Do I Really Need a Modular PSU?

[TheManWithNoPlan]

My current machine is sitting quite comfortably in a Corsair 450D, the airflow is better than any case I've had so far and there is loads of cable management space. Yet some of the people I know still insist that I should save for a modular PSU because of the unused cables on my current non-modular. Some of these cables are tucked away behind the motherboard tray, but most are currently sitting in the bottom spreading out infront of the PSU, and I am told regularly that they'll only cause dust to build up and reduce airflow through the front of the case. So is there truth to these claims and is it worth spending on a new PSU to keep it clean?

 

Any thoughts are appreciated, thanks lads.

[Lurick]

I like module PSUs for the reduced clutter but what they are telling you is complete garbage. Cables don't magically attract dust and if they aren't in the way of the fan's/sitting in-front of the PSU then it won't hamper airflow either.

[DevilishBooster]

No, these days you don't need to worry about that. Back in the day when you had ribbon cables and cases with one, or maybe two, fan holes it was something that you needed to worry about, but with the performance of cases and fans these days its a moot point. Modular PSUs are nice if you really care about the appearance of your system, but using a non-modular PSU doesn't impact your performance these days.

Watch this video.

 

[CaptainBlue01]

In short no,

But if you have the $$ but when it comes down to it it is just not worth it

[pinksnowmanshandle]

I think using a modular PSU would probably make building the PC easier and not to mention plenty of other benefits, such as neatness/reduced clutter. It's not like crucial or critical or whatever to have a modular PSU, it's just a nice thing to have that sometimes doesn't cost that much more.

2 minutes ago, Lurick said:

I like module PSUs for the reduced clutter but what they are telling you is complete garbage. Cables don't magically attract dust and if they aren't in the way of the fan's/sitting in-front of the PSU then it won't hamper airflow either.

Not maybe the cables themsleves but I'd think with non-modular PSUs the un-used cables would just be a place for dust to collect unless you cable managed them with other cables.

[Lincoln]

5 minutes ago, TheManWithNoPlan said:

My current machine is sitting quite comfortably in a Corsair 450D, the airflow is better than any case I've had so far and there is loads of cable management space. Yet some of the people I know still insist that I should save for a modular PSU because of the unused cables on my current non-modular. Some of these cables are tucked away behind the motherboard tray, but most are currently sitting in the bottom spreading out infront of the PSU, and I am told regularly that they'll only cause dust to build up and reduce airflow through the front of the case. So is there truth to these claims and is it worth spending on a new PSU to keep it clean?

 

Any thoughts are appreciated, thanks lads.

Besides just being a pain in the ass to make look pretty , there really isn't a lot of difference.

 

Luke did a video on cable management/airflow impacting performance.

 

 

[SageOfSpice]

Cables can't "cause" dust build-up. They don't generate dust, and they don't effect the efficacy of your filters. That's ridiculous. If dust is going to build up, it's going to build up regardless of what is in your case. LTT did a video on this, and proved that cable management really doesn't matter if your case has sufficient ventilation.

 

I stand by my observations though: It does appear to make a difference in cases with extremely limited air circulation. Cases with only 1 exhaust, and virtually no intake.

[Little Bear]

11 minutes ago, DevilishBooster said:

No, these days you don't need to worry about that. Back in the day when you had ribbon cables and cases with one, or maybe two, fan holes it was something that you needed to worry about, but with the performance of cases and fans these days its a moot point. Modular PSUs are nice if you really care about the appearance of your system, but using a non-modular PSU doesn't impact your performance these days.

Watch this video.

 

Bit late to the party, but I thought I still could contribute. Like DevilishBooster said, it WILL NOT effect cooling, but it most certainly will effect cable management. Semi-Modular is probably what you want if you don't have a side panel with a window(unless you have the cable management skills that i don't that is).

Modular in no case(I say this loosely) is necessary, although it sure does take the emphasis off of those damned cables and onto your bedazzled computer parts, along with making everything more convenient when it comes to PSU's but completely optional and in no way effects performance. 

[manikyath]

when tucked away nicely (which you should) a non-modular psu is not anything to worry about.

 

its mostly just eyecandy.

[ClobberXD]

20 minutes ago, TheManWithNoPlan said:

My current machine is sitting quite comfortably in a Corsair 450D, the airflow is better than any case I've had so far and there is loads of cable management space. Yet some of the people I know still insist that I should save for a modular PSU because of the unused cables on my current non-modular. Some of these cables are tucked away behind the motherboard tray, but most are currently sitting in the bottom spreading out infront of the PSU, and I am told regularly that they'll only cause dust to build up and reduce airflow through the front of the case. So is there truth to these claims and is it worth spending on a new PSU to keep it clean?

 

Any thoughts are appreciated, thanks lads.

Your thought process is very much appreciated. It doesn't affect air-flow or temps in any way, but it does help in the following ways (to be considered only if you can invest the $$$ with little or no hesitation):

• You can stow away unused / unnecessary cables, and can connect them only when necessary, resulting in easy cleaning (behind Mobo tray, HDD cages, etc.)
• If your PSU unit is faulty, you can keep the cables connected, and just swap the PSU unit itself, without needing to disturb any cables that are connected (life-saver, especially when your PC has custom loops, lots of large graphics cards, hard-line tubing, or if you're stupid enough to attempt whole-room water-cooling)
• As an added benefit, you can get custom lengths or / and custom sleeved set of cables from companies like CableMod.

[STRMfrmXMN]

4 hours ago, TheManWithNoPlan said:

My current machine is sitting quite comfortably in a Corsair 450D, the airflow is better than any case I've had so far and there is loads of cable management space. Yet some of the people I know still insist that I should save for a modular PSU because of the unused cables on my current non-modular. Some of these cables are tucked away behind the motherboard tray, but most are currently sitting in the bottom spreading out infront of the PSU, and I am told regularly that they'll only cause dust to build up and reduce airflow through the front of the case. So is there truth to these claims and is it worth spending on a new PSU to keep it clean?

 

Any thoughts are appreciated, thanks lads.

Modular PSUs make everything look nicer.