Choosing a power supply for your computer. Choosing the optimal power supply for a PC How to choose a power supply for the card

The normal operation of all components depends on it. This component, at first glance, does not have a significant impact on overall performance. But a reliable power supply is just like a good one System Administrator in the office: as long as it works as it should, its work is invisible. Therefore, in order to understand how to choose the right power supply for a computer, you should carefully analyze the characteristics of its (PSU) characteristics and hardware specifications.

Power calculation

How to choose the power supply for your computer

As a rule, the main characteristic of this PC component is the total theoretical power. This figure is significant, but not decisive. Relying only on it, you cannot decide which power supply to choose for your PC. A more important parameter is the current strength along the +12 V lines. It is from them that high-performance components (processor, video card) are powered.

Gaming power supply OCZ. The +12 V lines are highlighted in red. With a theoretical total power of 864 W, the practical value is only 680 W.

To calculate the optimal power of the power supply, you must first multiply the maximum current values for each +12 V line by the voltage and add the results. If there is only one +12 V line, the power reserve should be about 20% of the actual consumption of the components. If there are two or more of them, approximately 30% should be subtracted from the total result. The resulting number will indicate the practical power of the power supply along the main line. For additional (+5, +3.3) power shortages do not occur, since these lines are used to power more energy-efficient components.

The unit has 1 line +12 V with a current of up to 22 A, 12 V * 22 A = 264 W. Therefore, this power supply can supply the CPU and video card with no more than 264 W of energy.

The power supply indicates 3 +12 V lines, 15 A each. (12 V*15 A)*3=540. Subtract 30% and get approximately 378 W.

Power consumption of components

The consumption of each component is usually indicated by the manufacturer. To understand how to choose a power supply for a computer, it is recommended to carefully study the specifications of the selected hardware.

The CPU consumes power from 50 (budget Core i3) to 250 (AMD flagships) watts. Thanks to the use of a more modern technological process, Intel is more cost-effective. Eight-core Core i7 and Xeon of the new generation consume 100-150 W, AMD FX - up to 250.
For video cards, the spread in this parameter is even greater: the GeForce GTX 750 Ti and Radeon R7 360, which are at the same level (budget class gaming video cards), consume 60 and 150 W, respectively. It is worth noting that in the top segment the difference is not so significant: both GTX 980 Ti and Radeon R9 Fury consume approximately 300 W of energy.
Traditional hard disks size 3.5″ require up to 20-30 W of energy at the time of promotion, but during operation their consumption decreases to 5-10 W. SSDs look more attractive in this regard: they do not create current surges at startup, and constantly “eat” up to 5 W of electricity.
Motherboard and random access memory should also be given attention. Together they consume up to 20-50 W along the +12 V line. The rest of the load falls on the +3.3 and +5 V circuits.
A powerful air cooling system will consume up to 5 W. For “hydraulics” this figure is at approximately the same level.

Manufacturers indicate the consumption of components on their website. The illustration shows a screenshot from the official resource ark.intel.com

Connectors

Most modern power supplies come with enough cables and plugs for all components. In more affordable models, the wiring is connected directly to the board by soldering; in top models, the cords are detachable. To understand which power supply to choose for your computer, you need to count the number required cables and their shape.

Power supply connectors are unified. Any modern PSU includes (at a minimum) a 24-pin motherboard cable, a 4-pin CPU power cable, a 6-pin video card cable, and Molex and SATA connectors for peripherals and hard drives. In principle, this is enough to ensure normal nutrition. But in order to reduce the resistance of cores when transmitting large currents, iron manufacturers increase the number of contacts and wires. For CPUs, 8 pins are used instead of 4, and for video cards, 8 instead of 6. These connectors are fully compatible (an 8-pin connector can power a video card with 6 pins, a 4-pin plug will supply voltage to a board with an 8-pin socket, etc.) etc.), but it is recommended to take into account and select the appropriate number of contacts.

Main types of power supply connectors

Examples of calculating PC power consumption

An example is the assembly of an inexpensive gaming computer based on Intel Core i3-6300 (the fastest dual-core processor) and GeForce GTX 750 Ti. A 128 GB SSD is installed for the system and for games, for storing content - HDD for 1 TB. RAM 8 GB. The CPU consumes 51 W, the GPU - 60 W, the motherboard with RAM - up to 30, the SSD drive needs 2 W, the HDD - 10 W. The total load is about 160 W, or 13 A along the +12 V line. Even budget power supplies supplied with computer cases can handle such hardware.
If you leave all the hardware, but change the processor to an Intel Core i7-6700, and the video card to a Radeon R9 Fury X, the power consumption of the CPU will increase by only 15 W, but the GPU will “eat” almost 250 W more than the GTX 750 Ti. 160 W + 15 W + 250 W = 425 W or 35 A along the +12 V lines. Taking into account the 30% margin, the total power of the 12-volt power supply circuits should be at least 45 A. An example of a suitable power supply is Aerocool KCAS-700W. With a power of 700 W, it is capable of delivering up to 53 A along the +12 V line.

