LESSON 1: 2:

LESSON
COMPUTER POWER SUPPLY

OBJECTIVES:

After reading this lesson, the student is expected to:

 Be familiar with the Computer Power Supply and its parts

 Understand the importance of Computer Power Supply in the

Computer System Unit.

 Know to choose a power supply compatible with the system unit.

Computer Power Supply

What is Computer Power Supply?

The power supply unit (PSU) plays a major role in the stable operation of a
computer. It converts mains AC, to low-voltage regulated DC power for the internal
components of a computer. Modern personal computers universally use a switched-
mode power supply. Some power supplies have a manual selector for input voltage,
while others automatically adapt to the supply voltage.

The ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended) standard, introduced by Intel in

1995, has governed how power supplies have evolved in recent years. Launched as an
improvement over the previous AT (Advanced Technology) standard, ATX requires the
power supply to produce three DC power outputs; +3.3V, +5V, and +12V.

Figure 2.13 Computer Power Supply and its parts

Source: https://www.silverstonetek.com/product_power.php?bno=2&tb=13&area=en
ATX Computer Power Supply Connectors

There are several connectors on an ATX power supply. Several connectors with several
different wires providing several different voltages. In this section, we'll take a look at each of
the connectors on a typical ATX power supply. The connector is a 20-pin ATX power supply
connector. As you can see from the color-code to the left of the photo, it supplies many
different voltages (+3.3V, +5V, +12V, -12V, -5V) as well as several ground wires and a
couple of signal wires ("Pwr On" which is how the motherboard tells the power supply to
turn on and "Pwr Good" which reports back that the voltage of 3.3V and 5V are within
spec)

Figure 2.14 20 pin and 24 pin ATX power connector

Source:http://www.computerupgradesrepairs.co.uk/psuconnectors.htm

Figure 2.15 20 pin and 24 pin ATX power connector pin-outs

Source: https://makezine.com/projects/computer-power-supply-to-bench-power-supply-adapter/

There's also a +5V stand by (+5VSB) that constantly supplies power to the board
even when the PC is off. This voltage is used for several different CMOS functions like
Wake On LAN, Wake On Ring, etc.

ATX 2.0 saw the motherboard power connector extended from 20 pins to 24
pins. One additional +3.3V, +5V, +12V, and Ground have been added to the connector.
The extra 4-pins simply provide more power to the motherboard over more wires. This
reduces resistance, heat, and can provide better voltages.

It's not unusual to see motherboards with 24-pin

connectors on them. Likewise, it's not unusual to
still see power supplies with only 20-pin power
connectors. If you end up with such a mismatch,
don't sweat. Use the 20-pin power connector in
the 24-pin socket, and chances are your PC will
work just fine.
Some 24-pin main power connectors allow the
user to "break away" the extra four pins so the
connector can easily be used in a 20-pin
motherboard. The four pins that are "broken off"
need to be tucked away somewhere inside the
PC. These wires cannot be connected anywhere
else on the PC.
Figure 2.16 24 pin ATX power connector
Source:https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/prime-b350-plus-24pin-4pin-help.3247351/

The connector on the left is called a "4 pin +12V

power connector" and is the defining characteristic that
differentiates an ATX power supply from an ATX12V
power supply. It's also known as the "P4" connector
because they were initially introduced only on Pentium 4
boards. The connector comprises two +12V wires and
two grounds and provides voltage to the CPU.

Figure 2.17 4 pin ATX power connector

Source: https://www.kitchentablecomputers.com/ppc.php

The connector on the right is called the "EPS connector." It's typically used on
SSI or SMP boards, most of the server variety. Essentially, it is two of the side of the
+12V connector by side and comprises four +12V leads and four grounds. A quad rail
SSI power supply tends to have each pair of +12V leads on this connector on its rail,
essentially providing each CPU in a dual CPU arrangement its dedicated rail. Recently,
high-performance boards have added an EPS connector to provide better amperage,
through more leads.

Like the 20 and 24-pin ATX main power connectors, EPS and +12V connectors
are interchangeable. A 4-pin +12V connector will fit in an EPS receptacle and an EPS
connector can fit into a +12V receptacle if you leave four pins hanging off the edge.
Some power supplies provide an 8-pin EPS that can be split into two 4-pin connectors
(see below left,) one of which can be used for the +12V connector.
 This is the PCI Express power connector. Similar to the +12V and EPS
connectors, it consists of only +12V leads and ground leads. Three of each to be
precise. This connector is used to provide additional power for PCI-e video cards. Only
so much power can be pushed through the tiny little slot soldered to your motherboard's
PCB. By using this connector, a better voltage can be delivered to your video card's
GPU because there is less resistance.

Figure 2.18 PCI-E Power Connector

Source:https://www.hdcabling.co.za/product/6-pin-female-to-8-pin-male-pc-graphics-card-power-cable-adapter-for-new-
graphics-card-to-older-power-supplies/

This connector is the most common, and

most certainly the most unchanged connector, of
any PC power supply. It's technically called a
"peripheral power connector," although most of
us call it a "Molex” (right). Molex is a brand and
the company has part numbers for every
connector you'd ever find on a power supply or
motherboard and not just the peripheral power
connector. And although there are some
companies other than Molex making these
connectors, we still call them "Molex."

Figure 2.19 Molex connector

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molex_connector

This connector is used for optical drives, hard drives, fans... pretty much
any device in a PC that doesn't have a
connector specifically designed for it.
This connector supplies both +12V
(yellow wire) and +5V (red wire) and
has two grounds. Typically, the +12V
 is used to power motors while the +5V is used to power logic boards.

A floppy power connector is also known as the Berg connector. It's wired
the same way as a peripheral power connector with one +12V, one +5V, and two
grounds, but is considerably smaller in size for use with devices like floppies,
LS120's and Zip drives.

