Comments on: Reliable power supply brands https://dfarq.homeip.net/reliable-power-supply-brands/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reliable-power-supply-brands David L. Farquhar on technology old and new, computer security, and more Sun, 29 Sep 2019 14:29:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jim Cooley https://dfarq.homeip.net/reliable-power-supply-brands/#comment-44484 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 20:29:38 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=14241#comment-44484 I learned long ago to use a white-out pen and write the date of installation on the PSU. Power degrades over time.

]]> By: glaurungquena https://dfarq.homeip.net/reliable-power-supply-brands/#comment-44480 Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:21:07 +0000 https://dfarq.homeip.net/?p=14241#comment-44480 If you are getting a replacement for a working power supply, use a kill-a-watt on the computer and that will tell you exactly how much power it’s actually using.

In 90% of cases, a computer less than 10 years old with integrated graphics and a single hard drive will use less than 40 watts at idle and less than 100 at full load. The same system will a good but not ridiculous gaming card will use about 300 watts at full load.

As a rule of thumb, a 300 watt power supply will be more than adequate for any non-gaming computer, and a 400 watt power supply will be enough for all but the most beastly of gaming rigs. Unless you are putting in multiple gaming cards, it’s really hard to justify buying more than a 500 watt power supply, and even most gamers will be fine with 400 watts.

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