I have a Corsair RM1000W power supply that is more than 10 years old and measures about 180 mm long. It has worked without any problems, but I'm considering moving from my Corsair 780T to a newer case where that length may not fit. My system uses a Ryzen 5 5500X3D and an RX 6600, so it doesn't need anywhere near 1000W. Are there meaningful risks to continuing to use a PSU this old, such as it damaging other components over time, or would replacing it mainly be about getting a shorter unit for the new case?
3 Answers
After a decade of regular use, I’d replace it. A good PSU can last longer, but its capacitors and other components age even if it hasn’t shown any symptoms. Failure might only cause a shutdown, but there’s also a small chance it could take other hardware with it. Since you’re changing cases anyway, a newer, shorter, quality PSU would be a sensible upgrade.
Your current system draws far less than 1000W, so capacity isn’t the concern here. The main issue is age. It may keep working for years, but you can’t reliably predict when an old unit will fail. If the PSU fits and you’re trying to avoid spending money, continuing to use it isn’t automatically dangerous, but replacing a 10-year-old unit is the safer long-term choice.
The most likely warning signs are random shutdowns, instability, trouble booting, electrical noise, or the PSU failing completely. A modern high-power graphics card would make me more eager to replace an old unit, but the RX 6600 is relatively easy on power. For this build, the age and physical size are better reasons to replace it than the wattage rating.
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