Power supplies

The power supply provides power to all parts of the computer and is the last place to save. A good power supply operates quietly, protects the components during surges in the network, and lasts for years during which you change processors and graphics cards. Here you will find power supplies from compact SFX models for small cases to powerful units from 1000 W and above for the strongest graphics cards, with all levels of 80 Plus certification.

How to choose

• Power. Sum the consumption of the processor and graphics card and add a buffer of about 30%. For office use, 450–550 W is sufficient, for a mid-range gaming system – 650–750 W, and for top graphics cards – 850–1000 W and more.
• 80 Plus certification. Bronze, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium indicate how efficiently the power supply converts electricity. Gold is the best balance – less heat, quieter operation, and lower bills.
• ATX 3.0 and 3.1. The new standard has a 16-pin connector for graphics cards and withstands sudden spikes in consumption from modern cards.
• Modularity. With modular and semi-modular power supplies, you connect only the cables you need – the case is tidier and airflow is improved.
• Form factor. ATX is the standard. SFX and SFX-L are for compact cases, while TFX and Flex ATX are for narrow office computers.

What to watch out for

• A cheap power supply without certification and protections can damage expensive components.
• Check if there are the necessary PCIe cables or a 16-pin connector for your graphics card.
• The length of the unit matters in smaller cases – check the dimensions in millimeters.
• The power on the label is not the power that the computer actually consumes continuously.
• Protections against overvoltage, overload, and short circuits are mandatory – quality models have all of them.

Compatibility

The power supply must match the format of the case and have all the connectors for the motherboard, processor, and graphics card. For top graphics cards, choose a model with ATX 3.x and a dedicated 16-pin cable. The configurator calculates the recommended power for the selected components.