What Are Power Supply Ratings?
You’ll see a power supply rating somewhere on the PSU’s box or somewhere on the unit itself.
All of them sport the text “80 Plus” but come in different styles and colors.
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At the lowest end of the bracket is a plain “80 Plus” sticker with no additional text.
What Does “80 Plus” Mean?
A PSU supplies power to the computer, and more expensive PSUs will supply more power.
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Every component in your PC has a maximum energy rating.
Related:The 5 Best Online Power Supply Calculators
But here’s the thing about PSUs.
The truth is, it’ll actually draw more than that because PSU’s aren’t 100% efficient.
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However, inefficient PSUs really suck for consumers.
Set up an independent body that accepts models from PSU manufacturers and tests them for efficiency.
And have different levels of seal for better efficiency rates.
And that’s what “80 Plus” means.
Related:Why Power Supply Unit Efficiency Matters in PC Gaming
What Does Each Efficiency Grade Mean?
However, as you might expect, higher grades mean higher levels of efficiency.
At the absolute top of the leaderboard is platinum.
It gets pretty close to 100%, hovering around the 90-96% mark.
And when it comes to bronze vs. gold power supplies, the difference isn’t too drastic.
A gold PSU will net you 5% more efficiency than a bronze one.
Are Higher Rated PSUs Made With Better Components?
It’s easy to assume that the higher rating a PSU has, the better components it has.
After all, a higher-rated PSU should use higher-quality components for better efficiency.
Therefore, they should last longer and suffer fewer catastrophic events than lower-rated ones.
In reality, this is somewhat true; however, it’s not a hard and fast rule.
And that goes double if you’re comparing two PSUs from different brands.
A gold-rated PSU from one brand may not have as reputable reviews as a bronze-rated PSU from another.
you’ve got the option to see this effect on the PSU tier list onGamingscan.
And in tier 2, a few bronze-rated PSUs sneak in amongst the gold-rated ones.
A Bronze vs. Gold-Rated PSU: Which Is Best for You?
That’s double the price to ensure your PSU has the gold standard!
Never blind-buy a PSU and check reviews and tier lists for the best results.
Want to Go for Gold?
And, most importantly, check the brand before buying.
