Whose products are developed in Germany, offers a wide range of products for users on the Russian market, including power supplies, desktop computer cases, as well as gaming peripherals, both in the middle and top market segments.

Although the Cougar GX-F power supplies are of high quality and power conversion efficiency, confirmed by the "gold" 80-Plus Gold certification, their cost is in the acceptable middle category, providing optimal ratio prices and quality.

The Cougar GX-F power supply family includes three models GX-F 550W, GX-F 650W and GX-F 750W with 550W, 650W and 750W respectively.

SilverStone Launches ST30SF V2.0 Compact Power Supply

Thanks to original cases, power supplies and cooling systems, the Taiwanese company SilverStone has become widely known. She is quite conservative about the appearance of her products, preferring strict shapes and shades, and also, as a rule, observes the continuity of design within the same series. Based on this, it is not surprising that the manufacturer has endowed the new 300-watt SFX power supply with the already "occupied" name ST30SF and inherited its appearance from the 2013 model (ST30SF V1.0). Simply put, under the name SilverStone ST30SF V2.0 in an inconspicuous black case, there is not just an upgraded PSU, but a completely different product.

The block is made in a case with sides of 125 mm, 100 mm and 63.5 mm and weighs 1 kg. What it has in common with its predecessor is the 80 PLUS Bronze Energy Efficiency Certification, ATX12V v2.4 compliance, and the integration of overcurrent, overvoltage, and short circuit protection. The novelty, most likely, uses an OEM platform not from FSP (the basis of ST30SF V1.0), but from another manufacturer. This is indicated by the following circumstances:

• the presence of additional protection mechanisms in the new model - from excess power and low input voltage;
• different range of permissible ambient temperature (0-40 °C, not 10-50 °C);
• new current values ​​for all lines (+3.3V, +5V, +12V, +5VSB, -12V).

Tom's Hardware resource believes that this time SilverStone resorted to the help of Enhance engineers. The advantages of the new approach to designing a 300-watt SFX format power supply are a more reliable +12 V line (25 A / 300 W) and better protection of power supply units from The internal testing of the ST30SF V2.0 also showed a slight increase in efficiency in 230 V networks compared to the old model - from 84-87% to 85-88%. (>40°C) the V2.0 unit is more prone to power loss and less resistant to +3.3V and 5V overload (total 90W rather than 103W of its predecessor) , and does not support semi-passive fan operation.

Instead of an 80mm fan, the SilverStone ST30SF V2.0 uses a Carlson with a 92mm impeller. Its maximum speed does not exceed 2200-2300 rpm, and the threshold of 1000 rpm is overcome only when the PSU power is increased to 70-75% of the nominal value. Data on the noise level is not very informative: the minimum for V2.0 is 18 dBA, the maximum for V1.0 is 38 dBA.

The ST30SF power supplies have non-removable cables, the connector configuration is identical: one ATX, EPS12V, PCI-E Power (6 pins) and FDD Power, two 4-pin Molex and three SATA Power. The novelty from SilverStone was discovered by us on the pages of the online store

By the generally accepted definition, computer block power supply - this is the power component of the system, providing power to the rest of the PC elements. From the point of view of circuitry, the PSU is a module for converting alternating current mains power supply 100-127V (USA, Japan and Taiwan, and locally in South America) or 220-240V (Europe and most of the world) into DC at voltage levels suitable for powering computer components.

The power supply is only one of the components of a computer system, so its key characteristics are defined as one of the many recommendations for systems of a certain form factor, and not vice versa. For example, it is the standard ATX form factor(Advanced Technology Extended), developed by Intel in 1995, determines the dimensions and other characteristics of the power supply, and not the PSU determines the shape of ATX systems.

Initially, power supplies designed to work in desktop computer systems, for the most part calculated according to the requirements of the ATX12V standard. This was before the version of the standard ATX12 V 2.2 (released in March 2005), after which it was decided to combine the requirements for all common form factors in a single document desktop platforms, including CFX12V, LFX12V, ATX12V, SFX12V and TFX12V. Over time, a document appeared designguideforDesktopplatformFormfactors, revision 1.1 "(March 2007), relevant to this day.

