What happens if other components of a PC drains more power than the PSU can supply?

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Does everything shut down? Or does something else happen?
Eg, Whole computer requires 750W but PSU is only 500W
 
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Ok Go

Ok Go

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May 23, 2015
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most of the time it's unstability, since computers doesnt uses peak power all the time. on peak power the behavior varies greatly between the said devices that's lacking power. if the devices that's lacking power needed can be shutdown(detached) independent of power state than either the operating system will crash or freeze while waiting for the device to come back online. if the device cant, then the system will develop a failure and trigger reboot.
modern PSU will shutdown right away if a rail is overloaded to minimize further damage.
 
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bignastyid

bignastyid

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Jun 19, 2011
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There are cheapo power supplies that when overloaded will have capacitors literally explode, they can also shoot sparks and flames and fry the entire system. I have seen a PSU shoot a 2ft flame out of its exhaust fan before. Seen a 600w Corsair CX where one of the secondary capacitors exploded(wasn't overloaded just crappy caps).
 
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McHenryB

McHenryB

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Jan 31, 2015
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I would expect to experience unstable operation long before that point was reached. Accidental short-circuits, or failed components, may well cause a PSU to spark but an underpowered PSU is normally evident well before then.
 
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bignastyid

bignastyid

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Depends on the quality of the protection circuits or if it even has the protection circuits, many of the bargain basement and generic psus lack protection circuits.
 
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T

turbopixel

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May 18, 2015
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Like others have reported here, it varies. Mine was a little under powered for my system after graphics card upgrade (GTX 970 on 400 W) and I experienced unstability from time to time. Especially when I was gaming, it randomly crashed the game or freezed the whole pc. That wasnt a bad unit, but I think under powered units would harm the components more or less too. I highly recommend to you to never try this.
 
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