Watt calculator for PC power supply. How to choose a power supply for your computer. Other power supply parameters

A well-assembled computer is very good, and a correctly selected power supply for it is doubly great! How to correctly calculate the power of a computer power supply– a whole science, but I’ll tell you simple and at the same time very effective power calculation method. Go!

Instead of a preface

Calculating power is important, since a weak power supply will not “pull” your hardware, and an overly powerful unit is a waste of money. Of course, we are not interested in this, and we will look for the most optimal option. Now to the essence of the matter.

PSU power calculation

Ideally, the power of the power supply is selected based on the maximum power consumption of the entire computer hardware at peak load. Why is that? Yes, it’s very simple - so that at the most crucial and intense moment of playing solitaire, the computer does not turn off due to lack of energy

It is no longer fashionable to manually calculate the power that your computer consumes at maximum load, so it will be much easier and more correct to use an online power supply calculator. I use this one and I really like it:

Don't be afraid of the English language, in fact everything is very simple there

Here is an example of how I calculated the power of the power supply for my computer (picture clickable):

1.Motherboard

In chapter Motherboard select the type of computer motherboard. For a regular PC we set Desktop, for the server, respectively – Server. There is also an item Mini-ITX for boards of the corresponding form factor.

2. CPU

Processor specifications section. First you specify the manufacturer, then the processor socket, and then the processor itself.

To the left of the processor name, the number 1 is the number physical processors on the board, not cores, be careful! In most cases, a computer has one physical processor.

Please note that CPUSpeed And CPU Vcore are set automatically, in accordance with the standard values ​​of frequencies and core voltage. You can change them if necessary (this is useful for overlockers).

3. CPU Utilization

This indicates how much load will be placed on the processor. The default value is 90% TDP (recommended)– you can leave it as is, or you can set it to 100%.

4.Memory

This is the section for RAM. Indicate the number of planks and their type with size. On the right you can check the box FBDIMMs. It must be installed if you have RAM type F ully B buffered (fully buffered).

5. Video Cards – Set 1 and Video Cards – Set 2

These sections indicate video cards. Video Cards – Set 2 is needed if you suddenly have video cards from AMD and NVidia on your computer at the same time. Here, as with the processor, first select the manufacturer, then the name of the video card, and indicate the quantity.

If there are several video cards and they work in SLI or Crossfire mode, then check the box on the right (SLI/CF).

Similarly, as in the section with processors, CoreClock And MemoryClock are set to the factory values ​​for this video card. If you changed them on your video card, then here you can indicate your frequency values.

6.Storage

Everything is simple here - you indicate how many and which ones hard drives installed on the system.

7. Optical Drives

This indicates how many and what disk drives you have it installed.

8.PCI Express Cards

In this section we set how many and what additional expansion cards are installed in the PCI-Express slots. You can specify sound cards, TV tuners, and various additional controllers.

9.PCI Cards

Similar to the previous point, only here devices in PCI slots are indicated.

10. Bitcoin Mining Modules

Section for specifying modules for bitcoin mining. For those who know, comments are unnecessary, and for those who don’t know, don’t bother and just read on

11.Other Devices

Here you can indicate what other gadgets you have on your computer. This includes devices such as fan control panels, temperature sensors, card readers, and more.

12. Keyboard/Mouse

Keyboard/mouse section. Three options to choose from - nothing, a regular device or a gaming device. Under gaming keyboards/mice mean keyboards/mice with backlight.

13.Fans

Here we set how many fans and what size are installed in the case.

14. Liquid Cooling Kit

Water cooling systems are indicated here, as well as their number.

15. Computer Utilization

Here is the mode of computer use, or more precisely, the approximate operating time of the computer per day. The default is 8 hours, you can leave it like that.

The final

After you have specified all the contents of your computer, click the button Calculate. After this you will get two results − LoadWattage And RecommendedPSUWattage. The first is the actual power consumption of the computer, and the second is the recommended minimum power of the power supply.

It is worth remembering that the power supply is always taken with a power reserve of 5 - 25%. Firstly, no one guarantees that in six months or a year you will not want to upgrade your computer, and secondly, remember about the gradual wear and tear of the power supply.

And that’s all for me. Ask questions in the comments if something is unclear or you just need help, and don’t forget to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

In turn, the thermal power that is released when heating the power supply element will directly depend on the strength of the current that passes through all consumers.

It should be remembered that the sum of all powers consumed by the components should not exceed the output power of the power source.

How to correctly calculate the power of a computer?

When calculating PC power, it is important to take into account that the system consumes power unevenly. The maximum time taken is the moment of turning on a computer or a separate device, reading/writing disks, transferring information from/to a hard drive, simultaneous launch of many programs, etc. For devices that, due to their specific nature, consume a large amount of energy, manufacturers often indicate the peak power value. It follows that the maximum that the system as a whole will consume can be calculated by simply adding the powers of all devices that are connected to the power supply.

