PSU

[Razersoda]

Hello.
I am sick and tired of googling so I came back here for trustful information from you guys. Also NB english isn't my first language.

Built myself a PC 1 year ago, works perfectly. Now in need to build my little brother a PC. Everything was fine until I came across choosing a PSU. So I went to asus's "Power Supply Wattage Calculator", this tells me: "Your Recommended Minimum Power Supply is 500 Watts". Okay, fine. Now I put my own computer in there and it tells me I need 650Watts.... I have a 600Watt PSU and my computer has been fine for a year. ?

Now my questions:
1. What does Recommended "MINIMUM" Power Supply mean?
2. Should I trust these sites?

If needed, I can list computer specs too.
Thanks

 

[VirtualLarry]

Most PSU calculators overestimate by a bit, both just to be safe, and secondly, because most PSUs don't actually put out what they state on the label in terms of wattage. So your "700W" PSU might only really put out 400W at most, before overheating or shutting down.

If you get a quality PSU (SeaSonic, Antec, Corsair, Enermax, and a few others), then you can size it according to the appropriate listed wattage.

 

[Razersoda]

Most PSU calculators overestimate by a bit, both just to be safe, and secondly, because most PSUs don't actually put out what they state on the label in terms of wattage. So your "700W" PSU might only really put out 400W at most, before overheating or shutting down.

If you get a quality PSU (SeaSonic, Antec, Corsair, Enermax, and a few others), then you can size it according to the appropriate listed wattage.

Okay, I'll just go with the smaller one then thanks!
Others can still have a say.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Those psu calculators are fairly useless. They have to take into account that there are still some really bad psu's being sold that can't nearly deliver their rated power (especially in Asia).

They might also shoot for something like 50% load where efficiency is supposed to be best. But a good modern psu will have good efficiency along the total load curve and sizing for 50% load only means you'll have bad efficiency at idle. Or they just want you to buy the more expensive higher watt unit.

List the parts for the build and where you shop, so we can give advice on the right psu. Or just get CX series again, they are decent enough for the money.

As for your system, it would be hard to have it use more than 300W.