does power supply really matter?

[p1que]

i am a n00b at pc building and was wondering if it matters which power supply i choose beside getting the correct amount of wattage. Also, is it best to get modular, semi, or non-modular? I'm kind of confused so help would be appreciated.

 

[rgd1101]

yes, you don't want a cheap psu to blows up on your pc.

 

[Karsten75]

It matters for reasons whether it can actually reliably deliver the rated capacity, for how long and under what conditions. Some have warranties of 1 year, others have a 10-year warranty. That should tell you something.

Modular cables are cleaner, in that you don't have to have all the unneeded cables in your case somewhere.

I prefer semi-modular, since the main cables (24-pin, CPU) are always going to be used, so why have them pluggable and have a point where bad plugging can cause issues with connection quality?

In some smal cases I've seen that the manufacturer warns that it has to be non-modular cables and I suspect it is because of clearance.

 

[Newbbuilder11]

i am a n00b at pc building and was wondering if it matters which power supply i choose beside getting the correct amount of wattage. Also, is it best to get modular, semi, or non-modular? I'm kind of confused so help would be appreciated.

It does matter. There are Certified Ranking given to a power supply.

*being lowest*80+
80+ Bronze
80+ Silver
80+ Gold
*greatest*80+ Platinum

Each of those tiers give you top performance and it is stressed you get one that is atleast in those certifications. I would recommend anything that is above Bronze though.

Modular is when you choose what Cables you want on the PSU.
This is Modular

Semi Modular is when it has the main cables attached and everything else you need to add in on your own
This is a Semi Modular

Non Modular is when it comes with everything
This is non modular

Hope I helped you 😛

 

[p1que]

With your answer i get that the rating matters, but for a mini atx case (bitfenix prodigy) should i try and use modular, semi, or non-modular? or does it really matter?

 

[beni_rohit]

it is one of the most important components on your system
never compromise on your PSU
apart from wattage there are also a few other things to consider
the number of amps on the 12v rail (this is one requirement exclusively listed by GPU manufacturers and which most people tend to ignore)
secondly the quality of the psu(capacitors used...wires used etc..) are also important to protect your other components
you must have heard some people complaining about hard drives crashing etc.. that is not a hard drive problem
the problem is a cheap quality PSU
i prefer seasonic
most of corsair's PSU are being manufactured by seasonic
corsair just gives its brand name to the seasonic PSU

and as long as modular or non modular are concerned
modular helps improve your cable management
you dont have to plug in the cables that you aren't using
whereas the unused cables on a non modular lay there in your system covering more space

however modular PSUs are expensive
id suggest going for a semi modular PSU (where all the cables which are necessarily used come pre fixed whereas the other ones you can connect on your own as per your needs)
they are also slightly cheaper than modular PSUs and do the same job

 

[SkyBill40]

It very much matters. If you've not got enough power to run your system effectively, you will suffer extreme performance issues and may not be able to play the game well if at all once your system is at full draw. As for efficiency and such, the guy above explained it well enough. It's better to have more power and not need it than to need it and not have enough.

Here's a good PSU calculator for determining how much you need based on what you're running (or plan to run):

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

Also, some manufacturers are better than others. Some of the better ones are: Corsair, Seasonic, EVGA, Antec, and Silverstone. I have a RaidMax and haven't had an issue with it or the previous one I bought many, many years ago that's still powering my old rig.

I hope this helps you. Good luck.

 

[Karsten75]

With your answer i get that the rating matters, but for a mini atx case (bitfenix prodigy) should i try and use modular, semi, or non-modular? or does it really matter?

Last year when I built in a Bitfenix prodigy (which is a mini-ITX case) it specifically said that the PSU space was only big enough for a non-modular supply. I ended sticking a bunch of cables under the lower HDD tray.

 

[oxiide]

With your answer i get that the rating matters, but for a mini atx case (bitfenix prodigy) should i try and use modular, semi, or non-modular? or does it really matter?

Modular just means you can choose what power cables to attach as needed. Having a modular power supply can make it a lot easier to build the system and organize the interior (which helps airflow), especially for a new builder, and especially in a small enclosure. I'd recommend it, but its up to you if you want the extra expenditure. It will not affect the performance/quality/reliability of the unit.

Quality most definitely matters. PSUs are likely the only component in a PC that can destroy other components when they fail if they lack proper overvoltage/overcurrent protections. In the most extreme (and least likely) cases, they can even start fires or cause electrical shocks. Always be suspicious of PSUs that seem exceptionally cheap for their wattage, ones that are rated by their "peak" wattage (as opposed to "continuous"), and ones from brands you've never heard of. Stickers for Underwriters Laboratories, 80 Plus ratings, etc. are important to look for.

I generally don't stray from the major brands: Corsair, Coolermaster, Antec, EVGA, Seasonic, Enermax, XFX, be quiet!, Super Flower are all generally trustworthy. Some individual models vary in performance, but I'm confident their products won't burn your house down. That's not an exhaustive list, but its a good start.

 

[p1que]

So would it make sense to get a bigger case and then get semi or full modular?

 

[Karsten75]

So would it make sense to get a bigger case and then get semi or full modular?

It really isn't a big deal. Just go ahead, buy a quality, non-modular PSU and use it in that case. It's a very nice case.

 

[SkyBill40]

So would it make sense to get a bigger case and then get semi or full modular?

Not necessarily. Space limitations are something only you will know about. If you've got adequate space for a mid tower that's a solid design, buy it; however, if you're limited on space for whatever reason and a bigger case isn't going to work for you, just plan accordingly. Find the best compromise of size and airflow. Modular designs (full or semi) make cable routing a breeze and will help to minimize the number of cables in use. If you don't need them, don't install them. The fewer cables you have to route, the better your airflow will be due to less clutter.

 

[oxiide]

So would it make sense to get a bigger case and then get semi or full modular?

Larger cases are, of course, easier to work with. Cooling is usually harder in a smaller case, and you'll need to be more careful about whether certain video cards and CPU heatsinks/fans will fit. But if you want/need a smaller PC and you're prepared to deal with those extra considerations, go for it. Mini-ITX PCs are cool.

I'd recommend semi- or fully modular power supplies regardless, as they are objectively an improvement over hard-wired ones in any form factor. The only reason you wouldn't want one is to save some money, and even that isn't necessarily a given with so many decent mid-range semi-modular units available today.