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80% efficiency vs. >70% efficiency

V

vannguyen0

Gawd
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
623
I'm looking for a PSU for my HTPC. I have a couple of candidates, but noticed that one PSU claims to be 80% efficient (400w) while another one claims to be >70% efficient (350w).

Will I notice a difference in my electric bill if I went with the PSU that claims to be >70% efficiency vs. the one that claims to be 80% efficiency?

Thanks in advance.
 
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Probably not a big difference, but the fact is that any decent PSU that you buy nowadays will be over 80% efficient anyway. If you're looking at a unit that advertises 70% efficiency, chances are that it's crap.
 
If you list the actual PSUs you're looking at, we can help you better. I would strongly suggest a PSU that has efficiency greater than 80% at around 40-60% of its total rated wattage.
 
The difference between the two, depending on the actual load put on them, is probably in the neighborhood of 20 watts or so at the wall. Depending on your power cost it probably equates to $0.50 - 1.00 a month difference.
 
The more efficient one will also run cooler.

I don't even look at power supplies without Active PFC or 80+ certification.

Had my share of crappy power supplies back in the day... one even shot flames out the back the first time I turned my computer on after installing the brand new 500w power supply.... last time I bought a cheap power supply.
 
cyclone3d said:
The more efficient one will also run cooler.

I don't even look at power supplies without Active PFC or 80+ certification.

Had my share of crappy power supplies back in the day... one even shot flames out the back the first time I turned my computer on after installing the brand new 500w power supply.... last time I bought a cheap power supply.
Click to expand...

yeah... somehow I managed to get one to set on fire...:cool:

It was awesome, looking back at it. But at the time, I was shaking nervous with the fire extinguisher.
 
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