What are your experiences with generic PSU's?

[Malazan]

I have a 8 year old PSU that i still use on a P4 system, it's been used a lot over those 8 years and still solid as a rock, it's generic as well...

I have had 2 450W generics, one died after 4 months the other still going strong
after years of usage...

I am trying to work out if branded PSU's are a bit of marketing strategy or not..?

Is it just a case of the generics giving you the odd restart or BSOD now and again ..?

You can run a surfing, light application - "home style" PC on a generic lump of dog-doo for years, becuase it's never taxed. Most of the PSU's cannot give out thier stated wattage and certainly not for any length of time.


Now, if you're running a gaming rig with high qaulity, high parts DO NOT trust a generic PSU. You need a proper branded PSU, like Corsair, PC Power and Cooling, Antec, Silverstone etc - some brands are better than others but all will be capable of doing the job unlike your gen PSU.

 

[EsaT]

Built a P4 system for a mate about 5 years ago now. It had a QTec 500W PSU and it still works.

Had a 400W PSU that ran by Barton system for a couple of years without a problem either.

Well probable that those PCs won't have peak draw much above 150W which stays below safe limit (if there's one) of junks.

 

[milkinc13]

providing it won't be powering anything large, then generic PSU's are fine, but if using for high end PC's than avoild.
all PC's before this had generic PSU and all worked fine, but they weren't anything of serious power