Question How long is too long to keep a PSU?

[g-unit1111]

My Seasonic X is approaching nearly the 5 year mark and my EVGA G2s that I use in my home rigs are approaching the 4 year mark. Is it time to start looking at replacements? How long do the capacitors generally last? I am thinking of replacing my Seasonic X with a Corsair RMx and the home unit I will probably replace with the same supply (because of sleeved cables). So the question that I have is this - is it time yet to replace these units or am I good for another year or two?

 

[logainofhades]

If they are still under warranty, I wouldn't worry about them. Once the warranty expires, I would consider replacements.

 

[MrN1ce9uy]

I'd wait until the warranty is up before I replaced a working PSU that meets my needs.

 

[jay32267]

If they are quality units to begin with....I wouldn't replace them. I think a good power supply can and should last at least a decade. I have many power supplies where I work that have been running for 20 and 30 years and more.

 

[g-unit1111]

If they are still under warranty, I wouldn't worry about them. Once the warranty expires, I would consider replacements.

So according to Newegg I bought my Seasonic X 750 on 3/27/13, and the warranty is good for 7 years. So I still have another year on that PSU right? Or should I look at replacing sooner rather than later?

 

[logainofhades]

If it is under warranty, I wouldn't waste money buying another, until you are closer to that end of warranty. For that unit, I would not worry about getting anything any earlier than 3/1/20.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Even if it was on 24/7 and at load I wouldn't think about replacing it before 10 years.

 

[jankerson]

My Seasonic X is approaching nearly the 5 year mark and my EVGA G2s that I use in my home rigs are approaching the 4 year mark. Is it time to start looking at replacements? How long do the capacitors generally last? I am thinking of replacing my Seasonic X with a Corsair RMx and the home unit I will probably replace with the same supply (because of sleeved cables). So the question that I have is this - is it time yet to replace these units or am I good for another year or two?

As long as they are in warranty they should be fine.

Once that expires however I would think about getting new ones.

 

[King_V]

So according to Newegg I bought my Seasonic X 750 on 3/27/13, and the warranty is good for 7 years. So I still have another year on that PSU right? Or should I look at replacing sooner rather than later?

Seasonic? I'd probably trust that well past the warranty-expiration date.

Hell, my son's got a Dell XPS 8300 from 2012 still with its original Dell PSU, and while Dell's PSUs are decent, they're not Seasonic level. Yet, it's going along just fine, and I'm not particularly worried about it.

 

[jankerson]

Seasonic? I'd probably trust that well past the warranty-expiration date.

Hell, my son's got a Dell XPS 8300 from 2012 still with its original Dell PSU, and while Dell's PSUs are decent, they're not Seasonic level. Yet, it's going along just fine, and I'm not particularly worried about it.

PSU's don't get better with age.

It best to change them out before issues start happening than before.

So normally that would be around the warranty period give or take a year to be on the safe side.

Just because a PSU is still running doesn't mean it's still running at spec and not slowing cooking the PC parts.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I would replace it after the warranty expires. Even then, Id keep it as a spare.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Dell very often uses Seasonic and Delta as OEMs. Last for years.

 

[jankerson]

I would replace it after the warranty expires. Even then, Id keep it as a spare.

That's what I do with mine, keep the old ones just incase.

 

[jankerson]

Dell very often uses Seasonic and Delta as OEMs. Last for years.

As long as the PC is still within the original design and specs they will run pretty much forever.

That's the catch and it's a big one, there is always a catch.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I'd keep it, especially if the PSU is a good quality unit (like the Seasonic he has) and still in perfect working order.

Even a crappy but working PSU has uses (granted not many).
I have taken an old no-name PSU and turned into a lab bench power supply. Complete with binding posts, power switch, and power/standby led indicators. It looks crappy and I don't trust my soldering skills, but it works. It has as a 3.3v, 5v, and 12v output posts.
Good use for the heart of that circa 2009 Dell Inspiron.

 

[jankerson]

I actually have an X-650 that I am getting ready to swap out soon, by the end of the year when I change out the MB/RAM, CPU on an old 3rd Gen i5 machine.

Already have all the parts including the PSU, just putting it off until Win 7 reaches EOL.

New PSU is an EVGA G2 750W.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I should buy a few win 7 keys before It hits EOL.

 

[jankerson]

I should buy a few win 7 keys before It hits EOL.

I am going to dump it, the MB is already Windows 10 activated.

I like Windows 10.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I do as well, but that doesn't mean I won't use Windows 7 for projects later.

 

[jankerson]

I do as well, but that doesn't mean I won't use Windows 7 for projects later.

I have 3 orginal Win 7 Pro discs with keys that I will be keeping around.

 

[g-unit1111]

I should buy a few win 7 keys before It hits EOL.

I agree with Jankerson, probably best to let it go. You eventually won't get updates and you won't get driver support for future upgrades. I have existing Windows 7 discs that I will be hanging on to, but I won't be buying any new ones.

 

[g-unit1111]

Seasonic? I'd probably trust that well past the warranty-expiration date.

Hell, my son's got a Dell XPS 8300 from 2012 still with its original Dell PSU, and while Dell's PSUs are decent, they're not Seasonic level. Yet, it's going along just fine, and I'm not particularly worried about it.

I don't think it will get better with age but it has held up very well since I got it.