Aerocool KCAS-700W - a powerful power supply for a gaming PC

Conclusion

Knowing how to choose a power supply for a PC, you can ensure the smooth functioning of all components, while also saving money. Some models of power supplies belonging to the budget category can be equipped with a high-quality and strong +12 V circuit. Others, on the contrary, with the declared high power, a significant part of the watts is supplied through lines that are not subject to loads. In such a situation, a large and tempting number on a label attracts users, but they pay for features that will not be in demand in practice.

Which power supply to choose for a computer directly depends on the energy consumption of the components, the scope of the PC and financial capabilities. For a household computer assembled from inexpensive and economical parts, even a power supply supplied with the case is often sufficient. Gamers can pay attention to advanced models from renowned manufacturers, such as

First, let's talk a little about the hardware, which is relevant from the point of view of the consumer who does not want to bother too much with technical details. If the technical side of the issue is of interest to you, we recommend that you refer to the article.

In retail sales, according to Yandex.Market, there are almost 1,100 models of power supplies - and choosing among them a high-quality, quiet and not too expensive one without studying the technical details is not so easy. Moreover, the lower the price limit, the greater the chances of encountering, at best, an option that does not fully meet expectations.

When choosing, we will limit ourselves to power supplies of the most popular ATX form factor. They are the ones that are installed in the lion's share of systems, and it is with them that we have sufficient experience working. The range of power supplies of more compact sizes (SFX, TFX, Flex ATX, etc.) is much more modest, and in the foreseeable past they have not passed through our hands - so it will not be possible to use personal experience here. As a result, in our opinion, it is better to review the most common format of computer power supplies well than poorly (based only on manufacturers’ statements) - that’s all.

Having 80 PLUS certification provides a good starting point for choosing: in this case, at a minimum, you can be sure of a sufficiently high efficiency of the power supply. However, this certification will not say anything, for example, about the noise level of the cooling system - and from the user’s point of view, this parameter is perhaps much more important than a few extra kilowatts spent during the month. At the same time, you can sometimes find both rather noisy power supplies with very high efficiency 80 PLUS Platinum, and inexpensive and much less efficient models certified to the 80 PLUS Bronze level with no worse acoustic comfort.

In addition, sometimes very decent results in all respects are shown by 80 PLUS models that are completely deprived of certification (as a rule, designed to operate only on a 230 V network - only recently manufacturers began to certify them according to the 80 PLUS 230V EU Internal standard).

As you can easily see from the data presented, 80 PLUS 230V EU Internal has more stringent efficiency requirements for an equal level of certification with the “regular” 80 PLUS 115V Internal, but this is explained by the higher efficiency of power supplies when operating in a network with more high voltage. So in practice, the “regular” and “European” certification levels of 80 PLUS under operating conditions with an input voltage of 220-230 V can be considered approximately corresponding to each other.

However, it is worth noting that power supplies with “European” 80 PLUS certification operate in a fairly narrow voltage range and therefore, when the voltage in the power supply sags, they turn off in a situation where a unit with “regular” 80 PLUS certification with an input voltage range from 100 to 240 V will continue to work. Accordingly, in case of frequent problems with voltage drop in the network, it is worth choosing power supplies with a wide range of input voltages.

It may seem to some that the difference between a power supply with a basic 80 PLUS certificate with a peak efficiency of about 85% on a 230 V network and, say, a “platinum” unit with an efficiency of about 94% is not so great, but this is misleading. A power supply with an efficiency of 85% uselessly spends 15% of its power on heating the surrounding air, and in a power supply with an efficiency of 94% only 6% of the power is converted into heat, and this is not a difference of 10% (if we formally compare efficiency), but of 2. 5 times. There is hardly any need to explain which of the two power supplies given as an example, all other things being equal, will have a quieter cooling system.

An important nuance is also that, unlike other components, power supplies do not have to be chosen from among the latest models. A “golden” block of five years of development is practically guaranteed in all technical parameters (with the possible exception of fashionable appearance) will be better than any new “bronze” model.

We also note that the filling of the vast majority of power supply manufacturers presented on store shelves is produced by only a few companies. For example, you can find the same Channel Well Technology (CWT) development platform in power supplies from Chieftec, Deepcool, Thermaltake and many others - while the price tag for virtually identical models (except for the warranty, configuration and nuances of organizing the cable system) may vary almost doubled. Therefore, immediately reject any brand presented on the counter (or, on the contrary, trust it unconditionally) without knowing exactly what kind of “filling” is hidden inside specific model, to put it mildly, unproductive. You can find out the real manufacturer of a specific power supply platform for most brands, for example, (the OEM column in the list of power supplies of the selected manufacturer).

