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Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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OK, so it's a bit tedious to add up the wattage requirements of the components for a total.

Clearly you'd include the CPU and GPU.

But a couple things that aren't as clear if you aren't familiar with this.

Is there other 'overhead' that should be included? Are there things like disk drives that are big enough to add or just treat them as small amounts not worth including?

Does any rated information you find reflect the 'peak use' figure? How does 'peak use' relate to the PS choice?

I see in discussions people mention very different figures depending on use, and to about double the estimated wattage for the PS. Is that doubling peak use, or 'average' wattage, how do you identify each, etc.?

I can see why people just guess.
 
UsandThem

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,383
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It's not really just a guess.

You take each component's peak power draw, and add them up. Then you look at some PSU reviews to decide which one to get, and websites like JonnyGuru and Anandtech test individual power supplies to see where each particular unit has the best efficiency. It's different on every model/OEM platform. Some people just demand that the PSU they pick out is 2x as large as they will ever need, or to "leave some overhead". But it's not any different than people being very particular with any past habit they just can't seem to give up, despite it being a waste.

You then see if your projected normal load and max load are near the efficiency curve.

For example:

https://www.anandtech.com/show/12070/the-corsair-tx550m-80plus-gold-psu-review

cold1.png


Now many people don't want to figure this stuff out themselves, so they use online calculators and/or PSU manufacturer's "find my PSU" tools. BTW, out of all the ones I have come across, the EVGA calculator seems the most accurate with the loads. Many of the online calculators are programmed to almost double the PSU size needed.

https://www.evga.com/power-meter/
 
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Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
When I say guess, I'm referring to people who run into all the questions I mentioned and throw their hands up and just guess instead.

I'm about to try to do this, to get a new PS to try to fix a problem with my PC powering off, with the PS a possible cause.
 
C

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
Thanks for the evga link - but I did it, and it made its recommendation. Unfortunately, that's 'recommendations'.

Of 18 PS to choose from, from 430w to 600w.
 
UsandThem

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,383
146
Craig234 said:
Thanks for the evga link - but I did it, and it made its recommendation. Unfortunately, that's 'recommendations'.

Of 18 PS to choose from, from 430w to 600w.
Click to expand...

They have a lot of units, from budget bronze units with 3 year warranties, to platinum units with 10 year warranties. So does Seasonic, Corsair, etc.

If you have a particular budget in mind, just say what amount you want to stay under, and people will recommend units based on that. Also, what CPU and GPU you will be using is a "need to know" situation.
 
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Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
UsandThem said:
They have a lot of units, from budget bronze units with 3 year warranties, to platinum units with 10 year warranties. So does Seasonic, Corsair, etc.

If you have a particular budget in mind, just say what amount you want to stay under, and people will recommend units based on that. Also, what CPU and GPU you will be using is a "need to know" situation.
Click to expand...

Right - I'm less concerned with budget than getting one that's good quality, without overspending for anything useless. I filled out all those details on the site, but it still recommended 18 - this is for i7-4790K, RX 480, 1 ssd and HD. Adn who knows what might change. I was going to just try to get the wattage and then pick from the otherwise useful Anandtech 'best PS for Christmas' list.
 
UsandThem

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,383
146
Craig234 said:
Right - I'm less concerned with budget than getting one that's good quality, without overspending for anything useless. I filled out all those details on the site, but it still recommended 18 - this is for i7-4790K, RX 480, 1 ssd and HD. Adn who knows what might change. I was going to just try to get the wattage and then pick from the otherwise useful Anandtech 'best PS for Christmas' list.
Click to expand...

This one should fit the bill nicely. 7 year warranty gold PSU for $49.99 after $20 MIR:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817139210

PSU pricing is pretty volatile. On day, one unit may stand out from the others based on price/performance. Right now, it's the Corsair unit above.

If you wanted to "step up", other good choices would be these (about $30 more than the Corsair unit):

Seasonic Focus Plus Gold: $80

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...asonic_focus_plug_gold-_-17-151-189-_-Product

Or the EVGA G3: $80

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...17438095&cm_re=evga_g3-_-17-438-095-_-Product
 
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Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
Looks useful. I'll probably pick between the Corsair and Seasonic - any recommendation based on my wanting good quality but not to waste money? Are they as close as the normal prices of $70 and $80 suggest, so about the same quality? First I'm going to put the GPU in the right slot and see if it helps.
 
