I'm building a new PC and went with an 850W modular PSU instead of a 750W one I initially considered. The 850W was on sale for the same price and got an 'A' rating on the PSU tier list. According to PC Part Picker, my build should only draw about 450W. Is it bad to have such a big PSU? I plan on upgrading my GPU within the next couple of years, but even with that, I expect my max power draw to be around 600W. Are there any downsides to using a power supply that's so much bigger than what I currently need?
5 Answers
Nope, not bad at all! Some folks even go way overboard, and it helps with keeping things quiet and running smoothly. Just remember that the components will only use what they need from the PSU.
Honestly, the only downside would be a bit less efficiency at very low loads. But with an 850W PSU, you're in a comfy spot when it comes to overclocking or upgrading the GPU later on. It provides a solid buffer without making it a huge deal if you need more power down the line.
There’s really no issue with going for a more powerful PSU. If your setup only needs 450W, the 850W will still just provide what your components require. And you won't run into problems like some older PSUs that may shut off if they’re underloaded. Most modern PSUs have fixed that issue.
Totally agree—having a beefy supply means less chance of overloading it when you do eventually upgrade.
Having an oversized PSU can actually be good for future-proofing your build! It gives you room to upgrade without needing to buy a new power supply later. Just keep in mind that PSUs are most efficient at around 50-70% load, but for a quality 850W unit, you'll probably only notice a tiny difference in efficiency. It's totally fine!
Yeah! And newer PSUs have a wider efficiency band, so even if it's larger, it's still pretty efficient at lower loads.
Exactly! Plus, it means your fans don’t have to work as hard, which keeps things quieter!
The only real downside is the cost, but since you got it on sale for the same price, that's a win! Just be aware that if you have a huge PSU, it can be a bit less efficient when running at low loads. For example, running a 1600W PSU on a 400W system might increase your power bill slightly, but we’re talking about just a few cents here. So don't sweat it too much!
Right! Modern PSUs are designed to handle a range of loads without issues. It’s all good!