The main criterion for dividing the models on the market, quite predictably, is the output power. We believe that four main gradations are sufficient:

up to 400 W (for low-end systems: from office typewriters to gaming PCs based on mid-level video cards - up to GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and AMD RX 560 inclusive);
from 410 to 600 W (this power is more than enough for a gaming system with one flagship video card, even with moderate overclocking of the CPU and GPU);
from 610 to 1000 W (for systems with 2-3 video cards and/or serious overclocking);
more than 1010 W (such power supplies are really needed only by miners and very passionate gamer enthusiasts with 3-4 flagship video cards and serious overclocking).

Of course, significant internal differentiation is inevitable for each of these groups: each of them has many models that differ in price, efficiency, ergonomics and many other parameters.

We could take some technical value as the next selection step (from 80 PLUS certification level to acoustic comfort), but let's be realistic: in most cases, the choice of model is based on its price. Therefore, in each power range we will go from the cheapest models (from among those, of course, the purchase of which we consider justified) to the most expensive. In most cases, the optimal choice will not be extremes, but mid-level models that are successful in terms of the combination of technical parameters and price - which we will not fail to indicate in the description.

⇡ Power supplies up to 400 W

With all the passion of PC component manufacturers for energy saving issues, find high-quality units on sale ATX power supply with an output power of less than 400 W is quite difficult - although even 300 W of power is enough to power modern system, which does not at all deserve the contemptuous label “calculator”.

So the lower power category of power supplies is almost completely occupied by budget models that do not feature advanced circuitry and a high level of efficiency. Most budget models with a power of 420-500 W can also be included here, since their achievable power in real conditions does not always coincide with the maximum output power stated on the label.

Power supplies in this category often have a very modest permissible voltage load of 12 V, so even when adding to it 40-50 W, typically consumed under load by modern PCs for other voltages, the final output power is noticeably lower than the level indicated in the model index. Formally, there are no violations: the unit actually produces the parameters declared by the manufacturer. But in practice, in a real system, it is fundamentally impossible to achieve the full declared output power.

The general level of these power supplies is typical for this price category: cheap capacitors, cables without braiding, absence of PFC of any kind, noisy operation (starting fan speed is about 1300 rpm) and a fairly high (albeit within the standard tolerances) level of low-frequency ripple voltage. However, compared to other “ultra-budget” devices, they have three advantages: a powerful 12 V line (the VX-350 model produces 300 W at this voltage - more than, for example, the formally 400-watt FSP ATX-400PNR-I with 276 W at 12 line B), a relatively developed cable system and two years of manufacturer's warranty. Such guarantee period provided for all Aerocool PSUs, with the exception of the flagship Project 7 series (7 years warranty) and specialized PSUs for cryptocurrency mining (no warranty).

In the category “up to 400 W, up to 2,500 rubles,” the clear leader, in our opinion, is the Chieftec TPS-400S model, available at a price starting from 2,200 rubles. We are a model of this series with a power of 500 W and we can confidently say that in terms of a set of characteristics these are the undisputed leaders in the budget segment. The assets of the blocks of this series are high by class standards of efficiency, a quiet cooling system at low and medium loads, good voltage stability, moderate voltage ripple range, active PFC, and as a cherry on the cake - an 80 PLUS Bronze certificate, unthinkable for this price tag. Disadvantages: inexpressive appearance, only a 4-pin connector for additional processor power, not the highest quality capacitors, rather short power cables without braiding. But almost all of these shortcomings are inherent in any model in the specified price category.

In the Chieftec TASK series, which includes the models mentioned above, there is also a less powerful alternative - the 350-W model TPS-350S, but it is practically not represented in domestic retail sales.

In general, in this price category there are quite a lot of other options with a good set of characteristics (old and new “state budget” Chieftec of other series, the recent MasterWatt Lite 230V 400W, Zalman ZM400 in various modifications and others), but in terms of efficiency and acoustic comfort Chieftec TPS are the undisputed leaders at prices quite comparable to competitors.

The only very close competitor to this model in terms of price and efficiency is Aerocool KCAS-400W. The assets of this model include a more developed cable system (all cables have a nylon braid, a larger range of connectors is available) and design (if only because the painted PSU case is nicer than the unpainted one). However personal experience suggests that the Andyson development platforms (Aerocool KCAS uses the development of this particular company) are still inferior in terms of the set of characteristics to the CWT platforms (on which the Chieftec TASK units are based).

A somewhat more affordable option in the range of 1,500-2,000 rubles could be the Q-DION QD400 80+ power supply, which is quite efficient and fairly quiet during operation. But now models of this series are practically not found on sale. There are only power supplies left with the same indices, but without “80+” in the suffix - but they can only boast capXon and Teapo capacitors that are quite good for the budget price tag, decent voltage stability and a moderate level of ripple. However, efficiency, acoustic comfort, range of connectors and cable lengths were left behind.

Yes, and there are few available “bronze” options: the Chieftec BDF-400S Proton series model (more “advanced” due to separate voltage stabilization and somewhat higher-quality capacitors) could diversify the choice, but it is practically not found on sale yet, and if it appears , then at an unreasonably inflated price tag of 4-5 thousand rubles.

