Is it overkill?

[Zues]

Is the OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom is that overkill?

 

[fffblackmage]

Yes, it's compatible.

500W is enough for most computers, even with a mid-range graphics card. If you're just going to use an IGP instead, then yes, it is somewhat overkill.

 

[jonnyGURU]

If you can get it for a good price, who cares? A PSU only puts out for whatever the load is.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Yes, it's compatible.

500W is enough for most computers, even with a mid-range graphics card. If you're just going to use an IGP instead, then yes, it is somewhat overkill.

There is no such thing as over kill..........

 

[lehtv]

There is no such thing as over kill..........

 

[billyb0b]

depends on what else you are running

500w for powering a sandybridge, two 580s, lots of ram, multiple hds and optical drives may be pushing it for 500w

 

[JEDIYoda]

In response to the question -- Is it overkill?

johnnyGURU -- If you can get it for a good price, who cares? A PSU only puts out for whatever the load is.

so you(lehtv) tell me??

 

[thelastjuju]

There is no such thing as over kill..........

This is indeed the post I'd expect from somebody with 15,000+ posts here.

 

[JEDIYoda]

This is indeed the post I'd expect from somebody with 15,000+ posts here.

Why Thank You!!! I just quoted the GURU Mod....
johnnyGURU -- If you can get it for a good price, who cares? A PSU only puts out for whatever the load is.

 

[lehtv]

Why Thank You!!! I just quoted the GURU Mod....
johnnyGURU -- If you can get it for a good price, who cares? A PSU only puts out for whatever the load is.

What JonnyGuru said doesn't mean there's no such thing as overkill. And it's also just his opinion - he may be an expert but it's not like what he says is automatically correct. Therefore, quoting his opinion does not automatically validate any conclusions that you draw from it (even if he's right). You have to provide some reasoning of your own to support what you say.

My "" response meant that I was a bit baffled as to why anyone would say there's no such thing as overkill. Overkill means you get way more of something, in this case PSU capacity, than you need. That says nothing about whether overkill is good or bad or whether it makes sense or not. You stated there's no such thing as overkill, which is obviously false. There IS overkill.

Now if we look at whether buying something that's overkill is good or bad, price is obviously the main concern. If you read JonnyGuru's quote again, you will see it doesn't exclusively support the idea that overkill = good which you seemed to imply. It supports both "overkill = good" and "overkill = bad", depending on how much you need to pay for it compared to a non-overkill product.

 

[JEDIYoda]

What JonnyGuru said doesn't mean there's no such thing as overkill. And it's also just his opinion - he may be an expert but it's not like what he says is automatically correct. Quoting his opinion therefore does not automatically validate any conclusions that you draw from it. You have to provide some reasoning of your own to support what you say.

My "" response meant that I was a bit baffled why anyone would say there's no such thing as overkill. Overkill means you get way more of something, in this case PSU capacity, than you need. It doesn't mean that if X is overkill, it's a bad choice. You stated there's no such thing as overkill, which is obviously false.

Now if we look at whether buying something that's overkill is good or bad, price is obviously the main concern. If you read JonnyGuru's quote again, you will see it doesn't exclusively support the idea that overkill = good, which you seemed to imply. It supports both "overkill = good" and "overkill = bad", depending on whether you need to pay more or the same as for a non-overkill product.

Based on Jonny`s quote there really is no such thing as over kill!!
The key word being over kill! -- I am sorry there really is no such thing as over kill!
Instead of telling that Jonny is wrong -- please post some links supporting your contention.

If a persons computer will use 450 watts max no matter what they are doing and they want to buy a 1000 watt PSU. Thats is NOT over kill.

The term over kill is a misnomer and blatantly incorrect -- because the 1000 watt PSU will still only use what is needed to run the computer.

Also the savings in $$$ based on efficiency issues is tiny at best......

So YES!! There is no such thing as over kill.

There is such a thing as buying a PSU that barely put out enough to run your computer.

 

[lehtv]

Had to edit/clarify my earlier post a bit. I'll refer to the edited version here.

Based on Jonny`s quote there really is no such thing as over kill!!
The key word being over kill! -- I am sorry there really is no such thing as over kill!

