Why do more expensive PSU's have a lower +5vsb?

[chocolatekarma]

I have noticed this trend around several brands.  Take EVGA 700 watt PSU's for example...  a bronze has a +5vsb rating of 3A, but their gold rated only has 2.5A.   Can anyone explain this?  So is lower better?

[seon123]

Likely just whatever the PSU from the OEM had as standard. You are not going to draw much power at all from 5Vsb, so it really does not matter. Besides, there's more to a PSU than just the wattage

[chocolatekarma]

You didn't answer my question though.  Is a lower number somehow better?  Several higher end PSU's have a lower amp rating for the +5vsb.

[chocolatekarma]

I guess I really over estimated this place, because I thought for sure that someone here could answer this.

[Tristerin]

@chocolatekarma lol yeah on a Sunday night into the work week, these place full of tech junkies didn't answer your question as quick as you would prefer so you throwing a fit?

 

If you were here long enough on this forum you would actually know who to contact direct from the Industry.  Or who the electricians are here that could easily answer this question.

 

Hell I could tag them all right now in this post, but nah.  

 

 

[Ralf]

16 hours ago, chocolatekarma said:

I have noticed this trend around several brands.  Take EVGA 700 watt PSU's for example...  a bronze has a +5vsb rating of 3A, but their gold rated only has 2.5A.   Can anyone explain this?  So is lower better?

Well neither the BR(bronze) or GD(gold) are that good, they are on the same tier, so the answer is no.

If we go by that logic, the BR700 is just as good as G2 650W or GD700=P2 650W.

[Guest]

19 hours ago, chocolatekarma said:

I have noticed this trend around several brands.  Take EVGA 700 watt PSU's for example...  a bronze has a +5vsb rating of 3A, but their gold rated only has 2.5A.   Can anyone explain this?  So is lower better?

It's not a trend.  It's one example.

 

You said "expensive PSUs".  Neither of those are particularly superior quality.

 

The only reason to reduce the +5VSB capability is to make the PSU cheaper.

 

For example:  All of Corsair's "better" PSUs have 3A on the +5VSB.  The cheaper stuff (VS) has 2.5A. 

 

The reason why the Bronze EVGA has higher +5VSB is simply because EVGA rebrands existing product from many vendors.  The vendor that makes the Bronze PSU tends to have 3A on the +5VSB and the vendor that makes the Gold one tends to have 2.5A.  If EVGA wanted 3A across the board, they would have to define that in their product requirement document and the vendor would have to make the adjustment.  But AFAIK, EVGA doesn't even "define product".  They just say, "what efficiency, is it modular, what's the cost?"

 

 

[Guest]

19 hours ago, seon123 said:

Likely just whatever the PSU from the OEM had as standard. You are not going to draw much power at all from 5Vsb, so it really does not matter. Besides, there's more to a PSU than just the wattage

All of your USB ports. 

 

Can't take for granted that the PSU switches the +5VSB rail to the main +5V source.  Can't assume the motherboard is using +5V instead of +5VSB once the PC is out of standby.

[Tristerin]

26 minutes ago, comander said:

WOAH a legend has entered the chat...

Its okay, likely the OP has no idea who the Guru is.

[chocolatekarma]

I admit it...  I was being an impatient dick.  Sorry all, and thanks for the explanations.

 

Also...  what would you say is the minimum you need?  Is 3A and 15 watts enough on the +5vsb?

[chocolatekarma]

Here's my full specs...  yes...  it's a potato...  I know.

 

Dell Optiplex 790 Minitower
-i7 2600  4C/8T (3.4GHz base/3.8GHz turbo)
-16GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM (4x 4GB)
-250GB Samsung EVO 850 SSD
-2TB Toshiba 7200rpm HDD
-Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 Super OC 4GB DDR6
-EVGA 450 BR 80 Plus Bronze PSU

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, chocolatekarma said:

Here's my full specs...  yes...  it's a potato...  I know.

 

Dell Optiplex 790 Minitower
-i7 2600  4C/8T (3.4GHz base/3.8GHz turbo)
-16GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM (4x 4GB)
-250GB Samsung EVO 850 SSD
-2TB Toshiba 7200rpm HDD
-Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 Super OC 4GB DDR6
-EVGA 450 BR 80 Plus Bronze PSU

If you don't have a bunch of USB stuff plugged in, you don't need much power on the +5VSB.

 

[chocolatekarma]

20 minutes ago, jonnyGURU said:

If you don't have a bunch of USB stuff plugged in, you don't need much power on the +5VSB.

 

Only my KB and mouse are plugged in full-time, and maybe 1-2 a week I plug in a 2.5" external HD that relies on USB power. 

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, chocolatekarma said:

Only my KB and mouse are plugged in full-time, and maybe 1-2 a week I plug in a 2.5" external HD that relies on USB power. 

Then 2A is more than enough.

 

[chocolatekarma]

30 minutes ago, jonnyGURU said:

Then 2A is more than enough.

 

Thanks for all your help.  One last quick question...  say one day I use more USB items and stress that 3A/15w.  Could I alleviate that with a self-powered USB hub?

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, chocolatekarma said:

Thanks for all your help.  One last quick question...  say one day I use more USB items and stress that 3A/15w.  Could I alleviate that with a self-powered USB hub?

Absolutely.

 

 

[chocolatekarma]

3 minutes ago, jonnyGURU said:

Absolutely.

 

 

You truly live up to the GURU in your name.  Thanks again.

[chocolatekarma]

I never actually brought up why I was concerned in the first place.  Because the original Dell 265 watt PSU had 4A on the +5VSB, so I was worried the 3A on the EVGA 450 watt wouldn't be enough over time.

 

But there are 10 friggin' USB ports (6 rear 4 front) so I'm sure the 4A has something to do with that.  I only use 2.

[Guest]

34 minutes ago, chocolatekarma said:

I never actually brought up why I was concerned in the first place.  Because the original Dell 265 watt PSU had 4A on the +5VSB, so I was worried the 3A on the EVGA 450 watt wouldn't be enough over time.

 

But there are 10 friggin' USB ports (6 rear 4 front) so I'm sure the 4A has something to do with that.  I only use 2.

10 USB ports?  Yeah.  500mA each for USB 2.0.  So that's 5A right there alone if all of them are at full power.

 

[chocolatekarma]

44 minutes ago, jonnyGURU said:

10 USB ports?  Yeah.  500mA each for USB 2.0.  So that's 5A right there alone if all of them are at full power.

 

Yeah, so even their own 4A isn't enough for peak use.  I've never really understood why Dell feels the need to put so many USB ports on their Optiplex systems.  Especially since they're typically office PC's, and an office is often the last place you want people plugging in random USB devices.

 

I really understand things a lot better now, and 1A is plenty for a KB and mouse. And it's really awesome to get this advice from someone so revered.  Many thanks.