Should I replace a 9 year old PSU?

bfar · 2 Jun 2023 at 18:12

I have a Corsair AX860 in a new RTX 4080 / 7800X3D build. It's old but good and running fine, but I didn't realise it's over nine years old until I came accross the receipts the other day. Would I be wise to replace it? It could go in my NAS (which has an even older PSU

).
if I needed recommendations I'd probably shop in the 1000-1200w ATX 3.0 category.

turbot1984 · 2 Jun 2023 at 18:47

bfar said:
I have a Corsair AX860 in a new RTX 4080 / 7800X3D build. It's old but good and running fine, but I didn't realise it's over nine years old until I came accross the receipts the other day. Would I be wise to replace it? It could go in my NAS (which has an even older PSU ).
if I needed recommendations I'd probably shop in the 1000-1200w ATX 3.0 category.

Nah, i'm on a 9 yr old Antec. If its running fine leave until next big build and 4080 power spikes pretty good anyhow.

Tetras · 2 Jun 2023 at 23:58

Negative.

ATX 3.0 1000-1200 watt psu with same efficiency rating would cost you £250-£300+

Rroff · 3 Jun 2023 at 00:03

As per my post in a recent thread:

Rroff said:
Used to be more true of older power supplies - anything built earlier than ~2007-2008 (depending a bit on both component quality and the implementation of safety features), these days with solid state components and higher quality baseline for (non-solid state) capacitors, revised safety features, etc. the chances of catastrophic failure or needing to replace the PSU after 10 years or so on the dot has significantly diminished. (See for instance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague ).

Though I still recommend somewhat over-speccing the PSU, depending a bit on its optimal efficiency curve, to allow for ageing and improved thermal/noise situation and so on.

Anything built in the last decade or so should still have some life in it yet at 9 years old unless you've been rinsing it 24x7 in a case with poor thermals.

Though I tend to lean a bit towards the cautious side.

BUDFORCE · 3 Jun 2023 at 07:06

It'll be fine.

bfar · 5 Jun 2023 at 00:08

Long story short, I actually changed it out. I originally thought it was one of the system fans, but the old AX860 was actually emmiting some fan rattle or coil whine at idle. Otherwise I'd have followed the good advice given. I'll risk it on my old low power NAS, but not on my brand new 2k rig.
Bought a Corsair Shift RM1000x for 200 squids. Not the efficiency champion in its bracket, but still very much top tier, and one of the few ATX 3.0 1000w+ that doesn't operate an aggressive fan curve. It's a quiet, tidy PSU and should last a few builds. I'm happy with it.

Thanks for the advice.