Overkill means you get way more of something, in this case PSU capacity, than you need. That says nothing about whether overkill is good or bad or whether it makes sense or not.

Let me repeat. Overkill means you get way more of something than you need. In what world is it not obviously true that there is such a thing as overkill?

Instead of telling that Jonny is wrong

I didn't say Jonny is wrong. Read again. In fact, I think he's right, and you're wrong.

-- please post some links supporting your contention.

I don't see how external evidence would help here.

If a persons computer will use 4500 watts max no matter what they are doing and they want to buy a 1000 watt PSU. Thats is NOT over kill.

The term over kill is a misnomer and blatantly incorrect -- because the 1000 watt PSU will still only use what is needed to run the computer.

Yet a 1000 watt PSU is obviously not needed to run a 450W (assuming '4500' was a typo) PC, so the 1000W PSU is overkill for that PC. Also it's spelled 'overkill', not 'over kill'.

Also the savings in $$$ based on efficiency issues is tiny at best......

So YES!! There is no such thing as over kill.

If you had actually read my earlier reply, you'd know already that there are two separate issues here - 1. is there such a thing as overkill, and 2. does it make sense to buy an overkill product or not.

This is how you get to 15K posts - by posting random senseless drivel. A word of advice... quantity doesn't replace quality.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Had to edit/clarify my earlier post a bit. I'll refer to the edited version here.



Let me repeat. Overkill means you get way more of something than you need. In what world is it not obviously true that there is such a thing as overkill?

I didn't say Jonny is wrong. Read again. In fact, I think he's right, and you're wrong.
I don't see how external evidence would help here.



Yet a 1000 watt PSU is obviously not needed to run a 450W (assuming '4500' was a typo) PC, so the 1000W PSU is overkill for that PC. Also it's spelled 'overkill', not 'over kill'.

If you had actually read my earlier reply, you'd know already that there are two separate issues here - 1. is there such a thing as overkill, and 2. does it make sense to buy an overkill product or not.

This is how you get to 15K posts - by posting random senseless drivel. A word of advice... quantity doesn't replace quality.

Actually I just don`t agree with you.
No there is no such thing as overkill! That is plain and simple.
I really don`t think you can buy too big of a PSU.
As Jonny said -- A PSU only puts out for whatever the load is.

Thats the problem here in your mind a 1000 watt PSU is not whats required for a system that will only use 400watts.

But the person buying the 1000 watt PSU will be perfectly happy with his pirchase!

I find it interesting when people say to somebody -- well you only need a 400watt PSU, why are you getting a 800 watt PSU....duh..because he wants too...duh

 

[BFG10K]

Actually I just don`t agree with you.

It doesn’t really matter given the dictionary definition: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/overkill

3. an excess of what is required or suitable, as because of zeal or misjudgment.

No there is no such thing as overkill! That is plain and simple.

Of course there is. It’s no different to somebody buying tri-SLI for a 1680x1050 screen, or a hex-core Intel processor for MS Word. Like a PSU, the CPU and tri-SLI only put out the processing power they need to, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re all overkill for the intended purpose.

There’s a difference between buying a margin of cushion and buying in excess. 600W for a 400W system is a cushion; 1500W for the same system is overkill.

Even if we take cost out of the equation (which we can’t), there’s still the matter of most PSUs being the most efficient at 45-55% loads.

There are also physical size/weight issues which could be a factor depending on the case. Other possible factors could include noise (e.g. most passively cooled PSUs are below 600W).

 

[JEDIYoda]

It doesn’t really matter given the dictionary definition: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/overkill


Of course there is. It’s no different to somebody buying tri-SLI for a 1680x1050 screen, or a hex-core Intel processor for MS Word. Like a PSU, the CPU and tri-SLI only put out the processing power they need to, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re all overkill for the intended purpose. -true

There’s a difference between buying a margin of cushion and buying in excess. 600W for a 400W system is a cushion; 1500W for the same system is overkill. -- over kill excess.....symantecs

Even if we take cost out of the equation (which we can’t), there’s still the matter of most PSUs being the most efficient at 45-55% loads. -- not that big of a deal...amounts to little if any savings a year!

