Lower wattage PSUs aren't always better.

[VirtualLarry]

I have a G3258 @ 3.8 rig, that along with my Westinghouse 24" LED LCD HDTV, shows 79-82W, full CPU load, on my UPS software. That's with a 500W Antec Earthwatts PSU. It's an older one, and while it may be 80Plus, it's not Bronze or higher. (It may pre-date the extended rating.)

I swapped in a 400W Rosewill Stallion. Under the same load, it was showing 118W. That's almost 40W more!

So, be careful when "rightsizing" your PSU wattage. Build quality and efficiency factor in, pretty highly I would say.

 

[TemjinGold]

Err... you compared an 80Plus to a non-80Plus, what did you expect?

 

[IGemini]

Err... you compared an 80Plus to a non-80Plus, what did you expect?

Yeah, this.

My 4670K only runs 90W total system consumption for an AIDA64 CPU test, 40W when factoring out my monitors (2x ASUS VE248H) and my external drive. Still doesn't break the 10% load mark on my Seasonic G 450W.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Take the monitor out of the equation, too. Unless it's being powered by the PSU.