For reference, computer form factors are mainly determined by the format motherboards, the dimensions of some of them are given below in millimeters:

• WTX - 356x425
• AT - 350x305
• Baby-AT - 330x216
• BTX- 325x266
• ATX-305x244
• LPX - 330x229
• microBTX - 264x267
• microATX - 244x244
• microATX (minimum) - 171x171
• FlexATX - 229x191
• Mini-ITX - 170x170
• Nano-ITX - 120x120
• Pico-ITX - 100x72
• PC/104 (-Plus) - 96x90
• mobile-ITX - 60x60

Thus, if you see in the specifications of the power supply the mention of "compliance with the ATX12V 2.3 standard", keep in mind that such a document does not exist in nature. The last document submitted separately was the ATX12V 2.2, and the "2.3" mark indicates compliance with the "ATX12V Specific Guidelines 2.3" subclause in the above-mentioned Desktop Design Guidelines, Version 1.1, common to all desktop form factors.

Although ATX12V is only a subset of other PC form factors, when we talk about desktop systems, we usually mean this standard. Unless, of course, we are talking about miniature "gadgets to the TV" for watching videos, compact office machines, server systems and other special cases that do not fit into the definition of a home or gaming desktop system. Today we are talking about ATX12V power supplies.

It should also be noted that the publication of new power supply standards does not cancel the previous recommendations and requirements, but, as a rule, only tightens them. Therefore, today we will study the ATX12V 2.2 standard, and in addition to it, the additions "ATX12V Specific Guidelines 2.3" from the document "Design Guide for Desktop Platform Form Factors, Revision 1.1".

The requirements of these documents can be called sufficient for choosing a PSU model suitable for designing a system as a whole, however, if we talk about designing a modern system, at least one more document, the 80PLUS recommendations, must be taken into consideration.

And that's why.

One way or another, part of the power supplied to the PC is dissipated directly by the power supply itself during its operation. For example, a total system power consumption of about 500 W and a power supply efficiency of 75% in practice means that the PSU spends a quarter of the energy consumed on itself. About 125 W - and this is the power of a decent soldering iron, goes to the PSU to "heat" itself! If the power supply has a higher efficiency - say, 87%, the cost of paying for electricity, as well as cooling the system, can be significantly reduced.

Another interesting example. Let's say you planned to buy a power supply "with a margin". You never know ... The choice fell on a block of kilowatt power. Stock pocket does not pull? Maybe, but not in the case of power supplies. Imagine how a 1 kW PSU will "behave" in a system whose maximum load, even at its peak, does not exceed 500 W, at most - 600 W. A rare modern system - even on a 6-core processor and a couple of the most powerful video cards, consumes a lot of power.

Guide, we analyzed in detail the main features of classic ATX power supplies. Now is the time to get to know specific models. For a better understanding, we have divided the devices into five categories. Let's start with budget solutions for office computers, and finish with top gaming models.

Top system - top power supply!

Power supplies for office computers

Power supplies for office equipment are very often already built into the cases with which they are supplied. As a rule, the quality of such an integrated power supply depends on the quality of the case itself. But we all understand perfectly well that the office "workhorse" should be cheap and low-power. Below we bring to your attention proven models that you can trust.

LEPA N350-SB

This model was announced relatively recently. However, it is of particular interest to assemblers of inexpensive working computers. Despite the low price of around 1000 rubles, the N350-SB has a very uncommon appearance in the style of sports cars. Of course, it will not be visible in a closed case, but any PC builder will appreciate it.

The device does not have a cable additional food PCI-E expansion card, but has all the necessary connectors, including three SATA connectors. In principle, everything is logical, because office PCs usually use an integrated graphics core image processor.

We can't ignore the quiet 120mm hydraulic bearing fan, the use of which favorably affects the acoustic characteristics of the device. The cables are long enough to fit even bottom-mounted PSU cases. We also note the high-quality assembly of the N350-SB as a whole and the use of competent schematic solutions.

