We often neglect our computer’s power supply. In fact, most of us could go for years and generations of the latest PC hardware without touching it. But whether you’re currently building a new PC, plan to upgrade your desktop soon, or already have a reliable computer that satisfies all your needs, you should still know when you should replace your PSU.
Every Five to Ten Years, Depending on Your Warranty
Power supplies are generally designed to last longer than other PC components, which is why they typically come with longer warranties. For example, Seasonic offers an astounding 12-year warranty with its PRIME series power supply. So, even if it fails after a decade of use, you can RMA it to the manufacturer and get a replacement.
However, not all PSUs have the same quality and warranty, so some models may come with shorter guarantees. Most manufacturers would have tested the power supplies that they offer, ensuring that their products would last longer than the warranty. So, you can stay confident that your power supply will last as long as what the maker guarantees.
It doesn’t mean that you should replace your PSU as soon as its warranty expires, though. If you take good care of it (by keeping it clean, avoiding overloads, and having a clean electricity supply), your PSU could last a few more years after the warranty date.
Don’t take too long to replace it, though, as power supply internal components still suffer from age. A good rule of thumb is that you should consider your PSU about a year or two after its warranty ends. While the PSU might still look good externally after that period, would you be willing to risk the other more expensive components on your computer just to save a few dollars?
When You Make a Significant Upgrade
Power supplies have a rated maximum capacity, and it should be enough with what you have on your computer as long as you don’t run into any issues. So, should you reuse your old PC’s power supply if you plan to upgrade it?
Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to this question, as you must consider several factors. But if you’re going for a massive spec bump, then it’s prudent to buy a new power supply unit to go along with your shiny new graphics card.
That’s because components that have higher specifications typically have higher power requirements. For example, the RTX 2080 Ti has a 250-watt TDP. If you pair this with an Intel Core i7-12700K with a 190-watt TDP, then a 600-watt PSU should be more than enough for your needs. But if you upgrade your GPU to an RTX 4090, which requires 450 watts of power, you need to upgrade your power supply to accommodate this demand.
If You Start Getting These Signs
Whether you have a brand-new computer or keep a trusty old desktop around after several years, you should always look out for how it performs. That’s because PSUs, regardless of age, could fail for various reasons. So, if you start seeing some of these symptoms on your computer, you should replace or upgrade your PSU (or RMA it to the manufacturer if it’s still under warranty).
- Blue Screen of Death with the following errors:
- 0x00000080: NMI_HARDWARE_FAILURE
- 0x00000122: WHEA_INTERNAL_ERROR
- 0x00000124: WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR
- 0x00000127: PAGE_NOT_ZERO
- 0x0000012B: FAULTY_HARDWARE_CORRUPTED_PAGE
- Crackling and static sounds
- Unexplained CPU or GPU performance issues
- Electrical instability
These signs and symptoms could mean that your PSU is starting to deteriorate, and you should upgrade or replace it soon. You don’t want a PSU issue to get out of hand, causing your PC to stop working while you’re using it or, worse, damaging other, more expensive components, like your processor or GPU.
Like any other computer part, you must maintain your PSU to extend its useful life. But no matter how well you take care of it, there will come a time when it needs replacing. So, it’s better to be proactive and replace it before it gives up on you in the middle of work or play instead of waiting for it to die and potentially take other parts with it as it goes to the e-waste bin.