What is a power supply unit?

Anytime you’ve been looking to build your own desktop, chances are, you may have been asked which power supply unit you’re looking for. However, while you may have put a lot of thought into things such as the CPU and GPU on yout system, have you ever wondered what a power supply unit does, and why it’s important? Well, we’re here to tell you just that. Read on to find out.

What a power supply unit is and what it does

A Power Supply Unit (or PSU) is an internal component on desktops and laptops, as well as most other electronics including gaming consoles such as the Sony PlayStation 5. Contrary to what their name suggests, they don’t supply a system with power, but convert alternating high voltage current (AC) into direct current (DC). In addition to this, it also regulates the DC output voltage according to the levels required by the different components on a computer. The PSU then, is an extremely important part of any desktop or aptop, or a server. 

Factors to consider when buying a PSU

While laptops will usually come with their own PSU built-in, desktops will allow you to choose your own PSU, especially if you’re building your own. When choosing a PSU, it is important to make sure it is compatible with your desktop’s cabinet and motherboard, in terms of size.

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Another factor to also consider is its wattage. The higher the wattage, the more power it can provide to your system. Ideally, it is recommended to buy a PSU with a higher capacity than what is required by your computer. This also allows upgrading to higher powered components for your desktop later on, should you need it.

Before buying your own PSU, also make sure you use an online wattage calculator to understand what wattage your PC typically runs at. You can then buy a higher capacity PSU for your system. Happy buying and building!