March 9th, 2007
Choosing the right PSU for your PC
So, just how big a power supply unit does a PC really need? In this post I'll show you how you can work out how big a PSU your system needs and some of the considerations that you need to keep in mind when buying a PSU.
It seems to me that one of the most misunderstood aspects of building or upgrading a PC is the PSU. I've read more rubbish written about the PSU than almost any other hardware component in the PC (notice that I said hardware there, when it comes to the amount of rubbish written about software, all bets are off!).
Obligatory warning and disclaimer: Messing about with PSUs is potentially hazardous - they can deliver lethal levels of charge. If you are in any way unsure about what you are doing or how to use your equipment, consult a qualified electrician.
Any PC has a specific amount of power that it needs to draw to work. What you need to have in mind when choosing a PSU is the average running load that your PC consumes when running. Peak load can come into play sometimes and this can be significantly higher than the average running load, but as a rule high loads are more likely at start up than any other time.
So, how do you work out your average load? Well, thankfully the days of having to pull up specs on the individual components are over. On the web there are a number of really good and up-to-date power supply calculators that you can use. You just enter the spec of your PC and the calculator will work things out for you. One of the best online power supply calculators that I've come across is made available by Antec. By using the simple form you can quickly and easily find out how many watts your PC will need and use this information to choose a PSU that delivers this.
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Adrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations
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