Modernize your power supply unit for better performance.
Modernize your power supply unit for better performance.
Hello Community, from my previous machine I acquired from a colleague, I still possess a 1000 Watt PSU (LC-Power LC1000 Metatron Legion X2 Modular 80+ Gold). This model was released around 2012. Now this 1000 watt unit is more than sufficient for my current setup and likely for the one I have in the future as well: A Ryzen 3900X A 570 Board with 32 GB RAM, Noctua NH-D15 cooler, GTX 1060 6GB from the old system which will probably be upgraded in the next 1-3 years. There won't be a need for SLI case like Bequiet 601 or 801. Now it should be around 400 watts, not even close to the 500 watt range needed for optimal PSU performance. My usage is about four hours daily, and the PC is mainly used for non-gaming tasks without heavy CPU or GPU demands. Greetings Michael
Choose a more efficient power source, such as a quiet pure power 11 unit.
The PC would only reach around 300 watts under normal use. Reaching 350 watts or more is possible with overclocking and many drives. Since your unit is already Gold rated, its efficiency rating stays similar for all Gold PSUs. A decent 650-watt PSU would be better if you plan to upgrade, especially if you have a lot of storage drives. Unless you meant a power rating of 1000 watts rather than size, it should fit in your case.
It’s not about how fast it works—it’s all about security: your 1000Watt power source seems quite inexpensive, with a limited number of connectors when compared to premium options.
Thanks for your input. I tried using some calculators and mentioned I own two WD Blue HDDs—one 1 TB and another 4 TB—plus a new SSD of around 1 to 2 TB. The power calculators estimated around 404 Watts. However, they didn’t consider the PSU’s capacity or efficiency, especially since they’re not sure if it supports 80+ voltage. I was curious whether the PSUs have changed significantly over the past eight years and if their performance remains similar to what it was in 2012. Also, I wasn’t sure about the amount of power loss involved.
It's been the same for quite some time now. Systems gradually become more efficient (like new metal ratings being added beyond gold). Gold will always stay gold, and while parts wear down over time, the gap won't close much. You'd reach around 400 watts only when both your GPU and CPU are pushed to their limits at the same time. I've tested my PC with a watt meter and in games, it usually stays under 300 watts even with a 3700x using manual overclocking, plus an AIO, four SSDs, and two HDDs.
Hi @Samfisher, I’m thinking about a quiet PC and considering the Bequiet Pure Power 11. I’m unsure whether to go with the 600 or 700 watt model—there isn’t a 650 available. Thanks for your help, Michael!
It's definitely sufficient at 600W, even if you upgrade the 3900x. Unless the 700W model includes additional perks. I just double-checked and it doesn't appear to have extra features. Consider the semi-modular 600W CM version instead.