Thus, in the past, we said that the ideal was to have a source capable of providing approximately 25% more power than the maximum consumption of the equipment, but today this is no longer valid and, as we said, it’s worth spending a bit more and having a higher power source for a future hardware upgrade, because it seems that the consumption of hardware devices (especially CPU and GPU) is going up sharply.
On the other hand, it is also very important to take into account the certificate of Efficiency that carries the power supply; this has always been important, but with higher power sources it is even more important as it means greater energy savings. As you already know, to “measure” the effectiveness of a source, we generally use the 80 Plus certification, whose categories go from best to worst: Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and White. In this regard, 80 Plus Gold and above are often considered ideal (you won’t see a font considered premium with less than that).
Finally, among the basic characteristics of the source, we also have the choice of the manufacturer, which has practically the same importance as the two previous ones. A reputable manufacturer relies on many years of experience, but also on many, many users who have purchased and tried their products and back up the claim that the manufacturer is “good”.
In the area of power supplies, we have many manufacturers that they are considered as such and that after purchasing one of their products, we can be sure of acquiring a quality source. In this regard, we are going to give you an indication: if a manufacturer offers a guarantee of 5, 7 or even 10 years on its power supply, it means that it is VERY sure of its good quality (because otherwise it would not risk giving over the 2 years required by law). And when it comes to a power supply, which is often one of the most failure-prone components, having a long Period of guarantee it’s always quiet.
Advanced features make the difference
After clarifying the power, efficiency certification and manufacturer parameters, we must move on to the slightly more advanced characteristics of the power supplies and which for many users can sometimes go unnoticed and, however, are the ones that can end up scoring the difference between a source that simply powers your PC or a power source you can trust that meets all your Needs.
protection systems
Power supply protection systems are critically important; Before I tell you that the power supply tends to be one of the PC components that fails the most, and that’s usually because the power supply can have fluctuations, surges, shorts, etc. ., but it is precisely the protection systems. It is therefore important to know them and to make sure that the fountain you are going to buy has them:
- OCP, OVP and UVP: They are protection systems against problems in the electrical network. OCP stands for “Over Current Protection”, and it is surely the most important since it protects the system against current intensity variations. OVP stands for “Over Voltage Protection”, and it is the protection that will protect our equipment in the event of a power grid overvoltage. Equally important is UVP, which stands for “Under Voltage Protection”, and which, like the OVP system, protects the system against voltage variations in the network, but in this case when sags occur.
- SCP: The fourth essential protective measure in the power supply is protection against short circuits. A short circuit is a fault or breakdown, which can occur both in the electrical network and in the device itself, in which the current flows from phase directly to neutral or earth, or in in other words, that electricity goes where it shouldn’t. This protection detects these problems and directly shuts down the system to protect component integrity.
- OTPs and OPPs: Finally, the other two essential safety measures in power supply are OTP (Over Temperature Protection) and OPP (Over Power Protection), the latter also called OLP (Over Load Protection). As their names indicate, the first protects the system against overheating, while the second protects the equipment against possible overloads, either due to the power line or due to overconsumption.
Only fonts with all of these protection systems can be considered safe, so make sure the font you are going to buy has them all.
One rail or multiple rails
We have often wondered if it is better to have a source with a single powerful +12V rail or if it is better to have several rails, both to distribute the load and to have additional protective measures. In this regard, we refer to the response that the renowned manufacturer shut up! told us about it, and it is that for them having several +12V rails is better for the simple fact that they have integrated individual protection for each of them and, in addition, it gives greater stability to the system by not having to load everything onto a single rail.
It’s a little “for color tastes”, but the fact is that with the powers that we wield today and with the current intensity that modern high-end graphics require, it does not is more if necessary to have only one rail and It is almost better to have several rails for more protection and stability.
Modular power supply and flat or sheathed cables
If you are one of those who thought that a power supply is nothing more than a device that serves to distribute electricity from the socket to your PC, then you will surely not even consider buying a modular power supply. or not, or whether it has flat cables. However, it is an aspect that brings a lot of added value for several reasons.
For starters, the fact that the source is modular will allow you to connect only the cables and connectors you need to it, so that all are routed where they need to go and are not left in the middle in any way. way. Also, having a modular source makes it much easier to mount the equipment for this very reason.
As for the cables, let them be plans Not only does this also make them easier to mount and route through the box to plug them in where they need to go, but they also promote better system cooling by having fewer obstructions to airflow. As you can see, there are all the advantages of having a modular power supply, and without a doubt our recommendation is that you don’t even consider buying a power supply that is not modular or, at least, semi- modular (this type of power supply has the fixed ATX and EPS cables (both are needed for the PC to work, so you’ll have to use them anyway) but the rest is modular and therefore optional).
Finally, to highlight a variant generally associated with modding, the cables sleeve. These cables are individually meshed with nylon thread, which can be of different colors to give the interior of the equipment a different aesthetic, of course more orderly and with a greater sense of quality. This, again, depends on taste.
power supply fan
Typically, a PC has quite a few fans inside, as they are the ones that create the internal airflow that allows cool air to come in, cool the components, and pull the air out. warm on the outside so it doesn’t build up on the inside. Many users opt for silent fans in their PC to make it as quiet as possible, but they often forget that the power supply usually also has a fan and sometimes it is one of the main noise generators, so make sure sure that the power supply fan is quiet is also an important point to note.
A good example can be found in be quiet! Dark Power Series, power supplies that incorporate the award-winning Silent Wings 3 fans, which guarantee a minimum noise level even when we subject the equipment to maximum load. These fans are also the ones chosen for the cheaper Straight Power family, so don’t think you can only have silence if you go for the better models.
The high end generally makes the difference
While it is true that one can find several models of power supplies with good power, efficiency certification and features at relatively reasonable prices, in the end it is usually the high-end products of each manufacturer that make the difference. For example, as we have already mentioned before, an important aspect is the guarantee: if a manufacturer gives you a 10-year guarantee on its power supply, it is VERY sure that the product is good.
Other than that, there are some features which, although not necessary, can make a difference. We have one more example in the Dark Power series from be quiet! and its overclocking key, a physical button that we can optionally add to the PC (although it is included with the source) that allows us to modify the behavior of the source so that it works with a single more powerful rail, ideal if you intend to overclock the PC.
Never skimp on buying a power supply
As we have explained to you throughout this article, the power supply is one of the most important elements of the system, since the energy that reaches the other components of the system in adequate quantity and quality depends almost entirely on the hardware, as well as avoid electrical problems. Plus, if you opt for a source with advanced features like modular cabling, it will still give you benefits that are worth the investment.
As we always say, the power supply is the heart of the PC, and if it doesn’t work properly, you could end up with a number of unwanted problems that you would have avoided by buying a better quality power supply initially. For this reason, our recommendation is to never skimp on the power supply and treat it as one of the most important components of the PC, because it really is.
We are also not telling you that you have to buy a high-end power supply, that already depends on you, but of course we do not recommend that you use a low-end power supply or from a manufacturer of dubious reputation, no matter the power it claims to have to power your system, because in the end, cheap is expensive and if that source gives you trouble, it could “take away” your beloved (and expensive) PC hardware components.
Table of Contents
