Power Supply Unit

Name
Table of Contents
Overview.............................................................................................................................................2
Introduction.........................................................................................................................................2
Power Supply Unit Description............................................................................................................3
PSU Types............................................................................................................................................6
How the power supply unit works.......................................................................................................8
Standard output voltages.................................................................................................................10
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................11
References.........................................................................................................................................11
Appendix............................................................................................................................................12

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Overview
The power supply unit is the piece of hardware that converts the power provided from the
outlet into usable power for the many parts inside the computer case.
It converts the alternating current from your wall outlet into a continuous form of power called
direct current that the computer components require. It also regulates overheating by
controlling voltage, which might change automatically or manually depending on the power
supply.

Introduction
Abbreviated as PS or P/S, a power supply or PSU (power supply unit) is a hardware component
of a computer that supplies all other components with power. The power supply converts a
110-115- or 220-230-volt AC (alternating current) into a steady low-voltage DC (direct current)
usable by the computer and rated by the number of watts it generates.

Most power supplies are switched-mode (SMPS), which has both efficiency advantages and
makes designing for multiple voltage inputs easier. This means that most PSUs can operate in
different countries where the power input might change. In the UK, the voltage is 240V 50Hz,
whereas in the USA the voltage is 120V 60Hz, and in Australia it is 230V 50Hz.

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Power Supply Unit Description
The PSU usually takes the form of a metal box 150mm wide x 86mm high x (typically) 140mm
deep. It is mounted inside the system case using four screws in a standard location such that
the on/off switch and power cord socket mounted on the back of the PSU are accessible via an
aperture in the rear of the case. The same aperture also allows air to flow into the PSU's cooling
fan.

 WHERE IS THE POWER SUPPLY LOCATED IN A COMPUTER?

The power supply is located at the back of the computer, usually
at the top. However, many more recent tower computer cases
house the power supply at the bottom back of the case. In a
desktop computer case (all-in-one), the power supply is located
at the back left or back right.

 PARTS FOUND ON THE BACK OF A POWER SUPPLY

As below is a list of parts you may find on the back of the power
supply:

A connection for the power cord to the computer.

A fan opening to heat out of the power supply.
A red switch to change the power supply voltage.
A rocker switch to turn the power supply on and off.

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The information supplied on the label or plate attached to the power supply provides
technical information about the power supply which will include the ac mains supply
voltages, currents and frequencies that the unit can be used with, the maximum total
power output in watts, and the various dc voltage and current outputs available. It will
also display hazard warnings and the required safety certification information (in
Europe, this is the CE mark). A t typical PSU label is shown below.

On the front of the power supply, which is not visible unless the computer is opened,
you find several cables. These cables connect to the computer motherboard and other
internal components. A power supply connects to the motherboard using an ATX style
connector and may have one or more of the following cables to connect power to other
devices.

o Auxiliary connector

o Berg connector

o Molex connector

o P4 connector.

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 The connectors provided can vary from one model to another, but those typically
included are summarized in the table below (SEE APPDENDIX).

 PARTS FOUND INSIDE A POWER SUPPLY

Servers Below is a list of parts inside a power supply:

o A rectifier that converts AC (alternating current) into DC.

o A filter that smooths out the DC (direct current) coming from a rectifier.

o A transformer that controls the incoming voltage by stepping it up or down.

A voltage regulator that controls the DC output, allowing the correct amount of power,
volts or watts, to be supplied to the computer hardware.

The order that this internal power supply component’s function is as follows.

o Transformer

o Rectifier

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 o Filter

Although in the past several form factors have been used for the power supply unit,
some of them quite heavy and bulky, most desktop personal computers now use power
supplies that conform to the standard ATX format.

PSU Types
 DESKTOP PUS (ATX VS ATX12V POWER SUPPLIES)

ATX PSUs are designed to work specifically with the ATX family of motherboards and fit into
an ATX system case, and can be turned on or off (or placed into standby mode) using signals
generated by the motherboard. The maximum rated power output of a PSU can range from
around 250 watts up to as high as 2 kilowatts, depending on the type of system they are
intended for.

