What components do I take into account when choosing a PSU?

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cloudropis

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If I had to ask you which PSU is best for [inster my build here], which components are revelant and should be listed? Mobo, videocard, processor and what else?

I need to finalize some of those, that's why I'm not just posting my build here.
 
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g1abhi

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Else you count the TDP of Processor +graphics Card and add 50 W to it . That gives your power consumption. Since PSU have an efficency of around 80% and optimum efficiency is at over 50% load multiply it by a factor of 10/7 .
 
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cloudropis

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Thank you, I used the site and it's apparently 337W as recommended value.
I sitll need help though as I'm not very good at certifications and whatnot. What's a good PSU for such wattage? Considering I'll maybe overclock my CPU a bit?

Here the specs I used, which is probably gonna be my final build anyway
i5 4690k
GTX 960
Mobo is a 1150 z97-HD3 from Gigabyte, is it "standard" or "high-end"? If the latter is true then it's 367W
Cooler Master 212 EVO
Samsung 128gb SSD (don't remember the exact model though), caviar green 1tb WD HDD
 
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Zerk2012

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PSU calculators are not very accurate, it's always best to add up the TDP of every part your using.
After that I multiply it buy 1.6 that will put your PSU in the 62% range during a full system stress test and usually in the 50% area during normal use like gaming.
One of the most important things people overlook when buying a PSU is future upgrades. You need to avoid just buying what you need now in case you get more into gaming or something in the future and need to add a higher end video card.
450 Watts would run your PC, 550 would give you overclocking room, 650 would allow you to upgrade to about anything in the future.
In your case I would be looking at these it will leave you plenty of room for futures upgrades.
http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/compare/evga-power-supply-220g20650y1%2Cevga-power-supply-220gs0650v1%2Cseasonic-power-supply-ssr650rm/
 
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g1abhi

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https://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9
or
https://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-s12ii520bronze

You can also pick 450 W , but get ready for the VAcuum cleaner like noise, since it will work at around 80% load.
Also if your main purpose is gaming , switch to a i5 4460 and a gtx 970 with a h97 board. Almost same budget with a gain of over 15-30 Fps. can verify it if you want.

You can also get evga or corsair PSU but the order of quality and my preference is Seasonic>XFX>EVGA>corsair.
 
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g1abhi

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the motherboard is an entry level OC board . It doesnt support SLI so not really much option of an upgrade. So 650W will be a waste of PSU . Any SLI board will cost 1.5 times more than this atleast.
 
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cloudropis

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Yes of course I wasn't looking for a PSU that barely covers power consumption, I just had no idea how much the right leeway is.
So far the only piece I physicall bought of the CPU-GPU-mobo trifect is the mobo itself and I'm fine with it (I never wanted SLI as I don't have the income to buy top of the line GPUs, let alone two medium ones). I've settled for 4690k and 960 because I'm going to emulate a lot with Dolphin and PCSX2, which requires a good amount of raw power (Dolphin not so much but the latter does) to use speed hacks and high resolutions. I don't need much GPU power as I rarely play unoptimized AAA games and I won't go above 1080p and 60 fps anyway. I don't think the 4460 will cut it for emulation, correct me if I'm wrong.
I guess I'll settle for 550 or 600 if 650 is overkill. I'll check those lists you guys linked, thanks.
Anything else I should know? Maybe about those bronze/silver/gold certifications?
 
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g1abhi

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Honestly Any new i5 will do fine on such old emulators. Even if you gain anything with a 4690k that would be around 10% max. I dont see any reason that an i5 4460 which gives around 5fps lower in comparison to 4690k will differ hugely in case of emulators coupled with the same graphics card. On the other hand you might gain more from a faster graphics card. But all of this is my theory which is true for Pc Games .It your choice at the end .
Mark the solution if you are satisfied .
 
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Zerk2012

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650 is not overkill if in the future you uograde to a 250 watt video card like the GTX 980ti draws now.
It would also allow for longer life when factoring in capacitor aging.
Their usally very little price differance in 550 watts and 650.
And get the K processor the extra speed and the ability to overclock either noe or in the future can get you a couple more years life before you need to upgrade again.
 
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g1abhi

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http://www.anandtech.com/show/9306/the-nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-ti-review/16
A 980 ti based entire System consumes 386W in the tests. Plus it costs as much as his current build. I doubt he will ever get such an upgrade. And by the time he will , GPU power consumption would have dropped in the newer generation cards.
The thing is if he buys now , there really is not much scope of longevity with the launch of skylake causing a change in entire platform. There are so many changes due to skylake that even if my 4th gen build runs fine , i would be tempted to upgrade just because of the ddr4 and usb type C connectors within a year , when they will be the norm. And i wont be using an old PSU at that time unless its a gold certified.
Capacitor aging is a factor I agree slightly with but when a PSU comes with a 5 year warranty (seasonic) and since I don't really wanna drag it till my grandchildrens birthday, not a big issue.
 
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cloudropis

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If I wanted to play on original hardware I would've done that already.

What's the price I should more or less hover around? There is a waide range of prices for each component and I also need to check if it's available in my country (namely amazon.it)
 
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Lawrence_b_rfc

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Yeahp that's the one
 
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sora

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I would personally get a solid XFX 650W power supply or a Seasonic 620W power supply as the Corsair CX series of power supplies use poor capacitors.
 
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g1abhi

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Agree. Wrote it earlier , writing again.
You can also get evga or corsair PSU but the order of quality and my preference is Seasonic>XFX>EVGA>corsair.

 
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g1abhi

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That is your own opinion . Since you have bought the motherboard , you cannot SLI with that. If you think you will or might buy a heavy Gfx card i.e. http://www.amazon.it/XpertVision-NE5X98T015JBF-NVIDIA-GeForce-scheda/dp/B00YMIJP6G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1438928688&sr=8-3&keywords=980+ti
Then you should go for a 650W PSU.
 
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Lawrence_b_rfc

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I have those two components, I would go for a 750W gold plus standard Atleast, PSU is an important choice for your build, be sure to get one with minimum amount of ripple and Japanese capacitors, this will ensure stability of your overstock which I'll assume you'll do with the 4790K, hope this helps

If you would like to take a look at reviews have a look at techpowerup.com they do good reviews for PSUs
 
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g1abhi

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That card has a TDP of 145W ,so basically a jump of 25W TDP. Still pretty tamable by a 550W PSU silver/gold rated one( don't go for bronze one now). But a 650W PSU will run more silent and few months more if you are lucky , thats all. Do remember Seasonic PSUs also fail within 1 month if you are really unlucky. I have encountered such people on tomshardware. Running a a system below 50% power of PSU also decreases efficiency. 50-60% is the optimum point.
And TDp is not realtime usage consumption during heavy gaming. Its actually somewhere at their 90% of tdp . A 980 ti based entire System consumes 386W in the tests . I have linked the source in my previous post. DO you really think a 970 card with 60% of a 980ti TDP will need 750W .
There are just some uninformed people who have read experts praising high end PSUs and pass it off to everyone as their own solutions without thinking of their needs .
SLI is not an option without motherboard upgrade so 750W is kind of attaching a generator to pocket torch and thinking someday i will buy flood lamps .
 
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