[Gadgets] What is a PC power supply and what to look for when choosing one

[#Steeven.™]

Find out what the power supply in a PC is, how it works and what to look for when buying one.

When talking about important components of the PC, pieces such as RAM and its adequate capacity, the processor, the quality of the battery and how its degradation affects, the storage unit, among others, are generally highlighted. However, the essential element for everything else to work is almost always ignored: the power supply.

If you are going to buy or assemble a PC, you must choose wisely the power supply that it will include, since it will depend on this that everything works correctly and that the other internal components are not damaged. But if you don't know anything about it, don't worry, because we have prepared this post to tell you everything about this element, including what you should look at when getting one.

All the internal components of the PC have an average useful life, but depending on the operation of the power supply, these can be damaged before their time. That is why it is important that you know what this component is, how it works and the types that exist.

 

What is PC power supply

In order to understand the genuine importance of the PC's power supply, it is necessary to understand what is this component on which the operation of other internal parts depends.

The power supply is that part that is responsible for supplying energy to the rest of the components in an electronic system to "give them life" so that they can work. Even if you don't know it, all this current equipment uses a power source, even though it is often not in sight.

In other words, the power supply is that device that is capable of converting alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC), which is a type of constant energy that the electronic parts of the computer require in order to function.

Obviously, not all the internal components of the PC require this energy to function, as is the case with the SSD, but others do and do not receive this current, so they are only inert electronic parts.

The power supply, commonly abbreviated PSU, is indispensable in the PC and other electronic equipment. And while we've simplified what it's capable of a bit, it's also important to understand how this component works.

 

How the PC power supply works

Although components such as RAM, processor, among others, are always highlighted; The most important is the power supply, because without it, none of these pieces could work and fulfill their mission.

The PSU or power supply in the PC uses a special switching technology with which it is capable of transforming alternating current into direct current voltages, which are much lower. Also, most computers these days run on 12 volts.

To better understand this, we can use an example. When you press the power button on the computer, this "push button" sends a signal of about 5 volts to the power supply, indicating that it must supply the corresponding energy to start the equipment.

If you wonder how the push button has power to activate the PSU, you should know that this same device integrates a circuit that is capable of supplying power in standby mode or "stand-by" continuously. That is why the equipment can turn on again and the other components keep waiting for you to press the button to start.

On the other hand, when you go to turn off the computer, you usually resort to the shutdown option found in the operating system. After doing so, it will send a signal to the power supply to tell it to shut down.

 

Types of power supplies according to their form factor

There are several ways to order power supplies, but one of the most used categories is by their form factor, since there are some predefined standards and with their own characteristics.

Next, we will tell you what are the types of power supplies according to their form factor.

SFX:  This model has smaller dimensions as they are designed for smaller teams. They usually measure about 100 x 125 x 63.5 mm and require an adapter to install them in ATX cases.
ATX: this is the standard used today and its dimensions are 150 x 150 x 86 mm.
SFX-L:  We could think of this as a variation on the SFX fonts, but they are compatible with larger fans. Its dimensions are 130 x 125 x 63.5 mm.
TFX: this type of power supply is usually used mainly in servers and special equipment. Its dimensions are 85 x 65 x 185 mm.
Flex ATX: In the same way as the previous one, this PSU is usually used with special equipment and servers, since they have a feature called plug & play.
 

What to look for when buying a power supply

Buying a power supply is a decision that you must evaluate wisely, since you cannot get the first model you find, but you must consider some factors that influence its performance and that of the other components that it supplies with current.

In addition to the individual features that you are looking for, you should also look at these factors that we will list below to ensure the best performance, because if you get it wrong, you could end up with overheating problems in your equipment, for example

• You must consider the form factor and that it fits your needs.
• You must keep in mind the energy efficiency of the equipment so that you do not end up paying a fortune on the electricity bill.
• You must take into account the amperage with which your equipment works.
• You should also consider the protection it offers against sudden shutdowns and other problems.
• Wiring is also another important point, although it may not seem like it.

If you consider all these factors, then you will be able to buy the right power supply for your PC. This is important, since this way you can guarantee the correct functioning of all the components of the computer.

Also, in general, a power supply usually has a useful life of about 10 years. Although, for this, you will have to buy a good quality one.

 

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