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Small form factor computer systems tend to have low power supply requirements in the
order of 300 watts or less. Systems used for gaming have much higher power requirements
(typically 450 to 800 watts), mainly because they employ high-end graphics adapters which
consume large amounts of power. The highest power consumption is found in commercial
network servers or high-performance personal computers featuring multiple processors, a
number of disk drives, and multiple graphics cards. The amount of power required by a
particular computer system will depend on the power requirements of the motherboard,
processor and RAM, and on the number of add-on cards and peripheral devices drawing
power from the PSU. In reality, few personal computers currently need more than about
350 watts.

ATX and ATX12V are configuration specifications that are important to differentiate when
dealing with power supplies. For most people, the noticeable differences just speak to the
physical connection plug on the motherboard. Choosing one over the other depends on the
type of motherboard that's being used.

The newest standard, ATX12V v2.4, has been in use since 2013. Motherboards using
ATX12V 2.x use a 24-pin connector. ATX motherboards use a 20-pin connector.

One situation where the pin count comes into play is when deciding if a particular power
supply works with your system. ATX12V-compliant power supplies, although they have 24
pins, can actually be used on an ATX motherboard that has a 20-pin connector. The
remaining, unused four pins will just sit off of the connector. If your computer case has the
room, this is a completely doable setup.

However, this doesn't work the other way around. If you have an ATX power supply that
therefore has a 20-pin connector, it won't work with a newer motherboard that requires all
24 pins to be connected. The extra four pins were added with this specification to supply
extra power through 12V rails, so a 20-pin PSU can't provide enough power to run this kind
of motherboard.

NOTE: ATX is also a term used to describe the size of a motherboard.

Something else that sets ATX12V and ATX power supplies apart is the power connectors
they provide. The ATX12V standard (as of version 2.0) requires a 15-pin SATA power
connector. If you need to use a SATA device but the PSU doesn't have a SATA power
connector, you'll need a Molex 4-pin to SATA 15-pin adapter (such as this one).

Another difference between ATX and ATX12V is the power efficiency rating, which
determines how much power is pulled from the wall compared to the output of the

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computer. Some older ATX PSUs have an efficiency rating below 70 percent, while the
ATX12V standard requires a minimum rating of 80 percent.

 OTHER KINDS OF POWER SUPPLIES

The power supply units described above are the ones that are inside a desktop computer.
The other type is an external power supply.

For example, some gaming consoles have a power supply attached to the power cable that
must sit between the console and the wall. Here's an example of an Xbox One power supply
that serves the same function as a desktop power
supply but is external and therefore completely
movable and far easier to replace than a desktop

Xbox One Power Supply.

Others are similar, like the power supply unit

built-in to some external hard drives, which are
required if the device can't draw enough power
from the computer over USB.

External power supplies are beneficial because it allows the device to be smaller and more
attractive. However, some of these types of power supply units are attached to the power
cable and, since they're generally pretty large, sometimes make it difficult to position the
device against the wall.

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is another type of power supply. They're like backup
power supplies that provide power when the primary PSU is disconnected from its regular
power source. Since power supply units are often victims of power surges and power spikes
because it's where the device receives electrical power, you can plug the device into a UPS
(or a surge protector). The idea of multiple cores is simple. You are increasing the number of
instructions that can be carried out simultaneously. In other words, you are processing
simultaneously.

You can find CPUs ranging from 2 to 8 cores

available in the market. But, the best processor for
you is the one that your software can utilize. As an
example, if you only need a laptop to work in an
office, a processor with 8 cores is not the best
processor for you. But if you want to use the

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 processor for gaming or graphics design. You should go for the maximum cores that you can
afford.

How the power supply unit works

The type of power supply unit found in a modern PC is referred to as a switched mode power
supply unit (SMPSU). What this means in essence us that the ac mains voltage coming into the
PSU is rectified to produce a dc voltage without using a mains transformer (these are usually
rather heavy due to the need for a coil with a ferrite core). The voltage thus obtained is then
switched on and off at very high speeds using electronic switching circuitry, effectively
producing a high-frequency square wave voltage
(effectively, a series of dc pulses). A light and relatively
inexpensive high-frequency transformer can then be
used to produce the required dc output.

