Question What PSU wattage do I need for this new build ?

[monere]

Hey guys!

As you have probably noticed from my activity over the previous days I'm building a new PC and after figuring out which components I will be using, I'm left with only 1 final question: the size (wattage) of the PSU. Here is the rig I'll be building:

Motherboard... AsRock B550M Steel Legend
CPU... Ryzen 5 5600 (comes with its own cooler, and I'll be using that one in the beginning, but assume a better, more power hungry one in future)
GPU... XFX RX 570 RS (8GB GDDR5, 256 bits)
RAM... G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32 GB (2x16) DDR4, 3200 MHz, CL16
M.2 SSD... Crucial P5 Plus
HDD... undecided yet, but probably a 3-4 TB one that's either WD, Seagate, or HGST
Case (shouldn't matter in all of this, but I'm still mentioning it)... Cooler Master Masterbox Q300L
Fans (140mm).... undecided yet, but there will be 2 of them (mounted on the front panel of the case, both with RGB and PWM and used as intake)
Fans (120mm)... again undecided, but there will be 3 of them (1 in the rear, 2 in the case's ceiling, all 3 of them RGB and PWM, and all 3 of them used as exhaust)

I will be overclocking everything (CPU, GPU and RAM), so take the extra wattage needed for this into account when calculating the total wattage needed.

Personally, after doing some calculations, I've figured that a 550W PSU is enough, but - as is the norm with everything that I thought I knew about when building a computer - I am probably missing something obvious / important, which is why I'd like to ask for your opinions on this.

I am a casual gamer (casual in the sense that I only play the same 10-20 years old games over and over again, I rarely play AAA games and / or new ones, so I don't consume a lot of resources when I game). And I don't even game a lot if I'm being honest. Most of my activities involve internet browsing, youtube watching and doc editing (occasionally video editing)... really basic stuff as you can see

But, in the few times that I game / do other CPU / GPU intensive stuff, I want the PSU to hold up just fine, I don't want any nasty surprises. So, how big of a PSU do you think I need for all of these?

Please note that I'm not asking for a brand / model recommendation, I will buy the best one that's available in my price range ($100) no matter if it's a tier A (yeah, I wished! 😛), tier B (found a couple of interesting ones in this tier), or - most likely - tier C PSU. I will aim for a 80+ gold PSU with as many protections as I can find and - if possible - I will also get a modular one if I can find one in my price range that meets all of the other important prerequisites.

But the modularity is 2nd in importance, the most important parts are the price, the wattage, and the quality (over 90% efficiency, at least 3 years warranty, 80+ gold certification, and as many protections as I can get)

So yeah... that's all I think... Based on all of this info, do you guys think that 550W are enough, or should I go higher? Also, the price won't allow me to go over 650W, so that's the highest I can go, but if I buy a 650W from the get-go I have a feeling that all of this extra wattage will stay unused 99% of the time, which will be a waste IMO. Anyway, let me know what you think

Cheers!

 

[Colif]

I would get a 650watt, if only for wiggle room. I wrote that before I read your last paragraph.

I wouldn't buy a PSU where maker only guarantees 3 years. I make my PC's to last longer than that. Might as well pay more for one they believe in.

 

[monere]

I wouldn't buy a PSU where maker only guarantees 3 years.

yeah, 3 years is the minimum, I will not buy one that comes with less than 3 years either

But how much wattage will that system need? My calculations got me to 520W, is this correct?

 

[Colif]

Corsair PSU calc suggests a 650
Bequiets doesn't have the GPU so its no use.
MSI also don't have GPU.
Seasonic says 650
some lack enough fields to be believable.

Seems the MSI one thinks my usage higher than the others see it.

 

[Lafong]

XFX Germany

de.xfxforce.com

XFX says 500 watt PSU recommended.

Problem is you won't find a lot of good PSUs at that watt level.

So maybe go to 550 or 650 even if "not needed", where you'd have a much wider selection to choose from.

 

[monere]

Ok guys, 650 it will be then. Thanks for the support

 

[kira-faye]

A good 450w will run that with room to spare, but you're unlikely to find one, as Lafong said. Assuming the price difference between 550 and 650 is minimal (it should be) go with the 650.

 

[monere]

A good 450w will run that with room to spare, but you're unlikely to find one, as Lafong said. Assuming the price difference between 550 and 650 is minimal (it should be) go with the 650.

yeah, I'm already analyzing 4 PSUs of 650, gonna get one of them for sure. Thanks for the tip

 

[--SID--]

I'm already analyzing 4 PSUs of 650, gonna get one of them for sure.

What's the brand and model of those 4 PSUs?

 

[monere]

What's the brand and model of those 4 PSUs?

MSI MAG A650BN
Chieftec Chieftronic SteelPower BDK-650FC
Deepcool DP-GD-DQ650-M-V2L
be quiet! Pure Power 12 M

But I'm dropping the last 2 because of budget and stuff, and between the other 2 I'll be going with the Chieftec one since it has better efficiency and it's modular. They're both tier C, 80+ bronze, come with 5 years warranty and seem to have the same protections (which - by the way - I don't understand squat about with all of those abbreviations LOL), so they're pretty equal, but I'm OK paying a bit more ('cause it's still within my $100 budget that is) for the extra efficiency and modularity 😛

Personally, I would have wanted the be quiet! one since I've read so many good reviews about this brand, but damn is it out of my reach! But I'll monitor these over the next 1-2 weeks now with the BF and stuff and if any of the other 2 drops the price within my budget I'll snatch it up immediately 😀

 

[kira-faye]

I do not recommend picking up a C tier PSU unless there are no A or B tier options available in budget - you're much better off with a good quality 550w than a mediocre 650w.

 

[monere]

I do not recommend picking up a C tier PSU unless there are no A or B tier options available in budget - you're much better off with a good quality 550w than a mediocre 650w.

I mean, sure! But will a 550W PSU suffice when overclocking all 3 components?

 

[kira-faye]

I mean, sure! But will a 550W PSU suffice when overclocking all 3 components?

It won't do any worse than a mediocre 650w. Bad power is not usable power. Save up a bit longer if you need to, this is not the place to skimp.

 

[monere]

It won't do any worse than a mediocre 650w. Bad power is not usable power. Save up a bit longer if you need to, this is not the place to skimp.

when you said earlier that a 450W PSU will run my system with room to spare did you also account for the overclocking in your recommendation?

 

[--SID--]

be quiet! Pure Power 12 M

This is by far the best unit.

cause it's still within my $100 budget that is

This means you buy in the US?

 

[monere]

This is by far the best unit.

I know, man, I really do... and it pays me that I can't get it, but it is what it is 🙁

This means you buy in the US?

no. I'm Romanian, I'm buying my components on the local sites, but I converted (and approximated) my currency (RON) into USD for convenience.

 

[--SID--]

I'm buying my components on the local sites

Local webshops or local stores? In case of the first: provide a link.

 

[monere]

Local webshops or local stores? In case of the first: provide a link.

local webshops.

I don't have a link because I'm tracking multiple sites at once, every day, and am waiting for one of them to accidentally discount it 50% or more (yes, I AM that naive 😛)