FSP Group ATX-350PNR

A very popular and noticeably added power source recently. At a cost of about 900 rubles, it is one of the best budget PSUs. Appearance corresponds to its category, but there are no sharp corners and burrs. It often comes with system unit, as it has proven itself only with positive side. So, if you come across an ATX-350PNR when buying a case with an integrated power supply, consider yourself very lucky.

FSP Group ATX-350PNR

The device is equipped with a 120mm Yate Loon D12SM-12 fan. You can’t call it absolutely quiet, but the level of noise emitted can be considered acceptable. Models with a stamped fan grill are noisier.

The printed circuit board is universal; power supplies for 400 and 450 W are made on its basis.

The primary circuit contains all the necessary elements of the filter, the installation was done quite carefully. Electrolytic capacitors are made by OST and TEAPO, which is rare for this class BP. Power connectors are quite enough to assemble an inexpensive PC, although the length of the cables is small, but this is already nit-picking.

Enermax Triathlor ETA385AWT

The last "subject" can definitely be recommended to those who wish to assemble an economical computer, while not sparing money for the "feeder". Its high quality is immediately indicated by the declared power of the + 12V bus, which actually corresponds to the nominal value of the entire PSU. The +12V line is divided into two virtual buses with a limit of 20A. Of the important features, it is worth noting the presence of a connector for powering a video card. It's hard to judge its urgent need for a working PC, but this is an absolute plus.

Enermax ETA385AWT

The power supply unit can be installed in cases with a lower PSU location, since the length of the wires allows this. The element base for this class is excellent, a 220 uF (400 V) capacitor from Panasonic is installed at the input, in the secondary circuit “electrolytes” are mainly from Nippon Chemi-Con. The only significant drawback, in our opinion, is the noise level at loads above 200 watts. The manufacturer has work to do.

In general, the ETA385AWT has the right to exist and is essentially a unique power supply of its kind.

PSU for entry-level multimedia computers

SeaSonic G-450

Why, if we are talking about an entry-level PC, then it must necessarily consist of cheap components? Nobody prevents a user who wants to get a high-quality and stable computer from paying an additional several thousand rubles.

The power supply complies with the 80 PLUS Gold standard, the efficiency level of which does not fall below 88%. The +12V bus can transmit up to 37 A of current, so the use of a discrete video card clearly suggests itself in the system. We consider the presence of detachable cables to be another undoubted advantage of the "feeder".

In the secondary circuit, the manufacturer uses the circuitry of the latest generation DC-DC converter with a common + 12V bus. Instead of rectifier diodes Schottky field effect transistors are used. The electrolytic capacitors in the primary and output circuits are produced by well-known companies Nippon Chemi-Con and Rubycon. The polymer "barrels" are made by United Chemi-Con and Enesol. The level of ripple and CNC (cross-load characteristics) of the G-450 is in order.

The cooling system of the device provides a comfortable noise level, while the temperature of all components is within acceptable limits. In addition to all of the above, I would like to add that the warranty for this model is 5 years.

Corsair VS450

Inexpensive and very high quality power supply. Considering the bundle, the set of connectors and the length of the cables, it will be enough to assemble a system with a good processor and one discrete video card. Please note that the power supply is non-modular, so you should take care of laying the remaining "tail" in advance.

With an average cost of 1,600 rubles, the VS450 is equipped with a solid element base. It does not have APFC, however, with such a low rated power, this is not so critical. All the necessary filtering and protective elements are soldered in the primary circuit, most of the electrolytic capacitors are manufactured by CapXon. Installation is done neatly, soldering quality is neat. The output voltages have an acceptable level of ripple, while under various loads they behave stably, although not ideally.

The device is equipped with a 120mm Yate Loon fan, which provides good cooling quality with acceptable acoustic characteristics. The noise from the rotating blades becomes noticeable only at high loads.

Thermaltake LT-450P

Another representative of the budget category. It does not represent anything supernatural, but it has a number of advantages over competitors. Despite the low power rating, it has all the necessary cables, and you most likely do not have to buy adapters.

Thermaltake LT-450P

The PSU is equipped with four SATA and five MOLEX connectors, which is quite enough by modern standards. The motherboard power cable is covered with a black braid, the rest of the wires are not protected by anything. The length and distance between the connectors is suitable for laying in small Midi-Tower cases.

