Do power supplies generally get more efficient over time?

PSUs: The source of DC power for all components in the PC & often a big noise source.

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Derek Semeraro
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Do power supplies generally get more efficient over time?

Post by Derek Semeraro » Tue Sep 26, 2017 6:36 am

Of course, a quality power supply will never truly be obsolete because parts are becoming power efficient. However, are recently made power supplies more effectively cooled than previous ones? Is a good power supply from this year more quiet (on average) than a good power supply from 2007 or 2012?

CA_Steve
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Re: Do power supplies generally get more efficient over time

Post by CA_Steve » Tue Sep 26, 2017 7:04 am

Kind of misleading subject line. I'd phrase it as 'are newer generations of PSUs quieter than those of 5 to 10 years ago?"

..and the answer would be yes. Improved efficiencies led to less waste heat and the ability to have semi-passive fan designs. Larger and slower fan designs, too.

Abula
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Re: Do power supplies generally get more efficient over time

Post by Abula » Tue Sep 26, 2017 10:32 am

Power supplies get more inefficient over time, electronic components degrade over time, specially heat wears down caps, circuits, mosfets among other things.

Newer design PSU usually get more efficient, but depends on the bracket they are aimed for, not all are created equal, but newer usually try to comply with more efficient and harder to reach standards like 80+ that today goes into Titanium, now noise is not only dependent on efficient but among a lot of other designs, but in general terms, more efficient PSU will generate less heat and thus the less need for cooling, meaning less need for a fan to ramp up higher to keep the components under control, so the conclusion is yes to your question, but depends on other things also.

Olle P
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Re: Do power supplies generally get more efficient over time

Post by Olle P » Wed Sep 27, 2017 3:29 am

I also have a hunch that the actual cooling in new PSUs is worse, since they're so efficient that not much heat is generated.
If the manufacturer can save a couple of cents by having a less efficient cooling solution they often will!

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