| <<< Which Parts |
| Getting Started |
| Motherboards |
| CPUs |
| RAM Memory |
| Power Supply |
| Video Card |
| Drive Jumpers |
| Drive Install |
| PCI Expansions |
| Boot Up |
| Peripherals |
| Choosing and Installing Software >>> |
| Optimizing and Overclocking your PC >>> |
Power supply
The power supply (sometimes called the battery pack or power pack) is an often over-looked component of your computer. It doesn't enhance your machines performance but install the wrong one and watch your pc computer come to a screeching halt -- not screeching actually, it would be an extremely quiet halt, but a halt never-the-less.
Some cases include power supply units (PSUs) that are already installed. Some of these are underpowered or of poor quality, especially in inexpensive case / PSU bundles. Before purchasing or installing any PSU, make sure that the supplied wattage is sufficient for all of your current and future components. Power requirements are usually listed in the manuals that came with your components. It is important to note a power supply's total power, and the power at each voltage: 3.3, 5 and 12V. If any of these do not meet your requirements then thats it -- find one that meets them all, the rest of the specifications don't matter.
Some companies have calculators to help you determine what your power supply needs are; if you are the type to just plug in the numbers without reading the details, you should buy a power supply that is twice the wattage that results from these calculators.
Power Supply Calculators
- The JourneySystems Power Supply Calculator http://www.journeysystems.com/power_supply_calculator.php
- The eXtreme Power Supply Calculator v2.0 http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp
