How Do You Buy A Power Supply?
The power supply unit (PSU) is one of the few items in an electrical device that will affect the performance and reliability of your entire system. It’s often the most undervalued, under-appreciated component within any device, yet one of the first components to cause failure. This article focuses on the factors to look for when purchasing a PSU for a personal computer, but it may be applied to any application needing a regulated PSU. When following this guide, take into account your own application, and appropriately weigh each factor. • Determine the wattage you need. Use a PSU calculator web page or software to help determine your requirements. Even better is to find a review of a similar system that measures power consumption. As that consumption is measured at the wall, multiply by the review system’s power supply’s efficiency to get the output. (If you don’t know, 0.82 will be close or slightly pessimistic.) Don’t purchase a PSU just above your requirements unless you plan not to
Owning a personal power supply means taking control of your life, at least as far as energy use is concerned. Normally reserved for municipalities, large corporations and countries, power supplies are open to purchase by anyone who has the space and money to buy them. Finding the right power supply for you is a simple matter of knowing what to look for and preparing to become Mr. Moneybags. Step 1 Define your personal power needs by checking out your last few power bills. Try to stay calm as you view the amount due on each bill, and take solace in the fact that soon you will cut ties with the local power company. Step 2 Consider buying used to save on the exorbitant costs of building from scratch. Power plants built along waterways or within a dam will save you money, as the resource to create power is already nearby. Inspect the plant carefully and never assume the used power plant salesperson has told you everything. Consider buying the extended warranty at a reasonable price. Step 3
