80+ power suppl units

[envy3699]

Im wondering about 80+ power supply units. I have a 500 watt Thermaltake PSU non 80+. If im just surfing the web will it be pulling 500 watts (or maybe not that much) out of the wall? Will the 80+ PSU pull less out of the wall then a non 80+ PSU when its not under load? (hope this made sense!) 

 

Thanks,

 

[unidentical]

No it will not be pulling anywhere near that.

That's it's top rated wattage, you'll only see that kind of pull under load if you actually have components that will draw that much.

[KaareKanin]

The various degrees of 80+ wastes less power, so non 80+ will draw more from the wall ;)

[BgG286]

I hope you're not talking about a TR2 thermaltake power supply. I've heard really bad reviews about those. If you're system is going to have a high power consumption I would avoid those if you can.

[Blade of Grass]

No, the 500w measurement on your power supply just refers to the maximum amount of wattage that your power supply can supply.

 

So when idling, your computer may only be using something like 50 to 100 watts, because that's all the power it needs.

[winny3141]

With 80 plus, at 20% 50% and 100% loads, it is 80% efficeint with converting AC power (outlet power) to DC power (power usable for computer components. This means that if you have an 80 plus power supply, it will make better use of less electricity than the non-80 plus. Linus did a video on this, and I will put it in this response.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOXTZizoknc

 

Hope that helped!

 

- winny3141 :D

[Guest]

Moved to PSU's

[envy3699]

I hope you're not talking about a TR2 thermaltake power supply. I've heard really bad reviews about those. If you're system is going to have a high power consumption I would avoid those if you can.

Yea well I actually am using the 500 watt TR2 power supply... and with a Radeon 7850 its almost maxed out. sooooo I guess ill start looking at another one. It was the only one I could afford at the time but i plan on getting a higher watt psu anyway.