How to Configure the Computer Power Supply

Power supplies should never be opened.

A computer power supply does not need a lot of configuring as they are simple pieces of hardware. The power supply can be a dangerous thing to work with, so you should never open one up as they supply electricity and may cause serious injury. Fortunately, you don't need to open your power supply to get it ready for your computer. The power supply is an essential piece of your computer and should be carefully considered when purchasing one.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Decide what power supply to buy. Most power supply units (PSUs) will work in most computers; as long as you have at least a 300-watt PSU, most computers will operate correctly. If you have several hard drives, several optical drives and additional hardware that requires power connections, you should consider a 500-watt or larger power supply.

2. Screw the PSU into the back of the case. The power supply and case should have four holes that match up. The power supply will often sit on a small ledge or shelf inside the case and will be screwed into place from the outside.

3. Plug in the power supply connector from the power supply into the motherboard. This is a 20 or 24 pin connector. Some motherboards have an additional place for a 4 pin connector just to power the CPU. The other cables are called Molex cables and connect to the various pieces of hardware, such as hard drives.

References

• Fonerbooks: Replacing a power supply