Next, we will offer you an approximate diagram of power consumption by various computer components:

• The central processor consumes on average from 50 to 120 W. Moreover, the higher the clock frequency, the more power it consumes.
• The motherboard consumes an average of 15 to 30 watts. Moreover, if the board has integrated devices, for example, a sound card, then, accordingly, such a board requires more power.
• The power consumption of the graphic editor is from 60 to 130 W. And if the video card has additional power, it consumes more than those that do not. Accordingly: 50-70 W – without additional power and 100-130 with it. At moments of maximum load (for example, during resource-intensive games), the power consumption of modern video cards can increase to 300-400 W.
• RAM modules consume from 5 to 20 W. Consumption directly depends on the module capacity. In addition, if there are various “attachments” on the memory module, such as filter capacitors, power consumption increases.
• hard drives consume between 15 and 60 watts. Moreover, when the hard drive is actively working (searching for files, copying or recording information), power consumption is reduced to a maximum. It also happens when the computer is turned on, when the hard drive undergoes diagnostics, which is necessary to identify critical errors.
• CD/DVD drives consume from 10 to 25 W. The value itself depends on the maximum rotation speed of the disks, as well as on the actual operating mode. Moreover, if the disc is scratched or simply poorly recorded, much more power is consumed, since the drive constantly has to change the rotation speed. The record holders for power consumption are the so-called Combo drives, which combine the capabilities of reading CDs and DVDs and writing CD-RW.
• Floppy drives consume between 5 and 7 watts. In this case, the power consumption depends mainly on the manufacturer. Since the speed of their operation remains the same in any mode.
• The sound card consumes 5-10 W. Here, the higher the class of the sound device, the higher the power consumption. Thus, Hi-Fi devices require an order of magnitude more power than mid-range sound cards.
• Cooling system fans consume 1-2 W on average. However, it should be remembered that there can be five, six, or even more fans in a computer: on the processor, video card, hard drive, in the power supply itself, etc.
• the input/output ports consume 8-10 watts. A modern computer usually has six such ports: one COM port, 4 USB and one LPT. In addition, the sound card also adds a line input/output, plus a microphone input.
• Network cards consume 3-5 W on average.

Here are some more factors that you should pay attention to when we consider such an issue as computer power. Having calculated the approximate power indicators, before purchasing a power supply, you should take into account that it is necessary to leave some reserve due to the upcoming possibilities of upgrading the system and installing additional devices.

Let's remember a simple truth - to prevent the power supply from breaking down or burning out, you should not overload it. In addition, you should monitor cleanliness, since simple dust can contribute to critical overheating of the power supply and its failure.

Some power supply manufacturers provide these “Online calculators for calculating the power of a power supply”, where you can make a fairly accurate calculation.

Thus, having summarized the information presented above, having become acquainted with the principle of operation of the power supply, as well as with the indicators of power consumption of all the main devices of the computer, we hope that now the question “how to calculate the power supply for a computer” and choose the optimal power supply for it will not seem to you solvable. After all, to do this you just need to make simple mathematical calculations.

If you still have questions about how to calculate the power of your computer and choose a suitable power supply, then you can always contact the computer help center website, our engineers will advise you on all issues of interest. In addition, you can order installation of a new power supply in your system unit from us.

Many users, in pursuit of high performance of a personal computer, forget about the main element of the system unit, which is responsible for high-quality and timely provision of power to all components inside the case. We are talking about a power supply that buyers do not pay attention to at all. But in vain! After all, all elements in a computer have certain power requirements, failure to comply with which will lead to component failure.

From this article, the reader will learn how to choose a power supply for a computer, and at the same time get acquainted with products from well-known brands that are recognized by all test laboratories in the world. Advice for ordinary users and beginners, provided by experts in the field of IT technologies, will help all potential customers make their choice in the store.

Definition of need

Before starting to search for a decent power supply, all users need to decide on the power supply. That is, first the buyer must select the elements of the system unit (motherboard, processor, video card, memory, hard drives and other controllers). Each system component in its specification has power requirements (voltage and current, in rare cases - power consumption). Naturally, the buyer will have to find these parameters, add them up and save the result, which will be useful in the future.

It doesn’t matter what actions are carried out by the user: replacing the computer’s power supply or purchasing an element with a new PC - calculations must be carried out in any case. Some elements, such as the processor and video card, have two power requirements: active voltage and peak load. You need to focus your calculations on the maximum parameter.

Finger to the sky

There is a strong opinion that for a resource-intensive system you need to choose the most powerful power supply that is on the storefront. This decision has logic, but it does not fit in with rationality and saving money, because the higher the power of the device, the more expensive it is. You can buy a price that exceeds the cost of all elements of the system (30,000 rubles and more), but such a solution will be very expensive for the consumer in the future.

For some reason, many users forget about the monthly payment, which is necessary for the operation of a personal computer. Naturally, the more powerful the power supply, the more electricity it consumes. Thrifty buyers cannot do without calculations.

