Quote:
Originally posted by bigben2k
(i.e. get a fat PSU, it'll run cooler).
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Whoops. That's a common misconception, BB2K.
Heat is produced by inefficiencies, aka losses internal to the PSU. Usual PC switching PSUs have about 70% efficiency. The 30% left are mostly heat.
Higher rater PSUs have simply fatter transistor and lines to sustain heavier current. But as power increases, losses do as well.
So in brief:
- fatter PSU + same setup = same heat
- fatter PSU + heavier setup = more heat
Also, higher wattage PSUs have often lower efficiency (to maintain decent costs)... = even more heat !
The only real way to get low heat from the PSU is to use a low power system such as gogo's one, C3 or Celeron, integrated GFX and sound, 1 IDE drive and 1 CDROM...
(edit) gogo replied at the same time.. well you're right, a "better quality" PSU at equal wattage will produce less heat due to higher efficiency.