PC Rig estimates total wattage at 394W, should I go with 430 or 500W psu?

[JoshYonathan]

Hello, my future build created in pcpartpicker http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/pjTqkT has an estimated wattage of 394W. I currently have a 500W psu listed in the build, but I am wondering if 430W will be enough. I am planning on doing some overclocking with my FX-8350, and perhaps some OC on my future gpu (haven't fully settled on the rx 480). Will that 36W headroom with the 430W psu be enough for OC'ing? or am I better off with getting a 500W psu?

 

[instyne]

I would go with a 600w or 650w PSU. The 500w is an 80+Bronze, that means it can run at 80% of the rated 500w continuous with no problem. it can run up to 500w when needed but not for sustained periods of time. 500w times 80% = 400w continuous , your 430w times 80% = 344w continuous . The first is just about your normal draw the second might not even power your rig on. Either of my picks will give you enough to run without problems.

 

[JoshYonathan]

I would go with a 600w or 650w PSU. The 500w is an 80+Bronze, that means it can run at 80% of the rated 500w continuous with no problem. it can run up to 500w when needed but not for sustained periods of time. 500w times 80% = 400w continuous , your 430w times 80% = 344w continuous . The first is just about your normal draw the second might not even power your rig on. Either of my picks will give you enough to run without problems.

Wow I had no idea thats how psu worked. Thank you very much for your insight, ill go with a 600W psu.

 

[instyne]

I would go with a 600w or 650w PSU. The 500w is an 80+Bronze, that means it can run at 80% of the rated 500w continuous with no problem. it can run up to 500w when needed but not for sustained periods of time. 500w times 80% = 400w continuous , your 430w times 80% = 344w continuous . The first is just about your normal draw the second might not even power your rig on. Either of my picks will give you enough to run without problems.

Wow I had no idea thats how psu worked. Thank you very much for your insight, ill go with a 600W psu.

That was a very rough description of how they work but gives you an idea of how to pick a PSU that is not under powered . P.S. EVGA is a good brand very dependable.

 

[Bearmann]

I would go with a 600w or 650w PSU. The 500w is an 80+Bronze, that means it can run at 80% of the rated 500w continuous with no problem. it can run up to 500w when needed but not for sustained periods of time. 500w times 80% = 400w continuous , your 430w times 80% = 344w continuous . The first is just about your normal draw the second might not even power your rig on. Either of my picks will give you enough to run without problems.

No, that is totally incorrect. A 500W bronze rated PSU puts out at least 500W at maximum load. It is rated for 82% efficiency between 20% and 100% of load, i.e. between 100W and 500W. At 100% load or 500W, it would consume 500W/0.82 or 610W from the wall while outputting 500W to the computer. The other 110W would be wasted as heat.

If you are planning on adding a RX 480, you will want at least 500W. There is more selection at 550W and I would try to get a tier 1 or 2 from these lists:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

https://community.newegg.com/eggxpert/computer_hardware/f/135081/t/45344.aspx

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm