PC Power Supplies: What to Consider When Buying

Did you know extreme gaming builds require a 1000W PC power supply? The latest flagship GPUs from Nvidia, ATI, Intel, and more can consume up to 450W themselves. Every buyer needs to consider these factors. The PC power supply rating, connector compatibility, cooling mechanism, RGB, and modular design are key considerations when buying a PC power supply.

Moreover, it is vital to ensure that the PC power supply fits inside your PC case. Let's analyze all these factors and build an understanding to make the perfect educated decision when purchasing a PC power supply.

1. Efficiency Certifications: Reducing Power Consumptions

Energy efficiency is the primary factor that PC power supply enthusiasts consider before purchasing. But how do we know that the power supply is capable of its efficiency claims? Also, how much does a power supply draw from the PC power supply based on its efficiency? Let's answer these questions in this section:

Manufacturing Certification and CLEAResult

Any PC power supply manufacturer should consult CLEAResult to obtain certification after designing a power supply. CLEAResult provides energy efficiency and sustainability services that test and evaluate a power supply's performance. It awards power supplies an 80 PLUS rating, ensuring their efficiency is 80% or higher. The practice is now standard, and any high-end PC power supply manufacturer will get the certification for buyer confidence.

Generic or unbranded power supply units (PSUs) are risky as they often have lower efficiency than 80% and may use marketing tactics to trick buyers into assuming they are efficient.

Why Energy Efficiency Matters

High-efficiency power supplies efficiently convert the AC power supply from the power socket into the DC power required by the computer system. A PSU mainly has three parts: a step-down transformer, diodes, and filters. If these components are not of high build quality, they will produce heat when converting the high-voltage AC to low-voltage DC. For example, as a rough estimate, an 80% efficient power supply only converts 80% of the electricity from the power socket for the PC components.

So what is the difference between these standards, 80 PLUS and 80 PLUS Titanium?

80 PLUS Standards

Saying 80 PLUS means that CLEAResult, after rigorous testing, found that the PC power supply has an efficiency higher than 80%. However, the efficiency of the power supply changes with load. Some supplies perform better than others under load. Here is a table with details of PC power supply performance under load and standards:

Calculating Power Consumption for Visualization

Let's consider an example to grasp the difference between 8- PLUS standard efficiency fully. Let's consider three PC power supplies, ES850W (Gold), ES850W PRO (Platinum), and unbranded, that power the PC and compare their power consumption, heat production, and energy bill impact:

We will consider a high-end PC with the following specs:

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4090 / RTX 4080
• CPU: Intel i9-13900K / AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
• Plus SSDs, fans, cooling, etc. → Total system DC draw = 700W

Assumptions:

• Daily Usage: 3 hours
• Yearly Usage: 365 days
• US Electricity Rate: $0.16 per kWh

Power Draw from the Wall:

• ES850W (90%) → 700W ÷ 0.90 = 778W
• ES850W PRO (92%) → 700W ÷ 0.92 = 761W
• Unbranded (70%) → 700W ÷ 0.70 = 1000W

Annual Energy Use:

• ES850W: 778 × 1,095 ÷ 1000 = 851.7 kWh
• ES850W PRO: 761 × 1,095 ÷ 1000 = 833.2 kWh
• Unbranded: 1000 × 1,095 ÷ 1000 = 1,095 kWh

Annual Cost (at $0.16/kWh in the U.S.):

• ES850W: 851.7 × 0.16 = $136
• ES850W PRO: 833.2 × 0.16 = $133
• Unbranded: 1,095 × 0.16 = $175

When we compare these three power supplies, we see that the uncertified PC power supply consumes $42 extra per year compared to the ES850W PRO. However, the difference between the ES850W and ES850W PRO is just $3.

It proves that the configuration that utilizes the 80 PLUS standard certification provides the most value for money in just a year. However, going for efficiency beyond 80% means you are considering other factors, such as:

• Heat output
• Noise levels (cooling fans)

2. Power Up Your GPU: Next Gen GPU and 12VHPWR

Remember when 6-pin and 8-pin connectors were the standards for GPU power supply? Those days are gone with the 12VHPWR (12-Volt High Power) standardization in modern ATX 3.0 power supplies. They can deliver up to 600W without the need for any additional connectors. The older connectors had overheating and melting issues. The 12VHPWR connector is also known as the PCIe 5.0 power connector. The next generation of GPUs, like the RTX 4000, utilize the connector, making the build safer and more reliable.

3. Standardization: Compatibility with PC Parts

Multiple factors must be considered to ensure compatibility with the PC parts. Connector compatibility, power requirement, and PSU form factor are vital in ensuring compatibility with your PC build.

Connector Compatibility

Around 6 connectors depend on the power supply generation and PC parts. These are the standard in modern ATX 3.1 power supplies:

• 24-pin ATX Connector
• 8-pin EPS (CPU Power Connector)
• PCIe 6+2 Pin Connectors (GPU Power)
• 12VHPWR (12+4 Pin, PCIe 5.0)
• SATA Power Connectors
• Molex (4-pin)

Power Requirement

Calculate the power requirement of your PC by specifying every component of your PC. Use a PC power supply calculator that is available online. You will need to input the following components to calculate the power requirement:

• GPU (Biggest Consumer)
• CPU
• Motherboard
• RAM
• Storage Drive
• Cooling System
• RGB Lighting
• Expansion Cards

You must know the exact model of all these PC parts to accurately estimate your power supply requirement. However, always leave a 30-30% headroom for future upgrades or component degradation.

PSU Form Factor

The PSU's form factor is vital for PC case compatibility. There are typically ATX, SFX, SFX-L, and TFX form factors. These represent the sizes, shapes, and connectors. The form factor also affects the connector location, mounting holes, and slot compatibility. When building a PC, it's important to consider the PC case first and then find the compatible PSU form factor.

4. Cooling Mechanism: Fan Size

The PC power supplies emit heat due to the electronic components. The heat is carried out using forced air from a fan. This fan can vary depending on the size and PSU form factor. However, the fan size can be necessary for the same form factor. For example, a 120mm fan typically operates at a lower RPM (revolutions per minute) than an 80mm fan to move the same air volume. The bigger fan running at a lower RPM will probably produce lower noise than the one with a smaller fan. If your PSU is noisy, it's probably due to a smaller fan or dirt accumulation. Cleaning the PSU or replacing the fan might solve the issue.

5. Final Words: Right PC Power Supply Matters

Considering efficiency power standards, PC component requirements, and compatibility is vital to owning a satisfactory PC power supply unit. It is the key component that supplies the necessary energy for the element to work. Inefficacy and substandard power supplies can cause your system to slow down and even break down. So here are the key takeaways:

• Ensure 80 PLUS certification for PC power supply
• The PC power supply should be PCIe 5.1 and ATX 3.1 compatible
• It should feature a 12VHPWR connector for next-gen GPUs
• Ensure form factor compatibility with your PC case
• Evaluate the cooling mechanism as per the requirement
• For aesthetics, go for modular and RGB-based PC power supply.

 We hope you found value in our post. Consider visiting the ES Gaming PC website for various high-end 80 PLUS certified power supplies with advanced level protection and compatibility!