Install and Configure Power Supplies
In the previous topic, you installed and configured storage devices. The next system compo- nents you’ll focus on are power supplies. In this topic, you will install and configure a power supply in a computer.
Underpowered systems, especially older systems with relatively small power supplies, can experience lockups, random reboots, and other quirky behavior. If you are upgrading compo- nents, you might exceed the capacity of the current power supply. Replacing it with an adequate power supply can prevent system power problems and keep the number of support calls down.
Power Supply Form Factors
Like system boards and other components, there are several form factors available for power supplies.
Power Supply Form
Factor Description
AT Used in AT form factor cases and with AT or Baby AT system boards. Dimensions are 213 x 150 x 150 mm. Found in older desktops and
towers. AT power supplies have physical on-off switches.
ATX Used in ATX and NLX cases and with ATX and NLX system boards. Dimensions are 150 x 140 x 86 mm. Found in desktops and towers.
ATX power supplies do not have physical on-off switches. The system board actually controls the power state of the ATX power supply.
Proprietary Some computer manufacturers use system board form factors that do not conform to standards such as ATX, NLX, and BTX. It’s likely that these proprietary system boards will require nonstandard power supply form factors as well, although you might be able to use an ATX power
supply.
Power Supply Wattage
Power supply specifications are given in watts. A watt is volts times amps (voltage x amperes). Older systems typically had power supplies under 200 watts and often even under 100 watts. Newer power supplies typically have wattages ranging from 200 to 500 watts. Because of their increased power demands, computers designed for games can have power supplies with watt- ages from 500 watts up to 1 kilowatt.
In the previous topic, you installed and configured storage devices. The next system compo- nents you’ll focus on are power supplies. In this topic, you will install and configure a power supply in a computer.
Underpowered systems, especially older systems with relatively small power supplies, can experience lockups, random reboots, and other quirky behavior. If you are upgrading compo- nents, you might exceed the capacity of the current power supply. Replacing it with an adequate power supply can prevent system power problems and keep the number of support calls down.
Power Supply Form Factors
Like system boards and other components, there are several form factors available for power supplies.
Power Supply Form
Factor Description
AT Used in AT form factor cases and with AT or Baby AT system boards. Dimensions are 213 x 150 x 150 mm. Found in older desktops and
towers. AT power supplies have physical on-off switches.
ATX Used in ATX and NLX cases and with ATX and NLX system boards. Dimensions are 150 x 140 x 86 mm. Found in desktops and towers.
ATX power supplies do not have physical on-off switches. The system board actually controls the power state of the ATX power supply.
Proprietary Some computer manufacturers use system board form factors that do not conform to standards such as ATX, NLX, and BTX. It’s likely that these proprietary system boards will require nonstandard power supply form factors as well, although you might be able to use an ATX power
supply.
Power Supply Wattage
Power supply specifications are given in watts. A watt is volts times amps (voltage x amperes). Older systems typically had power supplies under 200 watts and often even under 100 watts. Newer power supplies typically have wattages ranging from 200 to 500 watts. Because of their increased power demands, computers designed for games can have power supplies with watt- ages from 500 watts up to 1 kilowatt.
Calculating Power Needs
In order to calculate whether your power supply meets your power needs, you will need to add up the maximum power you might use at one time. A range of maximum power consumption for various components has been established. Most components use much less than the maximum. You can check the documentation for the component to determine how much power it actually will use.
AC Power for Peripherals
Although internal system components rely on the power supply, other devices such as printers and external modems require their own direct supply of AC power. In such a case, you must plug the device directly into a source of AC power such as a wall socket or power strip.
CPU Voltages
Even some of the most powerful current CPUs, such as the Intel Core2 Extreme and the AMD Opteron Dual Core, only use 1.1-1.3 V. Necessary voltage for CPU and RAM is usually detected by the motherboard (BIOS) and configured appropriately, but sometimes you have to manually configure it, by accessing the BIOS and entering the appropriate values. The Power supply will supply 3.3 V for the CPU, RAM, and other devices, but the motherboard regulates how much they actually get.
Power Supply Safety Recommendations
There are a number of safety precautions you should observe when working with power supplies.
In order to calculate whether your power supply meets your power needs, you will need to add up the maximum power you might use at one time. A range of maximum power consumption for various components has been established. Most components use much less than the maximum. You can check the documentation for the component to determine how much power it actually will use.
AC Power for Peripherals
Although internal system components rely on the power supply, other devices such as printers and external modems require their own direct supply of AC power. In such a case, you must plug the device directly into a source of AC power such as a wall socket or power strip.
CPU Voltages
Even some of the most powerful current CPUs, such as the Intel Core2 Extreme and the AMD Opteron Dual Core, only use 1.1-1.3 V. Necessary voltage for CPU and RAM is usually detected by the motherboard (BIOS) and configured appropriately, but sometimes you have to manually configure it, by accessing the BIOS and entering the appropriate values. The Power supply will supply 3.3 V for the CPU, RAM, and other devices, but the motherboard regulates how much they actually get.
