I'm looking to upgrade my video card and purchase an 850W power supply for my old 1TB Western Digital hard drive. I'm a bit worried about whether a new power supply could potentially harm my hard drive. Is it safe to make this upgrade?
4 Answers
If the power supply is working correctly, it won't damage your hard drive. Think of it this way: power supplies don’t force power into components; instead, the components draw only what they need from the supply. So as long as everything is functioning properly, you're good!
Just remember, a good power supply is key! If it’s a decent brand, you should be fine. Also, keep an eye on those frequent on/off cycles; they can wear out a hard drive faster than you think.
You're safe as long as you don't mix the old power supply cables with the new ones. Different power supplies can have different pinouts, which might fry your components if you use mismatched cables. Always check the specs in the box or manual to be sure!
Honestly, it's a bit silly to think a power supply could damage a hard drive. As long as everything is in good condition, you're in the clear! Don't sweat it.
That's true! And making sure both PSUs are from the same manufacturer helps a lot since they usually have compatibility charts.