I'm putting together a small, very budget-friendly AM4 system from used and spare parts. The build will use an Aerocool CS110 case, an ASRock B450M Pro4 motherboard, a Ryzen 5 4500 with its stock cooler, 16GB of DDR4-2666 memory, an ASUS GTX 1060 6GB, a 512GB NVMe drive, and a 1TB SSD. The only missing part is the power supply. A few online calculators estimate the system at around 300W, which seems surprisingly low to me. Would a reliable 500W unit be enough, or is it worth buying 600W or 750W for future upgrades? I'd prefer a white PSU to match the case, but keeping the build affordable matters more. Which budget brands and models are safe choices?
4 Answers
You don’t need anywhere near 750W here. The Ryzen 5 4500 is rated around 65W, the GTX 1060 uses roughly 120W, and the rest of the system should stay below 50W under normal loads. Even a quality 350W unit could technically run it, but 500W gives you comfortable headroom and is the sensible choice.
A good 500W power supply is plenty for this system. A white model may cost extra, though, so I’d prioritize quality over matching the case if the budget is tight.
A 500–600W PSU will handle the current parts easily. If you expect to upgrade to a much more powerful graphics card later, stepping up to around 650–750W can make sense, but don’t buy a high-wattage unit solely because the number sounds safer. Models such as the SAMA GT750 series can be reasonable inexpensive options, provided the exact model is well reviewed and available where you live.
The MSI MAG A550BN would be about the minimum I’d consider for this build. It provides plenty of headroom, and spending a little more can get you better efficiency and a longer warranty. I’d rather buy a decent 550W unit than a cheap 750W model from an unknown brand.
Thanks, I’ll look into that one.
It doesn’t really have to be white. Do you have recommendations for affordable brands that are actually reliable? I’ve seen a lot of conflicting reviews.