Do I need a branded PSU if I've a UPS already?

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abhishekdev777

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So, i have a cheap psu which has been running fine for years. I've read that a cheap psu is capable of damaging your Graphics card and other components.

But I also have a UPS and I suppose it helps to stabilize the voltage and stuff so that my computer doesn't get burnt right?( Correct me if I'm wrong, do not know much about UPS)

So if the UPS is enough to save my other components from any short circuit or something like that then i couls invest in something else like a processor.

I'm having confusions whether to buy a new power supply (Corsair vs450, if i get one) or just rely on the UPS.

I mainly use it for gaming
Thanks :)
 
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Yeah, as @Gam3r01 says, a decent UPS will ensure the input power is stable and reliable, but has no impact on the output quality of the PSU, which is ultimately what powers or fries your components. A cheap PSU is going to much less robust under power fluctuations than a good one. So if you live in an area with regular brown-outs, a UPS will likely reduce the risk of component damage from a cheap PSU (or any PSU really). But that's only one potential issue.

In the end of the day this comes down to how much risk you are willing to take. There's a chance a cheap PSU will run a hungry system for years without causing any problems, and there's also a chance a premium quality PSU will blow in its first week and destroy...
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Gam3r01

Gam3r01

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The UPS provides (a temporary) source of uninterrupted, stable power to the power supply in the case of a power outage or fluctuation.
However, this means nothing once the power reaches the power supply itself. From there the quality of the power supply is still just as important, dosent matter where the power came from, it still has to be high enough quality not to fry itself (and potentially the system) if it fails.
 
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rhysiam

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Mar 24, 2013
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Yeah, as @Gam3r01 says, a decent UPS will ensure the input power is stable and reliable, but has no impact on the output quality of the PSU, which is ultimately what powers or fries your components. A cheap PSU is going to much less robust under power fluctuations than a good one. So if you live in an area with regular brown-outs, a UPS will likely reduce the risk of component damage from a cheap PSU (or any PSU really). But that's only one potential issue.

In the end of the day this comes down to how much risk you are willing to take. There's a chance a cheap PSU will run a hungry system for years without causing any problems, and there's also a chance a premium quality PSU will blow in its first week and destroy components with it. The latter scenario is wildly unlikely, but it's not impossible... there's still a risk.

What is your current PSU and what components is it powering (primarily CPU + GPU)?
How big of a deal would it be if your old PSU died and took some combination of mobo/ram/CPU/GPU with it? i.e. how much risk are you prepared to take here?

A final quick note - the VS450 isn't a great PSU anyway. What's your region? Hopefully we can find something better than that that doesn't cost too much.
 
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DSzymborski

DSzymborski

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I'd aim a bit higher. The Corsair VS 450 is a low-end power supply that we advise people to upgrade *from* not upgrade *to* from something even worse.
 
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abhishekdev777

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Yes, you make sense, thanks. I've recently bought a GTX 1050ti so I'm totally not okay with it getting damaged or burnt just because of a faulty PSU. I really do not wanna take the risk then. Maybe I should get a new PSU in the near future. and as you've said that the VS-450 is not that a good PSU, So please tell me a good one under $38 or like $35 dollars.
And I live in India in case you need it.

Thanks :)
 
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rhysiam

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The newer Corsair CXM units (450W/550W units with white labels) are great little PSUs and often very cheap.

I don't know how good PCPartpicker is in your region at finding the best prices, but here's the cheapest I could find: https://in.pcpartpicker.com/product/FQ648d/corsair-power-supply-cp9020101na
It doesn't look particularly cheap though!

If you can get US pricing, the 550W unit is available from Newegg with a $58, minus a $20 MIR: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139147&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

If the MIR is no good to you (which it may not be from India) the 450W unit is just $50: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139146&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=
 
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abhishekdev777

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Unfortunately, it's not that cheap in my country :(
In US sites like newegg, the marked prices are less which looks affordable but unfortunately the shipping charges to here in India are insane and it makes it overpriced. And my guess, products in my country include the shipping charges in the quoted price of the product so its makes it the same thing ultimately.

I'd buy from sites like amazon.in ebay.in or flipkart.in if you would check?
otherwise I woudl just resort to buying a VS450.
 
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rhysiam

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I had a hunt for you, those prices are awful :-( I found a nice 520W Seasonic S12II, but that's almost 6000 rupees, which is over $90US. That sucks.

Antec have their international (as in 220-240V only) BP450PS unit for just over 2.5K: http://www.amazon.in/Antec-BP450PS-450-Watt-SMPS/dp/B00O32KT8E/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1495715189&sr=1-3&keywords=antec+psu

I know it's Antec and Channel Well built, so it's not trash. But beyond that, I have no idea how it stakes up. My guess would be it's similar quality to the Corsair VS series, but perhaps someone else can comment on that?

I don't believe you ever told us your current PSU? Is it absolute trash? If it's just mediocre it's probably not worth upgrading to a Corsair VS or Antec BP unit. If it's one of the those dirt-cheap iBall or similar units that float around in your region, you really should get rid of it. Those cheap Antec or Corsair units are far from the best, but they're extremely unlikely to damage your components and aren't a fire hazard.
 
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abhishekdev777

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Yeah it's some local cheap PSU named 'Foxin 450' worth around $10. You're right, I should just change it ASAP, so which one is better according to you? the corsair or Antec? Both are around the same price range so i could take either.
 
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rhysiam

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I honestly don't know which is better. Neither is great, but neither are terrible either. Unless someone else comes along with a bit more knowledge of these specific units, you may as well get whichever is cheaper. I don't know Foxin, but if it was sub 1000 rupees it's bad news.
 
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DSzymborski

DSzymborski

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Neither are impressive, but I wouldn't hesitate to run them over a PSU like *this* in an instant. A $10 no-name PSU? I wouldn't even turn on my PC with that inside. In fact, I'd destroy it before putting it in the garbage bag, to make sure someone doesn't find it and try to put it in their PC.

 
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DSzymborski

DSzymborski

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No, Circle is another off-brand of cheap, junk-tier PSUs.

If you can assert that your specific PSU is performing well, then that means you have a high-end load tester that runs thousands of dollars.

If you don't, then you don't actually know how your specific PSU is performing, beyond whether it turns on or not. A bit like a cardiologist who tells you your heart is in terrific condition based on the simple fact that you're alive and not dead.
 
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