Im deciding what PSU wattage I should go for, 600w or 750w?

draptak

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Im on a 600w PC, I got a new GTX 770 and it requires 42A on the +12 rail. So I need a new PSU,
I currently have a IntelCore 2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz and I think I might need to change my processor soon so would it take up much wattage? Im afraid if I go for the 600w it might not be enough for a new processor in the future. But nothing too expensive like 'intel i7'

PSU Corsair 600w has 46A on the +12 rail
PSU Corsair 750w has 62A on the +12 rail

So which should I go for ?
 

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Windows 7 Ultimate 64-BitIntel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9400 @ 2.66GHz6.00 GB RAMNVIDIA GeForce GTX 770
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
ASUS
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9400 @ 2.66GHz
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5QL/EPU
Memory
6.00 GB RAM
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770
Sound Card
(1) NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (WDM) (2)HD Audio Device
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 22"
Screen Resolution
1650x1050 Max Resolution
Hard Drives
1TB Sata
PSU
Corsair CX750M
You can use this calculator to see what you need eXtreme Power Supply Calculator also the 770 has a max power draw of 195W according Guru 3D what I can find. So, you'll have to determine what you need, as we don't know what you may upgrade to and what else you are running. From what you are showing in your post, if you need 42A, I'm sure it is for the whole system. A PSU is never a place to save money, it is the heart of your whole system and can take your system out with it. A quality brand is built with safeguards to keep it from doing that. I always recommend Seasonic, Corsair, Antec and XFX.
 

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Im afraid if I go for the 600w it might not be enough for a new processor in the future. But nothing too expensive like 'intel i7'

The trend in CPU power usage is down, not up. Even the power-hungry ones are usually under 100 watts.

Excluding the graphics card, it isn't easy to use over 200 watts under a full load with a recent processor. Many desktop machines would be under 150. My 4 year old i-5 idles at 65 watts, typically uses 110, and peaks out at about 145 under full load. Those figures read with a Killawatt meter.

I do not use a video card. That includes the 23 inch monitor.

I have a Seasonic 560 watt PSU. I would have been more than happy to buy a 350 to 400 watt high quality unit instead, but at the time Seasonic had no quiet fully modular units available in that watt range, so I went with the lowest wattage modular Seasonic available then.
 
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My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bitIntel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
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