Read the PSU Sticker Before You Buy the PC

Sellers write "850 PLUS GOLD" because it sounds finished. The sticker on the power supply is where the wattage, the efficiency badge, and sometimes the model live. If you cannot see that label, you are trusting a line of text.

What to find on the label

Look for a wattage, usually printed large, and an 80 Plus mark: Bronze, Gold, Platinum. Gold means the unit is more efficient at typical loads. It does not mean the cables are good, or that the unit is new. A 650W Bronze can be honest. An "850 Gold" with no photo can be a 550W unit and a hopeful title.

Our wattage guide tells you how much a GPU wants. This page is the step before that: prove the number in the ad is the number on the metal.

Why extra wattage still matters

An RTX 4060 does not need 850W today. The extra headroom is for the next card, and for the short power spikes a cheap unit trips on. A Gold badge on a known wattage is the useful pair. Brand is nice. Wattage you can read is required.

Ask for a photo of the side label, or slide the case panel and look. If the seller will not, walk. The same habit belongs in the rest of the meetup check.

Frequently asked questions

Is 80 Plus Gold required for a gaming PC?

No. Gold wastes less power as heat than Bronze at the same wattage. A correctly sized Bronze unit from a known maker can still be fine. An unlabeled "Gold" claim is the problem.

Does 850W make the PC faster?

No. It lets you install a hungrier GPU later without buying another supply. Frame rate comes from the card and the CPU.

What if the sticker is gone?

Treat the wattage as unknown. Do not pay a premium for a Gold claim you cannot see.

Key takeaways

• Match the ad to the sticker: wattage and the 80 Plus level, in a photo or at the door.
• Gold is efficiency. Wattage is capacity. You want both, written on the unit.
• A 4060 runs on less than 850W. The larger Gold unit is room for the next GPU.