I'm on a bit of a budget and recently scored some great deals on new PC parts, including an Intel i5-14600k and a Gigabyte B760M motherboard. I'm planning to reuse my old Zalman case and a Thermaltake 630W semi-modular PSU. The PSU is about 8-9 years old and has been reliable in my previous setup with a first-gen i7 and GTX 970. However, I'm a bit worried about using it with my new components. I've heard that older PSUs can potentially damage new hardware. What do you all think? Should I invest in a new PSU or is my old one still acceptable?
5 Answers
I had the same PSU for 13 years across three builds and it worked fine until I upgraded to a GPU that wasn't compatible. So, if it’s been reliable for you, it might still serve you well!
It's pretty rare for an old PSU to fry new components, but it's definitely a concern if the PSU is past warranty. If you still have a few years on it, you're probably fine. Just make sure not to skimp on quality. There are plenty of good models out there with long warranties for a reason!
Honestly, just get a new PSU for peace of mind. They're not that expensive and you'll feel a lot better knowing your components are safe.
I came across a 15-year-old 1000W PSU from Seasonic that still works great! Just make sure the old PSU has the necessary protections. Older units generally fail gracefully rather than damaging components. If it's a Smart SE 630W, it should be reliable enough for now.
As long as you haven't been pushing the old PSU near its limits, it should be okay. I suggest using a wattmeter to see how much power your build draws during gaming. I was surprised to find I rarely go over 500W even at maximum load!
Should I only consider gold-rated PSUs or are there other solid options?