How to Choose the Best PC Power Supply – Guide
Most people don’t really pay much attention to the power supply unit (PSU) on their desktop PCs. It’s just a generic component that helps power your PC and doesn’t really get talked about too much. But for most people, the PSU is just a basic part that’s not very exciting.
A good power supply for a PC is one that meets the requirements for the hardware it is powering. There are different types of power supplies, and each one has its own benefits and drawbacks. The most important thing to remember is that a good power supply should be able to meet the requirements of your hardware, not just your expectations.
PSU shopping can be a daunting task, but with this guide, you’ll be up to speed on the basics of desktop power supplies. This guide will present a brief summary of the jargon and basics of desktop power supplies, so that you can make informed decisions when shopping for a PSU. ..
What fits? Power Supply Form Factor Fundamentals
The original IBM PC used a power supply that was similar to the power supplies that are used in desktop PCs today. However, the power supply for the IBM PC AT and PS/2 of the 1980s was designed differently. The AT form factor motherboard had dual six-pin power connectors, and the PS/2 form factor for power supply cases had a miniature keyboard connector. ..
Intel developed the AT Extended (ATX) motherboard form factor, which added more space around the processor and placed an extended port panel behind that space. With the last came a new 20-pin power connector that would support electronic switching. Power supply manufacturers responded by placing ATX PSU internals in their PS/2 form factor housings. Intel took over the standards organization and renamed the form factor “ATX”.
This remains today, although there is some movement in the industry (specifically, spurred by Intel) towards a more recent 12VXO update to the ATX standard, which would simplify the PSU internals and only provide 12 volt power.
As for the most common form factors today, there are three main ones: PS/2 (full-size desktop power supply), SFX (smaller desktops), and Mini-ITX. Full ATX is the most common, and it’s what most people know well. SFX is a more recent development that’s specifically designed for smaller desks.
The original PS/2 form factor had a mounting plate measuring 150 mm wide by 86 mm high, a depth of 140 mm, and an optional two-slot support tab protruding from the front (with the power plug on the front). back).
Other (less common) power supply form factors are described on pages 47 to 67 of the Intel Desktop Power Supply Design guide. Note that there is no “MicroATX” power supply form factor, although some vendors designate the SFX as such. Most MicroATX PC cases use full ATX or SFX mounting patterns for the PSU area, and other compact PC cases (like Mini-ITX models) that may use rarer sizes (like TFX or custom proprietary form factors) generally come with any such unusual type of power supply pre-installed. ..
In order to accommodate the increased mounting depth of many high-capacity ATX models, some manufacturers have developed mounting plates that are wider than the standard 150 mm by 86 mm mounting plate. These wider plates are often called “ATX SFX” plates, and they are designed to fit power supplies that have a mounting depth of 140 mm or more.
The SFX-L power supply from SilverStone offers an extended length of 30 mm for its designers to specify a larger 120 mm fan and more internal hardware components.
- Look at the type of PSU you are considering before buying it.
- Match the type of PSU to the case you have or are considering.
- Look at the depth of any PSU you are considering purchasing and look at your PC’s case spec sheet to make sure the PSU’s depth measurement is below the limit.
Some pre-built desktop systems from major OEMs (notably Dell and HP), as well as some highly compact desktops, may use proprietary PSUs that can only be replaced by the same specific proprietary models, usually provided by the OEM itself. A red flag is a non-standard main power connector for the motherboard that doesn’t match the 24-pin standard. If in doubt, contact your PC manufacturer’s support line or online chat to discuss the details of your specific system.
Do you have good connections? Knowing PSU cables
The individual cables coming out of a PC power supply are often called “conductors.” Intel’s original ATX power specification only required a 20-pin motherboard connector, later adding a separate square four-pin “P4” connector to provide a 12-volt cable to independently power the CPU. (This latest development showed up in the specification update called “ATX12V.”) The later EPS12V standard extended the main ATX cable to 24 pins to provide extra power to the PCI Express (PCIe) slots and doubled the dedicated CPU power connector to eight pins.
Some high-end video cards require more power than a single six-pin connector can provide, leading to PSU designs with supplemental eight-pin PCIe cables, six-pin twin cables, and even combinations of eight and six conductor pins that connect to either socket (sometimes called “6 + 2” conductors). ..
Dual pattern splitter connectors are commonly seen on modern power supplies. They allow two types of power connectors to be connected together, the ATX / EPS motherboard power connector and the ATX12V / EPS12V CPU power connector. Additionally, there is a supplemental eight-pin / six pin connector that is also known as “6 + 2”.
Most PCs have at least one bay-mounted hard drive or 2.5-inch SSD that follows the Serial ATA (SATA) standard. SATA drives employ their own discrete SATA power connectors, a thin “L” blade distinct from a connection that is keyed to insert in only one direction.
The new connector is a six-pin, rectangular design that is becoming the standard for peripheral devices. It is called the “SATA power connector” and it is made by Molex. Some sound cards and front control panels until recently even used the new six-pin floppy disk drive power connector. But that old-school connector is disappearing from modern power supplies. ..
Most power supplies have enough physical conductors to disconnect equipment from the PSU, but it’s important to make sure you’re installing your PSU on a system with legacy hardware or building a PC with a powerful graphics card.
All mod cons: Understanding modular PSU cables
PC developers and developers have been aware of the issue with unused cables between the PSU body and the case for some time now. Modular cable connectors have become more common in high-end power supplies to reduce clutter. ..
A fully modular PSU is a PSU that has all the cables detachable, making it easier to move around and change cords. Semi-modular PSUs are those with some permanently attached cables, but they have sockets on the back so you can plug in different devices.
Some power supplies use the same modular connector style, but not all of them are connected in the same way. Users should only connect modular cables that are specified to work with their specific model or series of PSU. Don’t take mysterious modular cables from your parts box and plug them into a different modular power supply, hoping they will work – unless you like fireworks and want to buy new PC parts!
When evaluating a power supply, you need to look at installed components and peripherals that require a dedicated power connection. Most modern PSUs will provide more than enough connectors to supply any reasonable amount of SATA devices or auxiliary Molex powered peripherals. The main “question mark” connectors will be PCIe – specifically, how many you get on a given power supply. You will want to make sure you have the necessary cables for any graphics card or cards you are installing. The “6 + 2” connectors we mentioned earlier can be plugged into a six- or eight-pin video card power socket. A PCIe power cable with only six pins, however, will not be sufficient for an eight-pin receptacle on your video card. ..
Some video cards require three six- or eight-pin PCIe power cables, while others only provide two. If you’re looking for a high-end video card, it might be best to buy one that requires three power cables.
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Final note
How to Choose the Best PC Power Supply Choosing the right power supply for your computer is essential for ensuring that your system runs smoothly and efficiently. In this guide, we will outline the different factors to consider when selecting a power supply, and provide tips on how to choose the best one for your needs. When choosing a power supply, it is important to consider your computer’s requirements and specifications. For example, if you are using a laptop, you will want to choose a power supply that has enough wattage (w) to meet the requirements of your device. Additionally, you should consider the type of connector your computer uses (e.g., SATA or Molex) in order to select the correct power supply. Additionally, it is important to take into account other factors such as price, features, and reviews when selecting a power supply. Price can be a major factor when choosing a power supply as some are more expensive than others. Additionally, features can include things like voltage regulation or noise levels. Finally, reviews can help you decide which power supplies are worth purchasing based on customer feedback. ..
