I'm trying to figure out if an 850W power supply is the right choice for my new RTX 5080. I recently upgraded from a 750W to an 850W PSU because I wanted to run it closer to that optimal 50% load everyone talks about, and I thought it might have some benefits. My SFF case mainly relies on passive cooling, so I'm concerned about cooling performance as well. I noticed that the fan design on the Corsair SF850W seems a bit more aggressive than the SF1000W, which might help. I also want to know whether a load closer to 60% or 40% is better for PSU efficiency. With the RX 9070 XT and RTX 5080 running at similar wattages, I'm hoping for a similar load percentage. I won't be overclocking, but I'm open to undervolting to optimize performance. Also, is the RTX 5080 a good choice compared to the 5070 Ti since my case only fits Zotac or INNO3D SFF models, and I'm skeptical about their build quality after having issues with a PowerColor Reaper?
1 Answer
You're right about 40%-60% being the sweet spot for PSU efficiency. Any decent PSU will maintain efficiency above 90% at that load, and both load levels will be fine, just keep an eye on your specific needs. As for the 5080 versus the 5070 Ti, the 5080 definitely offers better performance.
Regarding brands, Zotac has a solid reputation, even if they're not as well known as the big names. I’ve had a good experience with my Zotac GPU - it has a good build quality and robust heatsink, unlike some others I’ve tried that thermal throttled. Your case choice sounds logical too, especially with its venting.
Awesome, thanks for the insight! I was curious if you had any issues with Zotac's GPU construction, especially after my experience with PowerColor. Are the screws and build quality solid enough to hold up? I’m looking at the Founders Edition mainly for its thermal performance, which could really suit my case.