Nevertheless, the greatest advantage of this power supply, in our opinion, is good system stabilization even at a load of 400 watts. Not every "feeder" in this price category can boast of such results. The efficiency level is at least 80%. But the level of noise emitted by the cooler is quite noticeable.

As a result, for 1,600 rubles you get a solid power supply with stable voltage levels and a good element base.

Power supplies for gaming computers of medium power

AeroCool Strike-X 600W

For quite sane cost, the buyer will receive a decent power supply. It cannot be said that it is devoid of any visible shortcomings, but it fully works out its value.

AeroCool Strike-X 600W

AeroCool in the Strike-X series uses a fairly high-quality element base, including capacitors of the well-known company Teapo. We are satisfied with the rather high quality of installation and soldering. The large 139mm fan effectively cools the internal components, but at high speeds it makes itself known, which should be kept in mind.

The power supply is APFC-equipped, certified 80 PLUS Bronze, +12V bus is designed for loads up to 50 A. Modding enthusiasts and gamers will also like the unusual red and black coloring with an X-shaped fan grille.

Otherwise, the PSU is quite ordinary, with the use of common circuit solutions.

The "golden" power supply, which we could not pass by. The appearance of the V550 is made in restrained colors, although it looks very nice and win-win. The power supply is partially modular, and the detachable cables have a flat profile, which makes them easier to route in the case and has a positive effect on air circulation.

Cooler Master V550 Semi Modular

By the way, the OEM for this PSU is SeaSonic. Circuit solutions have shortened the conductive lines, additional boards are directly soldered to the main PCB, which reduces the level of interference. The PSU is based on a modern resonant LLC inverter.

The APFC input capacitor is made by Hitachi, and the polymer and electrolytic secondary lines are made by Teapo.

The power supply demonstrates a good voltage stabilization coefficient, a low level of interference, as well as decent acoustic characteristics over the entire load range.

Chieftec BPS-500S2

The last representative, considered by us, can attract a potential buyer at a very pleasant price. The power supply complies with the 80 PLUS Bronze standard, that is, the efficiency does not fall below 85%. APFC is also used in the design of the BPS-500S2. Unfortunately, the PSU is non-modular, however, if desired, most of the cables will most likely be used. Considering the length of the wires, the BPS-500S2 is best suited for installation in small cases with a bottom power supply.

Chieftec BPS-500S2

The element base is quite good at such a price. By the way, Chieftec has never been caught in an unfair layout.

The device is equipped with a 120 mm fan, the noise from which turned out to be at a low level. It was also noticed that even at high loads, the temperature of the internal components is within acceptable limits, which indicates the high-quality operation of the cooling system and relatively low electrical losses.

Power supplies for top gaming systems

Model	Enermax REVOLUTION87+ 650W	Corsair CX750M	Chieftec GPM-850C	ZALMAN ZM650-XG
Rated power, W	650	750	850	650
Modular	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Certificate 80PLUS	Gold	Bronze	Gold	Gold
Form factor	ATX12V v2.4	ATX12V 2.3	ATX12V 2.3	ATX12V
APFC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
approximate price	6 500 rub.	3 900 rub.	4 300 rub.	4 800 rub.
Updated price

Enermax REVOLUTION87+ 650W

Almost a year has passed since the release of this model, but it is still relevant and popular. It's worth noting right away that the REVOLUTION87+ 650W is a partially modular power supply. The power cables for the motherboard and processor are not detachable, which, however, will not cause any inconvenience.

Enermax REVOLUTION87+ 650W

"Feeder" is completed with four 6+2 pin connectors for connecting PCI-E-devices. This number of ports allows you to connect two video cards high level performance. The length of the wires is sufficient for laying in medium-sized cases.

The power supply is 80 PLUS Gold certified and the power factor is close to 0.99. Excellent features! The +12V bus has three “sub-channel” lines with a current limit of 25 A each. The total load capacity of +12V is 648 W, which practically corresponds to the PSU rating.

The REVOLUTION87+ 650W is equipped with a 139mm Twister Bearing fan for quiet and durable operation.