Of the high-quality power supplies with a power of less than 400 W, only representatives of the be quiet! series are relatively common on sale. Pure Power 10 power and W, certified to the efficiency level of 80 PLUS Bronze (cost on average 3 and 3.5 thousand rubles, respectively) and have a three-year warranty.

If you look at the more efficient models, then the “industrial” model Seasonic SSP-350GT, certified according to the 80 PLUS Gold standard, which can be purchased for less than 4 thousand rubles, looks like a rather interesting combination of price and efficiency.

The technical differences of this power supply from the “consumer” model G-360 (SSR-360GP Active PFC) boil down to the lack of coloring of the case and wire braid, 10 W less declared output power and a more modest cable system (no PCI-E 6- pin and short - 35 cm - ATX and ATX12V power cables). But with 1,000-1,500 rubles in savings, many will be able to come to terms with these shortcomings - especially if there are no plans to install a discrete video card with additional power.

If you need a connector for additional power supply for a video card, then we think be quiet! is a more attractive power supply option than the Seasonic G-360. Straight Power 10 400W, based on the FSP development platform.

With a comparable price (5-5.5 thousand rubles) and the same level of 80 PLUS Gold certification, it has greater output power, a larger and higher-quality fan based on a hydrodynamic bearing with less noise and two 6+2-pin power connectors at once PCI-E, not just 6-pin. The manufacturer's warranty is 5 years, as is the case with the Seasonic G series (already discontinued, but still available in stores).

You can also pay attention to a slightly more affordable (on average about 4,500 rubles), but slightly less efficient (80 PLUS Silver certificate) be quiet! Pure Power 10 CM 400W, which, with the same set of power connectors, has a partially modular cable system. The latter can be very useful when assembling a compact system unit.

Finally, for those willing to pay a premium for maximum acoustic comfort and efficiency, Seasonic's fanless 400-watt power supply is 80 PLUS Platinum certified and comes with a seven-year manufacturer's warranty. Additional bonuses include a fully modular cabling system and a rich selection of connectors, not inferior to the above-mentioned be quiet! models. But for the Platinum-400 Fanless you need to pay about 10 thousand rubles, and you’ll also have to look for it on sale.

However, even if you want to get a power supply for a fairly energy-efficient system, solutions with higher power may also be relevant, which you can read about in the next section.

⇡ Power supplies from 410 to 600 W

It is these “workhorses” that are the optimal choice for most productive systems for fairly demanding users. They are quite suitable for powering PCs with processors and single video cards of older families in nominal mode or with moderate overclocking. Many people install significantly more in systems of this class powerful blocks power supply, but sometimes this is for reasons of reserve for an upgrade (“what if in the bright future I plug in a second video card?”), sometimes it’s just a reinsurance against illiteracy, and sometimes it’s only a consequence of better availability of power supplies with higher output power.

Since power supplies of such power already require a fairly energy-intensive (and expensive) filling of the system unit, when choosing models we recommend discarding the most budget-friendly options on the market. It’s unlikely that small savings are worth the risk of damaging expensive components.

Up to 3,000 rubles, the first candidates are more powerful versions of units of the Chieftec TASK series (500-watt TPS-500S, familiar to us from) and Aerocool KCAS (or W) - all of them fit into the specified price.

However, these are not the only options: for close money, better functionality (due to the use of separate voltage stabilization using DC converters) can be offered by Xilence Performance A+ power supplies, which also have an 80 PLUS Bronze certificate (unlike the above-mentioned models - “European”, i.e. without support for a wide range of input voltages). For the remove category we are considering, there are models with a power of 430 and 530 W, the cost of both is 3,000 rubles.

As an option when the power supply requires not so much efficiency as efficiency, and at a reasonable price, we can offer the Thermaltake Smart RGB 500W model. It is worth noting that units of this series are available in two versions: with an input voltage range of 100-240 V and 200-240 V (the first, of course, is preferable - especially if there are any regular problems with the voltage in the network, but are a little more expensive ).

The assets include 256-color RGB backlighting, an original body shape and cable braiding on the outside, a Sirtec platform with a basic 80 PLUS certificate, group voltage stabilization and the best Teapo capacitors found in budget models inside. The manufacturer's warranty is 3 years. The issue price is on average 2,800 rubles for a modification with a wide range of input voltages.

With an increase in the permissible price tag to 4,000 rubles, we see an extremely attractive power supply in this power range from the Chieftec A-90 series, made on the basis of the CWT GPN platform - model GDP-550C. Formally, this unit does not have an 80 PLUS certificate, but its efficiency in a 230 V network (maximum efficiency of more than 90%) is close to the “gold” level. At the same time, representatives of this series can boast of quite advanced circuitry with separate voltage stabilization using DC-DC converters, a partially modular cable system, very quiet fan operation and a more than modest price: for a 550-watt model in stores they ask from 3,300 to 4,100 rubles

The disadvantages include Chieftec's traditionally modest 2-year warranty and the lack of support for a wide range of input voltages. But if you want to get maximum performance and functionality of a power supply for a minimum of money, the models in this series have almost no worthy rivals. Competitors in terms of price and power are inferior either in efficiency, or in acoustic comfort, or in the possibilities of organizing a cable system (and often on all these points at the same time).

