Any consequences to having a big PSU?

[Falcone]

I'm building a new PC and want to go SLi. I don't have the money for two video cards and I know that SLi requires atleast a 500W PSU. I was wondering if there would be any problems if I got a 600W PSU even though I won't be running SLi, until next year.

I figured that I would go with a bigger PSU now then later, because when I get the second video card, I wouldn't have to worry about upgrading the PSU. Is this a bad idea? Should I just get a lower watt PSU and then upgrade when I get the second video card?

Any comments/help is appreciated. Thanks!

P.S. I haven't picked out any parts yet.

 

[DarkKnight69]

higher electric bill

 

[imported_Kensai]

Nothing bad will happen.

 

[xXgambitXx]

no prob at all
all modern power supplikes are "switching power supplies" which means that it only provides as much power as is needed, nothing is wasted.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: DarkKnight69
higher electric bill

Because for why?

 

[Mickey21]

Originally posted by: DarkKnight69
higher electric bill

As mentioned, quite frankly this is myth and not true of modern power supplies...

Power used + Power wasted as heat (due to inefficiency rating of power supply) = Power consumed and hence billed for, not rated capacity of power supply...

 

[wpshooter]

Get the 600 Watt.

 

[Monkey muppet]

the only problem you might encounter is the amount of juice on each 12V rail

 

[mdchesne]

heat, noise (cause of cooling)... umm, if you have a high enough efficiency, you're power bill won't rise too much.

 

[dwcal]

It depends on the PS, but usually efficiency is higher under high load. Try this article from silentpcreview. All their power supply reviews test for efficiency at different loads.

 

[Falcone]

So should I wait for the 600W PSU and get it next year with the second video card or just get it now?

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: Monkey muppet
the only problem you might encounter is the amount of juice on each 12V rail

That's why you buy a single rail PSU....

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: Monkey muppet
the only problem you might encounter is the amount of juice on each 12V rail

That's why you buy a single rail PSU....

Oh no, not the dual-rail vs. single-rail argument again.

They both suck.

We all know we need quad-rail