Ok, you guys are always talking about how the PSU in most of the computers is by far under-powered for most of the computers we have on this forum. So, my question is why is the brand of it sooo much more important and if a 450W is optimal, why bother getting a 550W?

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with new high end spec systems the power demand is forever increasing

the brand has assurance of reliability with it

generic psu's are renowned for being unreliable / krap, surging..

since psu controls the supplement of power to pc components, then you should be aware that expensive hardware is at risk..

so basically if you get a 450 watt psu like me, and say you run sli with 2 graphics cards..then your pushing it, i would probly want to consider a 550 watt psu if i wanted to consider overclocking my cpu and graphics cards i think..or else i might blow up the psu and damage some components in the process, either that or just experience major instability/system failures

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the psu is the most important component of your PC in terms of reliabilty - it is plugged into every component of your pc and has the capacity to totally anhialate it. Get an Antec...

As for power - if i had an 800W PSU instead of my 450W PSU, i would be drwaing approx the same power, but would have capacity to plug more in....for SLI, 450W aint enough, for expandability, 550W - 600W is best

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“There are some people in this world who don’t love their fellow man, and I HATE people like that!”

That says it all.

need to check to see if its single or dual rail as well.

Single is more expensive but more reliable. and definatly get a brand like tagen or seasonic as they use top end components and unlike cheap unbranded have over volt surge protection so your the psu activly stops ur board from blowing up!

but any with a CE mark should be ok.

i got 600 watts and thats fine for xfire or sli but if you dont have or want them then you only need 450 ish as long as you dont have a power hungry cpu or 10 hdd!

I would actually say a dual +12V is better, running the CPU/mainboard on a different rail to HDD/graphics/fans etc.

Also whilst Seasonic and Tagan are quality, they are in 2nd Division compared to Enermax, Antec, Zippy, PC P&C etc.

something that gets over looked is the amps. a quality power supply will have 16+ amps on the 12 Volts.

and antec dont make good psus, they are the ones i keep blowing up

I think Para managed to blow up an old 430W Antec Truepower of mine, and a big blue spark shot from it too.

My 550W Truecontrol was good stuff, though didn't fit ATX 2.0 spec as it was a slightly older model.

I would recommend 20A minimum on +12V for newer A64/Intel systems.

the assurance of stability was the reason for buying the enermax noisetaker 600w

and tbh, you could have all the latest trick gear inside your case, it amounts to nothing when you skimp on the psu

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mmmmYou sir, are a swaggering addlepated jackanapes!
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Same as mine, good choice.