Power Supply choice best for this rig

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jamok99

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I know this question has been beaten to death, but I've got a question(s) regarding these 2 particular PSUs: I'm building my 2nd rig - gaming machine. I've been converted by this site to spend the money necessary to support the quality items in your rig - no more Thermaltake $50 w/rebate bronze series (which I have in my first build - but that's a more mainstream system.
The choices: EVGA G2 850 watts vs. Corsair RMi 850 watts. I'd like to have as much flexibility as possible - going later with an SLI setup maybe, with high end cards. (Or, I may just go for one of the 1080 series.)

The rig: Intel 5830k cpu, MSI 980 ti (I have one, I may end up with 2 in sli), Gigabyte x99p Sli motherboard, lots of fans (don't like liquid coolant) - but I *do* want the option of over-clocking w/air, Corsair LPX 3000 memory - 32 gb in an 8x4 configuration, Antec 1100 case.
So - Johnny Guru rates both gold PSW's as 9.9. - and 'tier 1' I think. There's a $20 difference between them (they're a bit on sale at the moment.) I'm a bit concerned, having read that an over-powered psu actually adds heat to the system, the 'unused' part causing it at lower power loads. I think/know I've overpowered this system if I just stick to one GPU, but I'm not certain of that assertion. But if it's correct, it may apply to the system I'll start off with, likely with the 980 ti as the GPU.)

So - thoughts about which PSU to go with? Is the underpower/heat issue a concern? Is the rig powerful enough to do an SLI, maybe even a nasty 980 ti x 2 (I really think it's more likely I'll just end up with a 1080 - but I can't get anyone to buy my unopened 980 ti since the 1080's came out.) Thanks so much in advance.
So - which one to go with +$20 for the RMi corsair, or the EVGA G2? Or doesn't it matter. TIA.
 
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A typical single-GPU system will spend most of its game time under 300W and most of its idle time under 100W. PSUs tend to be most efficient around 50% load, so if you pick a PSU that has twice the output power that you will ever need, you will be over-paying for a PSU that you won't be using anywhere near its peak efficiency range most of the time.

So your first step would be deciding between 980Ti SLI or GTX1080. If you scrap the SLI idea, then you can go with a high quality 550-650W PSU instead and save $30-50 there. A good 650W PSU would still be enough for GTX1080 SLI later.
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Titan
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May 18, 2007
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A typical single-GPU system will spend most of its game time under 300W and most of its idle time under 100W. PSUs tend to be most efficient around 50% load, so if you pick a PSU that has twice the output power that you will ever need, you will be over-paying for a PSU that you won't be using anywhere near its peak efficiency range most of the time.

So your first step would be deciding between 980Ti SLI or GTX1080. If you scrap the SLI idea, then you can go with a high quality 550-650W PSU instead and save $30-50 there. A good 650W PSU would still be enough for GTX1080 SLI later.
 
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jamok99

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I know this may not come out as a reply to the 3 answers presented - I always have a hard time figuring out how/where I should reply.
1 Thank you both. My reply to the Corsair RMi vs. the RMx series, is that while both are respectably reviewed well in the places I looked, The RMi has somewhat higher quality components inside, altho one might say in the reviews I read that that RMi would be considered a ''Tier 1" PSU, with the Rmx being a 'Tier 2' - both entirely acceptable. But price really isn't a major concern to me, so I'd go with the better quality rig - and the sales put the EVGA G2 850w as comparison, and Johnnyguru rates both as 9.9 - hard to pick a bad PSU.

I think the moderator's answer it the correct one - and thank you. But I'll not mark it as such yet, as if there are other opinions, I'd be interested in them chiming in. And yes, the 'optimal efficiency' at 50% of usual loads is what I had read by couldn't quite remember.
And your suggestion of a 650w PSU - it suddenly occurred to me: If it becomes not powerful enough as I make changes to my system -Why, I can just buy a higher output supply if that becomes the situation. (DUH!) I think the fact that I have an Antec 850w quattro in my oldest rig, from 2008, and it has been and continues to be flawless, is always in my mind. I *think* that PSU would not even get a bronze in today's world. The 'medium' build I did about 6 months ago as my first build, I powered it with a Thermaltake bronze M850 'smartpower', and thought only the watts matter. But I realize it's not a bargain if it doesn't perform well/adds heat, is overpowering the unit. But so far so good. not an expensive rig if it catches fire :) I have read in reviews and such that EVGA and Corsair are the real competitors (leave Seasonic out of it), with Themaltake trying to become an equal player, but so far they haven't caught up with those top two.
 
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Titan
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May 18, 2007
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Most of the best PSUs money can buy regardless of what vendor brand is on the sticker are designed and manufactured by either Seasonic, Superflower, Enhance, FSP or Channel Well.

As a point of interest, Superflower, Seasonic and Enhance are the only three PSU OEMs which are practically absent from the PSU tier list below tier two. This means they don't generally design and manufacture low-end PC PSUs.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html
 
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