The power supply has an excellent component base using modern technologies. It remains to add that the REVOLUTION87 + 650W is covered by a five-year warranty.

Corsair CX750M 750W

The main advantage of this power supply, of course, is its cost. For 3900 rubles, it is now difficult to find a PSU capable of delivering more than 600 W of energy with an 80 PLUS Bronze certificate.

The CX750M is partially modular, which can also be considered its undoubted plus. And the length of the cables is enough even for laying in some Full-Tower cases. Detachable wires have a flat profile, which is especially important to reduce airflow overlap zones. Given the number of possible connectors, the CX750M can easily become the basis of a system with two high-performance graphics cards.

Thanks to the use of high-quality components, Corsair engineers managed to keep the PSU small in size and weight at a relatively high power. An important factor in its favor is the good stabilization of the output voltages at various load levels, as well as the low amplitude of ripples.

The only, in our opinion, more or less noticeable drawback can be considered the noise level at loads above 500 watts.

Chieftec GPM-850C 850W

Another interesting model from Chieftec. The device is 80 PLUS Gold certified. There is all necessary set of connectors. Including for building SLI/CrossFire arrays. However, please note that the length of the cables is not the most acceptable.

Chieftec GPM-850C

The element base of the GPM-850C is far from being outstanding, but quite good for its price. The secondary circuit is based on a modern synchronous rectifier using DC-DC converters for +3.3V and +5V lines. Polymer capacitors are soldered on the modular connector board. The rest are electrolytic, produced by very well-known companies.

GPM-850C performs well even with overclocked components high-end, while the temperature of the internal components is within the allowable range. And all this "good" is offered in retail for an average of 4,300 rubles.

ZALMAN ZM650-XG

"Golden" power supply. One of the representatives of the GOLDROCK line. The device is perfect for assembling a productive game system. The power supply is modular. The wires are long enough to run even in large cases, however extra tall towers may require a CPU cable extension.

There are such form factors of power supplies: TFX, SFX, PS3 / ATX and ATX.
ATX is the most common size of power supplies that are used in the vast majority of personal computers. Dimensions (HxWxD): 8.6x15x14 cm.
PS3/ATX - a variation of ATX, more compact due to the reduced depth. The depth depends on the model of the power supply - the range is from 10 to 13.9 cm.
SFX are compact size power supplies designed for small PCs or home theaters. Using a special adapter, the SFX can be installed in an ATX case. Dimensions (HxWxD): 5.15x125x100 cm.
TFX - this size is used in cases of small height or non-standard shape. Dimensions (HxWxD): 6.5x8.5x17.5 cm. Depending on the PSU model, the depth may be less.

Power
from 120 to 2400 W
The power supply has this power.
This parameter is most important for power supplies. However, the more powerful the system, the more energy it consumes.
For computers used in offices, 300-400 watts is enough, but a powerful PC for gamers will need 450-600 watts. A power supply unit with a power of more than 650 W is needed for top configurations with two video cards.

Cooling system
View of the cooling system of the power supply. Today, power supplies are produced with one, with two fans, as well as those where there are no fans - fanless.
The most common cooling system is with a single fan. IN budget models 80 mm fans are installed, these fans spin up to several thousand rpm, minus - they are very noisy. In more expensive models, fans of a much larger diameter are installed - more than 120 mm.
Sometimes a second fan is also built into powerful power supplies, which, of course, increases the cooling efficiency, but significantly increases the noise level.
Fanless power supplies use only heatsinks to dissipate heat. The advantage of this type of power supply: they are completely silent. Disadvantages - high cost, as well as power limitation ( this system cooling cannot completely cool high-power power supplies). Today, power supplies that do not have fans do not exceed 600 watts.

Fan diameter
from 14 to 180 mm
The diameter of the fan installed in the power supply.
Typically, a fan with a larger diameter operates at a lower speed and, accordingly, produces less noise (the cooling efficiency does not change). If you need a quiet ventilation system, purchase power supplies with a fan with a diameter of at least 120-140 mm.

