On 17/09/2015 15:26, james wrote: >> With that GPU, you don't need more than 400W. And the amps on the 12V >> > rail are also not important, as that only comes into play with >> > higher-end GPUs. Other features can still be important though, like >> > protection against surges and such (think lightning strikes that can >> > potentially damage your PC, or some PSU malfunction that could do the >> > same.) > > True, but you are not considering transient voltage swings. If your rig > draws 350 W and you have a 400 W PS, you will get spikes and draw-downs > on the voltage during transient period of peak usage. This will kill a PS > over time, faster that if the 350W rig is running off a 500W supply. > Lots of quality capacitors in the PS minimize these effects. If the PS > is rated as extremely efficient (compared to other PS) then it has > better quality components inside the PS (they react faster to transients).
I have yet to see a computer that draws 350W sustained :-) Spikes of brief duration yes, sustained no.[1] But now I'm being pedantic right after you tried so hard not to be. [1] Anyone who wants to know just how much power 350W really is, consider that your electric kettle is about 1000W and can boil 1.7l of cold water in 2 minutes. I know [CG]PUs get hot, but they don't get *that* hot. -- Alan McKinnon alan.mckin...@gmail.com
