Wattage

[Canning_s]

Is it possible to get a PSU that has a wattage that is too high for a motherboard?

 

[lehtv]

No, a PSU only delivers as much watts as is needed by the PC

 

[JimmiG]

Watts = Volts * Amps

Higher rated PSUs have more amps, not higher voltages (which are always 3.3V, 5V, 12V etc.). It is however possible for the voltages to drop if you push the PSU too hard (ie. your computer components draw too much current).

 

[Billb2]

Like a lamp. If you remove it from a 10 Amp circuit and plug it into a 20 Amp circuit it doesn't get brighter. Power isn't "pushed" to the load. The load "draws" the power.

 

[NightDreamer]

Wattage doesn't mean anything. A cheap 450w psu may only be capable of powering 200w, while a quality 450w unit would produce at least 450 real watts.

So getting a cheap 900w psu doesn't mean it's any better (probably much worse) than a decent 80+ bronze rated 500w psu.

Forget watts. Go for amps and efficiency rating.

Ever see a really cheap set of speakers that says 500 WATTS MAX POWER, and in reallity they are like 20w each? Yeah same thing with psu's.