I recently bought a custom built pc (specs in signature). Without realizing it, I bought a cheap 700 watt xtremegear psu. Can anyone tell me their experiences with this psu. I know it's a pretty bad and inefficient psu, but I need it to last at least until June when I'm planning to get a more expensive one like coolermaster, etc.Thanks for your input.

I recently bought a custom built pc (specs in signature). Without realizing it, I bought a cheap 700 watt xtremegear psu. Can anyone tell me their experiences with this psu. I know it's a pretty bad and inefficient psu, but I need it to last at least until June when I'm planning to get a more expensive one like coolermaster, etc.Thanks for your input.

I am not sure there is any such thing as a bargain PSU as nothing can destroy a computer faster if it malfunctions. If it was mine, I would shut it off as soon as I read this and go and buy a unit from Corsair, Coolermaster, OCZ or some other more recognizably reputable manufacturer.How good is an Xtremegear PSU? Kind regards,

I take it this is what you purchased. 38A maximum +12V is the bare minimum necessary to support a high-end graphics card. Fortunately for you your GTX 460 SE isn't a high-end card and only needs around 30A so you should be fine. Don't replace your graphics card with anything faster and don't overclock your CPU and you'll have a better chance that the PSU will last until you can get something decent.

I am not sure there is any such thing as a bargain PSU as nothing can destroy a computer faster if it malfunctions. If it was mine, I would shut it off as soon as I read this and go and buy a unit from Corsair, Coolermaster, OCZ or some other more recognizably reputable manufacturer.How good is an Xtremegear PSU? Kind regards,

My new pc hasn't arrived yet but I plan to change the psu as soon as I have more money. Thanks for the link.

I take it this is what you purchased. 38A maximum +12V is the bare minimum necessary to support a high-end graphics card. Fortunately for you your GTX 460 SE isn't a high-end card and only needs around 30A so you should be fine. Don't replace your graphics card with anything faster and don't overclock your CPU and you'll have a better chance that the PSU will last until you can get something decent.

That's what I plan to do. I was even planning on overclocking but when I started researching online, I have decided, as you said, to wait until I get a better psu. I hope that everything goes as you say and it lasts me until I can get a new one. Fortunately, I don't have much time to sim, except like on Saturdays and on days off, so I am optimistic that it will last me and won't just die in the first week.Thanks spiritflyer and techguy for your advice. If anyone has any experience with these psu's please post it here because although it should suffice for running my computer until June, I am scared that they have a high failure rate and will die.Another question: I have read that cheap psu's have bad ripple protection. Do you guys think that with 3-4 hours/week usage no damage will be done to my other hardware. I mean, by the time June comes and I buy a new one, will any of my parts be damaged. And if any of my parts do damage, will they just not work anymore or just have decreased performance? For example, if the CPU gets damaged, will I see a small/large decrease in performance or will it just stop working completely. Once again, thanks for your input.

Hi,Unfortunately, it's hard to say what sort of damage it could do. The damage can range from being very minor, with very little effect, to killing a CPU, Mobo etc. I'm fairly confident however, that it will last the short time till June, providing you don't push anything too hard.

Hi,Unfortunately, it's hard to say what sort of damage it could do. The damage can range from being very minor, with very little effect, to killing a CPU, Mobo etc. I'm fairly confident however, that it will last the short time till June, providing you don't push anything too hard.

That's good to know. Would you consider 1-2 hours/week of web browsing mild usage and maybe 3-4 hours a week fsx with the pmdg ngx (provided it comes out during this time) not pushing it too hard? Thanks.

Hi,I think it should work fine for that. Just so long as no overclocking is done and your system stays stable with the hardware. If you're looking to save power, maybe turn off turbo mode and hyperthreading.

Hi,I think it should work fine for that. Just so long as no overclocking is done and your system stays stable with the hardware. If you're looking to save power, maybe turn off turbo mode and hyperthreading.

Okay thanks. Maybe I'll do that. All that's left for me to do is wait and see what will happen. Hopefully it'll last me the 5 months.