using an underpowered psu

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

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L4177312
Posts: 74
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2002 10:08 pm
Location: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

using an underpowered psu

Post by L4177312 » Thu Mar 06, 2003 5:24 pm

could using a powersupply that doesnt pull enough watts damage any of the components? or maybe the psu itself?

thanks

seishino
Posts: 150
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2002 10:41 pm
Location: Boston, MA
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Post by seishino » Fri Mar 07, 2003 6:34 pm

Tom's hardware ran a review of PSU's, and in the course determined the maximum draw. I believe 4 out of the 20 burned out, several more simply made the system unstable, and several shut down elegantly. So it depends :), but the worst you are going to do realistically is damage the PSU... It is also said that variance along the rails can damage the CPU / other components, but when I overdraw on one of my 3 PSU's (the 150w one, the only one I can overdraw) the system simply becomes unstable, and shortly thereafter freezes. YMMV, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

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