I'm on a tight budget and recently scored some great deals on parts for a new PC build, including an i5-14600k processor, a Gigabyte B760M DDR4 motherboard, 32GB of 3200MHz RAM, a 1TB TeamGroup NVMe SSD, and an Intel Arc B580 GPU—all for around $530. I'm planning to use my old Zalman case and a Thermaltake 630W semi-modular PSU from my previous rig (which had a first-gen i7 and GTX 970). The PSU is about 8-9 years old, and while it worked well for me, I'm worried that using it might damage my new components. I've heard that old PSUs can fry new parts. What do you all think? Should I risk it or just buy a new one?
5 Answers
If you haven’t been pushing your PSU near its limits, you’ll probably be fine. A wattmeter can help you see how much power your setup draws—when I played Cyberpunk at max settings, I was still under 500W. That said, if you’re really hesitant, it might be best to invest in a new one just in case.
I used the same PSU across three builds for over 13 years, and it still worked fine! I eventually had to replace it only because my new GPU didn’t get along with it. So if yours still functions well, it might be okay. But if you can, maybe budget for a new one just to be safe.
Honestly, just get a new PSU. It's not that much money, and it's worth the peace of mind it brings you.
It's actually pretty rare for an old PSU to damage new components. If your PSU is still under warranty, I'd say go ahead and use it. But if not, you might want to hold off on building until you can grab a newer model. Don't skimp on the PSU; some Corsair models come with a 14-year warranty for a reason. An older, reliable PSU is often better than a new, questionable one.
I found a 15-year-old Seasonic 1000W PSU last week, and I trust it way more than my newer models. The age isn't everything; quality matters too. Just check if your PSU has safety features; it’s rare they'll fry components if everything's in order. What model do you have exactly?
I think it’s a Smart SE 630W. It seemed decent enough, but I'm still nervous about using it!