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When/How often to replace PSU?

N

noobferguson

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 6, 2013
Messages
463
Background: The PSU I got a couple of years back was the one thing that my upgrades never grew into, despite many other things being swapped out. At the current rate of advances in power efficiency, I probably won't ever need to get a new power supply, since I'll never exceed 750w.

How often then do you replace the PSU? Surely I don't just wait for it to explode 5 years down the line??
 
Do you store explosives in it? Then it won't just suddenly explode.You replace your PSU when it breaks, or when you need more power than it provides. Quality PSUs have multiple protection in them against over voltage and short circuit, so they won't cause damage. I wouldn't worry about a 5 year old PSU. If it ain't broke don't mess with it.
 
You could always test the voltages it's outputting with a multimeter now and test them in the future to see if they start to go out of spec.
 
I've never replaced a PSU. Never saw a need to. I have some running >10 years in the office.
 
In past positions I would always have a few extra laying around. When one blew I'd just swap it out.

I wouldn't put power supplies on a lifecycle rotation if that's what your asking.
 
I was kind of in the same boat... had a 3+ year old PSU thought about getting a new one after an upgrade cycle and I just didn't need more wattage so I kept with it. 3 days ago it popped hehe

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1836172

So gotta a bigger and better one and thinking about going cross fire now.
 
once the warranty runs out I tear the void sticker and open them up every year or so to check for bulging/leaking capacitors. I replace any I find and run them till they break, which so far is never on quality PSUs newer than about 12 years.
 
I always get PSUs that are a bit higher than I need and very good quality. I don't skimp on them but I will wait for some killer sales and buy them in advance of a new build. Then I use them for a LONG time. My old computers always get reused by another family member or friend, so some of those computers have been chugging along for over 12 years (northwood 2.8 intel CPU and PC Power and Cooling PSU) with no PSU problems. My seasonic x750 has gone through several hardware changes though, and I have no plans on replacing it unless I do an entire new build.
 
Every new build I do I get a new PSU.

That logic served me well every time. Especially when new connectors or additional power has been required. The one time I decided to keep my PSU for a second build I ran into issues.

I had strange intermittent issues every now and then and it was a PITA to diagnose. Ended up being my Corsair PSU and it died at the tail end of its 5yr warranty. Corsair of course said that it was a COUNTERFEIT PSU so they would not RMA it!

New PSU every build, why not? At least with me every thing else is new. If not the capacitors the ball bearings in the fan can go. Just replace it's not much and well worth the piece of mind.
 
Thanks for the answers all. Guess 5 years down the line is a good time to re-assess, even if it won't necessarily take my parts with it.
 
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