► PC Build: PSU

hl0m4n · 05-31-2017, 01:06 AM

i am building a pc with the build below but debating if a 650w or 750w is sufficient/overkill.

cpu: i7 7700k
cpu cooling: corsair h115i
gpu: evga 1080 hybrid
ram: 16gb
ssd: x2 500gb

based on various psu calculators, they all estimate 550-600w.

expert thoughts much appreciated, thanks

.

3rdcoast228i · 05-31-2017, 01:41 AM

I'm not an expert on PSUs but I've been building PCs since the early 90s and my best advice is don't go cheap.

Getting something overkill is better IMHO

IMHO it's better to not have your PSU working at max capacity.

If you are getting an SLI compatible motherboard it makes even more since to go overkill. You may want to add a second 1080 later.

kamber · 05-31-2017, 01:59 AM

I was in the same boat 1 month ago when I did my build.

PC parts are only getting more and more efficient as time goes on, and if you're not planning on running 2 graphics cards I doubt you would need anything more than a 550W PSU. However, because it's only about $10 or so more per step up from 550 to 650 to 750 to 850, I just went for an 850 so that I'm using half or less of what my PSU is rated for. Remember that it is not only about how much power a PSU is rated for, but the quality and efficiency of said PSU. I went with an EVGA G3 PSU in 850W flavor, but the entire line of PSU's comes extremely well regarded due to being based on SuperFlower's (best in the business as far as PSU oem's go) Leadex II platform.

FYI, if you put all your parts into PC part picker it will tell you a rough estimate of how much draw your system will actually use. See this link to my recent build for an example (look at the top right corner, where it has a little lightening bolt symbol and says "350W"):
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/2rmj9W

c1pher · 05-31-2017, 07:03 AM

I'd always default to the larger PSU. You may want a better GPU later and don't want to have to also replace the PSU to support it.

zx10guy · 05-31-2017, 08:47 AM

Bigger isn't always necessarily better. I bought a 1100W PSU a while ago thinking that would be the only PSU I would ever need to buy. I didn't pay top dollar but somewhere in the middle. That PSU ended up burning up. I didn't do my due diligence on researching the brand/product and found mixed reviews for it. I was also running dual GPUs in SLI at the time and had problems with the GPUs where both of them failed. Fortunately eVGA replaced them without issue. I always wondered if the PSU had anything to do with the failures.

The comment about the quality and stability of the power is probably the most important in my mind. Here is a website where the reviewers really hammer the PSUs. You should read through the reviews to get an idea of what constitutes a quality PSU.

https://www.hardocp.com/reviews/psu_power_supplies/

3rdcoast228i · 05-31-2017, 01:21 PM

I have been a big fan of PC Power and Cooling PSUs in the past. They used to all be made in the USA but they sold out to OCZ and I really dont know how good they are now since I am still using the PSU I bought from them in 2009.

I do see that they offer a 7 year warranty on SOME of their PSUs

NickyC · 05-31-2017, 01:22 PM

Just overkill it, PSUs are cheap anyway.

R3dliner · 05-31-2017, 01:26 PM

Just get the bigger psu its pennies on the dollar. You drive a bmw lol.
Although the 1080 has a lower TDP of 150 watts, I would still get atleast a 750W

zx10guy · 05-31-2017, 02:03 PM

I'll mention this again. Just because a PSU is rated to deliver a ton of power doesn't mean it's going to do it reliably. Spend the additional money and make sure you get a quality PSU which can provide stable/clean power. I learned my lesson and won't do it again. Also, instability in power can cause all sorts of weird issues with the operation of the system. Time I would rather spend doing something else more productive over troubleshooting system problems. Just look at any of the power supply reviews at the HardOCP site and you'll know why not all PSUs are created equal even when they have the same power rating.

Xtabi · 05-31-2017, 10:43 PM

I just built a new gaming PC and did a TON of research. It had been about seven years since I built my last one. I was happy to see not much had changed in the fundamentals for picking a PSU.

I highly recommend Toms Hardware and this article. It will have all the info you need.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...uide,2916.html

On a side note if anyone is in the Quake Champions beta add me! Xtabi

Banana Hammock · 06-01-2017, 03:35 AM

I would stray away from the CX line even if it's from a company like Corsair. It's their bottom of the barrel line and it's not that great.

For the 600-700W sweet spot range, I would recommend the RM or HX series or the AX if you wanna be fancy.

3rdcoast228i · 06-02-2017, 04:59 AM

Yep quality first

Spent almost $500 on my last PSU but it's been cranking out clean power for 8 years. It's been used to overclock from day one with an SLI setup. It's been through 2 upgrade cycles and is about to see an x299 system.

Yes it was costly up front, but I've gotten my money worth.

