Can a better power supply yield performance differences?

Smartazz

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2005
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If I used a 300watt PSU to power the following setup:
Intel Q6600
2GB RAM
8800GTS

With a no-name 300watt PSU, and it somehow ran, but the PSU was always hot and loud, would I see a difference in performance on the system itself if I dropped in a quality 500watt PSU instead? Thanks in advance.
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Is this a trick question? :p psu's supply power to devices and do not enhance performance, at least the performance I think you're referring to. However a quality efficient psu will produce less heat, remain quiet, provide stable voltages, and could extend the life of your components. A quality Antec EarthWatts 380 will run that rig as long as your don't have an unusual amount of drives and exotic cooling. Your max load would be around 70% on the psu.

Using a cheap psu is asking for trouble IMO, especially if it's used to power quality hardware.
 

Smartazz

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2005
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Originally posted by: John
Is this a trick question? :p psu's supply power to devices and do not enhance performance, at least the performance I think you're referring to. However a quality efficient psu will produce less heat, remain quiet, provide stable voltages, and could extend the life of your components. A quality Antec EarthWatts 380 will run that rig as long as your don't have an unusual amount of drives and exotic cooling. Your max load would be around 70% on the psu.

Using a cheap psu is asking for trouble IMO, especially if it's used to power quality hardware.

Well, could inconsistent power supply from the PSU cause lowered performance?
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Not that I am aware of, but you risk a cheap psu blowing up and taking some of your precious hardware with it. Excessive (beyond spec) ripple will also kill your hardware over time. IMO if you can afford the hardware in your OP you can afford to purchase a quality $50-$100 psu. Then again it really depends on the make/model of your current psu. What is this noname that you speak of?

dclive has a max ~85% load on his factory Acer psu:

Here's what I'm running on Acer's stock 300W PS:

Acer E700 (965 chipset) board
Intel Quad-Core Q6600 (quad 2.4) CPU
4 x 1GB DDR2/667 chips
4 x 500GB 3.5" HDDs
1 x 5.25" DVD +/- RW
1 x EVGA 8800GTS/320
1 x Hauppauge PVR-500 PCI Dual-tuner TV card
keyboard/mouse/USB remote controller for Logitec mouse

Specs

LiteOn PS-6301-08A
12V1 10A
12V2 13A
Combined 12V 20A (240W)
300W max DC Output @ 25C & 270W @ 50C

A quality 500W will simply provide headroom for future expansion and allow you to operate with less load on the psu.
 

Smartazz

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2005
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Originally posted by: John
Not that I am aware of, but you risk a cheap psu blowing up and taking some of your precious hardware with it. Excessive (beyond spec) ripple will also kill your hardware over time. IMO if you can afford the hardware in your OP you can afford to purchase a quality $50-$100 psu. Then again it really depends on the make/model of your current psu. What is this noname that you speak of?

dclive has a max ~85% load on his factory Acer psu:

Here's what I'm running on Acer's stock 300W PS:

Acer E700 (965 chipset) board
Intel Quad-Core Q6600 (quad 2.4) CPU
4 x 1GB DDR2/667 chips
4 x 500GB 3.5" HDDs
1 x 5.25" DVD +/- RW
1 x EVGA 8800GTS/320
1 x Hauppauge PVR-500 PCI Dual-tuner TV card
keyboard/mouse/USB remote controller for Logitec mouse

Specs

LiteOn PS-6301-08A
12V1 10A
12V2 13A
Combined 12V 20A (240W)
300W max DC Output @ 25C & 270W @ 50C

A quality 500W will simply provide headroom for future expansion and allow you to operate with less load on the psu.

It was actually a hypothetical question since my brother ran a very similar system to the one I just listed, but he changed the PSU after a few days after I constantly nagged him too.
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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A PSU that can't handle the load can cause random reboots. A quality 300W PSU with the power distributed among the rails properly for the system, could handle what you listed w/o problems. While a quality 300W PSU of older design (power given mostly to the 3.3/5V rail) might not handle the parts you mention as they require the power mostly from the 12V rail.

Also a rail running close to its maximum rating will produce more ripple with potential effects as mentioned in a post above.

Here is an example of an older design 300W PSU: http://www.sparklepower.com/pdf/FSP300-60ATV.pdf

Here is a newer design 300W PSU: http://www.enhanceusa.com/file/87_specification.pdf



Compare the differences in the Amps or total power available from the 3.3/5V combined and 12V rails. Note that the power available on the 3.3/5V rail is around a third less than what it was. Some shift the balance even more to the 12V side.

Also, your no-name 300W PSU could be a marginal design of low efficiency - which means more of the power drawn from the wall is turned into waste heat. Of the two PSUs I linked, one has 65% minimum efficiency - meaning that up to 35% of the power drawn goes to waste heat, while the other is 80 Plus rated so in most cases, less than 20% of the power drawn has to be dumped as waste heat.

The 380W PSU in my FS/T listing would be excellent for your system - click the link below.


.bh.
 

Nathelion

Senior member
Jan 30, 2006
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I've experienced hard lock-ups and severe stalling from using an underpowered PSU, at least I assume that's what it was because when i upgraded the problems went away:) So in that sense, "performance" could improve.
 

Super Nade

Member
Oct 5, 2005
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Lite-ON is a solid server grade brand. Indeed, that is what Supermicro/Ablecom use. It's built like a tank and regulates very well. Drawbacks include poor efficiency and rather military looks. But, LiteON OEM for many companies and quality varies. Can't say anything unless you open her up and post some pics (warranty voiding move). :D
 

dclive

Elite Member
Oct 23, 2003
5,626
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One thing I think everyone should consider in this is that Anandtech's reviews show the 8800GTX with Core 2 Duo systems (let's pick the normal 6600) only takes 203 watts under full load, and about 150 watts when under normal operations. Each additional drive takes just a few watts. Memory usage isn't significant.

http://anandtech.com/cpuchipse...howdoc.aspx?i=2903&p=7

(you might need to flip to the power consumption page)
 

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
A cheap PSU can make a PC perform lower than a good PSU. By running out of power and crashing the system all the time ;) :p