PSU Troubles

[Extrinsic]

Some time ago I built a Uber-budget desktop made by combining a used Dell Optiplex 790 with a Used Thermaltake 600W PSU, a used evga Geforce GTX 570, and a 1 Tb SSD. It wasn't going to win any awards, but it was just fine for the pile of old games I typically play.
Today, I finally completed a gaming desktop now that my new PSU finally arrived. If you care, my new system is: ASUS Z97-C, Intel Core i5-4690K w/ Thermaltake Contac Silent 12 HSF, 16Gb DDR3-1600, evga Geforce GTX 980, Soundblaster Z, EDUP Gigabit Ethernet, 2 x 240Gb SSD RAID0 @C:\, 2 x WD Velociraptor 10K HDD RAID0 @D:\, an ASUS DVD-RW, and finally an evga 750W PSU.
It's by no means top-of-line or even very close but for me it's fine.
I ordered the PSU on the 10th and then watched in horror as it sat in a Texas wharehouse day after day waiting to be put on a truck. Meanwhile, the rest of my parts have arrived and I have everything but the all important PSU. In a panic, I ordered a 750W PSU from eBay while I waited for the evga PSU to sit immobile.
I did the only thing I could, I used the old Thermaltake 600W from the old computer. I fugured it was sufficient since all the Power Supply Calculators I've used recommend about a 500W-600W PSU. It mostly worked, but I had some minor, yet persistent issues. My Password Manager web installer couldn't connect. Bluestacks 4 wouldn't install, things like that. I thought maybe it was my mobo, or RAM...never even gave much thought to that 600W. Then the cheap eBay PSU came. It had 775W on the side so I thought that would be plenty. Game and Program issues plagued me, and occasionally the system would just turn off.
Finally, the evga 750W arrived, and I installed it and a fresh copy of Win7. I've had zero issues since. It does make some sense, the 775W PSU was awfully light-weight compared to the evga PSU which feels much more solid. I always overlook the PSU when it's just as important, if not more so, than the CPU or Mobo
Looking back, I think the Thermaltake 600W was causing issues with my budget system and I never once seriously considered it. That's why this time I spent a little extra and bought this PSU brand new I don't think I'll ever buy another used PSU.

 

[file3456]

The PSU is pretty much like a heart pumping the blood that courses the veins of a PC. If the PSU is cheap or under rated it will cause issues or worse yet cause data loss or damage components like the motherboard or video card. It'll even take a hard drive with it if it wants to. This is especially true sometimes for a sudden loss in power to the computer so that's why it would be prudent to have a reputable UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to give you a few minutes when the power is lost to safely power off the computer normally. The only issue here, and based on your build, a UPS may be cost prohibitive and then you have to swap out the batters about every three years or sooner if it's been tripped to battery power a number of times. Also, if you have an active PSU, then only a UPS meant for active PSUs has to be used otherwise you'll have issues.

Always go name brand with PSUs if you're not sure about a PSU. I personally go with Antec and so far so good with them. The aforementioned EVGA and Thermaltake are others.

I would never have been inpatient and used a cheap no brand PSU in my system. Your lucky there was no damage and I highly doubt the rating was over 700 watts. As you have observed it was very light weight indicating a very inferior PSU. It probably isn't even UL rated which could pose a fire hazard. In everything electrical you buy, be it a surge protector, power adapter, USB powered hub, smart plug or light extension cord, etc, make sure it has a UL rating. YMMV though because I'm sure some couldn't care less Chinese manufacture may slap UL on the label when it in fact isn't. That's what UL has holographic UL sticks in an effort to thwart fraudulent UL listed electronics. The Europe equivalent is CE, but I'm not sure how their quality standards differ between the U.S'. UL standards.

Don't be like Eric Theodore Cartman. You may end up thousands of years in the future only to find yourself battling otters. HAHA


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