People often neglect the power supply and settle for a cheap one. But this is something you should strictly avoid.

Low-grade PSUs tend to cut corners. Not only do such PSUsperform badlywhen functional, they can also put yourentire PC at riskwhen they die.

I can never forget how I cheaped out on a power supply and blew it along withmy 2080 Ti.So, speaking from experience, let me tell you why you should not skimp on your power supply.

Energy Wastage and Higher Electricity Bills

If you opt for a cheaper PSU, you’ll most likely have reducedpower supply efficiency.

A PSU lacking 80 PLUS efficiencywastes more powerin comparison to the80 PLUS certified ones.

This not only contributes to the higher carbon footprint but alsosurges your electricity bills.

Assuming the electricity rate is $0.15 kW/h, and you use your computer for 6 hours a day, a 10% difference in the PSU efficiency can save you around $12 per annum.

Overheating and Unexpected Shutdowns

This mostly happens if you have anunderpowered PSU.

A power supply working at full load causesoverheatingand increases fan noise. Sometimes,clickingandbuzzing soundsas well.

In case the system demands more power than the PSU’s rated capacity, you’ll also encounterunexpected restarts, shutdowns, and BSODs.

That’s why you should always leave enough wiggle room whilegetting a PSU. Aheadroom of 15-20%is generally preferred.

Limited Upgradability

Settling for a low-quality PSU also restricts you fromupgrading/adding PC components.Overclockingmay not be possible either.

First, thePSU wattagemay not suffice the requirement of your build. And second, there might be an issue withconnector compatibility.

Say, if you want toadd a graphics cardwith a PCIe 5.0 connector, you need an ATX 3.0 compatible PSU. You’re not going to get it if you cheap out on the power supply.

The limited number ofcable connectorscould also prevent you from adding components. For instance, anon-modular power supplydoes not have enough PCIe cables to run amulti-GPU setup.

Lower Warranty Period and Poor Customer Service

Aftermarket and unbranded PSUs aren’t known for their long lifespan. They typically provide only one year of warranty orno warranty at all.

In case thepower supply starts failingor blows, you’re left with no option. It is neither replaceable nor will you get a refund.

A brandedPSU from a reputed manufactureralways has a good warranty period, good policies for repair/refund, and the best customer service.

Cheap PSUs Can Explode Your Entire System

There are a lot of low-gradePSUs that failwithin a year. And when they do,they also take other componentsalong.

Such kinds of PSUs have extremelypoor build quality. They can neither regulate the voltage properly nor safeguard your system at the time of voltage fluctuation.

They do not have the OCP/OPP/SCP features either. It leaves your PC at potential risk of over-current-draw, over-power-draw, or short-circuit.

Plus, the ripple suppression is too bad whenrunning at full load. PC components experiencevoltage spikesthat put an enormous amount of strain on them.

Although the chances are rare, a low-quality PSU also poses therisk of electrocutionand fire hazards.

Conclusion

No matter how high-end components you integrate intoyour build, all of them need toconnect to the PSU. If it’s a bad one, you may not only loseyour power supply, but the entire system.

So, compromising on your PSU is amassive blunder. If you value the safety of your components, make your decision wisely.

At least, ensure the PSU is from a reputed brand.Any 80 PLUS efficiencywill work fine.

It can be tempting to settle for a cheap power supply but you may sorely regret it in the long run.

Ifbudget is a problem, then consider waiting forCyberMondayorBlackFriday. That’s when you’llfind the best deals.