Reusing an old PSU

[tyfoo]

Wanting to update my system this year, and was wondering about the reusability of some of my existing parts. My current system has an 850W gold+ PSU, but I bought it back in 2012. Would it make sense to just continue to use that in whatever new system I build, assuming 850W is still enough (seems like it would be)? Or is it dangerous to use such an old PSU?

 

https://www.newegg.com/zx-series-ocz-zx850w/p/N82E16817341044?Item=N82E16817341044

[Guest]

Not sure what's hard about typing "OCZ ZX 850W". 

 

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/ocz-zx-850w/

 

It was a decent PSU when it was new.  But I'm always skeptical about using too old of a PSU.  Especially if it's been in storage.

 

But since you've been using it continuously since it was new, it should be fine.  Just keep an eye on the fan.  That's typically the first thing to die in a PSU.

 

[SpaceGhostC2C]

It shouldn't be dangerous. PSUs don't last forever, but a good one would be designed to die without taking anything with it. Accidents can happen, but also with new ones.

I'm of the opinion that part of the value of getting a good PSU is the ability to keep using it for many years, so... I've gone even riskier by buying used PSUs that at best were from the same era as yours, and still use them  

I doubt you can make a full test in your house, but probably a simple voltage test is feasible. an $8 tester will tell you the voltages with no load, and modern motherboards will often let you monitor that through software. If too out of spec you can start planning a replacement before it stops being optional.

[Guest]

35 minutes ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

and modern motherboards will often let you monitor that through software.

Not really.

 

[tyfoo]

Yeah it's been in continuous use since I bought it. I'll see if I can figure out a way to test it, that seems like a good idea Thanks!

[SpaceGhostC2C]

9 minutes ago, jonnyGURU said:

Not really.

 

OK.

Modern motherboards will often show random readings next to voltage legends because it looks cool ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

 

It shouldn't be hard for motherboards to do the same kind of measurement as those no-load PSU testers, though, or so I would think.

I have no reason to vouch for what they report in any case.

[Guest]

55 minutes ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

OK.

Modern motherboards will often show random readings next to voltage legends because it looks cool ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

 

It shouldn't be hard for motherboards to do the same kind of measurement as those no-load PSU testers, though, or so I would think.

I have no reason to vouch for what they report in any case.

I know what you're talking about.  I'm just telling you those numbers are far from accurate.  The readings aren't coming from the PSU.  The voltages are being taken from an IC on the motherboard.

 

The best way to measure voltages of a PSU is to use a multimeter.