Which power supply do I need? How to find out

If you want to assemble your own computer, you will need a power supply in addition to the hardware. This is necessary to be able to power your computer with electricity. Which is the right power supply for your PC depends on various factors.

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How to find out which power supply you need

If you plan to put together your own computer, then a lot of research is usually necessary until you find the right parts. Besides hardware like motherboard or hard drive you also need a suitable power supply. This is what you need to supply your computer with power. Not always the part with the highest wattage or the lowest price is the right one for your needs.

1. First, the design of the power supply is important. With an ordinary tower PC, the ATX design is usually used. A smaller case, on the other hand, requires a power supply with SFX, Mini-ITX or TFX form factor. Pay attention to the desired case for the form factor.
2. To find out how many watts your power supply needs, you can use an online calculator. This takes into account what hardware you want to install in your computer. Usually, a power supply that has a wattage number slightly above this value is then sufficient. Recommended are about 100 watts above.
3. When buying your power supply also pay attention to the efficiency. Here, the 80 Plus certificate can help you.
4. In conclusion, various protection features for the power supply are useful. For example, these can help against overheating or current spikes.