Your PC's Power Supply Unit: Get quality power, and plenty of it!

I've mentioned before that the Power Supply Unit (PSU) is probably one of the more neglected components of the home PC. However if we think about it for a second, given the PSU is responsible for feeding all your hungry PC parts their vitamins and supplements needed for operation, it makes perfect sense that you feed them with a healthy diet. Otherwise like when you feed your body with junk food alone, your PC will not run as effectively, or worse case scenario break down!

Basic rule of thumb - you can never have too much power; when it comes to PSU that is! With power hungry graphics cards, processors and hard drives requiring a sustained, clean supply of power, the PSU needs to deliver. For example an Athlon 64 3400+ requires 100W of power just for itself! If you think that's a little greedy, than a pair of 6800Ultra graphics cards in SLI mode will suck out 220W!! Therefore before you upgrade your computer, you need to make sure your PSU is up to the task, otherwise you are both wasting your money or even worse putting your new PC components at the risk of damage.

Thankfully compatibility is not an issue, as all desktop PSU's are built to suit ATX standards. For some motherboards that have different sized power adapters, there are connectors that enable you to still insert the power cable. One thing to not be fooled by however is the power rating some PSU claim. Don't be fooled into thinking that the higher the stated wattage, the better the PSU. Best way to check for the PSU's performance is to add the +12V, +5V and +3.3V power rails. The PSU specs will have this info.

Finally don't be tempted into buying a 'cheap' higher wattage PSU. An Antec PSU of 350W will be a better option than a lesser know brand at 400W. Buying from a trusted brand will give you peace of mind in the quality of the power supplied, not to mention the efficiency. Basically, 'unclean' power can damage components through irregular supply and power can lost through loss of heat. Known brands like Antec look after your PC much better. I just bought the Antec Neo 480W PSU. Not only is it really quiet, but it has the added bonus of only connecting the power cords required for your PC. This means you will have less clutter within your computer, thus allowing for better air circulation and cooling. I have been very happy with it and can rest assured my PC's power is in safe hands!

Order your PSU at Mr.Gadget Today!