Second fan diameter
from 40 to 80 mm
The diameter of the second fan installed in the power supply.
Typically, a fan with a larger diameter will cool at a lower speed and produce less noise (the cooling efficiency will not change).

Fan speed
The rotation speed of the fan installed in the power supply.
The larger this value, the more noisy the fan. Many powerful power supplies have a function automatic change fan speed depending on temperature, given function helps to reduce the noise level.

PFC
The method of correction in the power supply of the power factor (PFC - Power Factor Correction).
The power factor is the value obtained as a result of dividing the active power (the power that goes to useful work) for the received power. The closer the power factor is to unity, the better. Two methods of power factor correction have been developed - a passive method and an active one. The active method of correction is much better, because the power factor with it reaches a large value - 0.95-0.99, and with the passive method of correction - only 0.7-0.75. A high power factor is needed for those who have low-power UPSs, because to ensure the operation of a power supply with passive PFC, a much more powerful (about a third) UPS is needed than to ensure the operation of a power supply of the same power, but with active PFC. By the way, power supplies characterized by active PFC are not so sensitive to low voltage in the network.

ATX12V version
from 1 to 2.52
The version of the ATX12V standard supported by the power supply.
The ATX12V standard is a list of specifications that defines the design of a power supply. This standard was introduced after the Pentium 4 processor was released. The main difference from previous standards is a significant increase in power along the +12 V line (up to Pentium processor 4, the power supply to the processors was carried out via the +5 V line). The main differences between the versions of the standard
1.3 - requires a 20-pin power connector for the motherboard, as well as an additional 4-pin power connector for the processor. The current on the +12 V line is a minimum of 10 A.
2.0 - requires a 24-pin power connector for the motherboard, as well as an additional 4-pin power connector for the processor. At least 2 +12V lines are required.
2.2 - it is necessary to have a 24 (20 + 4) -pin power connector for the motherboard, as well as an additional 4-pin power connector for the processor.

Version TFX12V
from 1.3 to 2.4
The power supply supports the TFX12V standard. Thin Form Factor was developed for small systems in 2002 by Intel. The power supply is characterized by a narrow elongated shape. 180-300 W - typical PSU power.

EPS12V support
The power supply supports the EPS12V standard.
This standard is for entry-level servers. Firms that produce power supplies for home computers mention this standard in order to emphasize the reliability of their products.

Certificate 80PLUS
Compliance of the power supply with one of the certification levels implies compliance with certain energy consumption standards for this model (the efficiency of the power supply must be at least 80%). The higher the certification level, the more efficient the power supply.

Connectors

Motherboard connector type
Type of connector for the motherboard. Power is supplied to the motherboard through this connector. Modern motherboards use a 24-pin connector, older motherboards used a 20-pin connector. Many power supplies manufactured today have a collapsible 24-pin connector (20-pin + 4-pin), it is needed to establish compatibility with older motherboards.

Number of 4-pin CPU sockets
1 to 2
Number of 4-pin CPU connectors.
Additional power is supplied to the processor through this connector. A huge number of motherboards manufactured today (about half) are equipped with a 4-pin CPU connector.

Number of sockets 4+4 pin CPU
1 to 2
Number of connectors 4+4 pin CPU.
This connector provides additional power to the processor. This connector is collapsible, it is compatible with both motherboards with an 8-pin CPU connector and motherboards with a 4-pin CPU connector.

Number of 8-pin CPU sockets
1 to 2
Number of 8-pin CPU connectors.
This connector provides additional power to the processor.

Number of 6-pin PCI-E connectors
from 1 to 20
Number of 6-pin PCI-E connectors.
Powerful video cards produced today need additional power. Power is supplied to the video card through the 6-pin PCI-E connector.
If you're planning on building a CrossFire or SLI system, then you'll need the extra headers.

Number of slots 6+2-pin PCI-E
from 1 to 20
Powerful video cards produced today need additional power. Power is supplied to the video card through the 6+2-pin PCI-E connector.

Number of 8-pin PCI-E slots
1 to 8
Number of 8-pin PCI-E connectors.
Powerful video cards produced today need additional power. An 8-pin PCI-E connector is used to supply power to the video card.
If you're thinking of building a CrossFire or SLI system, then you'll need the extra connectors.

