4 Types of PSUs compared: 550 vs 650 vs 750 vs 850 PSU!

PSU or Power Supply Unit is the engine of the whole PC. Different builds require different power to run them properly. And at this point in time, the computer components are getting power-hungry.

So, choosing between 550 vs 650 vs 750 vs 850 PSU became even tougher?

To be honest, the PSU you will need depends on the build you’re going for. For example, if you are building an entry-level PC then 550W or 650W PSU will do the job. 750W PSU is great for regular usage and a mid to high-tier PC. However, if you are going for a state of art CPU then go for the 850W PSU.

This is just the basic idea, there are more factors that come into play while choosing a PSU. You need to dig deeper to choose the most efficient and suitable PSU for your build.

So, let’s get started!

Quick Comparison

Power Supply Unit (PSU) is an important component. Because it provides the necessary power for your rig. An inadequate supply of power can cause many problems with your PC. However, sometimes higher wattage of PSU remains inefficient throughout.

There’s a grading of each PSU. By following those, you can see how much extra wattage each PSU can consume. So, power supply unit’s grades like 80 plus platinum, 80 plus gold, etc. are beneficial.

But, you might have a question, what PSU do I need? Well to answer that, we need to compare each PSU. But first, let’s see a quick comparison of 550W PSU, 650W PSU, 750W PSU, and 850W PSU.

This quick comparison is very useful. However, for your ultimate gaming rig or workstation, you need to know more. 

So, in the next section, I will compare these PSUs head-to-head. Let’s move on then!

Head-to-Head Comparison

Let’s spice up things! There are many factors you need to consider before purchasing a PSU. Because let’s face it, you don’t want to upgrade your PSU often like other components.

However, PSU can degrade over time. You should keep that in mind. However, most PSUs have 5-10 years of warranty given by manufacturers. So, you will be good to go with any renowned brand’s PSU.

Before going into the detailed discussion let’s talk about how to choose a power supply?

A PSU’s wattage depends on the components you have in your PC. But do not get the exact amount of watts your PC requires to run. Choose a PSU that has 100W more output at least. But that’s for the sudden power spikes. However, for future upgradability take a PSU with 150-200W more power output.

To measure how much power your PC might require you can use the power supply calculator from Newegg. Here’s an i9 processor with an RTX 3060 Ti PC’s power consumption.

With that said, let’s compare the PSU head-to-head. 

Wattage and Electricity Consumption

Wattage is an important factor to consider for your PSU. Because each PC component like GPU, CPU, etc. requires different wattage of PSU. Also, the electricity consumption directly relates to wattage.

The wattage of 550W PSU is 550W. The actual voltage output is 110-220V. This PSU consumes less electricity while charging up heavy components.

However, the wattage of 650W PSU is 650W. The 650W PSU consumes more electricity than 550W. The voltage output of this PSU is 200-240V.

On the other hand, the wattage of 750W PSU is 750W. This PSU will consume more wattage per hour than 550W and 650W. The voltage output of this PSU is also higher than others. It has a voltage output of 240-260V.

Albeit, the wattage of 850W PSU is 850W. This PSU will consume even higher wattage per hour than the other PSUs. It has a voltage output of 280-300V which is even higher than 750W PSU.

Summary: The wattage of 850W PSU is the highest. Then comes 750W, 650W, and 550W respectively.

Hardware Compatibility

Each PSU comes with hardware compatibility. Because each GPU, CPU, ram, SSD, etc. requires a different type of wattage. Hence, knowing what components require what PSU wattage is very important.

Source: Reddit

The graphics card consumes the most wattage of electricity. Some people use 2 GPUs simultaneously, especially for mining. For those, you may require higher wattage of PSU.

With a 650W PSU, you can use up to RTX 3060 easily. One core, dual-core, and quad-core CPUs can easily be paired with it. However, using 30 series NVIDIA GPU on a 550W PSU will put stress on your PSU.

On the other hand, 750W PSU and 850W PSU can easily handle 30 series GPUs. You can also pair more than 6-core CPUs with it. GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, GeForce RTX 3070, and GeForce RTX 3080 run perfectly with the help of 850W PSU.

However, if you want to go for a GeForce RTX 3090 then 850W is the minimum requirement. But it’s better to get a 1000W+ PSU for that. Here’s a guy who went for a 1200W PSU to make be ready for a 3080. 

This PSU of his will also support the NVIDIA 40 series’ GPUs.

Nevertheless, 650W and 750W PSUs can handle the average good quality GPU and CPU easily. Also, the 550W PSU is enough for low to mid-tier components. This can optimize any modern game.

Summary: 550W and 650W PSUs can handle low to mid-tier GPU and below 6 core CPUs. 750W and 850W PSUs can handle the high-end GPUs and above 6 core CPUs.

Efficiency

Another thing to consider is efficiency. Because no PSU can run on 100% usage. That can burn your PSU and other components too.

Using proper components, you can easily utilize 550W PSU at 80%-90%. This is because most modern components combined require around 480-520W.

On the other hand, 650W PSU hits 70%-90%. You can add more HDD, SSD, rams, etc., and utilize the 650W PSU efficiently.

