• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Moving countries -> 110 to 220

T

Tahi

Junior Member
So I'm moving countries and the power will go from 110 to 220. I have a seasonic M12 500W supply that is about 4-5 years old. Do powersupplies run more or less efficient when moving to 220? I'm wanting to upgrade my system before I leave (i7-860 or i7-920) and I want to make sure that I'm probably going to be ok from a power supply standpoint.
 
Power supplies run marginally more efficiently at 220V. This will have no effect on what the supply can deliver to your computer however. It will have an effect on how much power it draws from the wall socket.

That Seasonic supply is excellent and should cover you on either of those systems with a single GPU and maybe a little overclocking. (As long as you aren't running ten hard disks and lots of fans)
 
Yes they run more efficient at higher voltage inputs, but being more or less efficient has no impact on what components you can run (short of a 1500+ Watt monster and the AC circuit limits which that entails). Efficiency only determines how much AC power is pulled versus the DC power that is being used...it doesn't affect the actual output of the power supply...other than the minor benefit of running a tiny tiny bit cooler when it is running more efficiently.
 
Are you sure a 50 Hz PS is more efficient than a 60 Hz one? I can see how the voltage drop across the bridge would be a bit smaller as a percentage for the higher voltage PS but the lower freq would seem to work against efficiency.

Brian
 
I think if the PSU is active power factor based then it will auto adjust to voltages otherwise it should have a 110/220 switch in the back. I think yours is active power factored, so I'd guess you can use it w/ 220.
 
HOOfan 1 said:
but being more or less efficient has no impact on what components you can run (short of a 1500+ Watt monster and the AC circuit limits which that entails)
Click to expand...

True. I'm not a big gamer and don't overclock. I tend to do media stuff mostly. I have a current X1950XT that I'm trying to drag into the upgrade, since I don't need the latest, fastest 3D performance. But I do recognize that is a bit less power efficient than I could get today. I *think* I'd be ok power wise with the 930, but I have more headroom the 860.
 
Brian Stirling said:
Are you sure a 50 Hz PS is more efficient than a 60 Hz one? I can see how the voltage drop across the bridge would be a bit smaller as a percentage for the higher voltage PS but the lower freq would seem to work against efficiency.

Brian
Click to expand...

I just pulled this from the first PSU review I found. It's the Enermax review from Christoph Katzer.

http://www.anandtech.com/casecoolingpsus/showdoc.aspx?i=3723&p=12

You can see an improved efficiency at 230VAC. The reason being average power is P=V_RMS*I but losses are P=I_RMS^2 *R. So by increasing the supply voltage the current drops, reducing the losses. 50/ 60 Hz supply is a non-issue as RMS values are used throughout and RMS is measured over a full cycle of supply.
 
Tahi said:
True. I'm not a big gamer and don't overclock. I tend to do media stuff mostly. I have a current X1950XT that I'm trying to drag into the upgrade, since I don't need the latest, fastest 3D performance. But I do recognize that is a bit less power efficient than I could get today. I *think* I'd be ok power wise with the 930, but I have more headroom the 860.
Click to expand...

If this is the case then you will experience lower power consumption and similar performance by choosing the i7 860.
 
SparkyJJO said:
As mentioned previously, it is an active PFC unit, so there is no switch. It does it automatically.

But it is a good reminder for those not running APFC units.
Click to expand...

Oh right, some of the newer ones auto detect.

Actually, how do you go about running a PC on 240 in US/Canada? Do they even make power cords that fit into a 240V plug and is there any advantage to doing it? I'm thinking the PSU would maybe run cooler (less amps) but is this true? Once it's converted to the various low DC voltages the amps are the same anyway. Guess in the end it's watts that produce heat, and those don't change.
 
You'll pull less amps on the 240V circuit than on a 120V circuit for the same wattage used. And, because of that, it is slightly more efficient running from a 240V branch circuit. But that's about it.
 
RedSquirrel said:
Actually, how do you go about running a PC on 240 in US/Canada? Do they even make power cords that fit into a 240V plug and is there any advantage to doing it?
Click to expand...

I wired my shop for 240, but outside of a dryer connection, I'm not aware of any 240 plugs inside any house. So you'd have to wire 240 inside. Then, its easy to build a cord to fit the plug. In the US, there are no standard 240 socket configurations (although there are some conventions that are sometimes adhered to), so you have to match your cord to the socket type. It can be done, but not sure why.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top