I'm having some issues with my PC randomly turning off and on by itself. It just happened again while I was playing a game, and now it won't turn back on at all. I suspect it might be a problem with the power supply unit (PSU). Currently, I have a Corsair RM450, which seems a bit weak for my setup. My question is, do I need to buy another 450W PSU, or can I upgrade to a stronger one? If I get a more powerful PSU, how can I tell if it's too much for my system? Would an overly powerful PSU damage anything, or would I just be wasting money? My PC is getting older, and I'm not sure what the exact specs are since the last upgrade was just the RAM. Any help would be appreciated!
4 Answers
You might want to check the wall outlet too. Sometimes power fluctuations can cause those issues. An uninterrupted power supply (UPS), even a cheap one, might help with that.
Your PC's PSU works by pulling just what it needs, so you don't have to worry about getting a stronger one. A 450W PSU does seem a bit on the low side, but to be sure, I'd need to know your system specs to figure out the total power draw. Always go for a reputable PSU and make sure you have some headroom for future upgrades!
Definitely check what video card and CPU you have. If you added a video card after purchasing the PC, that might be why your PSU isn't cutting it anymore. It's hard to get 'too powerful' of a PSU — you might waste some money, but better to have more than you need. Just Google 'power supply calculator,' plug in your specs, and it'll suggest a suitable wattage for you.
If it was working fine until recently, your current PSU could just be failing. If that's the case, a similar or better quality PSU should work just fine. People often overestimate how much wattage they actually need!
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