When I built my first fully custom computer in 2017, I made a few mistakes that I vowed never to repeat. Most of them were fixed in the new computer I built earlier this year, except for one. If I could turn back time, the only decision I would change would be to purchase a different power source.
Choosing a low-power power supply was my first mistake.
Buying a good power supply without overspending is more difficult than it seems. There are countless brands on the market, and even within a single brand, some models are much better than others.
One of the first decisions I made was to buy something that had enough power for my system, with a little extra in case I wanted to upgrade to a more power-hungry graphics card.
My logic was simple: as before, new video cards often became more powerful while consuming less power. So why spend money on the future of my power supply if I didn't plan on buying something super cool in the near future?
I read online that my planned new video card, used RX 6800 XTRequires a 650W power supply. After checking Tiered list of cultist network power supplies and comparing the list with what was here, I saw that Cooler Master MWE V2 White 700W (230 V, European version) was at the very bottom of the C-level (budget, but still safe power supplies).
I thought it would be ok because it has all the capabilities of the card and some headroom for future updates. This decision turned out to be my first mistake.
I bought a power supply shortly before the release of the Radeon RX 9000 and GeForce RTX 50 series, and now that I know RX 9070 XT A 750 W power supply is required, I would like to buy at least something with such a rating.
Choosing a non-modular device was my second mistake.
If you're not familiar with the difference between modular and non-modular power supplies, it's pretty simple: modular power supplies use removable cables, whereas non-modular units have all the cables permanently connected in one big bundle.
There is also a rarer third option that combines elements of both in a semi-modular design, where the main connectors, such as the 24-pin motherboard and CPU cables, are fixed, while the SATA and Molex cables are removable. Although they are still sold, they are much less common than cheaper non-modular devices and higher quality fully modular devices.
Non-modular power supplies tend to be a little cheaper, in part because they are cheaper to manufacture, but the convenience of modular units is undeniable. If you ever want to replace cables due to excessive plug and unplug cycles, or replace them with custom cables for aesthetic reasons, modular power supplies make this possible.
Fully modular power supply such as Cooler Master MWE Gold 750W V2 at the time it was about $20 more. I naively thought that I could just pocket the difference because I'm an expert in cable management and PC assembly. Since I didn't plan on installing any hard drives, I assumed there would be enough space in the drive bays to tuck excess cables out of sight.
The problems only got worse as I assembled my setup.
Assembly of my computer went as smoothly as could be expected. It wasn't until I installed the power supply and started connecting everything that I realized the challenges a non-modular power supply would face.
Larger cables, such as the 24-pin motherboard connector as well as the 8-pin CPU and PCIe connector, were fairly easy to untangle from the limited space at the bottom of my case and routed into place.
I forgot how many thick Molex and SATA cables come with a regular power supply. My build didn't use either of them, so not being able to unplug and remove them from the case immediately became a headache.
In addition to being large in number, these unused cables were also rigid and fastened together, making them even more difficult to get out of the way.
After a long fifteen minutes of struggling with them, I managed to tuck the excess cables into the empty drive bay slots inside my case. I thought I was finally done, but I still couldn't close the side panel because part of the cable was sticking out. This meant I had to push everything in even tighter, despite every instinct telling me not to, before I could finally close the case and complete the assembly.
Paying a little more for a more powerful modular power supply is worth it.
In general, I lost more than an hour trying to get the cables in order, only on the visible side behind the tempered glass. I wish I had spent the extra money on a modular power supply to save time.
Apart from being modular, I could also get more watts and a higher efficiency rating, 80 Plus Gold or Platinum instead of the 80 Plus White that my unit had.
I already mentioned Cooler Master MWE Gold 750W V2 as a reliable option, but other good modular power supplies that don't break the bank include be calm! Net power 13 m 750 W, Thermaltake Toughpower GT 750 WAnd Thermaltake GF1 750 W.
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Cooler Master
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750 W
The Cooler Master MWE Gold 750 V2 is a 750W modular power supply with an 80Plus Gold energy efficiency rating. It strikes the perfect balance between price and power, and the added convenience of its modular design makes it an ideal power source for most PC builds.
To be fair, 850W power supplies are only $10-$20 more expensive, so this could be an even smarter choice, leaving plenty of room for a used RTX 5080 in a few years.
At least I was lucky that my case's power supply shroud had enough space to hide most of the clutter. If your case doesn't have that extra space, you'll likely end up with cables hanging out in awkward or unsightly places. All those extra cables can also restrict airflow, which is why modular power supplies make so much sense, especially in smaller cases.
In hindsight, I wish I had spent the extra money on a modular model. These unused cables collect dust, causing interference. regular dusting More annoying than it should be. Without the extra volume, opening the right panel wouldn't feel like starting the whole process all over again.
