How to Choose the Right Computer Power Supply
A power supply is one of the most important parts of a computer. Nothing will work without a power supply. However, with the wrong power supply, components still may not work. Picking the right power supply takes more than just looking at the wattage rating. When you know the power consumption specifications of your system, you can search for the power supply that fits the computer's requirements.
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Instructions
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Determine your computer's power usage. Every component in your computer consumes energy from the power supply. Some items are powered through their expansion slot, some are powered through connectors that plug directly into the power supply and some combine both. Computer components often have documentation stating their power consumption requirements; if not, there are power consumption charts that can be consulted or even applications that will determine your system's power consumption requirements, based on what components are installed. Extreme Power Supply Calculator is a sophisticated power consumption calculator.
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Calculate the wattage your computer needs on each rail. Power supplies produce wattage on three different voltage ratings, or rails. Different components have different voltage requirements. CPUs run on the 12 volt rail. Keyboards, mice and other USB devices run on the 5 volt rail, while few components run on the 3.3 volt rail. Multiply the power supply's amperage times its voltage on each rail. This will give you the peak wattage per each voltage rail. For example, a power supply rated at 24 amps on the 5 volt rail will produce 120 watts on that rail (24 * 5 = 120).
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Consider special requirements. It's important to ensure you have enough connectors for the components in your system. Check the power supply documentation for the amounts and types of connectors. If the power supply goes into a high-end computer, such as an extreme gaming machine, power consumption will be greater. For instance, multiple video card machines can easily require a 750-watt power supply.
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Overpower your system. Power supply ratings are usually given for peak wattage. Hardcore gaming website Firing Squad recommends keeping total computer power consumption at 80 percent of the power supply's peak rating.
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Consider the extras. Some power supplies have LED lighting and different-sized fans. If sound levels are important, look for a quiet power supply.
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Buy the power supply that meets all your requirements. The lowest-priced power supply will suffice, as long as it meets all your criteria.
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References
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- Photo Credit power supply cooler image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com