Albeit, the 750W PSU utilizes 60%-90%. To get the most out of the 750W PSU, you should add an extra GPU. That way, the 750W PSU can run efficiently.

Nevertheless, to use every modern component at the highest spec, 850W PSU is ideal. You can easily add up extra GPU, 4 rams, multiple storage devices, etc. for optimal usage. Otherwise, your PSU will be only 50% efficient.

Source: PCGamesN

Here’s a thing, your PSU won’t consume more wattage if your components require less. For instance, if your components need 450W but you have 850W PSU. Then, your PSU will only consume 450W. 

You may think it’s a waste of money and that’s where you’re wrong. This extra wattage of PSU will make your pc futureproof but also it’ll keep the PC safe from random power spikes. 

Summary: To efficiently utilize 850W, you need to spend more. Then comes 750W, 650W, and 550W PSUs respectively.

Power Supply Unit Grade

There are 5 power supply grades. Those are 80 plus, 80 plus bronze, 80 plus silver, 80 plus gold, and 80 plus titanium.

By using an 80-plus PSU, your 550W PSU can draw about 630 wattages at 100%. However, a 650W PSU can draw 700 wattages at 100%.

However, the cases with 750W and 850W PSUs are different. Because the PSUs are already at high wattages. Hence, for this case, it’s all about efficiency. 

Source: Shack News

So, 80 plus PSU gives some significant advantages for your PSU.

But most of the PSUs are made of modern equipment. So, you can exceed the actual wattage of each PSU. Although it is not advised to do so.

Summary: The 80-plus 550W and 650W PSUs can draw some extra power. However, 80-plus 650W and 750W PSUs are more efficient.

Temperature

Another important thing to consider is temperature. If the PSU gets too hot, your airflow can get hamper. That way your other components will get hotter than usual.

The average temperature of 550W PSU is 42 to 62°C. This is the very ideal temperature for 550W PSU.

Compared to 550W PSU, 650W PSU tends to get a bit hot. However, it won’t top more than 60°C. 

Also, the average temperature of 750W PSU is just below 70°C. Also, the temperature won’t affect the airflow. But without proper airflow, you can run into some trouble.

Nevertheless, the average temperature of 850W PSU is also below 75°C.

But the temperature shouldn’t be an issue. Because most certified CPUs are equipped with powerful cooling systems. This provides optimal cooling and the temperature will be well ideal regardless.

Summary: The 550W PSU is the coolest. Then comes 650W, 750W, and 850W PSUs in order.

Cost

Finally, you should consider the cost. Because your desired PSU should be within your range.

The cost of 550W PSU is around $50. You will get 80 plus certified PSU within this range. Some of the best 550W PSUs on the market are given below.

The cost of a 650W PSU ranges between $50 to $120. There are many good 650W PSUs on the market. You can go for them if you’re building an entry-level pc that is futureproof.

On the other hand, the 750W PSU price ranges $70 to $160. It is priced way more than 550W and 650W PSUs. Some noteworthy 750W PSUs available are given below.

Lastly, the 850W PSU costs around $100-$150. This is the most expensive PSU in this comparison and the best one if you’re spending money on your build. So, if you’re going for a 30-series GPU, I recommend getting these PSUs.

Summary: The 850W PSU is the most expensive than 750W, 650W, and 550W PSUs.

That’s all regarding the PSU comparison. If you’re still confused, then don’t worry.  I will give my final thoughts about each PSU.

So, Which PSU is Ideal for You?

The PSU you should buy considering your component. Also, buy a PSU depending on future upgrades.

For any future upgrades, 750W PSUs are ideal. It can handle most of the components efficiently. The 850W PSUs can be less efficient.

Nevertheless, 550W and 650W PSUs are ideal for low and mid-tier PCs. 

Whatever you buy, consider your PC components. Otherwise, PSU can redeem inefficiently.

FAQs

What Happens if a Power Supply Unit is Underpowered?

One of the most important components of a computer is the power supply unit (PSU). It can create many issues in your system if it is weak. Random application crashes, unexpected shutdowns, and system freezes can occur. Not only that, your PC won’t even start properly if the PSU is underpowered or weak.

Is It Important Which Power Supply Unit You Get?

Yes, it is important to consider the PSU. The more efficient your PSU is, the less energy it consumes. Also, it produces less heat. However, better efficiency means a higher price. So, consider a budget for PSU. Even the most efficient PSU create heat, and most of them use fans to dissipate heat.

Can a Power Supply Unit Influence Graphics?

No, a PSU won’t affect graphics. Hence, it won’t create any issues while playing games or watching a video. However, a PSU can affect the stability of a PC. If a PSU is overloaded, the PC will turn off. Underclocking GPU, CPU, and ram can resolve the issue. But, it hinders the PC’s performance badly.

Conclusion

That’s all regarding 4 Types of PSUs compared: 550 vs 650 vs 750 vs 850 PSU. Hopefully, you will make the best decision after reading the whole article.

Here’s a piece of advice, instead of using a single stick ram go for 2 sticks. That way you can enable dual channels. Also, put the dual-stick ram on the compatible ram slot of your motherboard to enable the dual-channel.

Have a good day!