General PSU question

[imnoeinstein]

Hello,
Is there a general rule of thumb on the selection a PSU ? I've looked around and found that the pricing seems to fluctuate quite a bit.
So whats the thing to look for when buying ??
Thanks everyone

 

[treefrog07]

You might want to begin here. This should give you an estimate of your expected power requirements. PSU's come in various efficiencies, e.g., 80+ gold, silver, etc. Some have their 12V on more than one "rail." I would recommend one that will handle your estimated power requirements that is 80+ efficient. Some PSUs have modular connectors, where you use only the power cables you need, and leave those you don't need in the box, they generally cost a little more than non-modular, but make it easier to manage the cables in you computer case. Newegg has an easy way to sort through its offerings (other vendors may have some similar).

 

[imnoeinstein]

You might want to begin here. This should give you an estimate of your expected power requirements. PSU's come in various efficiencies, e.g., 80+ gold, silver, etc. Some have their 12V on more than one "rail." I would recommend one that will handle your estimated power requirements that is 80+ efficient. Some PSUs have modular connectors, where you use only the power cables you need, and leave those you don't need in the box, they generally cost a little more than non-modular, but make it easier to manage the cables in you computer case. Newegg has an easy way to sort through its offerings (other vendors may have some similar).

Thanks for the info,I'm sure it will help

 

[JohnnyLucky]

The answer to your question is yes. Here is the psu general rule of thumb I developed:

The general rule of thumb is a high quality 500 to 550 watt power supply with sufficient current (amps) on the +12 volt rail(s) can easily power a system with any single video card made. A high quality 700 to 750 watt power supply with sufficient current (amps) on the +12 volt rail(s) can power a system with two video cards operating in dual mode. There are a few exceptions like the new ATI Radeon HD 5XXX series cards which use less power due to their energy efficiency.

A high quality 500 to 550 watt psu will have a +12 volt rail rated at 40 amps. A high quality 700 to 750 watt psu will have a +12 volt rail rated at 60 amps.

In addition the power supply should be at least 80+ Bronze certified for energy efficiency. There are some models available which have achieved 80+ Silver and 80+ Gold Certifications.

Before purchasing a new psu you will need to decide whether you will eventually have a pc with one or two video cards.

Corsair, PC Power & Cooling, and Seasonic are two brands that have a reputation for high quality power supplies that consistently earn high marks in technical reviews. They are reliable, stable, and come with a 5 year warranty. Some of the newer models come with a 7 year warranty. Lately we've been seeing a few other brands offering some high quality units. One example would be the Antec Earthwatts series which is a major improvement over Antec’s older psu’s like the Basiq models.

 

[imnoeinstein]

The answer to your question is yes. Here is the psu general rule of thumb I developed:

The general rule of thumb is a high quality 500 to 550 watt power supply with sufficient current (amps) on the +12 volt rail(s) can easily power a system with any single video card made. A high quality 700 to 750 watt power supply with sufficient current (amps) on the +12 volt rail(s) can power a system with two video cards operating in dual mode. There are a few exceptions like the new ATI Radeon HD 5XXX series cards which use less power due to their energy efficiency.

A high quality 500 to 550 watt psu will have a +12 volt rail rated at 40 amps. A high quality 700 to 750 watt psu will have a +12 volt rail rated at 60 amps.

In addition the power supply should be at least 80+ Bronze certified for energy efficiency. There are some models available which have achieved 80+ Silver and 80+ Gold Certifications.

Before purchasing a new psu you will need to decide whether you will eventually have a pc with one or two video cards.

Corsair, PC Power & Cooling, and Seasonic are two brands that have a reputation for high quality power supplies that consistently earn high marks in technical reviews. They are reliable, stable, and come with a 5 year warranty. Some of the newer models come with a 7 year warranty. Lately we've been seeing a few other brands offering some high quality units. One example would be the Antec Earthwatts series which is a major improvement over Antec’s older psu’s like the Basiq models.

Thanks , I think that pretty much sums it up for me. If I'm not an avid gamer a high quality 550 watt should suffice.

 

[imnoeinstein]

Best answer selected by imnoeinstein.

 

[imnoeinstein]

Thanks to everyone.
This forum sure lives up to it's reputation.