…and Why We Only Use Gold+
You’ve probably seen those shiny “80 Plus” stickers slapped on the side of power supplies like they mean something. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium. Sounds more like a ropey mobile game ranking system than something you should trust with your £3,000 gaming rig.
But here’s the thing: those ratings do mean something… just not always what you think. And most of the prebuilt industry abuses the hell out of them to cut corners. So let’s strip the marketing fluff, and explain why we only run Gold and up in our machines, because we actually give a damn.
What Is 80 Plus, Anyway?
80 Plus is a certification that measures how efficiently a power supply converts AC (wall power) to DC (what your components use). Efficiency means less power wasted as heat. The higher the efficiency, the less electricity you burn and the cooler your system runs. Obvious win.
Here’s the basic breakdown:
| Rating | 20% Load | 50% Load | 100% Load |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 Plus | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Bronze | 82% | 85% | 82% |
| Silver | 85% | 88% | 85% |
| Gold | 87% | 90% | 87% |
| Platinum | 90% | 92% | 89% |
| Titanium | 90% | 94% | 90% |
Quick maths: A 600W Gold PSU at 50% load (so using 300W) pulls only 333W from the wall. A Bronze one would pull ~353W. That’s an extra 20W being turned into heat for literally no good reason.
Why We Don’t Touch Bronze or Silver
Most prebuilt sellers are shoving Bronze-rated PSUs into systems like they’re doing you a favour. They’re not. It’s cheap trash designed to scrape a few quid off the BOM and call it a day.
- Hotter systems – Lower efficiency = more heat. That affects your CPU, GPU, and airflow.
- Noisy fans – More heat = more fan spin = more noise.
- Lower lifespan – Heat kills. That PSU’s gonna age like milk.
- Sketchy stability – Budget PSUs often skimp on ripple suppression and protections. You’ll feel it when your rig crashes mid-match.
If you’re spending serious money on a build, why pair it with the one component that literally powers everything else and then cheap out? That’s like bolting a moped engine onto a supercar chassis. Doesn’t make sense.
Why We Only Use Gold+
At Punk PC, Gold is the bare minimum. Platinum and Titanium? Yeah, we use those too, especially in high-end or small form factor builds where thermals and efficiency matter more.
Here’s why:
- Cooler, cleaner power – Keeps your rig stable under load. Your GPU will thank you.
- Less noise – Fans stay chill because your PSU isn’t cooking itself.
- More reliable – A quality Gold+ PSU will last you through multiple GPU upgrades.
- Lower power bills – Marginal, but hey, if you game a lot, it adds up.
- Peace of mind – You shouldn’t be thinking about your PSU after you hit power. Ours just work. Every time.
We spec PSUs from legit brands with proven track records. None of that rebranded OEM mystery meat you’ll find in “gamer” towers on Amazon.
TL;DR – Don’t Cheap Out on Power
You wouldn’t feed your dog bin scraps, so don’t feed your £3K gaming PC bargain-bin electricity. Bronze-rated PSUs are a con dressed up as a compromise.
We spec Gold, Platinum, and Titanium PSUs in every build, no exceptions. Not because it’s trendy. Because it’s the right damn thing to do.
Want a rig that’s quiet, cool, and stable as hell? We’ve got you.
