Can using an old / underpowered PSU cause damages?

[Aepheme]

Just wondering... I'm about to put together a new build (i7 920, Radeon HD 5850, single hard drive, nothing else), and I think I'm just going to use my old Free-After-Rebate "500w" PSU:

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/465/1/

Worst case scenario is: I get random crashes / instability when I try to overclock, right? I'm not in danger of frying the components or anything, am I?

Thanks!

- edit -
Just did a little more reading and think I have an answer to my question. Should've used the search function! Mod -- please delete?

 

[Absolution75]

that system won't pull 500watts, probably not even 400


Reason I posted is because I think I have that PSU running on my server....

its a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P + Q6600 + 8GB Ram + 4 HD's and a bunch of fans.

its been running litterally 24/7 for 10 months now.

 

[Lonyo]

that system won't pull 500watts, probably not even 400


Reason I posted is because I think I have that PSU running on my server....

its a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P + Q6600 + 8GB Ram + 4 HD's and a bunch of fans.

its been running litterally 24/7 for 10 months now.

It's not a 500w PSU though, it's not even a 400w PSU IMO.
335w on the 12v means it barely might scrape as being a 400w PSU to most people.

If you're spending $500+ on new hardware, then IMO it's worth spending some money on a quality PSU.
Running on a free "500w" PSU is just saying "I don't like these new computer parts".
My 400w PSU has more power from the 12v rail than that "500w" one.

 

[theAnimal]

It's not a 500w PSU though, it's not even a 400w PSU IMO.
335w on the 12v means it barely might scrape as being a 400w PSU to most people.

If you're spending $500+ on new hardware, then IMO it's worth spending some money on a quality PSU.
Running on a free "500w" PSU is just saying "I don't like these new computer parts".
My 400w PSU has more power from the 12v rail than that "500w" one.

Plus there's a good chance it can't deliver anywhere near 335W under normal operating temperature.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Wow...an old POS Wintech. Rippletastic.

It is probably fine running 4 year old components...But, I wouldn't hook up a Core i7 and HD5870 to it.

Ultra has sold some absolute crap in the past..and unfortunately still do. Most of the the "crap" that they sold (or in this case gave away) was Youngyear or Wintech. The defining characteristic of those PSUs was that they were usually vastly overrated. Meaning that Ultra would sell a 550W PSU as a 750W PSU.

 

[irsei]

hi.
regardless of your specific system needs, it is good to know that you should not use an underpowered psu.
basically, if you put too great a draw on a psu, it will heat up the connections and melt or burn stuff.
sometimes, they melt and burn the parts that are drawing the power (mobo, gpu), and sometimes they melt and burn themselves.
psu's have protection circuits, but sometimes they don't work well, or quickly enough.
there are definately folks out there who have had problems of this sort, especially with cheaper supplies that can't sustain their "rated" power properly.
just be careful, that's all.
personally, if i spend a bit of extra money on only one part of pc build, it will always be the psu.

 

[zerocool84]

It's not a 500w PSU though, it's not even a 400w PSU IMO.
335w on the 12v means it barely might scrape as being a 400w PSU to most people.

If you're spending $500+ on new hardware, then IMO it's worth spending some money on a quality PSU.
Running on a free "500w" PSU is just saying "I don't like these new computer parts".
My 400w PSU has more power from the 12v rail than that "500w" one.

Yep that's a sorry PSU and I'd never run hardware I cared about on something like that.

 

[yh125d]

Actually the worst case scenario is you fry some of your hardware.

Technically, PSUs should shut off before they reach dangerous overcurrent levels, but in older/lower quality/overrated power supplies they tend to just go *pop* instead (sometimes)

I wouldn't run that system with that hardware at stock, much less overclocked like you mention. Pick up a quality 450-550w