It is to the units of this series that one can refer both to the advice from the introduction not to chase too much after novelty (this series of power supplies has been on the market for several years, and the platform itself was presented by CWT in 2013), and a reference to the sometimes encountered power supplies with excellent parameters without a certificate 80 PLUS.

As an example of a seemingly quite successful new model that is losing out to the “old man”, we can cite a representative of the new CoolerMaster series - the MasterWatt 550 power supply (80 PLUS Bronze certificate, based on the HEC development platform). Same total output power, similar semi-modular cabling, same DC-DC converters - very similar to the Chieftec GDP-550C. But the efficiency is somewhat lower, the noise from the fan is higher at medium or high loads (however, at low loads the fan is inactive), and the price is on average about 500 rubles higher. On the plus side, in addition to silent operation at low power, there is only a five-year warranty and a wide range of input voltages.

Chieftec BDF-500S and BDF-600S from the PROTON series also cannot compete with their “old man” counterpart: at a comparable price (“five hundred” is a little cheaper, “six hundred” a little more expensive) they are less efficient, somewhat noisier under high loads and have a non-modular cable system. Although they can be called worthy competitors to the CoolerMaster models of the MasterWatt series: with similar parameters, they are somewhat more affordable and quieter at high loads, but their cables cannot be detached, there is no passive mode of operation at low output power, and again the warranty period is shorter.

Nevertheless, units of these series can also be considered as a worthy option at a moderate cost if there are no Chieftec A-90 series models on the shelves or, due to frequent voltage sags in the network, a wide range of input voltages is required.

However, the Chieftec GDP-550C still has a competitor both in price and in efficiency - and with additional functionality in the form of controllable RGB fan lighting (connected either to a 4-pin RGB connector motherboard, or to a separately purchased proprietary controller P7-H1). This is the Aerocool KCAS-550G model, released last summer, now available for sale at a price of less than 4,000 rubles.

Aerocool P7-H1 controller (1,200-1,300 rubles)

As far as one can judge, the “filling” of KCAS-G blocks was also developed by Andyson, but representatives of this series already have an 80 PLUS Gold certificate, in contrast to 80 PLUS Bronze for “regular” KCAS. The main drawback is the same as that of cheaper Aerocool solutions: JunFu capacitors are not particularly reliable.

In the range from 4 to 5 thousand rubles, several models with an 80 PLUS Gold certificate are available, the obvious advantages of which over the “unofficially gold” Chieftec A-90 include support for a wide range of input voltages, and over the Aerocool KCAS-G - more reliable capacitors.

EVGA GD 450W and GD 550W power supplies are based on the FSP development platform and feature a non-modular design. Teapo capacitors are used at the output, the manufacturer's warranty is 5 years, the cost is slightly above 4 thousand rubles.

DeepCool DQ550ST has almost similar parameters and price, only the platform was developed by CWT, and the warranty period is shorter.

The slightly more powerful Enermax REVOLUTION DUO 600W costs about 5-6 thousand rubles, and is also equipped with Teapo capacitors and non-removable cables. A special feature of the model is the use of two fans (100 and 80 mm in diameter) with the ability to manually control their speed using a rotating handle on the rear panel. The platform was developed by a not very well-known company Yue-Lin Electrical Technology, the manufacturer’s warranty is 3 years.

Finally, you can pay attention to the representative of the Chieftec Navitas series, as old as the A-90, with a full 80 PLUS Gold certificate. Unlike the more powerful (and older) models in the series, the GPM-550S is based on the Sirfa platform rather than the CWT, and also has a non-modular cabling system. The acoustic comfort of this model is perhaps the best among all the above options in this power category. This block will cost an average of 4.5-5 thousand rubles.

In the “over 5 thousand rubles” category, which can safely be considered solutions for enthusiasts, the choice is already quite extensive, but the most interesting for the combination of price, design quality and warranty promises are the Seasonic model.

The Seasonic FOCUS Plus 550 Gold power supply offers excellent efficiency by “golden” standards, a fully modular cable system and flawless Japanese capacitors at both the input and output. The cooling system can operate in two modes, one of which involves turning off the fan under moderate loads, but both provide very low noise levels even at high power.

Taking into account these advantages, a price tag of around 6-7 thousand rubles does not look inadequate: unlike the “golden” models described above, the FOCUS Plus 550 Gold has no weak points either in functionality or in the quality of components. The manufacturer's warranty for power supplies in the FOCUS line is an impressive 10 years.

The related model FOCUS Plus 550 Platinum is even more efficient and quieter, but it costs a little more - from 7 to 8.5 thousand rubles.

It is worth noting such an advantage of Seasonic’s “tricks” as compactness: all models in the series up to 850-watt power have a body length of only 140 mm.