UsandThem

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,383
146
Craig234 said:
Looks useful. I'll probably pick between the Corsair and Seasonic - any recommendation based on my wanting good quality but not to waste money? Are they as close as the normal prices of $70 and $80 suggest, so about the same quality? First I'm going to put the GPU in the right slot and see if it helps.
Click to expand...

If I needed to buy a PSU tonight, I would order the Corsair. For me, it's all about the price/performance.
 
UsandThem

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,383
146
Craig234 said:
OK. I just don't know what the difference in performance is to decide whether it's worth the $30.
Click to expand...

Just look at the reviews over at JonnyGuru. By the time you read through them, you will know all the differences down to what capacitors they use inside, how clean the soldering work is on the boards, and their cold and hot performance. He also gives an overall rating at the end.
 
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Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
UsandThem said:
@Craig234

I noticed you created another PSU thread, but then remembered this one.

This is a little larger than you need, but it's still a highly efficient gold unit, and is on sale at Newegg through today for $69.99 after MIR with free shipping (cheaper than the 550w version):

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817151186
Click to expand...

Wow, you made the choice harder:) That one is the same price as #3 above, the 550w EVGA - $100 on sale for $90 with $20 rebate. How to pick...
 
UsandThem

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,383
146
You really can't go wrong with all three of them. They are all solid choices. The Corsair is $49.99 after MIR right now, so for me the choice would between the Corsair and Seasonic at the moment. The EVGA G3 is priced a little too high over their competitors right now.

Edit:

The EVGA G3 is actually $69.99 after MIR right now, so tough call. Just flip a coin ;)
 
UsandThem

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,383
146
Craig234 said:
dammit
Click to expand...

Well, if it helps you any, the Seasonic rebate ends today. The EVGA ends on Feb. 14, and the Corsair ends today as well.

You really can't lose with any of those units. If it makes any difference, the Seasonic unit has a 10 year warranty, while the EVGA and Corsair come with a 7 year.
 
C

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
UsandThem said:
Well, if it helps you any, the Seasonic rebate ends today. The EVGA ends on Feb. 14, and the Corsair ends today as well.

You really can't lose with any of those units. If it makes any difference, the Seasonic unit has a 10 year warranty, while the EVGA and Corsair come with a 7 year.
Click to expand...

7 hours, actually.

Think I'll go with the 10 year Seasonic, unless 650 is too much (the guidelines said more 500-550).
 
UsandThem

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
7,383
146
JEDIYoda

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,321
126
When I figure in actual components I also say don`t forget to add your USB coffee maker..........
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,326
1,887
126
UsandThem said:
It's not really just a guess.

You take each component's peak power draw, and add them up. Then you look at some PSU reviews to decide which one to get, and websites like JonnyGuru and Anandtech test individual power supplies to see where each particular unit has the best efficiency. It's different on every model/OEM platform. Some people just demand that the PSU they pick out is 2x as large as they will ever need, or to "leave some overhead". But it's not any different than people being very particular with any past habit they just can't seem to give up, despite it being a waste.

You then see if your projected normal load and max load are near the efficiency curve.

For example:

https://www.anandtech.com/show/12070/the-corsair-tx550m-80plus-gold-psu-review

cold1.png


Now many people don't want to figure this stuff out themselves, so they use online calculators and/or PSU manufacturer's "find my PSU" tools. BTW, out of all the ones I have come across, the EVGA calculator seems the most accurate with the loads. Many of the online calculators are programmed to almost double the PSU size needed.

https://www.evga.com/power-meter/
Click to expand...

I use the calculators when facing some special new-build decision. After the fact, however, My UPS software can measure wattage draw during a stress-test, and I feel good if that value comes within about 100W below the rated PSU maximum. Even so, I choose PSUs such that it is either likely or proven that they can sustain yet again another 100W in excess of the rated value. This has been shown to be true for at least a couple Seasonic models, including an XFX 750-Watt rebadged Seasonic in its lab-test review.

You can also add up the wattages reported in certain monitoring software such as HWMonitor from CPUID. You need the processor and/or total motherboard draw (including RAM) and the maximum draw of all graphics cards. Without a discipline to the number of HDDs and other devices attached, the totals on storage wattage draw becomes more important. The fewer the disks, the less to worry about.
 
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