There are also physical size/weight issues which could be a factor depending on the case. Other possible factors could include noise (e.g. most passively cooled PSUs are below 600W).

Sorry -- there is such a thing as having excess,,,,good terminology!
No such thing as overkill -- bad terminology!

 

[lehtv]

Eh, just because you use the term 'overkill' wrong or misunderstand it, doesn't mean it's suddenly 'bad terminology'.

 

[zCypher]

lol. there's no such thing as overkill, I'd be inclined to agree with that sentiment in some cases (example, I have 16GB RAM - I definitely don't need anywhere near this, but I wouldn't call it overkill, cause it might come in handy at some point). However when it comes to power supplies, they operate most efficiently at a certain level of load. So I think getting 1000w+ when you might only need 200-300w is definitely overkill. On the other hand, if you had plans of adding many extra hard drives, video cards, etc - then it might make more sense.

For a basic system, it makes no sense to get way beyond what is needed for power supply. I'd aim more for quality than quantity. Example, get a 400-500w Seasonic as opposed to some 1000w of less certain quality. That's definitely more important IMO.

 

[JEDIYoda]

For a basic system, it makes no sense to get way beyond what is needed for power supply. I'd aim more for quality than quantity. Example, get a 400-500w Seasonic as opposed to some 1000w of less certain quality. That's definitely more important IMO.

It`s always better to for for quality regardless. I can agree with you statement!
I know too many people who have gone the cheapo rote and lost everything...mobo....vidcard...memory...even hardrive...


You never go cheap on the most important piece of equipment in your system!

 

[Diogenes2]

.........
For a basic system, it makes no sense to get way beyond what is needed for power supply. I'd aim more for quality than quantity. Example, get a 400-500w Seasonic as opposed to some 1000w of less certain quality. That's definitely more important IMO.

This is very important..

I had a cheap ( read = crap ) power supply, supposedly 800w, that seemed to get the job done .. ( I won't bore you with the long story of why I had this cheap power supply ... )

Just replaced it with a CoolerMaster Gold 850, and found out ( using Kill-A Watt ) that the with the crap PSU, my system under load - Folding@Home with CPU + GPU was pulling ~458 watts Vs ~370 with the CoolerMaster..

This tells me the the cheap PSU was wasting 90w for whatever reason...

 

[TemjinGold]

This also tells you your 850w is too big because under Folding load, you are below 50%. You're still wasting watts.

 

[General Kenobi]

Yeah, that's overkill.

/thread

 

[Diogenes2]

This also tells you your 850w is too big because under Folding load, you are below 50%. You're still wasting watts.

How is something I'm not using being wasted ?

 

[BFG10K]

Sorry -- there is such a thing as having excess,,,,good terminology!
No such thing as overkill -- bad terminology!

over kill excess.....symantecs

You appear to be typing absolute gibberish. Please re-read the dictionary definition until you fully understand it.

not that big of a deal...amounts to little if any savings a year!

Nobody is claiming what the particular dollar amount is; what's being claimed is that a PSU with an excess wattage for its purpose is overkill.

Saying “it’s not overkill because those watts aren’t used” is a rather simpleton argument. The fact that those watts are not used is precisely why it’s overkill, for the reasons I gave earlier.

 

[BFG10K]

How is something I'm not using being wasted ?

Because you pay for it with money and other possible things such as physical size/weight and noise.

If I never take my Ferrari out of my garage, would you also say that’s not wasted because it’s not being used?

 

[Diogenes2]

If I never take my Ferrari out of my garage, would you also say that’s not wasted because it’s not being used?

I sure would..

It's there if you need it. It brings you pleasure to own it. Maybe you got a good deal on it.

You are aware aren't you, that all else being equal; quality of components & etc., using the mid range of a power supply is more efficient ( uses less energy ) than using the upper range of a lower wattage power supply? In which case, energy is being wasted .

A simple example is an AC power cord. Delivering 10 amps through a 16 gauge cord uses more energy than 10 amps through a 14 gauge cord.