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Wasting Money on Power Supplies: How Many Watts You Need for a PC PSU (2020) In a recent video from Gamers Nexus, titled "Wasting Money on Power Supplies: How Many Watts You Need for a PC PSU," the team conducts an in-depth examination of power supply requirements for various PC builds. The video aims to clarify how wattage impacts performance and why many gamers overspend on power supply units (PSUs).
Key Insights from the Video
- Power Consumption Testing: The video presents data gathered from various configurations to establish a template for the necessary PSU wattage. By testing systems under different loads, including high-performance setups featuring CPUs like the Intel i9-10900K and GPUs like the RTX 2080 Ti, it reveals that many users tend to buy excessively powerful PSUs.
- Factors Affecting Wattage: The host emphasizes that multiple elements deserve consideration beyond wattage alone, such as wire gauge and efficiency ratings. Overclocking requires particular attention to these factors to avoid potential issues.
- Testing Methodology: A specialized power meter logs data between the PSU and the wall outlet, capturing readings at four-second intervals. This allows for accurate visualizations of power consumption over time, demonstrating how power utilization varies during load changes.
- System Configurations: The video outlines various system builds, showing their peak power needs:
- A setup with an R5 3600 and RTX 2060 KO, for example, consumes about 307 watts under full load.
- Higher-end configurations, like the 10900K and 2080 Ti, can demand upwards of 500 watts.
- Efficiency Considerations: The Corsair AX1600i PSU is used for evaluating efficiency, highlighting that a PSU’s efficiency can fluctuate significantly based on its load. For optimum performance, users are encouraged to select PSUs rated for 650 to 700 watts even if their peak power requirements appear lower.
- Gaming Performance: The video benchmarks power consumption in popular games like "Red Dead Redemption 2" and synthesizers like 3DMark. It illustrates that while power consumption can spike during intense gaming, the average draw typically stays well below what users might anticipate.
Conclusion
The findings from this comprehensive analysis challenge the common practice of over-purchasing PSUs. The takeaway is clear: many users can achieve optimal performance with lower wattage supplies than they think necessary. The video also underscores the importance of quality over quantity, suggesting that in many cases, investing in a reliable mid-range PSU will yield better results than opting for a higher capacity but lower-quality unit. For anyone looking to build or upgrade their PC, this information provides crucial insights into selecting the right power supply without falling prey to unrealistic wattage requirements. If you’ve built a PC recently or are considering an upgrade, what wattage PSU do you think is right for your setup? Share your thoughts and experiences below!