Now, you are having trouble identifying your power supplys model and its specifications, right?
Which Attributes to Analyze Choosing a PSU?
The power supply module plays a critical role in distributing reliable and efficient electricity throughout your system system.
Without a functioning power supply, a computer cannot operate.
Rating
There are single-rail and multi-rail power supply devices available.
Because they can avoid overloading a single rail, multi-rail PSUs are typically regarded as safer.
A higher-wattage power supply is required for devices with luxury features, such as gaming PCs or workstations.
ATX, SFX, and TFX are the most prevalent sizes.
ATX power supplies are the largest and are often seen in full-sized desktop computers.
Small form factor (SFF) PCs use SFX and TFX power supplies.
Certification
The power supply unit is also certified depending on its efficiency.
The power supplys efficiency is graded, given ratings that go from 80 Plus to 80 Plus Titanium.
The higher the efficiency rating, the better the PSU converts alternating electricity to direct current.
For a better understanding, you might take a look at this chart.
As you might see in different load the PSU can provide different levels of efficiency depending on the certification.
Normally, youd see different PSUs rated 80 or higher.
So, what exactly do 80 Plus ratings imply?
The 80 Plus accreditation indicates that the power supply is at least 80% efficient.
This varies depending on the load, which can be 20%, 50%, or 100%.
There is another term for PSU, which is modular variety.
Module types include Non-Modular, Semi-Modular, and Fully-Modular Power Supplies.
Basically, the cables are connected, partially connected, or completely detached.
Though the fully modular PSUs cables are detached from the unit still thePSU provides cables.
Depending on the different types of PSUthe cables are differentdepending on the model you are using.
Here are the steps to find out what power supply unit you have:
1.
There is always a label sticker or printed layout of the PSU model number and specifications.
You may require tounscrew 4 or 5 screwsto take your power supply out of your system for inspection.
This is the easiest and most appropriate way to check your PSU and its wattage.
You will find the PSU used in your system on your system models product page.
And it is also very helpful as most of the prebuilt PCs have no label on the power supplies.
Some of the power supplies come with an international manual.
Hopefully, any of the above three methods have helped you determine how to see what PSU you have.
What Power Supply Size Do You Need?
Only knowing the power supplies wattage and its certifications doesnt solve your problems.
There are overall three PSU sizes available for personal computers.
The best power supply size is the Fully Modular ATX power supply.
This PSU size is used in most hardcore gaming PCs.
The ATX12V power supply is of a similar size to that of the ATX ones.
The SFX12V or SFX-L PSUs are mostly used in pre-built PCs.
So, if you ask me:
How big of a power supply do I need?
Why Should You Know About Your Power Supply?
But these arent enough.
That is why I recommend you check out our latestPSU tier list.
Which Is The Best Power Supply Calculator?
There are tons of PSU calculators on the internet.
But most of the power supply calculators are inefficient in suggesting the right wattage and certifications.
PC power calculators are online programs that calculate what is required for your system.
What PSU Do You Need?
And for safety, I recommend you take a bit higher wattage than your machines require.
FAQ
How to know if your power supply is dying?
Your PC might not turn on at all or lose power while running the PC.
How to test a PC power supply?
Take out the BIOS battery and keep it away for about 10 minutes and reinstall it.
After doing so, you could turn the PC on to test whether things usually go or not.
How to find out what power supply you have without opening the computer?
There arent any other relevant options.
How to tell if your power supply is bad?
Mostly the non-branded power supplies are inadequate, and they might harm your PC components easily.
Final Thoughts
A PSU is one of the essential components of your PC.
Most computer hardware problems are due to a faulty power supply or a PSU with insufficient power delivery.