80+ is the Only Way to Go.

Here in TN we have pretty inexpensive electricity at about 9 1/2 cents per kWh. And while investigating the monetary advantage of buying 80+ certified PSU's over el'cheapo power supplies I've come to this conclusion. The manufacturing and sale of power supplies that don't meet at least the minimum 80+ certification should be illegal...

Reason why? On a 300 watt machine, a nice desktop machine with a decent video card, the cost of running it for a single year on a 75% efficient power supply, typical of $15-25 power supplies costs about $331 / year if left on all the time. On an 80+ power supply, $35-40, it cost about $310. So assuming you replace your computer every 3 years, it will actually save you $40 to build the PC with an 80+ certified PSU.

And those aren't even the best. I know a lot of people out there put high end quad cores with 2-4 GPU's in their computers which can easily pull 6-7 hundred watts. At the 600 watt level an 80+ Bronze still only cost $40 more than the cheap unit and could save you $80 a year running your machine.

So the verdict, el'cheapo can cost significantly more in the long run and in a world where energy is getting more and more precious, they waste an awful lot. so.....

DON"T BUY ANY PC WITHOUT AN 80+ CERTIFIED POWER SUPPLY!!!