Finally, for those who don't look at the price tag, there is the Seasonic PRIME 600 Titanium: a fanless model, certified to the most efficient 80 PLUS level, with a fully modular cabling system, excellent voltage stability and a 12-year manufacturer's warranty. The price of the model is 14-16 thousand rubles, but it simply does not have a single equal competitor.

Somewhat more affordable among the fanless models is the 520-watt Seasonic Platinum 520 Fanless. With slightly less power and efficiency and a more modest 7-year warranty, this unit is available at a price starting from 11.5 thousand rubles.

By the way, it is precisely such a power supply unit that flawlessly powers the system of the author of these lines with Intel Core i7-4790K, 16 GB DDR3-2400, GeForce GTX 1070, discrete sound card and three drives (the processor and video card are slightly overclocked, and the PSU case is only slightly warm under gaming load).

Other high-end models presented for a power of no more than 600 W are either significantly more expensive with comparable parameters (such as the Corsair RM550x, which costs about 1,000 rubles more than the similar power Seasonic FOCUS Gold), or with a comparable price they are inferior in terms of a set of characteristics.

When you assemble your computer, this has its significant advantages, since all the components in a personal computer (PC) play their role with the system unit - processor and RAM for speed of operations, video card for displaying the graphic part, motherboard for connecting everything this together. That is why it is important to select components not only by how they will satisfy your needs, but also by how they will interact with each other.
In particular, there are errors when the motherboard does not “accept” the processor or there is no space in the case to install a video card.
But even if you seem to have selected all the components and they fit together, then when choosing a power supply unit (PSU) questions often arise. The most common is how much power is needed to make all components “feel” comfortable.

In order to calculate the power of the power supply, you can go in several ways. For example, you can ask the consultants in the store and hope that the store employee will be sufficiently knowledgeable about this and will be able to advise and select the right one.

Or you can go and buy a power supply with a power of 600-1000 Watts and not think about it at all because... Either way, this is enough. Yes, you can do this and overpay for the extra 600 Watts because... in fact, 400 W for example could be enough for you. It seems to me that this is not a way out of the situation. If only for the lazy and who don’t mind the money.

You can also look on the Internet how much power is needed for each of the components of the future system unit, and then calculate the required power. It should be taken into account that the total power of all components must be less than the maximum output power of the power source. It is also worth knowing and remembering that the specifications indicate the maximum power consumption of the components. During operation, energy is consumed unevenly by everyone (turning on, turning off, recording information, launching many programs, a complex episode in a game, etc.).

For example, the power consumption of components looks something like this:

Central processor: 50-120 W. The more powerful, the more.

Motherboard: 15-30 W. The more functions (heatsink, built-in sound or video card, etc.), the more.

Video card: 60-300 W. Depends on additional power supply, functions and load (may “jump”).

RAM: 15-60 W. Depends on the functions (filter capacitors, radiators, etc.) and capacitance.

Hard drive: 15-60 W. It also depends on its characteristics and load.

CD/DVD drive: 10-25 W. Depends on the maximum disk rotation speed and the actual operating mode.

Sound card: 5-50 W. Depends on the type and characteristics.

Fans (coolers): 1-2 W. Depends on rotation speed, dimensions and quantity.

And some more nuances in the form of ports, floppy drives, various peripheral devices etc. As you can see, it will not be possible to calculate computer power for everyone. These are purely individual characteristics.

This is very a good option for you. Now there are many specialized sites and programs for calculating power on a computer. The topic is always quite relevant.
There is only a small problem that not all databases on the sites and in the program are up to date, but I will give you links to those that are really suitable for modern components.

A great calculator that requires minimal knowledge of English.
There are two types of calculator - Basic and Expert. From the name you can guess what each one is needed for. Using the second one, you can also specify how many hours the power supply will work, models for bitcoins, coolers (fans), processor speed and frequency, keyboard/mouse, etc. In general, take everything into account in more detail (for those in the know).
Select the main components (Motherboard, CPU, Memory, Video Cards, Storage and Optical Drives) and press the CALCULATE button (or RESET to reset) to then see how much power supply is needed for the computer.
One of the features of this service is that it is possible to select the minimum number of components.
One of the disadvantages (or advantages, depending on who you choose) is the display of advertising for a product from one well-known foreign site. And when calculating, they will show the recommended power supply, which is also available on another site.
This site, on the one hand, makes it possible to choose from the offered products and buy a power supply immediately, and on the other hand, he will earn money from this. Whether to follow such links or not is up to you.

A more advanced version of the previous service. The principle is similar, but additional functions have appeared: selecting a language (though there is no Russian), manually specifying the processor speed and its power, connecting a Blue-Ray drive, TV tuner, sound card, USB connectors(2.0 and 3.0), coolers (fans) indicating their number and sizes, mice, keyboards and similar little things. It is even possible to specify how long the computer is turned on.
In general, this is a good modern service calculator for calculating the power of a computer power supply.

A site from the famous company MSI, which is famous for its gaming products.

There is Russian language and quite modern characteristics for components. In principle, everything is easy and clear.

