair RM750 is built by CWT.

Of course that's no guarantee as Corsair would commission CWT to make them to a certain fairly high spec /price point, but the point is it's a well established manufacturer.

But that aside... You're hardly going to be taxing a 500w PSU in an office machine... Not even close.

Gwyn · 4 Mar 2025 at 19:31

Tetras said:
This is a more recently updated tier list that may be helpful:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1akCHL7Vhzk_EhrpIGkz8zTEvYfLDcaSpZRB6Xt6JWkc/htmlview#

Brilliant thanks for this. Very helpful.

tamzzy · 5 Mar 2025 at 12:46

It's an office machine with limited power draw I wouldn't even bother with any sort of tier lists tbh.
As long as the PSU won't blow up (like a hiper) it's good enough.
I wouldn't hesitate to put one of those cit FX pros in as well.

It's like needing a car to get you from a to b. You don't need a Ferrari to do that. On the other hand if you're doing the le mans then maybe you need something better. Running a low power draw office pc is not the le mans.

Grimley · 5 Mar 2025 at 18:01

/\/\/\ I kinda disagree with that. A cheap PSU is more likely (IMO) to take out other hardware when it fails, including SSD's which may have irreplaceable & unrecoverable data on them. Also less likely to protect said hardware (IMO) in the event of a power surge killing a PSU.

mattyfez · 5 Mar 2025 at 18:32

Grimley said:
/\/\/\ I kinda disagree with that. A cheap PSU is more likely (IMO) to take out other hardware when it fails, including SSD's which may have irreplaceable & unrecoverable data on them. Also less likely to protect said hardware (IMO) in the event of a power surge killing a PSU.

You just need to check the spec to see what protections it has, for example:
OVP, OPP, UVP

I just found a 500w 'game max' for £35.... Ironically I wouldnt use it in a gaming machine, but I'd be totally happy to throw it into an office machine, as it has those protections built in.

I'd assume any PSU these days would...asssuming you buy it from the UK rather then wish.com or Temu or whatever, but i'd sill check.

Tetras · 5 Mar 2025 at 18:37

mattyfez said:
You just need to check the spec to see what protections it has, for example:
OVP, OPP, UVP

Without decent reviews that is always hard to verify. Most budget brands/PSUs aren't sampled to reviewers. E.g. the protections may not be present, or they don't function properly.

mattyfez · 5 Mar 2025 at 18:57

Tetras said:
Without decent reviews that is always hard to verify. Most budget brands/PSUs aren't sampled to reviewers. E.g. the protections may not be present, or they don't function properly.

Gwyn · 6 Mar 2025 at 13:01

Yeah I’m not keen on looking at these low end brands. Thanks for all the help though guys. Matty, you might want to remove the link as OCUK will jump on you lol