If you are a gamer, you are probably wondering, does power supply affect FPS? Well, Your power supply or PSU won’t reduce FPS directly.
However, the power supply can lead to instability and rebooting of your system.
Furthermore, if you don’t have a high-performance PSU, you won’t be able to upgrade your system to enjoy high FPS games.
Now the real question is, how can you get a high-end PSU for your computer?
Power supplies are not that budget-friendly. Therefore, you must invest your time before making a purchase. Try to buy an “80 Plus Certified” power supply or get a larger PSU. You should also do your research and remember that the higher voltage isn’t always a better option.
Read on to learn everything you should know about “Frame Per Second” and power supply units.
How Does Power Supply Affect FPS?
FPS (Frames Per Seconds) determines the frame rate – the number of consecutive images that are presented each second.
Here are some ways in which power supply can affect your FPS:
1. Limit Upgrades
To get better FPS, your computer requires graphic cards.
As graphic cards need hundreds of watts, an insufficient power supply might not support your graphic cards and reduce the frame rate.
2. System Instability
According to many experts, an insufficient power supply can cause occasional hiccups no matter how good your other input devices are.
As a result, system instability is quite common due to bad PSU.
3. No More Overclocking
Overclocking is a process to get more performance from your graphic processor or existing CPU.
In this method, your computer uses more power to run its components at a faster speed. Without overclocking, you are stuck with a normal FPS and graphic processor.
Additionally, with a dead power supply, your computer will go through major crashes while you are enjoying your favorite game or TV show. Therefore, you must get a good PSU that doesn’t affect FPS.
How to Get Good Power Supply Unit that Doesn’t Affect FPS – Tips
Power supply units are quite expensive – especially if you are on a tight budget.
Furthermore, there are various PSUs available in the market that comes with a variety of specifications and features.
Due to this wide range, you must invest your precious time before selecting a power supply for your computer.
Learn the top 5 tips that will help you in selecting a good power supply unit that will surely improve your FPS:
Tip #1 80 Plus Certification for Power
When it comes to power supply units, you should always get an “80 Plus” certified power supply.
The 80 Plus Certification is a voluntary program where manufacturers and producers send their power supplies to an independent body for certification and testing.
To be 80 Plus certified, a power supply goes through three different load levels:
- 20 percent load level
- 50 percent load level
- 100 percent load level
If you are getting an 80 Plus certified PSU, it means your selected product has at least 80% efficiency.
Furthermore, two categories of power supplies are available with this certification: Internal Redundant and Internal Non-Redundant.
Both of these categories have six levels, including:
- 80 Plus Basic
- 80 Plus Bronze
- 80 Plus Sliver
- 80 Plus Gold
- 80 Plus Platinum
- 80 Plus Titanium
Note: If you have enough money, try to get “80 Plus Gold” or above power supply units as they have more than 90% efficiency and will surely last for years.
Tip #2 Get Larger Power Supply Unit
The next tip is to get a larger power supply unit. There are several reasons why a heavier and larger PSU is preferable to lightweight and puny models, such as:
- Larger PSUs are more stable.
- These units have betterand bigger chokes and capacitors.
- They are overfilled with heatsinks for heatdissipation.
- Larger power supplies have bigger cooling fans that make less noise.
Furthermore, there are no known disadvantages of getting a larger power supply unit. It will do you only good.
Try to get a larger unit that comes with “80 Plus Platinum-Level Certification” because this kind of model will support all types of graphic cards and improve the FPS speed.
Tip #3 Higher Voltage Isn’t Always Better
While buying a power supply, you should always remember that “higher voltage isn’t always better.”
Most users out there think that if they get a higher voltage PSU, they will get more performance. However, this couldn’t be far from the truth.
There are several drawbacks of exceeding output current limits, such as:
- Instead of increasing performance and FPS, it will reduce them.
- Higher voltage PSUs can lead to component failures.
- It can also cause system failure and even a dead motherboard.
- These PSUs increase the risks of fire hazards.
If you are a serious gamer, your 8-core CPU and the high-end graphics card will require a 600W to 850W power supply, with 750-Watt being a long-term sweet spot for most gamers.
With this type of PSU, you’ll be able to enjoy high frame rates without compromising on overall performance.
Note: Select a power supply according to your input and output devices. For instance, if you have a high-end machine, you might need a higher voltage power supply with the necessary precautions.
Tip #4 Research Power Supply Manufacturer
Once you know how much voltage you need, it’s time to select a manufacturer.
It would be best to get a power supply from a well-reputed manufacturer. Due to the fakes out there, it won’t be an easy task to buy original power supplies.
When it comes to PSUs, there are numerous manufacturers available in the market.
Some of the most popular manufacturers that offer high-end power supplies are:
- Seasonic
- EVGA
- Corsair
- Thermaltake
- Cooler Master
- Channel Well Technology
Don’t pick a favorite because each brand has something new and better to offer. Therefore, instead of the company’s name, try to buy a power supply unit according to your preference.
No matter what brand you select, check out the following things before investing your money:
- The wattage of Power Supply
- Efficiency Rate or 80 Plus Certification
- Dimensions of PSU
- Warranty
Tip #5 Choose Cables Wisely
Finally, to complete your PSU, you need essential cables. Most power supply units come with all crucial cables and wires. However, it’s worth knowing what these cables look like.
To work properly, a power supply unit requires 5 different cables, including:
- 4-Pin Molex
- SATA Power
- 6/8 Pin for GPU
- 4/8 Pin for CPU
- 24-Pin for Motherboard.
All these cables have different functions. For instance, a 24-pin cable for motherboard supplies power from motherboard to motherboard. However, the SATA power cables connect storage devices to your computer.
Note: To save your energy and money, get durable and strong cables for your PSUs. Getting these cables from PSU manufacturers is always recommended.
Read Next: What Happens When You Suspend Your Phone?
Final Thoughts
Are you wondering, does power supply affect FPS? Well, not directly, but indirectly PSU does affect your FPS and overall performance.
As mentioned earlier, the power supply does not affect FPS directly. As your PSU delivers power to different input and output devices, it can affect FPS indirectly by reducing the overall performance.
If your power supply is dead or does not offer a sufficient amount of wattage, your computer won’t be able to work properly and will experience some major crashes.
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.