The dc output voltage and current are regulated (kept

constant) using a feedback controller that increases or
decreases power output in accordance with variations in
load current. It does this by increasing or decreasing the
duty cycle (essentially, this means increasing or
decreasing the number of voltage pulses produced by
the switching circuitry in a given time frame). One
recent trend in PSU design has been the concept of a
modular power supply, in which cables can be attached to the PSU via connectors at the power
supply end, allowing the user to install only the cables they actually need. The idea is that the
omission of cables that are not required will reduce clutter inside the case and improve airflow.
It also provides more choice in the type of power cable the user can install (e.g. Serial ATA or
Molex for hard drives).

Critics of this development have pointed out that electrical resistance will be increased due to
the greater number of electrical connections. Proponents point out that the increase in
resistance is very small. In practical terms however, problems are only likely to occur if the
connectors are old and worn (in which case the connection may be a loose one) or the
connection has not been made correctly during installation. The obvious answer is to replace
old cables and check all connections prior to first use. The main PSU connectors and their pin
outputs are illustrated in the diagram below.

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In critical computer systems such as network servers, it is not uncommon to find redundant
power supplies acting as a backup for the main power supply. The backup unit takes over in the
event of a failure in the primary power supply, which can then be replaced during a scheduled
maintenance period.

At the other end of the scale, portable computers such as laptops and netbooks require far less
power (200 watts or less) enabling them to be powered by a removable rechargeable battery
which can easily be replaced if necessary. An external power supply is used to charge the
battery, and can supply power to the system while it is connected. This external power supply
unit typically supplies 19.5V direct current.

 SYSTEM CALL

The ability to control power using a system call means that the user can power down the
system by clicking on an icon or menu item rather than having to physically switch off the
system using the power switch. It also means that power management software can be
configured to power down the computer in the absence of user input for a given period of
time. The system can be set to power on again in the event of some predetermined
occurrence, such as the user pressing a key on the keyboard or the activation of a network
connection.

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Standard output voltages
The positive output voltages produced by a power supply unit are +3.3V, +5V and +12V.
Negative voltages of -5V and -12V are also provided, together with a +5V standby voltage.
Different voltages (sometimes referred to as rails) are used to power different components, and
a summary of which voltages and (and currents) are used for what purpose is given below.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of

negative voltages in dc circuits, this
simply means that the potential difference is measured from ground to the signal rather than
the other way round (ground is commonly used as a reference point for measuring voltage).
The current requirements of the various system components are significant, because power is
the product of voltage and current. The total power requirements of the system thus depend
on the voltage and current requirements of its individual components.

Conclusion
The power supply unit is mounted just inside the back of the case. If you follow the computer's
power cable, you'll find that it attaches to the back of the power supply. It's the backside that's
usually the only portion of the power supply that most people will ever see.

There's also a fan opening at the back of the power supply that sends air out the back of the
computer case.
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The side of the PSU facing outside the case has a male, three-pronged port that a power cable,
connected to a power source, plugs into. There's also often a power switch and a power supply
voltage switch.

Large bundles of colored wires extend from the opposite side of the power supply unit into the
computer. Connectors at the opposite ends of the wires connect to various components inside
the computer to supply them with power. Some are specifically designed to plug into the
motherboard while others have connectors that fit into fans, floppy drives, hard drives, optical
drives, and even some high-powered video cards.

Power supply units are rated by wattage to show how much power they can provide to the
computer. Since each computer part requires a certain amount of power to function properly,
it's important to have a PSU that can provide the right amount. The very handy Cooler Master
Supply Calculator tool can help you determine how much you need. the market with a bang. It
is competing in almost every category and visibly dominating the entry and mid-level category
as well.

References
 https://www.technologyuk.net/computing/computer-hardware/power-supply-unit.shtml
 https://www.lifewire.com/power-supply-unit-2618158
 https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/p/power-supply.htm
 https://www.techbuyer.com/uk/blog/What-is-a-Power-Supply-Unit-PSU
 https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Computer+Power+Supply
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply_unit_(computer)
 https://www.google.com/search?q=Power+Supply+Unit

Appendix

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