The choice of power supply is usually required in two cases. The first is when buying a new computer, if you prefer to choose the components yourself, rather than buying ready-made computers. The second - during modernization or in the event of a component breakdown.
Instructions
Step 1
Do not rush to choose a power supply and do not buy the first option offered to you by consultants in the store. This is especially true when the consultant simply advises you to purchase one or another power supply unit, without even specifying the configuration of your computer.
Step 2
Determine the optimal wattage of the power supply. To do this, you need to find out the total power required to operate the installed components, then round it up. As a result, you will get the optimal power supply. If you buy a power supply unit with less power than necessary, the computer may malfunction.
Step 3
In the event that you have no desire to engage in such calculations, think about what you plan to do on the computer. If you need it for watching movies and pictures, working with documents, etc., then a power supply with a capacity of about 400 W will be enough for you. If you work with programs designed to create and edit 3d objects, or use a computer for games, then you should choose a more powerful power supply unit - from 500 W and above.
Step 4
Pay attention to the number of hard disk power cables. If you plan to use not one, but several hard drives, then there should be enough cables to provide power to each of them. By the way, it is worth paying attention to the length of the cables, especially if your PC case is not compact.
Step 5
Evaluate the cooling system of the power supply, in particular the fan diameter. The larger it is, the greater the cooling air flow will be and the lower the noise level will be. In addition, some models of power supplies are equipped with special circuits that control the temperature of the power supply and change the fan speed in accordance with it. Thus, with sufficient cooling, the noise level will be relatively low.
