Power supply and 80 Plus: How much power do I save?

Power supplies with the “80 Plus” certification are supposed to save significantly more electricity, but in reality this is not necessarily the case.

80 Plus power supply: How much electricity can I save?

Never 100 percent of the electricity consumed by a power supply unit reaches the computer. How efficient, i.e. what percentage of the electricity is actually used sensibly, varies from power supply unit to power supply unit.

• Power supplies with the “80 Plus” certification offer at least 80 percent efficiency. With the additions Bronze and Silver, an efficiency between 80 and 90 percent is achieved, depending on the load. With 80 Plus Gold, the efficiency is between 89 and 92 percent. With Platinum and Titanium, efficiencies of up to 96% are guaranteed.
• Since power supplies without certification often do not specify efficiency, it is difficult to compare power supplies with each other. Power supplies without certification can also achieve efficiencies of over 80% and are therefore not necessarily to be rated worse.
• For average use, you usually only save single-digit euro amounts per year with an 80 Plus power supply. For regular users, however, it can pay off in the first year. If the purchase price is no more than 20 euros, the upgrade can be worthwhile even for the average user.

Power supply selection: What should I look for?

Choosing the right power supply is crucial to the stability and performance of your computer. Here are some aspects you should consider when choosing:

• Power: Make sure that the power supply has enough power to supply all the components of your computer. A rule of thumb is that the power supply’s output should be about 20 percent higher than the system’s maximum power consumption.

• Connections: Check that the power supply has enough connections for all your components. Modern graphics cards in particular often need additional power connections.

• Efficiency: As mentioned earlier, an 80 Plus certified power supply can help save energy. However, certification does not guarantee high efficiency at all workloads. Therefore, check the efficiency curve of the power supply to make sure it is efficient at the workload you expect.

• Loudness: Higher-powered power supplies usually generate more heat and require a larger fan to stay cool. Therefore, pay attention to the noise level of the power supply and choose a model with a quiet fan if possible.
• Quality: Finally, pay attention to the quality of the power supply. Cheap power supplies can be unstable and damage your computer. Therefore, check the reviews and look for reputable brands and models.