Is an 850W PSU Enough for My System?

In short: It depends on which parts you're planning to put in your system. However, listing a load of potential configurations isn't practical. So instead we're going to talk a bit about the different types of PC builds and which PSUs are most suitable for them to help answer the question.

The PSU also referred to as a power supply unit, is one of the most critical components of a computer that transforms the alternating current power coming in from the wall outlet into the direct current necessary to feed the computer elements inside. PSU delivers power to the motherboard, CPU, GPU, and other parts. The selection of a good PSU is essential to ensure the smooth running of a computer. This article will address a crucial question: whether an 850W PSU will suffice in your system.

An 850W PSU is one type of power supply for a computer, which gives up to 850W. 850W specifically is a great option, as it a lot of high-end configurations will work with 850W. Only the very top-tier PC builds containing the latest CPUs and GPUs like the RTX 3080 or 4090 need significantly more. Moreover, it minimizes the chances of power problems like crashes, freezes, and shutdowns and in some instances, it enables you to upgrade the system at a later time without replacing the PSU.

To evaluate whether or not an 850W PSU is sufficient for a system, you must calculate the wattage demands of your hardware. These factors include the kind of processor, graphics card used, and all other necessary devices. For example, a gaming PC with an advanced CPU and graphics card will consume more energy than a standard desktop PC. Likewise, the digital creator’s PC, which will be used to edit a video, render a three-dimensional video, and perform other highly involved tasks, will need more power than the average computer used in an office. Let’s take a look at the power requirements of three different types of PCs:

A gaming PC with an Intel Core i9- 11900k processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics are estimated to consume around seven hundred watts of power. In essence, an 850W PSU can accommodate the needs of this machine. The 850W PSU is developed to ensure your PC has clean and smooth power when working heavily. This allows one to upgrade without needing to replace the PSU.

Regarding a gaming desktop PC with an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 graphics card, it needs about 800 watts of power. Hence, an 850W PSU can run this system. The 850W PSU provides a steady flow of electricity to your PC despite the intense workload. One thing to consider however is that perhaps stepping up to a bigger PSU can provide some future proof advantages where if lets say in the futrure you wanted to upgrade your machine, you wouldn't have to upgrade the PSU.

A typical office PC has Intel Core i5-11600K, integrated graphics, and requires more than 200 watts. By extension, an 850W PSU for this system can be considered more that necessary. You can use a 450W or a 500W power supply to run your office machine and maybe even save on your electric bill

In conclusion, most high-performance systems, such as gaming PCs and digital creator PCs, can be sustained by an 850W PSU. Remember, a PSU should be chosen to consider power needs for your system parts and match supply not exceeding demands but sufficient nonetheless. A lower wattage PSU for low-power systems like an office PC with an Intel Core i5-11600 K CPU and graphics that do not consume more than 200W of power will work with lets say a 500W PSU. Selecting a PSU with appropriate wattage will ensure the smooth running of your system.

If you are in the market for a new PSU, we encourage you to check out CORSAIR's line of PSUs in our webstore where you'll find dozens of PSUs to fit your requirements.

Still not sure which power supply is right for you? Why not try out our Power Supply Calculator. Just choose your components and we will calculate the best PSU for your specific pc setup.