Story time: I went through this last year and unfortunately, it was a nightmare. I nearly killed my drives trying to save cash on a generic "efficient" unit that had terrible ripple. 1. I finally swapped to the Corsair SF600 80 Plus Platinum ($140). 2. Or look for a used EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 for $80. Lesson learned: dont risk ur hardware... safety is worth the extra $20!!

Curious about one thing: what's your actual budget for the PSU?? Honestly, I've spent way too much on "efficiency" in the past just to realize the break-even point was like 8 years away... not exactly the "savings" I was hoping for. Basically, efficiency ratings are usually measured at 20% load, but your server will spend most of its life at like 5% load. Unfortunately, most PSUs—even Titanium ones—realy fall off a cliff in efficiency when you're pulling such low wattage. I've had issues with expensive units that didn't actually lower my bill much cuz of this. If you want the best of the best, the Seasonic Prime TX-650 650W 80+ Titanium is incredible, but if you're being cost-conscious, I'd actually recommend the Corsair RM550x 550W 80+ Gold (2021 Model). Even tho it's "only" Gold, it's famous for having weirdly high efficiency at sub-50W loads. Anyway, what's the total you're looking to spend??

Honestly I totally agree that the break-even point on these high-end units can be a bit of a trap. Over the years I've tried many different brands for my own NAS builds and that idle curve is always the real dealbreaker. In my experience, certain brands just handle the low-end curve way better.

• Super Flower usually stays way more stable at the sub-10% load range
• Be Quiet units are dead silent but can be a bit more 'leaky' with efficiency at idle
• Corsair units with digital control are awesome for tracking but pricey Basically, dont get too hung up on the Titanium label if the brand doesnt have a solid track record at sub-50W loads tho. Sometimes a high-end Platinum actually wins at idle.

quick question—which i5 gen exactly?? careful tho:
1. titanium vs platinum: it's wayyy better at low-idles!
2. oversizing vs right-sizing: dont go huge, it tanks efficiency.
titanium is amazing!

Yo, I feel u on the idle power struggle! I spent weeks obsessing over this for my own server... honestly it's so worth it. 1. Go for a Titanium rated unit from a brand like Seasonic if u can. 2. My current setup runs 24/7 and the efficiency at low loads is HUGE... seriously, it's night and day. Basically, high-tier units stay SO much more efficient at those 20W idle loads. gl!