05-31-2017, 01:06 AM	#1
hl0m4n Major General 2297 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NY iTrader: (58)	► PC Build: PSU i am building a pc with the build below but debating if a 650w or 750w is sufficient/overkill. cpu: i7 7700k cpu cooling: corsair h115i gpu: evga 1080 hybrid ram: 16gb ssd: x2 500gb based on various psu calculators, they all estimate 550-600w. expert thoughts much appreciated, thanks . __________________ Cars: 07 335i ► 08 328i ► 11 328xi ► 13 M3 ► 17 M4 ► 14 M6
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05-31-2017, 01:41 AM	#2
3rdcoast228i Captain 225 Rep 610 Posts Drives: 2016 228i Msport Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	I'm not an expert on PSUs but I've been building PCs since the early 90s and my best advice is don't go cheap. Getting something overkill is better IMHO IMHO it's better to not have your PSU working at max capacity. If you are getting an SLI compatible motherboard it makes even more since to go overkill. You may want to add a second 1080 later.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-31-2017, 01:59 AM	#3
kamber E90 170 Rep 825 Posts Drives: '08 M3 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: NJ iTrader: (7)	I was in the same boat 1 month ago when I did my build. PC parts are only getting more and more efficient as time goes on, and if you're not planning on running 2 graphics cards I doubt you would need anything more than a 550W PSU. However, because it's only about $10 or so more per step up from 550 to 650 to 750 to 850, I just went for an 850 so that I'm using half or less of what my PSU is rated for. Remember that it is not only about how much power a PSU is rated for, but the quality and efficiency of said PSU. I went with an EVGA G3 PSU in 850W flavor, but the entire line of PSU's comes extremely well regarded due to being based on SuperFlower's (best in the business as far as PSU oem's go) Leadex II platform. FYI, if you put all your parts into PC part picker it will tell you a rough estimate of how much draw your system will actually use. See this link to my recent build for an example (look at the top right corner, where it has a little lightening bolt symbol and says "350W"): https://pcpartpicker.com/list/2rmj9W
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-31-2017, 07:03 AM	#4
c1pher Primo Generalissimo 5020 Rep 4,186 Posts Drives: All of them Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: DC area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 Ford Bronco Ra ... [10.00] 2018 Porsche 911 GTS [10.00] 2023 BMW M2 [9.25] 2022 Ford F-250 Tremor [8.50]	I'd always default to the larger PSU. You may want a better GPU later and don't want to have to also replace the PSU to support it.
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05-31-2017, 01:21 PM	#6
3rdcoast228i Captain 225 Rep 610 Posts Drives: 2016 228i Msport Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	I have been a big fan of PC Power and Cooling PSUs in the past. They used to all be made in the USA but they sold out to OCZ and I really dont know how good they are now since I am still using the PSU I bought from them in 2009. I do see that they offer a 7 year warranty on SOME of their PSUs
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-31-2017, 01:22 PM	#7
NickyC Lieutenant General 19207 Rep 11,183 Posts Drives: M4 CS. Former G82, x2 F82, F80 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Jacked out of my mind iTrader: (23)	Just overkill it, PSUs are cheap anyway.
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05-31-2017, 01:26 PM	#8
R3dliner Lieutenant Colonel 939 Rep 1,929 Posts Drives: 18 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NYC iTrader: (5)	Just get the bigger psu its pennies on the dollar. You drive a bmw lol. Although the 1080 has a lower TDP of 150 watts, I would still get atleast a 750W
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05-31-2017, 10:43 PM	#10
Xtabi Colonel 1755 Rep 2,162 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	I just built a new gaming PC and did a TON of research. It had been about seven years since I built my last one. I was happy to see not much had changed in the fundamentals for picking a PSU. I highly recommend Toms Hardware and this article. It will have all the info you need. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...uide,2916.html On a side note if anyone is in the Quake Champions beta add me! Xtabi __________________ 2016 F80 \| MG/SO \| DCT \| Adaptive M Suspension \| 19" Black 437M Wheels \| CF Roof \| CF Trim
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06-01-2017, 03:35 AM	#11
Banana Hammock Beefcake 3738 Rep 711 Posts Drives: R32 GTR Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	I would stray away from the CX line even if it's from a company like Corsair. It's their bottom of the barrel line and it's not that great. For the 600-700W sweet spot range, I would recommend the RM or HX series or the AX if you wanna be fancy.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-02-2017, 04:59 AM	#12
3rdcoast228i Captain 225 Rep 610 Posts Drives: 2016 228i Msport Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Yep quality first Spent almost $500 on my last PSU but it's been cranking out clean power for 8 years. It's been used to overclock from day one with an SLI setup. It's been through 2 upgrade cycles and is about to see an x299 system. Yes it was costly up front, but I've gotten my money worth.
	Appreciate 0 Quote