Does "300 watt PSU" mean that it is always running at 300 watts?

[Yamiyanazz]

I just hooked up a small little comptuer that used to run on a PSU that was only 100 watts, but I had to replace it with a 300 watt because my friend wanted the PSU back. Since I know the comptuer doesn't need that much wattage, is it always set on high and just wasting my good money or does it only take what is needed? Thanks

[snvpa]

Psu's only take as much as they need, so if it required 100 watts of power it woulld only be using that much, though that doesn't account for the effeciency of the psu but for the question its sufficient.

[Yamiyanazz]

Originally posted by snvpa
Psu's only take as much as they need, so if it required 100 watts of power it woulld only be using that much, though that doesn't account for the effeciency of the psu but for the question its sufficient.

That's all I needed to know. Thank you!

[larrymoencurly]

If it did act like that, it would get as hot as a small box with a fan and a 300W lightbulb in it.