I have an 850W power supply that I got from my brother's old gaming PC. I'm using it with my Intel Core i5-4460, but I don't have a graphics card installed. I'm worried that having such a high wattage might overheat or 'cook' my PC. Is this something I need to be concerned about, or will it be fine?
3 Answers
No need to worry! Your power supply only delivers what your system actually uses. So even with an 850W PSU, your system will just draw the necessary power for the i5-4460, which is around 84W under load.
You're fine using that PSU! Just be sure it's a decent quality one. Higher wattage means it can handle more devices, but it won't push that wattage unless your system demands it. At low loads, efficiency might dip a bit, but you won't see much difference with just the i5.
Yeah, the efficiency drop at low usage isn't a big deal for a CPU like that!
Remember, it's not about how much wattage you have but how much your components draw. An 850W PSU won't force your system to use more power than it needs—you're safe.
Exactly! Plus, think of it like plugging a lamp into an outlet. It’ll only use the power it needs, no risk of blowing up!