Figure 2.20 Berg connector

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berg_connector

Finally, we have the SATA power connector. This connector provides

power to Serial ATA devices. It provides +12V and +5V just like a peripheral
power connector, but also provides +3.3V. It supplies power to newer hard drives
and optical drives.

Old types of PSU usually have

no SATA power connectors. A
Molex to Serial ATA power cable
adapter can be used to provide
power to your Serial ATA hard
drive or optical drive through a
standard Molex connection from
your power supply

Figure 2.21 SATA

Power connector
Source:http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html

Guidelines in choosing a Power Supply Unit

A high-quality power supply with enough power capacity ensures the functionality
of your equipment as well as their reliability and durability. On the other hand, many
problems and malfunctions are caused by low quality or underpowered PSUs. For
instance, a defective power supply can result in random system resets/freezes.
Knowing the importance of the power supply is the first step in the quest to find the right
PSU for your computer system. Many users choose a power supply based on total
wattage alone, assuming that higher is always synonymous with better. There is no
single, universal rule for selecting a high-quality power supply. Nevertheless, various
indicators provide circumstantial evidence of PSU quality, and some guidelines are
generally helpful.
1. MANUFACTURER

First, always choose a power supply from a reputable manufacturer, and look for
reviews of it before you buy it. Avoid cheap, generic power supplies, which tend to be
substandard. Look for reputable brands that offer solid warranties and support. Corsair,
Seasonic, and Thermaltake are three manufacturers with reputations for producing
high-quality power supplies. Larger, heavier units are preferable to puny, lightweight
models. Higher-quality power supplies almost always use bigger and better capacitors,
chokes, and other internal components, and they come outfitted with larger heat sinks
for superior heat dissipation—all of which translates into more weight. Larger cooling
fans, which typically move more air while making less noise than smaller fans, are
another plus.

2. OUTPUT

Power supplies are differentiated by output wattage, which is quoted according to the
"Maximum Power" output. Maximum power is not just a number, it also gives a basic
idea of how many devices (and what type of devices, in terms of power consumption)
the power supply will be able to feed. A higher-watt PSU can supply more power. Even
though these PSU models assure so much wattage, power supply units can never
operate at 100% efficiency. In other words, a 750W power supply unit can never provide
750W power. A general thumb rule is to go for a PSU which gives you 50% more than
your general requirement.

All power supplies are given a maximum power output rating, but exactly how much
power you need will be dependent on your PC's components. For a modern mid-range
system (i.e. a typical home computer) power supplies ranging between 300W and 500W
should be plenty sufficient. Gamers and enthusiasts - who often use powerful discrete
graphics cards - are more likely to use power supplies rated up to 800W, and extreme
users - who may have multiple graphics cards or multiple CPUs - can find power
supplies rated over 1,000W

3. AMPS ON THE 12 VOLTS RAIL

The maximum power figure alone is not enough to determine whether a PSU can drive
your computer. Each voltage rail requires attention, but the most attention needs to go
to the +12V rail(s) since the processor and PCIe video cards receive their power from
them. The power supply must output at least 18A (amps) on the +12V rail(s) for a
mainstream up-to-date computer; more than 24A for a system with a single enthusiast-
class graphics card; and no less than 34A when it comes to a high-end SLI/CrossFire
system.
4. EFFICIENCY

The efficiency of a power supply unit is the percentage of total output DC power with
total input AC power. The portion lost during conversion is mostly in the form of heat. A
power supply with a higher efficiency rating will not only help save costs - the heat
dissipated will be much lower as well, resulting in better reliability and durability, and
can also help reduce noise as its cooling fan can operate at lower speeds and still
provide adequate cooling. A power supply’s efficiency rating is important because
higher-efficiency units tend to have better components, waste less power, and generate
less heat—all of which contribute to less fan noise. A power supply with an efficiency
rating of 80 percent provides 80 percent of its rated wattage as the power to your
system while losing the other 20 percent as heat.

Figure 2.22 80 Plus Certification Tier

Source:https://10scopes.com/psu-tier-list/

Look for units with an “80 Plus” certification. Though the certification process isn't
especially stringent, 80 Plus-certified units are confirmed to be at least 80 percent
efficient; and 80 Plus has tiers for even more-efficient units, including 80 Plus Bronze,
Silver, Gold, Platinum certifications. Power supplies in the higher certification tiers tend
to command very high prices, however.

5. CONNECTORS

Power supplies come equipped with a variety of integrated connectors, but there's no
standard selection and you'll need to ensure that your chosen PSU has all of the
connections required for your PC.
6. MODULAR OR NON-MODULAR

Modular cabling allows a user to choose the type and number of power connectors
(mainly peripheral and SATA power connectors, and PCIe) to be used. With standard
power supplies, there are always unused cables that you need to bundle up and tuck
somewhere inside the case and the result is not only unsightly but can interfere with
airflow in smaller cases. A power supply with modular cabling ability can reduce the
number of unused power connectors/cables in your system case, and generally
promotes tidier and cleaner looking case internals as well as better airflow.

Technically, a power supply with hard-wired cabling is optimal because it requires no

additional connections between the unit’s internal PCB and the connector that will
ultimately be plugged into one of your components. One end of the cable is soldered
into the PSU’s PCB and the other end terminates in a standard connector, with no
breaks in the line. Whenever you introduce an additional connection between the PSU
and your components—as happens with modular power supplies—you add more
resistance and another potential point of failure into the line, and an increase in
resistance translates into lost efficiency

Figure 2.23 Comparisons of Modular and Non Modular Types of PSU

Source:https://thecomputerwarriors.com/uncategorized/importance-of-cable-management-in-desktops/