Cooling and Power Lesson 005: Wattage Rating

Wattage Rating

The power supply unit's output capacity or capability.

What is the wattage rating of a standard PC?

200-300 watts.

What is the wattage rating of a gaming PC?

500-900 watts.

What should be considered when selecting system components?

The wattage that the computer will draw, making it important to install the proper power supply.

How does one know the amount of wattage that components in a computer draw if not stated or provided?

The product of the amount of amps multiplied by the amount of volts.

What increments of wattage are power supplies usually manufactured in?

Increments of 50-100 watts.

As a general rule, should one get a PSU that supplies the exact amount of wattage needed for the computer?

No, the chosen PSU should be a little bit above, to compensate for add ons, present or future.

What is important to consider about power sources, regarding PSUs and computer power needs?

Being sure the wall outlet can provide the amount of power necessary for the device.

How efficient are PSUs when drawing and converting power?

About 70-75% efficient. The rest is loss in the process of proper power conversion.

Why is power lost when PSUs draw power from a source?

Due to heat conversion during the transformation of high-voltage AC to low-voltage DC.

What is instrumental to remember when using computers with older power supplies in different parts of the world?

Older PSUs cannot automatically sense the difference between low line and high line power.

What is important to remember to do when using an older PSU in different parts of the world?

To flip the switch on the PSU to the proper setting manually, so that the PSU can convert power appropriately.

ENERGY STAR-Rated Power Supply Unit (PSU)

A higher-quality PSU that loses less power in the form of heat, usually 20% loss or less.