I'm considering upgrading my power supply unit (PSU) from my current 750W to a 1000W for future-proofing, but I noticed that a 1250W PSU is only about $14 more during a sale. I'm curious if there are any technical disadvantages to going with the higher wattage, even if I don't need that much power right now. What should I be aware of before making this decision?
5 Answers
It's really about striking the right balance. Don't overspend on a PSU just because it's available. Instead, look for a good model around 800W to 1000W if you plan on upgrades soon. Save the extra cash for something else you might need later on.
Just remember, while a higher wattage PSU might give you more headroom, if all your components aren't requiring that power, you might run below the efficiency sweet spot. This could lead to increased electricity bills and heat output during light use like web browsing. Unless you're running high-end components, going over 1000W might be overkill.
It's worth checking the efficiency curve of your specific PSU model. If you plan to run an average load of around 500W, you want to ensure that's within the peak efficiency range. Overall, I've had a similar situation where I opted for a 1000W PSU to allow for potential upgrades, and it works great for me now.
Their efficiency curves seem to have a similar sweet spot of around 90% for 250-700W, so I think a higher wattage would still work fine.
A higher wattage PSU can also be less stressed, which might extend its lifespan. You'll only see a significant increase in costs if you're not using it efficiently, though. $14 more seems like a smart investment for potential future power needs.
I share your concern about unnecessary electricity usage, especially when gaming on simpler titles. Do more powerful PSUs really only draw as much power as they need?
Go for it! In my experience, having a higher wattage PSU offers only benefits. It generally deals better with power spikes and overall performance. So you shouldn't worry about it being excessive.
Yeah, unless you're running super demanding setups, a good 850W or 1000W should handle most things just fine.