Originally posted by: Spike
Originally posted by: johnnqq
high efficiency doesn't=more watts. if a 400watt psu has a 50% efficiency, then half the power from the wall will be "wasted" but the psu will still be pumping the normal stock wattage.
Well, actually it does mean more watts as in more watts available. If a 500 watt is 70% efficient then it has less watts available then a 500 watt that is 80% efficient. Don't try to mince words, more efficien does = more watts for the computer to use.
-spike
Actually, it doesn't. A 500watt power supply that is 75% efficient will pull closer to 625 watts from the wall, however it can only supply 500 to the computer.
Power supplies are rated by their output power:
from an Antect spec sheet - 380W continuous output @ 50C ambient temperature