Program KSA Power Supply Calculator WorkStation -

As an alternative to online calculators on the Internet for calculating computer power.
Portable (does not require installation), small size (177 kb), supports Russian language (developer Kaurkin S.A.) and that’s it OS(Windows Xp, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (x86,x64)), and besides, the database is fresh and up-to-date.
In general, a miracle program for calculating the power of a power supply in a PC.
I don’t think it’s necessary to describe how and what to press, because... The interface is very simple and intuitive. I will only note that the program can also calculate the power for an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which is just as important for a computer

Just in case, I’m attaching it to the topic (version 1.2.4.0 dated June 24, 2015), because I don’t want such a program to remain inaccessible

I think this will be enough for you to easily find out which power supply is suitable.

I would like to emphasize the fact that you need to calculate the computer's power supply in such a way that there is a reserve for the future. As is the case with subsequent system updates, so will various surges in the load of the components themselves. It is better to take it with a reserve of 5-20 percent of power. For example, if a minimum of 500 W suits you, then take at least 550 or 600 W.

Important characteristics and recommendations - which power supply to choose for your computer, calculation of power supply power taking into account the consumption of all PC components. Are you changing a video card? What kind of power supply is needed for the video card? Is it necessary to replace it or can you use the existing power supply?

Hello. In order to choose a good power supply for a computer or calculate the power of a power supply for a new video card, the average user does not need to study circuit design, an LLC resonant circuit or synchronous rectifiers with DC/DC converters, BUT. As elsewhere, to buy a good thing, you need to pay special attention to important characteristics.

How to choose a power supply for your computer.

What to look for and what to consider when choosing power supplies for new computers. The most important parameter in the eyes of many buyers is price. And the first recommendation will be made specifically regarding the cost of the power supply - when choosing based on price, try not to fall below $40. Your fleeting savings of $10-20 on a power supply may result in premature failure of expensive computer components, the replacement of which will cost more than $100. Try to choose a power supply wisely - you need to know how much the power supply costs, but this is important later - when you compare with competing models from different manufacturers. Important specifications power supply using the example of Chieftec Force CPS-500S.

Form factor BP. If a standard computer assembly is expected in a microATX, ATX form factor case, select ATX power supplies of standard v2.3-2.4 (and higher). Taking into account the location of the power source in ATX case— we specify the length of the power cables for the motherboard and processor. With a lower location - no less than 450mm.

Total power of the power supply. A useful characteristic for reference, but knowing the total power is not as important as the indicator located a little lower. Many video card manufacturers indicate an overestimated power supply, and there is a reason for this. The quality of power supplies varies greatly among potential buyers, and accordingly the power on +12V channels can vary significantly (manufacturers take insurance). The main load of the power supply falls on the 12V channel(s), it is this parameter that can tell you what you are dealing with.

We will return to calculating the power of power supplies a little later, now pay attention to the example of a bad, good and excellent power supply. The power of 12V lines is calculated by simply multiplying V x A = W. In the first example, out of a total 500W, only 370W is available (in reality, barely 320W) and this is not the worst indicator in a sea of low-quality crafts.

The characteristics of good power supplies have slightly different power indicators; in many ways, the 12V channel decides whether the power supply is suitable for your computer or not, and not the inflated total power.

A power supply with one 12V channel is preferable, but don’t get too hung up on it, separating 12V lines does not make the source detrimental. The separation of channels is prescribed by the EN60950 safety standard - the current on the contacts accessible to the user should not exceed 240VA.

Power supply connectors. Modern motherboards use a 24-pin connector (20+4-pin), and the power supply should also have a corresponding 24-pin (20+4-pin) connector. The processor power connector on the motherboard can be 4-pin or 8-pin, modern power supply models can offer one 4-pin, for non-overclockable budget systems and a pair - 4+4 pin (preferably a pair).

We also pay attention to the additional power connectors for the video card; depending on the model and GPU power of the graphics accelerator, you may need from one 6-pin or 8-pin (aka 6+2-pin) to two 8-pin. Check the characteristics of the video accelerator; they will tell you what power supply you need for the video card in your particular case. Two 6+2-pin connectors are the best option for systems with one powerful video card.

Also, do not forget to check the number of hard drives in your system with the number of SATA connectors on the power supply.

Modular cable connection. By and large, this is a quirk that provides convenience when assembling a computer. Yes - good, no - it is not at all necessary to pursue modularity, an extra cable in the PC case does not in any way affect the characteristics of the power supply or the quality of the components. They laid it down, pulled it together, “tied” it to the support, and forgot about it.

Input voltage. If your computer will operate under unstable power supply conditions, it is better for your computer to choose a power supply with a wide range of input voltages from 110 to 230V, which will eliminate the need for external stabilizers. According to GOST of the Russian Federation, the voltage in the network can take the following values - 220V +10% -15%, fluctuations in the range from 187 to 242V.

PFC function. Power factor correction - active or passive? Almost all modern power supplies have an active correction module (APFC), and they also come with a passive circuit, but the efficiency of this solution is lower. You can do without it, but such a power supply will create interference in the electrical network, which will not have the best effect on other electrical appliances.

