bacaartikeldisiniaja -- Power supplies are the most neglected and most overlooked component in a PC. No one talks about how big the power supply is. We just hear how fast your CPU runs, how much memory you have, and how many MP3s you can fit on your hard drive. The only time someone talks about a power adapter is if they got a really cheap one or had one in their suitcase for free.
Did you know that manufacturers downgrade power supplies when building lower cost systems?
so what? You might think that. Well, here's an analogy.
Buy a new "low cost" PC and add components incrementally. Install a second hard drive, get a larger graphics card with a built-in fan, and add a USB PCI card for more ports. Then one day the PC restarts for no apparent reason. I can't understand what is going on. I've installed all Windows updates, run virus scans, check for spyware, nothing. what's happening? Little did you know that when you buy this "cheap" PC, you're also getting a very cheap quality 200 Watt PSU. All new components added over time ---- the power supply can't put out enough power to keep up, and even if it can put out enough juice, the power signal quality is erratic .
After spending so much money on every other component in your PC, why should you save on your power supply? You could pay a lot of money to damage your computer. power formula
Getting the right power supply for your situation requires considering everything you plug into your PC and planning for future additions and upgrades.
Write down each component that will be in your system and the wattage required for each (for most devices, wattage information can be found on the device itself, in the documentation that came with the device, or on the manufacturer's website). Add them together and you get the maximum wattage your system can potentially use.
Another piece of the puzzle to consider is how many amperes are drawn by the components at each of the power supply's three main outputs (rails), +3.3, +5, and +12. These specs are a little harder to find. Some manufacturers include this information on their devices or documentation, but most do not want to bore consumers with such details.
If your component doesn't have this information, you can find a quote by searching the web for your specific component. I did the following search on Google - how many amps a floppy drive draws from a power supply - the result was 1.0 amps + 5v current.
Now that you've added up all the numbers, you need to find a power supply that meets your needs. Both numbers you have are equally important. You might find a 400w PSU that will run what you have, but when it comes to the three main outputs, it just isn't powerful enough to meet your needs.
Interestingly, like most things in life, what's in the box isn't always what you get when you open it. Most power supplies do not reach the specified wattage.
