When it comes to your gaming PC power supply, you might focus purely on the wattage. While this will work for a while, it will eventually lead to your power supply unit failing. There is more to the power supply unit than the wattage and you need to know about this. Understanding this will ensure that you get a gaming PC power supply that is right for your needs.
The Wattage
Most people will focus on the wattage when they choose their power supply. While this is something that you need to know, it is only one of the factors to consider. When you are considering the wattage, you need to know what exactly the advertised wattage means.
Some manufacturers list the continuous power while others will list the peak power. Continuous power is the wattage that your PSU will always provide. The peak power is the wattage that your PSU is able to provide at peak use. It is generally recommended that you look at the continuous power wattage to ensure that you get the right unit.
The Ampere And Volts
The ampere and volts of the PSU are what you actually want to focus on. This is due to the fact that amps multiplied by volts will create the watts. When you know the amps and volts of the PSU, you will be able to work out the exact wattage that you can get. It is important to note that the exact calculation you need to use will differ depending on the system setup.
When it comes to the amps, it is recommended that you always have more than you actually need. This will ensure that you never run out of power when you need it. You should look at having a 20% cushion in terms of amps.
The Efficiency
It is important to remember that your gaming PC is going to use a lot of power. This is one of the reasons why you need to look at the efficiency of the power supply you choose. The better the efficiency, the lower your energy bills are going to be which lowers the long-term costs of your gaming.
If you want to determine the efficiency, you need to divide the DC output by the AC input. Ideally, you will want a PSU that has around 70% to 75% efficiency. Some of the top PSUs on the market will come with an efficiency certificate and will be 80% efficient. Cheaper units will generally not publish their efficiency and will often have a calculated efficiency of 50%.
While looking at this, you should also consider that the lost energy will be converted to heat. This means that a PSU with an efficiency of 75% will generate 25% heat. The more heat your supply creates, the better the cooling system you will need for your PC.
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a power supply for your gaming PC. The wattage is the first place most people look, but you need to consider the wattage and volts. The efficiency is also important as more efficient units will generate less heat.