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To much Power

  • 01-10-2005 3:30pm
    #1
    Endurance Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,240 ✭✭✭


    I am trying to prove my dad wrong and was hoping you folk could help me on my way :).
    Can a powersupply be to powerful for a computer? I am sure i read somewhere that a powersupply needs to be drawing a certain amount of power.
    Example: A 650w PSU, running a P3, 1 hdd, 5200 gpu and a dvd writer
    Now that system would only be drawing like 200watts if that, and i was led to believe that a massive powersupply would not do this for some reason :confused:

    Was som1 blowing smoke up my ass or is there any truth to this.
    Thanks :).


Comments

  • #2
    SirLemonhead
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,013 ✭✭✭SirLemonhead


    No, it can't be too powerful. All the components only draw what they need. It's not pushing out extra voltage or anything.

    You'd just be wasting a PSU that powerful on a pc like that :p


  • #3
    DemonOfTheFall
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭DemonOfTheFall


    You need a minimum amount of draw on certain rails, I think it's the 5v one before you can make a certain amount of draw on the 12v. rail or something like that. As long as youre actually running a PC off the powersupply there shud be no problem though.

    The one other thing would be that a 650w power supply would be running at nowhere near peak efficiency if u were only pulling 100w off it.


  • #4
    Endurance Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,240 ✭✭✭Endurance Man


    No, it can't be too powerful. All the components only draw what they need. It's not pushing out extra voltage or anything.

    You'd just be wasting a PSU that powerful on a pc like that

    Yup, it is a waste but my dad is cooked in his head :rolleyes: .
    You need a minimum amount of draw on certain rails, I think it's the 5v one before you can make a certain amount of draw on the 12v. rail or something like that. As long as youre actually running a PC off the powersupply there shud be no problem though.

    The one other thing would be that a 650w power supply would be running at nowhere near peak efficiency if u were only pulling 100w off it.

    This is the kinda thing i remember reading, something to do with rails and not drawing enough power. I dont no what would actually happen but would like to prove him wrong :D .


  • #5
    DemonOfTheFall
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭DemonOfTheFall


    The power supply needs some balance basically. Like you couldnt draw 20A off the 12v rail without drawing maybe 5 or 10 off the 5v rail. That's the height of it as far as I know.


  • #6
    copacetic
    Subscribers Posts: 16,617 ✭✭✭✭copacetic


    dunno about the balance bit above, but supplies are designed to work properly at a certain min load, but a supply designed for a PC would work for any PC, maybe it wouldn't be in the middle of it's max efficiency curve but would work fine..


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  • #7
    SirLemonhead
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,013 ✭✭✭SirLemonhead


    Can I hijack the thread for a sec and ask, does it matter that my -5v rail is being reported as being 3.55v? lol :confused:


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