Upgrade Power Supply Guide

Upgrading your PC’s power supply unit (PSU) is a crucial step for ensuring system stability and longevity, especially if you've added new hardware or upgraded existing components. The power supply is responsible for distributing electricity to all your PC's parts, so if it's insufficient, it can cause instability, system crashes, or even hardware damage.

As you upgrade components like your graphics card, processor, or storage devices, they might require more power than your current PSU can deliver. A power supply that doesn’t provide enough wattage or amps can prevent your computer from running efficiently, leading to performance drops, system reboots, or complete hardware failure.

How to Test If Your Power Supply Is Adequate

To check if your current power supply meets your system’s demands, run a CPU/GPU-intensive program like a benchmark or video game while powering as many peripherals as possible (e.g., multiple hard drives, RGB lighting). If your system operates smoothly with no errors, your PSU is likely adequate for your current setup.

Recommended Power Supplies

Corsair RM750
Fully modular, 80 PLUS Gold Certified, Industrial-grade capacitors

EVGA 650 G5
100% Japanese capacitors, 10 year warranty, 91% efficiency or higher

be quiet! Straight Power 12
Modular ATX 3.0 PSU with PCIe 5.0 support and 80 PLUS Platinum efficiency

However, if you experience shutdowns, reboots, or system instability, it’s a sign that your PSU may be underpowered. This could also manifest as components not receiving enough power under load, leading to slower performance or the inability to run high-power tasks.

Calculating Power Requirements

For a more precise assessment, you can calculate the total power consumption of your system by adding up the wattage of all the components, such as the GPU, CPU, storage drives, and peripherals. You can typically find the power requirements for each component in their specifications. Compare the total to the wattage rating of your PSU, keeping in mind that it's advisable to leave headroom—aim for a PSU that delivers 20-30% more wattage than your system requires. This is particularly important if you plan to upgrade further or if you're overclocking components, which increases power consumption.

When to Replace Your Power Supply

If your system struggles under load or if your PSU is old and starting to cause random shutdowns, it’s time to upgrade. Power supplies degrade over time, so a 5-year-old unit may not be as efficient as when it was new. Newer power supplies often come with improved power efficiency (measured by their 80 PLUS certification), which can help reduce energy costs and lower heat output.

Additionally, if your PSU exhibits any signs of failure—like electrical buzzing, frequent power surges, or if it's not delivering stable power—it’s best to replace it entirely rather than attempting to fix it yourself. PSUs store significant electrical charge even after being unplugged, making them dangerous to service.

How to Remove the Old Power Supply

1. Power Off and Disconnect: Begin by powering down the PC and unplugging it from the electrical outlet. Ensure all peripherals are disconnected.
2. Open the Case: Remove the side panel of your PC case to access the interior components. This will expose the power supply unit.
3. Disconnect Power Cables: Unplug all power cables running from the PSU to your components. Be sure to disconnect the 24-pin motherboard connector, CPU power connector, GPU power cables, and any others attached to drives or peripherals.
4. Remove Interfering Components: Sometimes, components like hard drives, graphics cards, or even cooling systems may block access to the PSU. Carefully remove these components if necessary.
5. Unscrew the PSU: Once everything is disconnected, unscrew the PSU from the back of the case. Power supplies are typically secured with four screws.
6. Safely Remove the PSU: After all connections are severed and screws are removed, carefully slide out the PSU. Do not attempt to open the PSU itself, as this can be extremely dangerous.

How to Install a New Power Supply

1. Position the New PSU: Place the new PSU into the case in the same position as the old one, ensuring the fan is positioned correctly (facing downward in most cases).
2. Secure the PSU: Fasten the new power supply to the case using the screws provided.
3. Reconnect All Cables: Attach the 24-pin motherboard connector, CPU power connector, and any other necessary power cables to the corresponding components. Ensure a snug fit for each connection to avoid any loose connections.
4. Reinstall Removed Components: If you had to remove any drives or expansion cards, reinstall them before closing the case.
5. Power On the System: Once everything is connected, power on your PC to ensure the new power supply is functioning correctly. Check for smooth operation and verify that all devices are receiving power.
6. Close the Case: Once confirmed, turn off the PC, replace the case side panel, and your upgrade is complete.

Tips for Choosing a Power Supply

• Wattage: Ensure the PSU has enough wattage to meet your system’s requirements with room to spare. Calculate the total power your system needs and choose a PSU with at least 20-30% more capacity.
• Efficiency Ratings: Look for power supplies with an 80 PLUS certification. These units offer higher energy efficiency, meaning they convert more power from the wall into usable energy for your PC, reducing waste heat and lowering your electricity bill. Higher certifications, like 80 PLUS Gold or Platinum, are ideal for gaming or high-performance systems.
• Quality Over Quantity: It’s tempting to buy a cheap PSU with a high wattage rating, but lower-quality units may not deliver stable power, especially under load. Opt for well-reviewed brands known for reliability and durability. A higher-quality 500W PSU can outperform a cheap 600W unit in real-world usage.
• Future-Proofing: If you plan to upgrade your system further or intend to overclock your CPU or GPU, invest in a PSU that has more power capacity than you currently need. Overclocking increases the power draw, and future hardware upgrades often demand more power.

When purchasing a new power supply, focus more on getting a quality PSU with enough wattage to meet your power consumption needs. Many cheap power supplies offer a high wattage rating, but this can be misleading as they are often measured for peak output and could be of lower quality than another power supply with a lesser wattage rating. If you plan on overclocking, a high quality power supply that provides more wattage than your individual PC components specify will be necessary, as the hardware will draw more power with higher clock cycles.

By investing in a reliable and high-quality power supply, you ensure your PC runs smoothly and efficiently, and you prevent potential issues that could arise from insufficient power delivery. Upgrading your PSU when necessary will provide peace of mind, knowing your system is safe from power-related issues and that you’ve laid the foundation for future upgrades and performance boosts.

For more information, see our page on power supplies.