PC Power Supply Buying Guide: 7 Things to Consider Before You Buy
Introduction
Looking to build a new PC but can't decide on a power supply unit (PSU)? This guide will enable you to make an informed decision based on factors such as reliability, performance, upgradeability, endurance, and cost-effectiveness.
Choosing an optimal PSU is detrimental for a good PC build, whether you are building a PC for gaming, graphic designing, or AI. The right PSU will help you to power through your needs without crashes and hardware damage. Based on your needs and market options, this guide will help you select a PSU that can save costs in the long run by avoiding underpowered or inefficient units.
1. Calculate Your Power Needs (Wattage)
Determining Requirements
The first and most important step is to determine how much power your hardware requires. The major components are the CPU and GPU. They consume the most power, and their requirements are specified in their specifications. The other peripherals, such as the motherboard, RAM, storage, WiFi, and network cards, usually draw 150W. The specifications of your motherboard can help you in this regard.
Tools and Buffers
You can use online calculators from MSI, Cooler Master, and Newegg to make your process easier. Once your total requirement is finalized, add 20%-30% for future upgrades and performance spikes, and choose an equal amount for a higher-specification PSU, e.g., choose 650W for a 500W system.
Modern GPUs may draw 2x the power during a performance spike, so it would be good to choose a PSU with high transient power capability.
2. Understand Efficiency Ratings
The 80 PLUS Sytem
The efficiency of a PSU is measured by the 80 Plus certification system, which indicates how much power is lost as heat during the conversion. A higher rating indicates a reduced energy consumption and heat generation.
Efficiency Levels
- 80 PLUS Standard (80% efficiency)
- 80 PLUS Bronze (82-85% efficiency)
- 80 PLUS Silver (85-88% efficiency)
- 80 PLUS Gold (87-90% efficiency)
- 80 PLUS Platinum (89-94% efficiency)
- 80 PLUS Titanium & Ruby (90-96% efficiency)
Recommendations
- The standard is usually used for day-to-day computing requirements with built-in GPUs. They will incur high operational costs under high load.
- Gold and Platinum are very good options for high-performance builds as they provide good efficiency, lower heat generation at high loads, and high efficiency at low loads.
- Gold and above PSU models also offer higher efficiency at low loads of 20% and 50%, making them suitable and cost-effective for day-to-day use, such as browsing, video playback, and multitasking.
3. Choose the Right Form Factor
Standard and Compact Sizes
Advanced Technology Extended (ATX) is the standard form factor for desktop PCs. The ATX power supply dimensions are 150 × 86 × 140 mm. ATX is standard for all PC casings unless specified.
Small Form Factor Extended (SFX) is a compact power supply that is compatible with SFF PC cases. It is the next most common PSU on the market. The dimensions are 125 x 63.5 x 100 mm. However, if your case can accommodate a longer PSU, the SFX-L enables users to draw higher power from the PSU.
Specialized Sizes
Other available sizes include TFX (Thin Form Factor Extended), which is used in slim desktop PC and HTPCs (Home Theater PC) cases. EPS (Entry Level Power Supply) is used in servers and workstations. They feature an additional 8-pin or 8+8-pin 12V connector for additional CPUs, along with a standard 24-pin ATX connector.
4. Decide on Modularity
Modular vs. Non-Modular Options
Modularity depends upon your choice of cable management. Modular PSUs don’t have cables attached. They are plugged into sockets at both ends. Modular PSUs enhance aesthetics and improve airflow by connecting only the necessary cables.
Non-modular PSUs have fixed cables. They often cause clutter in PC cases due to additional cables and connectors. They are suitable for low-performance, simple builds where heat dissipation is not a major concern.
Hybrid Options
The best of both worlds is a hybrid PSU, which provides fixed cables for essential connections and sockets for additional hardware and upgrades. They are effective in reducing clutter and look aesthetically good. Additionally, modular and hybrid PSUs allow the use of flat cables (which improve aesthetics) or high-density power cables, which are more efficient.
5. Check Connectors and Cabling
Motherboard and CPU Power
The 24-pin ATX connector is the standard and most widely available, powering the motherboard and processor in almost all builds. For a workstation or server running multiple processors, you will require an 8-pin ATX12V/EPS connector to power additional processors on your motherboard.
GPU and Storage
The second most important is the PCIe connectors for GPUs and auxiliary cards. Ensure your PSU provides a sufficient 6-pin or 6+2-pin PCIe connector to meet your requirements. Multiple 8-pin connectors are good if you want to use a high-end graphics card, as they will eliminate the requirement for an adapter. Additionally, if using a high-end high-power GPU, the 12V 2x6 connector can deliver up to 600W through a single connector.
Ensure your PSU provides a sufficient SATA power connector to meet your storage requirements.
6. Prioritize Protection Features
Standard Protections
PSUs include multiple protection features to keep the hardware safe under abnormal conditions. A good PSU will protect the hardware from damage. Standard Protections include Short Circuit Protection, Over Voltage Protection, and Overpower Protection.
- Over Temperature Protection (OTP) will switch off your PSU in case of overheating components due to hardware failure, poor cooling, or airflow issues.
Advanced Protections
- Over Voltage Protection (OVP) protects system hardware by shutting down the PSU if output voltages exceed safe operating limits.
- Under Voltage Protection (UVP) switches off the PSU if input voltages fall too low, so the required operating voltages cannot be maintained.
- Short Circuit Protection (SCP) protects PC components from excessive current. If a high current is detected in output cables due to a short circuit or hardware failure, the PSU will shut down.
- Over Current Protection (OCP) safeguards the PSU against excessive current, preventing damage to the PSU and connected hardware.
- Over Power Protection (OPP) switches the PSU off if the total power drawn exceeds its rating, thus protecting the PSU from damage.
7. Evaluate Reliability and Warranty
Warranty and Life Expectancy
Choosing a reliable PSU is a must. You don’t want to have to replace your PSU frequently. Choose a PSU with a 5-year or more warranty period. Manufacture’s confidence in its product is reflected in how long it is willing to offer the warranty for the product. A high MTBF (Mean Time between Failures) also indicates the PSU is reliable, with a value above 100,000 hours.
Cooling and Brand Quality
PSUs with good passive cooling provisions are more reliable as they only activate their fans above 30% load, reducing dust accumulation and bearing wear. Fluid-bearing fan PSUs offer long-lasting, quieter operation. Avoid PSUs with no recognized branding and certifications.
Conclusion
The above seven factors will help you make an informed decision about the PSU for your PC build. A powerful, reliable, and adaptive PSU will guarantee that your PC build performs to its maximum capabilities during all workload scenarios and allows you to upgrade your hardware as you like. Always choose quality over cost. Low-quality hardware may be cheap initially, but it can cause more damage to itself and other critical hardware over time.
For a wide range of high-quality options from a trusted PC power supply manufacturer like ESGAMING, visit https://www.esgamingpc.com/power-supply.html to explore their lineup.
About ESGAMING
Founded in 2017, ESGAMING has quickly become a recognized emerging brand in high-performance computer components and accessories. From PC cases and power supplies to cooling systems, ESGAMING is dedicated to delivering creative, reliable, and well-crafted E-sport solutions for gamers, creators, and PC builders around the world.
For more information, visit www.esgamingpc.com