Number of 4-pin IDE connectors
from 1 to 16
Number of 4-pin IDE connectors.
Thanks to this connector hard drives and CD/DVD drives with an IDE interface are powered.

Number of 15-pin SATA connectors
from 1 to 62
Number of 15-pin SATA connectors.
Via a 15-pin SATA connector to CD/DVD drives and hard drives with SATA interface food is served.

Number of 4-pin Floppy connectors
1 to 8
Number of 4-pin Floppy connectors.
The 4-pin Floppy connector supplies power to the floppy drive.

Current strength

On line +3.3 V
from 4 to 40 A
The maximum value of the current along the line is +3.3 V.
In earlier PCs, the main load fell on the +3.3 V and +5 V buses. However, with the introduction of the Pentium 4, the +12 V bus became the main consumer of energy. has enough power on this bus.

On line +5 V
from 5.3 to 52 A
The maximum value of the current along the line is +5 V.
In earlier personal computers, the main load was on the +3.3 V and +5 V buses. However, after the introduction of the Pentium 4, the +12 V bus became the main consumer of electricity. enough power on that bus.

On line +12 V 1
from 6 to 200 A
On the most "gluttonous" elements modern computers- to the processor and video card - power is supplied via the +12 V bus. For this reason, the more current through this bus, the better.
Usually the +12 bus is divided into several lines for safety reasons.

On line +12 V 2
from 7 to 85 A
The maximum value of the current in the first line is +12 V.
The processor and video card are powered by the +12 V bus. The higher the current through this bus, the better.
For security reasons, the +12 bus is divided into several lines.

On line +12 V 3
from 6 to 45 A
The maximum value of the current on the third line is +12 V.
On the +12 V bus, power is supplied to the video card and processor, these components are the most "gluttonous". The more current supplied through this bus, the better.
As a rule, the +12 V bus is divided into several lines for safety reasons.

On line +12 V 4
from 8 to 45 A
The maximum value of the current on the fourth line is +12 V.
On the +12 V bus, power is sent to the video card and the PC processor, these are the most "gluttonous" elements. Therefore, the more current flows through the bus, the better.
Usually the +12 bus is divided into several lines for safety reasons.

On line +12 V 5
from 15 to 30 A
The maximum value of the current in the fifth line is +12 V.
The +12V rail supplies power to those components of modern PCs that consume the most power. Therefore, the more current flowing through this bus, the better.
The +12 bus is usually divided into several lines to improve safety.

On line +12 V 6
from 17 to 30 A
The maximum value of the current on the sixth line is +12 V.
On the +12 V bus, power is supplied to the most "gluttonous" components of personal computers, so the more current that flows through this bus, the better.
This bus is usually divided into several lines for safety reasons.

On line +12 V 7
The maximum current on the seventh line is +12 V.

On line +12 V 8
from 0.3 to 0.3 A
The maximum current on the eighth line is +12 V.
The +12 V bus supplies power to the processor and video card - the most "gluttonous" components of modern PCs. Therefore, the more current on this bus, the better.
As a rule, for safety reasons, the +12 V bus is divided into several lines.

On the -12 V line
from 0.1 to 300 A
The maximum value of the current along the line is -12 V.
-12V voltage is required for COM ports to work.

On line +5 V Standby
from 0.5 to 12.5 A
The maximum value of the current on the +5 V SB line.
The +5 V SB (Standby) bus is required for functions such as turning on a PC via a modem, via local network, by pressing a button on the mouse or keyboard, even for the Suspend-to-RAM mode.

Noise level

Minimum
2 to 34 dBA
The minimum level of noise created by the cooling system during the operation of the power supply. The lower the value of this parameter, the more comfortable the work will be. But it should be noted that in most computers the main noise does not come from the power supply, but from the processor cooler.

