Hey everyone! I'm looking to build a budget PC with components I've already purchased, including a 1080 Ti, an i5 12400f, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. The power supply unit (PSU) I'm planning to use is a 550W Chieftec model that my dad bought about two years ago. It has worked fine without any issues, but it hasn't been tested with high demand yet. I tried to find this specific PSU on a tier list, but only came across similar models, all rated E-tier. I'm worried—should I be concerned about using this PSU, or is it likely to hold up?
4 Answers
Try checking the voltage with pcpartpicker. If your setup pulls under 550W, you should be fine. Based on what you said, if it's using around 470W, it should hold up, but I'd keep an eye on it since it's been used for a bit.
If most similar models are E-tier, I'd assume this one isn't great either. Chieftec hasn't had the best reviews, so I'm guessing this PSU is older. Generally, even decent PSUs can fail, but an E-tier would have fewer safety features to protect other parts. If you can, I'd recommend getting at least a C-tier PSU for peace of mind, but if you've already got it, you might have to just go for it.
The PSU claims "85% efficiency," but honestly, you can't take that seriously without proper certification. There are no proper ratings like Bronze or Gold, which raises red flags. I found a review online that was pretty lackluster, with complaints about its two-year warranty and just a quiet fan. I'd swap it out for your safety as soon as you can.
They seem to be avoiding the 80+ efficiency testing because they probably know it won't pass. I'd have to agree with you—I'd recommend looking for a more reliable option!
Honestly, it's best to replace it if you can. If you're tight on cash, you might be okay using it, but replacing it with a better one is definitely the smarter move if you're looking to avoid future headaches.
I already checked, and it's around 470W, which is why I thought it would be fine. But after finding out about the tier ratings and stories of low-end PSUs blowing up, I'm getting a bit anxious.