How to choose power supply for computer tips for the casual user

Many users in pursuit of high performance personal computer forget about the main element system unit, which is responsible for quality and timely supply of all components inside the case. We are talking about the power supply, for which buyers do not pay attention. But in vain! Because all the elements in the computer have certain power requirements, the violation of which will lead to failure of components.

In this article the reader learns how to choose power supply for computer, and at the same time and get acquainted with the products of famous brands, which are recognized by all test laboratories in the world. Tips for casual users and beginners, provided by the experts in the field of it technologies, will help to choose to store all potential buyers.

Definition of need

Before you start looking for a decent power supply, all users are required to determine the power consumption of the computer. That is, first the buyer must choose the elements of the system unit (motherboard, processor, video card, memory, hard drives and other controllers). Each system component in its specification power requirements (voltage and amperage, in rare cases, power consumption). Naturally, the buyer will have to locate these settings, stack them and store the result, which later will be useful.

No Matter what actions are carried out by the user: replacing the computer's power supply or purchase of the item with a new PC – the calculations must be carried out in any case. Some elements of the system unit such as the CPU and video card, there are two requirements for the energy supply to the active voltage and the peak load. To navigate in the calculations necessary for the maximum value.

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The mark

There is a strong opinion that intensive systems need to choose the most powerful power supply on the storefront. This solution has a logic, but it is not docked with the rationality and cost savings, as the higher the power of the device, the more expensive it is. You can buy power supply for computer price exceeds the value of all elements of the system (30 000 rubles and above), however, the consumer of this decision in the future will be very expensive.

For some reason, many users forget about the monthly consumption of electricity, which is necessary for the personal computer. Naturally, the more powerful the PSU, the more it consumes electricity. Economical buyers without calculations will not do.

Standards and loss of power

A Good power supply for a computer always has a sticker on the case, which informs the user about the efficiency of the embedded transformer. The average efficiency of the conventional unit is about 75-80%. There are products that have an efficiency of up to 95%, but their value increases in direct proportion to efficiency.

The power Losses occur for several reasons. For example, heat (a physical process) is able to select 1-5% efficiency, depending on the wire material and its thickness. A low quality capacitors in the power supply can “fail” voltage, causing the power drop to 20%.

The world's computer market there are several standards followed by major manufacturers: Gold, Platinum, Silver, Bronze, Plus. They all demonstrate to the buyer your efficiency at different loads.

To Determine at a glance

Many advanced users who understand the electronics, know the approximate supply unit of the computer, and, accordingly, I can confidently say that the larger the capacitors, rectifiers and controllers, the better he will cope with energy supply. It only remains to add that the transformer coil has to be rather big and to have an additional power management unit.

Taken together, all these elements have a considerable weight, which makes the power supply hard. Accordingly, any buyer can in the store itself to determine the quality of the purchased product-you only need to pick up. Proprietary power supply heavy (1-3 kg), but cheap and ineffective counterfeit – easy (up to 1 kg).

Usability

Pretty strange it may seem to many customers, one of the parameters of the power supply. We are talking about the ease of connection. In most cases, the amount of volatile components in the system unit is much smaller than the wires from the transformer. Accordingly, some of the connectors from the computer power supply will not be demanded. Of course, the extra cables in the case not only hinder but also interfere in the operation of the cooling system.

In fact, having a computer case form factor ATX Big Tower, disconnected the cables can twist tie and hide the extra bays for optical drives. But the owners of small cases such operation is unlikely.Accordingly, when choosing you need to give this attention to functionality – the wire from the computer power supply should be disconnected.

Cooling

Users who plan to place the system unit in an unventilated room, you should pay attention to ventilation. The fact that the cost of the power supply of the computer, like any other component in the system can fail due to overheating. Chasing a large number of fans do not need to first determine the computer case, rather, with a niche to install the PSU in it. Sometimes the upper and lower location of the power supply in the system unit.

If the location of the battery is planned at the bottom, the device is just one fan that will pump air from the bottom elements of the power supply. The heat dissipation will be a total cooling system of the computer. But when mounting the PSU on top must be a fan to dissipate heat outside not only the enclosure, but the system unit. Before you connect the PSU to the computer, you should make sure that the cooling system of the device are not blocked (for new buildings can be stickers).

Additional functionality

The Most well-known manufacturers that offer the market a worthy power supplies, equip their products with additional buttons off. This is done not for the convenience of the user, and for security purposes. The fact that software off the computer (unless you disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet) is in standby mode. A small surge of energy that can occur in the mains (voltage was raised from 220 to 235 Volts, for example), create momentum on the power supply and turn on the computer.

Tips for regular users is simple: you need to get past the power supply for the computer, the lower price of 2000 rubles, or if the device has no button to power off. Buying components for the system unit, is generally not recommended to look at their appearance, as he often deceptive. According to her, buyers can choose only the case for the computer.

Bigger the better

Many experts their advice on how to choose power supply for computer, recommend all beginners to pay attention to the number of connectors and cables – the more of them in the device, the more efficient and more reliable power system. There is logic in this, because the manufacturers before releasing the product to the market perform the testing. If the power is low, it makes no sense to provide a large number of cables, because they will still untapped.

However, in recent years, many manufacturers are negligent to the trick and give the buyer a large clip of wires in low-quality device. There is need to rely on other performance indicators of power element (weight, wall thickness, cooling system, presence of buttons, the quality of the connectors). By the way, before you connect the PSU to the computer, it is recommended to visually inspect all contacts coming from the head unit, and make sure that they never intersect (we are talking about cheap the representatives of the market).

Sales

Specializing in the production of batteries Seasonic is known worldwide. This is one of the few brands in the market, which under its logo, sells its own products. For comparison, the well-known manufacturer of computer items company Corsair - does not have its own factories for the manufacture of power supplies and acquires finished products from Seasonic, equipping it with their own logos. So before you pick up the power supply for the computer, the user will get acquainted with brands.

Own factories for the production of batteries have Seasonic, Chieftec, Thermaltake and Zalman. Products under the famous brand FSP is assembled from parts produced in the factory Fractal Design (by the way, they also recently appeared on the market).

Who to prefer?

Gold-Plated connectors of the power supply of the computer – it is good only if there is a sense to overpay for such functionality, because from the laws of physics it is known that the current is better transmitted between homogeneous metal? And it is Thermaltake, and offers users such a decision. As for the other products of the famous American brand, they are perfect. In the media there is no serious negative feedback from users about this producer.

On the shelf to trusted products got brands like Corsair, Aercool, FSP, Zalman, Seasonic, Be quiet, Chieftec (Gold series) and Fractal Design. By the way, labs, professionals and enthusiasts check power and perform power supply system with power supplies listed above.

In conclusion

As practice shows, to choose a decent power supply for personal computer easy. The fact that many manufacturers have to attract buyers go to all sorts of tricks: reduce the cost of production, beautify your device in damage of efficiency, provide a description, inadequate reality. Mechanisms of deceptiona lot of them don't list. So before you pick up a power supply for the computer, the user is obliged to study the market, read all the device characteristics and find positive product reviews from real owners.