is it worth getting a good psu? (80+ gold)

ben dover kid · December 5, 2016

so yeah, im thinking of getting a EVGA 650w supernova gs, 100% modular and 80+ gold. all i want is... quiet, modular is ok but not a necesssity, and .. thats it. now i have some chieftec 700w random psu which doesn't even have a 80+ rating and is has some "variable" thing(the watts, or something like that. all i know that it is a bad "feature" never found in good or at least a proper psus)

Matt_98 · December 5, 2016

Just now, ben dover kid said:

so yeah, im thinking of getting a EVGA 650w supernova gs, 100% modular and 80+ gold. all i want is... quiet, modular is ok but not a necesssity, and .. thats it. now i have some chieftec 700w random psu which doesn't even have a 80+ rating and is has some "variable" thing(the watts, or something like that. all i know that it is a bad "feature" never found in good or at least a proper psus)

DHelios · December 5, 2016

Getting a good PSU is definitely worth it, as you'll be wiring it into most components in your computer. Of everything you put in there, the PSU is most likely to take other components with it if it fails.

That doesn't mean that the PSU has to be 80+ Bronze, Gold or Anything-certified. Those certifications only show a certain level of power efficiency. It's good for the environment and it's good for your power bill, but it comes at a higher initial cost. It doesn't guarantee a level of quality, other than that efficient PSUs tend to have better quality components to reach their more efficient performance.

That said, a power-efficient PSU turns more electricity into electricity, and turns less electricity into heat. Lower heat output reduces the need for cooling, so fan speeds may be lower in these parts. Like with the component quality, this is often the case, but is not a guarantee.

In the end, you'll be looking for a PSU that is reliable and well-built. I believe there's a post somewhere on this forum that lists what PSUs definitely not to buy and which ones are considered safe investments. (I believe the SuperNova GS's come out as acceptable quality in that list.) Have a look for that!

edit:

@Matt_98 just provided a link to just that list. Thanks Matt!

Edited December 5, 2016 by DHelios

ermu · December 5, 2016

DEFINITELY! PSUs are the heart of every PC.Most people, especially beginners tend to overlook their PSU choice and go with random generic or case-bundled PSUs.

You should check out this forum and other expert websites to find out more about the importance of a quality PSU. For starters, here's what 80+ means:

And regarding your PSU choice, it is an excellent one and here's an expert review to back it up.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=424

Edited December 5, 2016 by ermu
Provided wrong link for PSU review

APasz · December 5, 2016

Your PSU is like the suspension in your car. Yeah sure it'll run for a bit but pretty soon you'll have shit falling off left, right and center.

STRMfrmXMN · December 5, 2016

6 hours ago, ben dover kid said:

so yeah, im thinking of getting a EVGA 650w supernova gs, 100% modular and 80+ gold. all i want is... quiet, modular is ok but not a necesssity, and .. thats it. now i have some chieftec 700w random psu which doesn't even have a 80+ rating and is has some "variable" thing(the watts, or something like that. all i know that it is a bad "feature" never found in good or at least a proper psus)

The 650GS is a good unit. I personally use a 550GS. It's very short and has flat cables. Would recommend although in my particular use-case an EVGA G2 would be have a better option than the GS since I don't like the flat cables nor do I need a short PSU for any reason. The G2 is a bit quieter so yeah.