Does higher wattage power supply equal higher electricity drain????

[please]

I'm debating to use either a 400 watt or 500 watt power supply for my
Athlon xp system. This is a name brand, amd aproved power supply. I know
the 400 watt is enough power for my system, but I was wondering if I were
to buy the 500 watt power supply instead would it drain my electricity than
the 400 watt one just because it is 100 watts more powerful? I want to
keep my electric bills down but would also like to have a power supply I
can use on a later system. So I guess simply I am asking does the higher
wattage in the power supplys affect how much electricity is drained?
Thanks!

 

[chris.catt]

Hi, I believe it is demand that causes more electricity to be drained.
Therefore if you've the same hardware devices after you install a 500watt
supply then your drain will be the same although more stable.....
Chris

 

[Mikey]

Hi;
It will drain/cost more JUST to have a 500 vs a 400 of the same
MODEL/BRAND/EFFICACITY when it is supplying the FULL RATED POWER in watts
..... which will be rarely occurring.

The question of comparing the wattage needed by DIFFERENT TYPES (as stated
above) 500 w. power supplies vs 400 w. just to have them running "on stanby"
(as waiting to respond to the varying/increasing/decreasing needs of the PC)
is a matter of the PERCENTAGE of power coming into the unit vs what it
outputs.

At a max of 500 w. outputted and IF only 60% is "modified" by brand A to the
proper voltages compared to 85% by a more efficient Brand B then...
A= 500 X 100/85 = 588 watts and you get 500 max.
B= 500 X 100/60 = 833 watts and you get 500 max.

88 watts vs 333 going up in smoke as HEAT.

Interessingly if 300 "C"URRENT power supply is a "cheapperoo"...
C= 300 X 100/60 = 500 watts already used all the time if running "hot" at
its max to barely cover the needs.

So the answer is:
It depends on both the ACTUAL POWER needs (output) as an AVERAGE over time
doing and running your "things" and on the compared EFFICACITIES of the
power supply UNITS.

Don't get a non-branded special o' the week (weak?).

Mikey

..

 

[Guest]

Ditto!

-----Original Message-----
Hi, I believe it is demand that causes more electricity to be drained.
Therefore if you've the same hardware devices after you install a 500watt
supply then your drain will be the same although more stable.....
Chris
drain my electricity
than


.