Upgrading your PC, Make Sure Your PSU Can Do The Job!

[davidar]

Hi, I got caught out, one of those Gotcha moments, my motherboard died on me, it was a year old, cheap PC I purchased, not thinking, I upgraded to the biggest SATA and fastest motherboard I could get for my budget.

It was brilliant, everything ran so fast, but when I did an hour of weight training, I would put on YouTube and listen to some dance tunes that were either over an hour or a track list that played one after another, but 20 mins into a workout YouTube just stopped, I put it down to the internet or something and forgot about it.

3 months later, my computer died, so after a quick test, it was my power supply, a 350 Watt job.

So popped down to my local PC shop 12 quid later I had me a cheap power supply but with technology moving on, this one was 600 Watts.

Without thinking about it, put it into my PC and went to do a workout, this time YouTube worked fine.

So now I read the wattage of each device and total them up when Im building a new PC for me or friends and make sure the power supply has way more watts than I need.

I know, sounds daft after the event, but I hope this helps other people.

Anyway, got a favour to ask all you good people, I run a local video website to help people for free, it covers the 3 Steps to PC maintenance that no one ever seems to bother to do and fixes 90% of average families computers.

Website link removed-Nevakonaza.

thanks
David.

 

[jonnyp11]

The problem you had had nothing to do with the wattage, it was just a cheap crappy psu that died, and for 12 quid the one you got will do the same thing soon enough. And if you actually look at the true wattage, that thing prob has less than 350. And a cheap psu when it blows is known to take other parts with it sometimes when it sends a surge out to the parts and fries them.

 

[WeatherMan]

You bought a 600w for £12?

That needs replacing ASAP. What make is it and how many amps does it have on the +12v rail(s)?

For a 600w you want to spend a minimum of £50.

Although, I haven't seen your system specs, but you'll most likely be fine with a 400/500w, if you budget is limited. Thi.s of course will depend on your specific components.

Also, Wattage Calculators are not always accurate.