Looking to reduce the cost of upgrading your PC? Why not start by replacing your power supply ? As you probably guessed, one of the best ways to save money is to reuse your computer's old components. Most of these are usually reusable (except for the motherboard, processor, and RAM if the generational leap is significant), which will save you from wasting a fortune!
Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that the power supply unit is the component most at risk, given the electrical problems it frequently encounters, such as power surges. That said, it would be wise to reassess the reliability of an old power supply before reusing it: will it have the required power output? Would it be reasonable to rely on it in the long term?
Is an old power supply unit still reliable?
It's fairly easy to get a detailed analysis of your PC's specifications and performance, but the same can't be said for its power supply . It remains a mystery. All you'll have access to is the power table, whose values are purely theoretical.
Therefore, before reusing your old power supply in a new PC, the first thing to do, in addition to knowing its total power, is to know what current it is capable of generating on the +12V rail; this value is of particular importance.
Remember: a mid-range graphics card will need at least 30A on the +12V rail, while a high-end one will require more than 50A.
Given the wear and tear on components over the years, it is recommended to subtract at least 5% per year of lifespan from the theoretical values of the power source. In other words, imagine you have a 600W power source that delivered 48A on the +12V rail, but is 5 years old. This means you must subtract 25% of the values, giving you the equivalent of a 450W power source capable of supplying 36A on the +12V rail.
Of course, these values are not empirical, but they still allow us to have a general idea of the new capacity of the power supply , and thus help us to decide whether it is worth reusing or not.
Next, make sure the old power supply has enough connectors to be plugged into the new PC. Take advantage of the platform change to thoroughly clean and dust the power supply unit!
So, is it not recommended to reuse a power supply block for your PC?
We still can't decide on that, but we would rather say: not necessarily.
Indeed, if the power supply is of good quality, the manufacturer is known for its reliability, and you have never kept it at high temperatures, you should not normally have any problems.
However, if your power supply is of a dubious brand or is over 5 years old, to avoid any complications, it's time for you to invest in buying a new one!
