What is the correlation, if any, between the wattage output of a computer's power supply and the computer's overall performance?
Does higher wattage generally improve things (up to a point) -- or is it just as well to have the minimum power supply that your computer requires in order to run its components?
>What is the correlation, if any, between the wattage output of a computer's power supply and the computer's overall performance?
Faster computers are generally more power hungry and require higher wattage power supplies to run them. The higher wattage power supplies do not make them perform better, they simply allow them to function.
>Does higher wattage generally improve things (up to a point) -- or is it just as well to have the minimum power supply that your computer requires in order to run its components?
I'd recommend getting the highest output one (within reason) that you can fit in your computer. A power supply running at or close to its maximum output rating will generate more heat and be more prone to failure due to power fluctuations or other problems. i.e. you live in a highly populated area and over the summer the power company drops the line voltage during high use periods. This is bad for a computer's power supply and could be the death of a maxed-out unit.
Related yes, but not necessarily directly proportional. 1.5 Ghz processors built using today's manufacturing processes consume less power that a Pentium Pro 200/1MB (.2 Ghz) did 10 years ago.
God hates us all, you know it's true, God hates this place. - Slayer 1726 Posts 10/03
Posted - Oct 16 2006 : 2:08PM
Well a power supply, 500W, or 200W, or what ever size, won't make it run any faster if that's a question.
Also, let it be known that some power supplies are lower watts but higher amps. That is good... I have seen a 300W PS that will run circles around a 500W PS. The key thing is know the current (amps) on the voltage rails. [invalid URL removed]Here's a good link, a little out dated, but you get the point and you can look up your component specifics if you want to do your own calculations.
Ah, the fun in building/upgrading a system
P.S. Found [invalid URL removed]this link too, nice generic calc!
"The universe is hostile, So impersonal. Devour to survive." - Tool
The fact is, I'm having a lot of fun upgrading my system -- more fun than I'd have buying a new one. I've learned a lot, relatively speaking, since I began taking the lid off the case and monkeying around. It's always fun to explore something new.
God hates us all, you know it's true, God hates this place. - Slayer 1726 Posts 10/03
Posted - Oct 16 2006 : 5:03PM
You are welcome Bob, glad I could help.
I do agree with you though, it is fun, hell almost everything I know is from doing it myself... I have no formal training. Hell I was a head tech for a computer store with my knowledge
There's very little you can do to screw up a computer. Hell, most of it is made to where you can't put things in wrong or backwards anyway!
Only thing I would suggest is getting one of those [invalid URL removed]anti-static straps... Could prevent you from making a functioning system into a non-function system.
"The universe is hostile, So impersonal. Devour to survive." - Tool
Yes, it assumes other things being equal. Material and such will change the equation. But that just adds complexity to a simple answer. Does he want to learn about dielectric properties?
Croy - I was just trying to make a clarification. Your post implied that a higher wattage power supply was required for faster processors. It added additional complexity to what should have been a simple answer. The physics trivia could have introduced additional and unnecessary confusion.
Since I installed the new power supply, my computer has been booting up 50% faster. It seems faster in other respects too, but I can't conveniently conduct a controlled experiment to determine the specifics.
