When you try using a "400W" cheapo PSU and actually try to draw 400W from it, let me know.
Also, good luck getting >85% efficiency or a stable voltage level out of one (this can affect overclocking stability, particularly if you're pushing things to their limits)
With power supplies, if you get a good one, you can probably keep it for 10 years of using it with many different parts.
Yes, or a 5870. Cypress has way better performance per watt.
Maybe so.
But i can get a cheep 800w PSU for less money than a good 500w PSU. So really, i may as well get a cheep 800w PSU, it probably only handles 500w. But oh well, it's cheaper.
It's just that of all my friends PC's that I've built and bought the parts for, A cheep PSU has never been a problem. An expensive PSU may well last 10 years, but when most gaming PC's need to be upgraded at least every 3 years, there is of little benefit getting an expensive good PSU.
In fact, i haven't ever came across a single piece of electronics equipment where the PSU has failed. So i struggle with spending a lot of money on something that gives no benefit to me.
(I would like to add, that any non-members reading this whilst browsing the internet, i am the ONLY (or atleast one of very few people) person on this forum who expresses this opinion
)
I won't try and argue overclocking though, as that does sound reasonable. I only ever try sensible OC's, (Currently at 3.7ghz ATM on my Q9550)
That HEC PSU says it has an efficiency of >75%
That's actually pretty poor.
And I doubt it will provide power particularly stably at varying loads, which would be particularly bad for overclocking.
It says it's rated for 485W.
If you were running 300W from it, it might be fine (which probably most people do). but if you actually try pulling 485W out of it, I doubt it would last long.
Whereas, a good PSU that's rated for 485W should not only be able to supply 485W constantly, but also up to 100W more. And at the same time, keep voltages within ~1% tolerance at varying loads (compared to ~5-7% of a cheapo PSU)
Even if you argue that 'most people won't load it much so it'll be fine'
It's still bad practice to put something low quality or badly manufactured in.
*Maybe 98% of people who use one will be fine.*
But then that means 2 in every 100 people won't be.
Whereas a good PSU might be fine 99.96% of the time. Which would mean 4 in every 1000 people have one die. That's still a difference of about 50 times the failure rate of the cheaper PSU.
Or a great PSU might be fine 99.995% of the time. Nearly 100 times the difference of a 'good' PSU, and 500 times the difference of a cheapo PSU.
So on that premise, i can upgrade my PC 50 times before one fails.
My cheep PSU that i always buy is £20, the good quality equivalents are at least £60. That is a saving of £40.
£40x50 = £2000.
So even when my poor PC dies from a failed PSU, i can afford to replace it all again anyway - probably twice.
edit:
When my GTX470 arrives (I really want PhysX) i'll try it on this same 650w PSU, i was going to buy another £20 800w PSU. But with the massive increase in wattage required compared to my 4870, it should start to struggle. But i'm going to try it just for interests sake.
