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FAQ & Section Info
A computer's power supply unit (PSU) is the hardware that draws power from your wall outlet and converts it to a format of power that your system can use. A power supply will take the alternating current that comes from your wall outlet and turn it into usable, low-voltage, DC power for your parts including your motherboard, drives, and I/O components.
Most desktop PCs use ATX form factor PSUs. ATX is a format specification so if your manual calls for an ATX unit you can freely choose from our available offerings - the only thing you'll want to be concerned with is total power deliverable (to make sure it exceeds your requirements) and cable management.
There are four different styles of modular PSUs: Modular, Non-Modular, Semi-Modular and Fully Modular.
Modular: The cables plug into the PSU so you can add & remove them as you see fit.
Non-Modular: Cables are built into the power supply and cannot be removed. This makes the power supply less expensive to make and the savings are passed onto you.
Semi-Modular: A hybrid of Modular and Non-Modular. Usually a basic set of cables are built in with option attachments for additional cabling should you need it.
Fully-Modular: Every cable on the power supply can be attached/connected/disconnected.
Explanation of the different types of connectors you'll find on a power supply
Letter | Name | Description |
A | 20-pin ATX | ATX Power Connector (To Motherboard) |
B | 24-pin ATX | 24-pin Version of ATX Power Connector |
C | 4-pin Floppy | Powers Floppy devices |
D | 4-pin ATX12V | Added power for P4 |
E | 5-pin SATA | Powers SATA Devices |
F | 4-pin Peripheral | Power Hard Drives, Drives, etc. |
G | 6-pin PCI Express | Added Power for PCI Express Cards |
H | 6-pin PCI Express | Alternate View of PCI-E Power |
There are several form factors power supplies come in including ATX, micro ATX, mini ITX, Micro PS3, LPX, SFX, WTX, CFX, and TFX. You can find a wide assortment here. You can use the following information as a guide to choose the correct power supply for your chassis. Approximate dimensions for each are stated below:
The more watts you have, the more devices your power supply can support which means you can add the latest graphics cards, the faster processors, additional hard drives, the works! Take special note to determine if your power supply is rated at true wattage or maximum wattage. A higher wattage does not necessarily mean that your power supply outputs more watts if it is rated at maximum power. True wattage is a more accurate rating of your power supply.
Absolutely not! The power supply only outputs as many watts as is needed to power the installed devices in your computer. For example, let's say you have a 480 Watt power supply. If the devices in your computer require 180 Watts, then that 480 Watt power supply will only output 180 Watts. The advantage of having the 480 Watt is that it can supply the 180 Watts while not being pushed to its maximum capability. This can lead to a longer lifespan for the PSU.
The better brands may cost more, but there is no one brand that makes the best power supply. For many, it depends on personal preference or their own experiences. Antec, Seasonic, Thermaltake, OCZ, and Corsair are a few of the big players in the higher-end power supply market. You'll notice that the higher-end power supplies are generally heavier, due the amount and quality of products used in manufacturing the parts. That does not mean that a heavier power supply will always be a better power supply, but generally you will find weight and quality to have a direct correlation to each other. The better power supplies have an efficiency rating of 80 percent or above.