risks of using a cheap psu

[dave law]

i have a cheap case coming that comes with a psu (500w casecom)

would it be ok to use this as a stop gap psu till i get a better one (a few weeks to a month)

 

[michael baxter]

If it was my PC, I wouldn't do it.

Have you got decent PSU from an old build that would do as a stopgap?

 

[Tetras]

Two biggest risks are blowing up and taking other components with it and damaging them over time through providing unstable power (especially motherboard).

If the PSU has plenty of power for the system your running, isn't showing any typical signs of failure (no freezing or unpredictable reboots/trouble starting, rails look solid, i.e. not fluctuating), is surge protected and in a cool, well ventilated room/case then you should be ok.

 

[Minstadave]

What system are you intending to run on it?

 

[hip]

I've had a bunch of qtec supplies in the past and the only problems I've had with them is short lifespan, never damaged components.

am I the lucky one?

 

[DreXeL]

I had a cheap auction site '500w' PSU in my home server, it died 3 days ago, with less than 4-months use. Luckily it didn't take anything else with it.

 

[Zefan]

 

[4ndy89]

I think you will be fine to use it as a stop-gap psu, ive used a q-tec for over a year in my spare pc (on most of the time). Its been fine, the only grudge i have for it is the noise.

 

[dave law]

ok

what would be a good psu

would rather not/cant spend to much on it now, so around £50 or less

it will be running

crossfire motherboard
2G RAM
amd x2
ati x1900
1 DVD RW
1 hard drive

 

[semi-pro waster]

For around £50 I don't think you will do much better than a Seasonic 430w, it is a good quality, quiet PSU that will easily cope with your system.