question about power supplies

[indie]

I'm looking to reduce the heat generated from my computer since the room is small and way too hot (90F day 80F night). I have a 520w Antec PSU right now, not sure what model, but it's probably 70% efficiency. Would a Fortron Epsilon 600w at >85% efficiency reduce heat by a good amount? I'm sure my system won't ever need 600w, so would I be better off finding a lower wattage PSU, or does it not matter?

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i dunno how efficiency relates to heat output from the psu, but the epsilon has a 120mm fan versus the 80mm fan in the antec which is worse for heat dissipation through the rear of the psu and out of your case

 

[indie]

I actually have an Antec Smartpower 500.

The power supplies that fit my requirements (high efficiency, future upgrades) all seem to have high wattage, more so than I will probably need. Would that wattage be a wasteful source of heat even if I'm never running a system with that kind of power draw?

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: indie
I actually have an Antec Smartpower 500.

The power supplies that fit my requirements (high efficiency, future upgrades) all seem to have high wattage, more so than I will probably need. Would that wattage be a wasteful source of heat even if I'm never running a system with that kind of power draw?

No, though it may mean they run substantially below peak efficiency.

The total power converted to heat is equal to the power consumed by the system components divided by the efficiency. At 70% efficiency (say), the total power is about 43% greater than the power actually used by the system. At 85% efficiency, about 18%.