Upgrading PSU to upgrade video card (Tier question)

timelord989

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This is continued from the question I asked yesterday about whether to use an old PSU or not.
(see http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2787800/card-upgrade-psu-question-molex-6pin-adapter.html#16574521)

Assuming I still go with the 680, would a better 600W PSU do, or is higher necessary? My local best buy has a Thermaltake Smart 650W PSU I'm considering, but it's listed as Tier 4 at http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html . Tier 4 is described as lacking Japanese caps, but the packaging of the PSU at my local store says right on the front "Japanese capacitors". Could this entry be out of date, or should I ignore it? It would be a lot more convenient for me to get that PSU than order online or get a 750W PSU when I don't really need it (not planning on sli unless I completely upgrade my entire system).

Would it be safe to continue using my current Ultra "600W" PSU if I don't upgrade? It's been working for several years without a hitch. To be more specific, my computer's specs are:
i5-2500
8 GB ram
EVGA 550 Ti (one PCI-e 6 pin)
3 HDD's

Nothing is overclocked; in fact, due to the Fermi arch on the GPU + using linux most of the time, I have to underclock the GPU so the idle temps don't heat my room up! (I think this is fixed past gtx 5xx, which is part of why I want to upgrade)

 
Solution
I see that this question is stacked with PSU experts so I'm probably about to cause all hell to break loose...

But as he said, his "stick of poo" PSU that will force him to "invest in a fire extinguisher" has lasted him "several years without a hitch". So why can't he just keep using it? No offense but it's worked several years... that's at least 1095 days so why would it just randomly break down now? And if it did, it would be going like any old PSU. I get that it might not be the best built I'm just still confused why people throw fits about crappy PSUs yet I see people using crappy PSUs all the time just fine and nothing happens. In fact it's actually rarer that I see people actually getting things damaged by bad PSUs.

(Just a...
That Thermaltake unit is a stick of poo; stay away from it.

Your current PSU is also a stick of poo and liable to go up in smoke at any time, taking your nice new components with it. Don't make a dumb move because you're impatient. You've done without the new GPU for your entire life up to this point, a few days won't kill you.

You don't need 750W for any single card setup. Video card manufacturers are notorious for overstating the power requirements in order to cover their own butts. Something like this from a quality manufacturer will do just fine:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094
 

Feliks

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I see that this question is stacked with PSU experts so I'm probably about to cause all hell to break loose...

But as he said, his "stick of poo" PSU that will force him to "invest in a fire extinguisher" has lasted him "several years without a hitch". So why can't he just keep using it? No offense but it's worked several years... that's at least 1095 days so why would it just randomly break down now? And if it did, it would be going like any old PSU. I get that it might not be the best built I'm just still confused why people throw fits about crappy PSUs yet I see people using crappy PSUs all the time just fine and nothing happens. In fact it's actually rarer that I see people actually getting things damaged by bad PSUs.

(Just a disclaimer: I am playing devil's advocate here. I'm not 100% inexperienced, PSUs aren't my expertise and I'm not claiming them to be. I just want to hear everyone's thoughts and claims so, let's hear it)
 
Solution

DSzymborski

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One, a PSU being functional is not a binary work/doesn't work thing. Poorly designed power supplies can be slowly damaging your components due to not providing the PC with clean power and/or cause very subtle issues of instability. There's a lot that can go wrong with a PSU short of it not turning on or blowing up your PC.

And capacitors *do* age and weak capacitors are gambles. That it hasn't fried anything yet doesn't mean the power supply was good, it means that the user was lucky. Just because a particular drunk driver has successfully avoided a car crash does not make drunk driving safer or make it responsible to advise the driver that it's OK to drink and drive.

Crappy PSUs aren't crappy PSUs because we dislike a brand but because crappy PSUs use sub-grade parts, from capacitors to various protection mechanisms to very frequently outright lying about the output.
 

timelord989

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After I posted this question, I ended up deciding not to get the 680 and have to upgrade because I realized that I don't have the time to upgrade or even fully take advantage of that upgrade.

If I did have the time/resources/house AC capacity to upgrade, I probably would get a better PSU, or more likely upgrade my entire system. I went into this thinking I could just get the card and an adapter and do a quick swap, but that's clearly not the case, so I'll just stay with what's been working for me.

I get that it's possible that my PSU could be doing slow damage to my system, but when I bought this computer it was already used, so it does not have any components newer than 2011 (as some of the respondents assumed). I don't mind if I am forced to upgrade by hardware failure in a few years as long as I keep making backups on an external HD.

My PSU has worked fine for the last 2 years (and even longer for the previous owner) probably because I don't use it to the max listed capacity of the PSU. I underclock it most of the day to keep the temperature down in my room. There's a linux bug for nvidia 5xx gpu's where if you plug in a 2nd monitor, the card uses full clock even at idle unless you underclock it. When I do game I play games that are 5 years "behind", going with my theme of not actually having enough time/resources for it.
(see http://xkcd.com/606/ I'm actually behind this in some ways since I just finished HL2 this summer, though I do play newer games than that!)

Thanks so much to all for the advice and useful links, which I'll need if I ever do decide to do a full upgrade.
 

bignastyid

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Using a crap PSU is like a bomb on a random number generator and when it hits 0 it will explode. It may take mere seconds or go on for years. But one day it will hit 0 and those cheap units rarely die alone.
 

Feliks

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Glad to see you guys put time into these answers. :) Again, just wanted to see the thinking.

@the OP, that is probably a good plan. Also a common trend I see is local stores selling bad PSUs, so if it's not too inconvenient, I'd highly recommend at least buying the PSU online. :)

@the PSU experts, how does this PSU look? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016 It's a reliable brand and has almost perfect reviews, however I'm concerned as a few reviews said after years of use when the PSU went down it took other parts with it. Any thoughts? I already have that PSU and if its unnecessary I really wouldn't like to upgrade. It's a good PSU from the looks of it though.
 
I have an Antec PSU myself and it's not an expensive one. They work fine and are reliable. Any PSU can take other parts with it when it fails. The more protective circuitry it has the less chance of other parts getting ruined, but it can still happen.
 

bignastyid

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Feliks

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I need at least 550W so the other Antec is out of the question. I also need modularity especially with my MINI-ITX form factor, leaving the 550W XFX out of the question. I've already bought it and the pricing for me was fine, I just don't want it blowing out my other parts.

"The more protective circuitry it has the less chance of other parts getting ruined, but it can still happen."

How can I tell how protective the circuitry is?
 

bignastyid

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That 520w HCG has a stronger 12v rail than 550w Antec Basiq. Too continue though this you should create your own thread.