This section provides an overview for pc power supplies as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 pc power supply manufacturers and their company rankings.
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A PC power supply is a power supply unit that contains the power supply circuitry for a computer, and is abbreviated as PSU.
It is responsible for inputting commercial power (AC), converting it to DC via a rectifier bridge, switching circuit, and high-frequency transformer inside PC power supply, and producing output to supply stable power to the CPU, motherboard, peripherals, and other parts of the computer. The power supply is also responsible for noise suppression, protection against overcurrents, and internal cooling.
PC power supplies are used in notebook PCs, desktop PCs, and servers to supply power to internal devices and bus-powered peripherals.
Desktop PC power supplies include ATX power supplies, high-performance EPS power supplies for servers, and SFX power supplies standardized for small chassis.
It is necessary to supply power commensurate with the parts configuration and total power consumption of the supply destination. It is desirable to select a power supply with a generous power supply capacity, depending on the operating environment and application.
A PC power supply has a metal plate or perforated metal housing, one side of which is supposed to be exposed to the outside. The exposed side has an input socket for the commercial power supply, and the inside side of the computer has a power feed wire consisting of output and control signal wires, or a socket for connecting the wires.
The inside of the enclosure consists of a switching power circuit, a heat sink, and a cooling fan.
The switching power circuit converts AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current) used in commercial power supplies to provide a stable current supply.
The heat sink is made of aluminum and cools the semiconductor elements in the power circuit. They occupy a large volume inside the chassis.
One or two cooling fans are provided on either side of the enclosure. Air drawn in from inside or outside the computer is used to remove heat from inside the chassis and force the warmed air out of the computer or to generate airflow inside the computer.
PC Power Supply specifications include ATX, EPS, and SFX power supplies, depending on their standards. EPS power supplies are mainly used for high-spec processing, such as server applications.
The most important specification of a PC power supply is its power supply capacity: for an ATX power supply, 300W or less is low end, 300-700W is mid-range, and 700W or more is high end. Especially, graphics processing requires a large amount of power, so it is recommended to choose a high-end power supply when using a high-spec graphics board.
In addition, there is a "grade" that expresses the efficiency of converting AC current to DC current as a specification of a PC power supply. The grade of Titanium is given to the power supply with the highest conversion efficiency, and the conversion efficiency is generally 90% or higher. The specifications then progressively decrease to platinum and gold, and even standard power supplies are guaranteed to have a conversion efficiency of 80% or higher.
The lifespan of a PC power supply is short, and it is generally said that it needs to be replaced after 3 to 5 years. Power supplies are fragile parts, so servers and other mission-critical systems that cannot be stopped are multiplexed to reduce the probability of failure due to equipment failure.
Since a PC power supply failure means that the power supply stops for all parts of the PC, other parts whose power supply suddenly stops may fail out of the way. Therefore, we recommend that you replace the power supply as soon as possible when you see signs of failure such as unstable power supply or sudden PC stoppage.
A PC power supply that has been in use for a long period may produce strange noises. This is also a sign of failure, so suspect a power supply failure when you hear strange noises coming from your PC.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Infineon Technologies AG (Infineon) is headquartered in Neubiberg, Germany. Infineon designs, develops, manufactures, and markets semiconductors and related system solutions worldwide. Infineon’s automotive segment produces microcontrollers, discrete power semiconductors, IGBT modules, industrial microcontrollers, power and radar sensor ICs, SiC diodes, MOSFETs voltage regulators, comfort electronics, infotainment, powertrain, and security products. Industrial Power Control segment provides bare dies, discrete IGBTs, and driver ICs among other components. Power & Sensor Systems segment offers gas and pressure sensors, MEMS microphone chips, control ICs, and GaN power switches among others.
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