Maximum
5 to 45 dBA
The level of noise that the cooling system creates during the operation of the power supply.
The lower the value of this parameter, the more comfortable it will be to work on a PC. However, it should be said that in many PCs the main noise comes not from the power supply at all, but from the processor cooler. The noise level is measured in dBA. Measuring the noise level in dB is slightly incorrect, because the human hearing aid is designed in such a way that the perceived loudness of the ear depends on both the sound pressure level and the frequency of the incoming sound. Loudness in dBA is the perceived loudness, that is, the sound pressure value that takes into account the structural features of the human hearing aid.

Input voltage

Minimum
from 85 to 230 V
The minimum input voltage that the power supply supports. Mains voltage in different countries differs: in Europe and Russia, 220 Volts is considered the standard, in Japan or the USA - 110 Volts. Universal power supplies allow you to maintain the input voltage in certain ranges (the range depends on the device model).

Maximum
from 220 to 280 V
The maximum value of the input voltage that the power supply supports. The voltage in the network in different countries is different: in Europe and Russia, 220 Volts is considered the standard, in Japan or the USA - 110 Volts. Universal power supplies allow you to maintain the input voltage in certain ranges (the range depends on the device model).

Additional Information

Detachable cables
Unused cables can be unfastened, then they will not interfere with the assembly of the PC, connecting new devices to it.

Surge protection
The power supply has an overvoltage protection function for the system.
If the output voltage is greater than the allowable value, then this function will automatically turn off the power supply, this will protect the computer components from burnout.

Overload protection
The power supply has an overload protection function.
If the output current is greater than the allowable value, the function will automatically turn off the power supply, this action will save the computer components from burning out.

Short circuit protection
The power supply has a system short circuit protection function.
If a short circuit occurs, the protection system will instantly turn off the power supply, while saving all computer components and the unit itself from burning out.

Backlight color
The backlight installed in the power supply will give your computer an individual design. There are models with different backlight colors.

Power supply color
The main color of the power supply case. As a rule, computer equipment is made in neutral soothing colors, most often these are black, white or silver devices that will harmoniously fit into any interior.

Dimensions

Width
from 20.5 to 360 mm
Device width.

Height
from 19 to 190 mm
Device height.

Depth
from 2 to 360 mm
Device depth.

Weight
from 0.4 to 140 kg
Device weight.

This work was submitted to our "unlimited" contest of articles and the author received an award - a PENTAGRAM FREEZONE QVC-100 Cu + cooler, a mat from AMD and a branded T-shirt of the site.

Most often, novice users do not pay enough attention to the selection of high-quality components, and when choosing a case, they only care about the design of its front panel. Even if the buyer is interested in the power of the power supply unit (hereinafter referred to as PSU) installed in the case, no one will warn him about the low quality of cheap power supplies (no matter how beautiful the numbers are drawn on them). In the future, with an independent upgrade, the processor, video card are replaced, the hard drive is bought in addition ... but the power supply remains the same, and if problems arise with the stability of the machine, its existence is not immediately remembered. The search for a more powerful power supply begins, but in articles about power supply and on computer-related conferences (through the efforts of individual illiterate and irresponsible authors, as well as their readers), there are a lot of surprisingly tenacious myths. Some of them will try to expose this material, and at the same time show with examples the difference between a cheap PSU and a high-quality one (not necessarily expensive).

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On the net you can find quite a lot of articles on the theory of computer power supplies, their tests and improvement guides. This material is an attempt to give some generalized recommendations for choosing a PSU without tests, according to characteristic external signs. The idea itself is inspired by this article.

Introduction

It's no secret that the power consumption (and, accordingly, heat dissipation) of PC components is constantly growing. The TDP (maximum design heat dissipation) of today's desktop platforms is 130W (LGA755) and 125W (Socket AM2), respectively, in the short term. The power consumption of top-end video cards has long gone beyond admissible currents both for the AGP connector (40W) and for PCI Express(75W) and reaches 120W (such video cards are equipped with additional power connectors), and the use of two video cards in SLI or CrossFire mode automatically doubles these requirements (lists of PSUs certified for SLI and CrossFire systems, see section). The transition DDR->DDR2 (with a decrease in voltage from 2.5-2.8V to 1.8-1.9V and reference frequencies by half) is gradually compensated by an increase in frequencies (and voltages - in overclocker modules).