Standards and power losses

The bigger, the better

Many experts, in their advice on how to choose a power supply for a computer, recommend that all beginners pay attention to the number of connectors and cables - the more there are in the device, the more efficient and reliable the power supply system. There is logic in this, because manufacturing plants carry out testing before releasing products to the market. If the power of the unit is low, then there is no point in providing it with a large number of cables, because they will still be unused.

True, recently many careless manufacturers have resorted to a trick and provided the buyer with a large wire clamp in a low-quality device. Here you need to focus on other indicators of battery efficiency (weight, wall thickness, cooling system, presence of buttons, quality of connectors). By the way, before connecting the power supply to the computer, it is recommended to visually inspect all the contacts coming from the head unit and make sure that they do not intersect anywhere (we are talking about cheap representatives of the market).

Top seller

Seasonic, a company specializing in the production of batteries, is known throughout the world. This is one of the few brands on the market that sells its own products under its logo. For comparison: the well-known manufacturer of computer components - the company Corsair - does not have its own factories for the production of power supplies and purchases finished products from Seasonic, equipping them with its own logos. Therefore, before choosing a power supply for a computer, the user will have to become more familiar with the brands.

Seasonic, Chieftec, Thermaltake and Zalman have their own factories for the production of batteries. Products under the well-known FSP brand are assembled from spare parts produced at the Fractal Design plant (by the way, they have also recently appeared on the market).

Who to give preference to?

Gold-plated computer power supply connectors are good, but is there any point in overpaying for such functionality, since it is known for certain from the laws of physics that current is better transmitted between homogeneous metals? But it is Thermaltake that offers users such a solution. As for the rest of the products of the famous American brand, they are impeccable. There is not a single serious negative response from users about this manufacturer in the media.

The trusted products on the shelf include the brands Corsair, Aercool, FSP, Zalman, Seasonic, Be quiet, Chieftec (Gold series) and Fractal Design. By the way, in test laboratories, professionals and enthusiasts check the power and overclock the system with the power supplies listed above.

Finally

As practice shows, choosing a decent power supply for a personal computer is not easy. The fact is that many manufacturers use all sorts of tricks to attract buyers: they reduce the cost of production, decorate the device to the detriment of efficiency, and present a description that does not correspond to reality. There are many mechanisms of deception, it is impossible to list them all. Therefore, before choosing a power supply for a computer, the user must study the market, become familiar with all the characteristics of the device, and be sure to find positive reviews about the product from real owners.

When you assemble your computer, this has its significant advantages, since all the components in a personal computer (PC) play their role with the system unit - processor and RAM for speed of operations, video card for displaying the graphic part, motherboard for connecting everything this together. That is why it is important to select components not only by how they will satisfy your needs, but also by how they will interact with each other.
In particular, there are errors when the motherboard does not “accept” the processor or there is no space in the case to install a video card.
But even if you seem to have selected all the components and they fit together, then when choosing a power supply unit (PSU) questions often arise. The most common is how much power is needed to make all components “feel” comfortable.

In order to calculate the power of the power supply, you can go in several ways. For example, you can ask the consultants in the store and hope that the store employee will be sufficiently knowledgeable about this and will be able to advise and select the right one.

Or you can go and buy a power supply with a power of 600-1000 Watts and not think about it at all because... Either way, this is enough. Yes, you can do this and overpay for the extra 600 Watts because... in fact, 400 W for example could be enough for you. It seems to me that this is not a way out of the situation. If only for the lazy and who don’t mind the money.

You can also look on the Internet how much power is needed for each of the components of the future system unit, and then calculate the required power. It should be taken into account that the total power of all components must be less than the maximum output power of the power source. It is also worth knowing and remembering that the specifications indicate the maximum power consumption of the components. During operation, energy is consumed unevenly by everyone (turning on, turning off, recording information, launching many programs, a complex episode in a game, etc.).

For example, the power consumption of components looks something like this:

You will be able to choose the right power supply for your computer after you read this issue and learn how to calculate the power of the computer power supply.

Converting alternating voltage coming from the network into direct voltage, powering the computer components and ensuring that they maintain power at the required level - these are the tasks of the power supply.

When assembling a computer and updating its components, you should carefully look at the power supply that will serve the video card, processor, motherboard and other elements.

To determine the power supply that is needed for a specific computer build, you need to use data on the energy consumption of each individual component of the system.

The service can calculate the required power of the computer power supply using simplified or expert settings. The advanced option allows you to set the parameters of components and select the operating mode of the future computer. Unfortunately, the site is entirely in English, and not everyone will find it convenient to use.

2. MSI POWER SUPPLY CALCULATOR

The well-known company MSI, which produces gaming components for computers, has on its website. The good thing about it is that when you select each system component, you can see how much the required power supply power changes.

Also a clear advantage is the complete localization of the calculator. However, when using the service from MSI, you should remember that you will have to buy a power supply with a power of 50-100 watts higher than it recommends, since this service does not take into account the consumption of the keyboard, mouse and some other additional accessories when calculating the consumption.

Well, that's all for today! Please write in the comments, did you manage to calculate the power of the power supply for your computer? And what difficulties did you encounter in doing so? Well, you can save a lot and choose the power supply you need

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