Power Supply Sizing Question

Regnak · 9 Mar 2012 at 20:42

Hi,

Quick question regarding power supplies. If you bought a 550W and 1000W power supply for a system, would the 1000W actually use more electricity than the 550W with the same PC components and for the same workload? Assume they are both platinum rated. As long as both can cope with the peak load I was wondering would you end up paying for more electricity or not with the 1000W one?

Thanks
Mike

stulid · 9 Mar 2012 at 20:44

They only use as much as the system attached to them.

If one has a higher efficiency rating than the other then it Will use less

but as both are Platinum rated then that don't matter.

Usually with a PSU, peak efficiency is around 50-60% load.

Regnak · 9 Mar 2012 at 20:51

Cheers!
That clears the myth up in my head anyway! Now all I need is a nuclear powered PSU!!

Mike

stulid · 9 Mar 2012 at 20:56

Regnak said:
Cheers!
That clears the myth up in my head anyway! Now all I need is a nuclear powered PSU!!

Mike

Are you looking for a PSU?

Got a certain PC spec to try and run?

Regnak · 9 Mar 2012 at 21:24

I'm looking at a supermicro workstation system with an E5-2600 but they're only supplied with a 900W PSU or above(!). I thought the PSU was overkill and wondered if it would impact my energy bills. I've a Corsair 650W in my desktop, this would be a second system for studying purposes (Virtualization etc).
Cheers
Mike

stulid · 9 Mar 2012 at 21:25

Thats going to be ok, a 1000watt PSU wont suck 1000W+ (taking into account efficiency rating etc) out of the wall all the time.

It uses what it has to according to the components.