Standard 80 PLUS - power supply efficiency. Another beacon for the buyer, indirectly indicating that the power supply unit is designed with high-quality components. Despite the manufacturer’s desire to save on the element base, with low-grade Chinese “noname” it will not pass certification.

Yes, inexpensive computer unit power supply will not be able to boast of separate stabilization of output voltages, Japanese capacitors of the high-temperature series Nippon Chemi-Con, Rubycon, but high-quality group stabilization, Taiwanese Teapo ( good quality) can be calculated.

By choosing a cheap power supply (up to $40), you may be faced not only with low-quality Chinese components, but also with the absence of a power factor correction module, input filter, etc. And don’t be surprised later why the computer turns on along with the refrigerator, creates interference in the audio equipment, and distortions on the monitor.

Certification of the efficiency of a power supply according to the 80 PLUS standard has another material plane - the higher the efficiency, the less electricity from the outlet is lost during conversion (turned into heat).

Along with the efficiency, also inquire about the availability of protection functions. In a good power supply with protection, things are like this:

SCP - short circuit protection;
OVP - protection against overvoltage in the network;
UVP - network undervoltage protection;
OPP - overload protection;
AFC - automatic fan speed control.

More expensive power supplies have bonuses in the form of:
OCP - overcurrent protection;
OTP - over temperature protection;
Certifications - Nvidia SLI / AMD Crossfire.

Tolerances for voltage deviation. One of the important defining characteristics permissible level voltage deviations from the nominal value directly indicate the quality of the product.

Voltage sag can lead to malfunctions of computer components; too much voltage can worsen temperature regime(overheating of components), increases wear and, in general, reduces service life.

Power supply cooling system. There is not much choice here; modern power supplies are equipped with one 120-140mm fan. The efficiency and noise level of a cooling system largely depend on the price and quality of the components. The high-temperature series (up to 105°C), for example, has a safety margin, but the manufacturer has to worry about Chinese “noname” components, spinning up a cheap fan until it stupefies.

Manufacturer. Never get hung up on the manufacturer; choosing a power supply for a computer taking into account its characteristics is always better than blind faith in the beautiful letters of the brand. Many well-known manufacturers launch power supply series in waves, a series of good ones - to attract attention, a series of mediocrity - cheaper. Give preference to characteristics, it’s more correct and reliable.

Where to start searching? Of the manufacturers present on the market, and I counted about 63 of them, I would like to highlight - Chieftec, be quiet!, FSP, Cooler Master, Corsair, DeepCool, Zalman, Thermaltake, Aerocool, Fractal Design Integra, Antec, EVGA, Andyson, Enermax, SeaSonic.

Which one is needed, how to choose a power supply for a video card.

Forced upgrade - It is not uncommon for users to be forced to select a video card based on the power supply. Some were lazy , trusted the seller, and now we need to somehow increase gaming performance with a new video card. Other's, graphics accelerator unexpectedly was covered with a copper basin, changing the system unit is expensive. There is only one way out - to choose a video card for the computer's power supply.

Having these values, calculating what kind of power supply you need for a video card or the computer as a whole is as easy as shelling pears. On Intel example Core i5-6600K (TDP 91W) and AMD Radeon RX 480 (TDP 150W). We combine the indicators of the processor and video card 91W+150W=241W, add another 50-60W to the result, this includes the consumption of the motherboard, a pair of RAM modules, hard drives and fans 241W+60W=301W. The result obtained is the peak power consumption under maximum load conditions, we project it onto the power of the 12V line in the power supply characteristics (do not confuse it with the total power).

To the value of 301W you should add 25% if overclocking is not provided and add up to 50% for overclocking - the margin is important, the power supply should not operate at the limit of its capabilities 301W+75W=376W. In this simple way, the required power of the 12V channel of the power supply is calculated. 376W - corresponds to the specification of a good power supply with a total power of 400W, which is capable of delivering an honest 350-380W in the 12V direction.

Let's put an ellipsis on this. I hope this article has helped you come closer to understanding which power supply is best to choose for the system unit of the computer as a whole and how to choose a video card for the power supply if you are forced to upgrade the system unit.

Correct calculation of power supply power for a computer. Calculate the watt of the power supply using a calculator. What types of power supplies are there and which one to choose? How many watts should the power supply have? What is the voltage in the computer power supply?

The top configurations are, of course, Platinum and Titanium, this is the price segment that exceeded all standards, let’s say, gaming and the most energy-demanding systems. More powerful than the average price segment but lower than the top-end, the Silver-Gold option will be. For computers with configurations up to the mid-price segment, an 80 PLUS Bronze block will be enough, let’s assume as an office PC for managers.

Calculate the power supply power for your computer configuration (power supply calculator)

You can calculate the power of the power supply using a calculator and confirm or double-check it on several. Below I present to your attention our calculator, on which you need to select the components of your computer and look at the total at the very bottom; if your components are not in the list of the calculator, then just select the brand.