Short answer: a good power supply often lasts as long as its warranty, typically 7 to 10 years, and many go well beyond that. Heat, dust and constant heavy load shorten its life. Replace it when it’s past warranty and you’re upgrading to a much more powerful graphics card.
Warranty is the best guide
A maker won’t offer 10 years of cover on a unit it expects to fail sooner. Here are the warranties on some of my picks:
| Power supply | Warranty |
|---|---|
| Corsair RMx (2024) | 10 years |
| Seasonic Focus GX V4 | 10 years |
| NZXT C Series Gold (2024) | 10 years |
| Seasonic Core GX ATX 3 | 7 years |
| Corsair SF Platinum (2024) | 7 years |
From Corsair’s RMx announcement and the lab reviews I summarise. More in power supply warranties explained.
What wears a power supply out
- Heat. Capacitors age faster when hot. A unit in a hot case, or running near its limit for hours, wears faster.
- Dust. A clogged filter or grille makes the fan work harder and the unit run hotter.
- The fan. It’s the one moving part. Quality bearings last longer.
- Bad power. Surges and unstable mains can damage it. See what to do after a power surge.
How to make it last
- Choose a size with headroom, so it runs cooler.
- Clean the dust filter under the power supply every few months.
- Leave space around the fan intake. See PSU fan up or down.
- Use a surge protector or UPS.
When to replace it
| Situation | Replace? |
|---|---|
| Past warranty and upgrading to a much more powerful graphics card | Yes |
| Random shutdowns, burning smell or new noises | Yes, see the signs guide |
| No native cable for your new card and you’d need splitters | Yes |
| Within warranty, right size, no symptoms | No, keep it |
See signs your power supply is failing and do I need a new power supply for my new graphics card.
- 10-year warranty · Tier ACorsair RMx (2024)80 Plus Gold · Fully modular · ATX · 750/850/1000WCorsair covers the 2024 RMx for ten years.Check 850W price
- 10-year warranty · Tier ANZXT C Series Gold (2024)80 Plus Gold · Fully modular · ATX · 850/1000/1200WQuiet, well built, with 105°C Nichicon capacitors according to KitGuru.Check 850W price
Questions
Do power supplies get weaker with age?
They can. Ageing capacitors can make a unit less able to handle heavy loads and spikes.
Should I replace a 10-year-old power supply?
If it’s past warranty and you’re building or upgrading, yes. It’s the part protecting everything else.
Does leaving my PC on wear out the power supply?
Running hours add up, but heat and load matter more than whether it’s on or off.
Can I reuse my power supply in a new build?
If it’s a good unit, in warranty and big enough, yes. Use its own cables.
How do I know how old my power supply is?
Check your order history, or look for a date code on the label.
Sources
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