How to choose the right slim power supply

By far, the most overlooked component in new equipment is the power supply unit or PSU, but it is the most important. Your slim power supply will inject precious voltage into every electronic component in your precious new computer.

Dimensions and physical dimensions

The primary consideration for reducing the power supply range is the form factor. As the saying goes, the form follows the function, but make sure you know the size of the power supply that fits the chosen enclosure.

Modularity and cables

Modularity may be a peripheral issue, or it will depend on the trading room and the absolute destroyer of personal aesthetics. If the power supply is described as modular, it only means that some cables between the PSU and PC components can be unplugged when not in use.

Modularity of power supply is usually divided into three types: non-modular, semi-modular and fully modular
The non-modular power supply has all the various motherboards, hard drives and PCIe power cables hard-wired to the PSU
Fully modular power supply allows you to remove and replace cables on the power supply
Semi-modular power supply. The main board power connector is hard-wired, but the hard drive and PCIe power cord can be unplugged.
In addition to maintaining a neat housing, the modular power cable can also be replaced with a more fashionable color or braided form to increase visual appeal.

Efficiency class

Do you see the "80 Plus", "Bronze" or "Platinum" grades listed on the power supply when shopping? These are voluntary industry certifications and are related to power efficiency, which can convert high-voltage AC power from a wall plug to low-voltage DC power to maintain a PC.

Beware: Although higher labels do tend to be associated with better units, this does not necessarily indicate quality. The 80 Plus gold medal is often the best choice for manufacturers to pursue consumer-level units, but solid units can also be found in the 80 Plus and 80 Plus bronze levels.

For major manufacturers, the warranty is a good indicator of the seller's confidence in the quality and service life of their products. When you know that the new slim power supply will reliably power your next two gaming platforms, you will be relieved not to let it go.

In addition to a longer service life, it also tends to design higher-quality power supplies to reduce noise. The noise in the power supply mainly comes from the fans used to cool the equipment. The efficiency of the power supply also affects this, because the need for cooling in the power supply is directly proportional to the heat generated.

Power considerations

Wattage may be a controversial topic. Some would argue that buying a lower-power unit can save a few dollars, which has no impact on your build. This is not a good idea.

When you build a PC, each component consumes a certain amount of power, and the power must come from the power source. The most thirsty part may be your graphics card and CPU, followed by the motherboard. Pay close attention to the specific power requirements of each component. The best thing you are looking for on a graphics card or CPU is the TDP or thermal design power rating. Technically, TDP describes the maximum heat that a component will generate during normal use. Thanks to the laws of thermodynamics and the trend to measure TDP in watts, this is also very close to the maximum power consumption of each component.