Power Supply Safety Recommendations
There are a number of safety precautions you should observe when working with power supplies.
Safety Precaution
Check for certification
Replace instead of repairing the power supply
Keep the computer case on
Check for certification
Replace instead of repairing the power supply
Keep the computer case on
Explanation
Be sure to purchase power supplies that are certified by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). UL standard #1950, the “Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment, Including Electrical Business Equip- ment, Third Edition,” regulates computer power supplies (along with other components). When it comes to electricity, you don’t want to take a chance with a non-certified power supply. The risk of electrocution or fire from a malfunctioning power supply is simply not worth saving a few dollars by purchasing a low quality power supply.
You run the risk of electrocution if you open a power supply to attempt to repair it. Even when you unplug a computer, the power supply can retain dangerous voltage that you must discharge before servicing it. Because power supplies are relatively inexpensive, it’s easier (and safer) to simply replace a failed power supply rather than attempting to repair it.
Make sure that you run computers with their cases on. The fans inside power supplies are designed to draw air through the computer. When you remove the cover, these fans simply cool the power supplies and not the computer’s components. Leaving the case open puts the computer at risk of overheating.
Be sure to purchase power supplies that are certified by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). UL standard #1950, the “Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment, Including Electrical Business Equip- ment, Third Edition,” regulates computer power supplies (along with other components). When it comes to electricity, you don’t want to take a chance with a non-certified power supply. The risk of electrocution or fire from a malfunctioning power supply is simply not worth saving a few dollars by purchasing a low quality power supply.
You run the risk of electrocution if you open a power supply to attempt to repair it. Even when you unplug a computer, the power supply can retain dangerous voltage that you must discharge before servicing it. Because power supplies are relatively inexpensive, it’s easier (and safer) to simply replace a failed power supply rather than attempting to repair it.
Make sure that you run computers with their cases on. The fans inside power supplies are designed to draw air through the computer. When you remove the cover, these fans simply cool the power supplies and not the computer’s components. Leaving the case open puts the computer at risk of overheating.
Safety Precaution
Protect the power supply
Protect the power supply
Explanation
Use a power protection system such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or surge suppressor to protect each computer’s power supply (and thus the computer) from power failures, brownouts, surges, and spikes. You should also make sure that the computer’s power cord is plugged into a properly grounded electrical outlet. (Three-pronged outlets include grounding; never use an adapter to plug a computer’s power cord into a two-pronged electrical outlet.) You can buy a socket tester (available at hardware stores) to test your outlets if you suspect that they aren’t prop- erly grounded.
Use a power protection system such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or surge suppressor to protect each computer’s power supply (and thus the computer) from power failures, brownouts, surges, and spikes. You should also make sure that the computer’s power cord is plugged into a properly grounded electrical outlet. (Three-pronged outlets include grounding; never use an adapter to plug a computer’s power cord into a two-pronged electrical outlet.) You can buy a socket tester (available at hardware stores) to test your outlets if you suspect that they aren’t prop- erly grounded.
Power Supply Selection Tips
There are several criteria you should use when selecting a power supply for a computer.
There are several criteria you should use when selecting a power supply for a computer.
Criteria
Power supply rating
Form factor Cooling
Power Supply Fan
Power supply rating
Form factor Cooling
Power Supply Fan
Explanation
Make sure that you don’t overload the power supply. Add up the total system requirements for power and then select a power supply that can meet the computer’s demands.
Verify that the power supply will fit in your computer’s case and conform to your system board’s form factor.
Ensure that the power supply you select can adequately cool the components within the computer’s case.
Make sure that you don’t overload the power supply. Add up the total system requirements for power and then select a power supply that can meet the computer’s demands.
Verify that the power supply will fit in your computer’s case and conform to your system board’s form factor.
Ensure that the power supply you select can adequately cool the components within the computer’s case.
Some power supplies enable you to see the revolutions per minute (RPMs) of the power sup-
ply fan. You can then adjust the fan speed to run at only the speed needed to cool your
system. This can reduce power consumption and save wear and tear on the fan.
How to Install and Configure Power Supplies
Procedure Reference: Calculate Power Needs
To calculate the amount of power needed for a computer system:
Procedure Reference: Calculate Power Needs
To calculate the amount of power needed for a computer system:
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Determine the number of watts used by each component in the computer. Make sure you
include the following components:
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● System board
-
● CPU
-
● RAM
-
● Hard drives
-
● CD drives
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● DVD drives
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● Floppy drives
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● Expansion cards
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● System board
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Add up all of the power needed by the system components.
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Look at the label on the power supply to see what the maximum wattage output is.
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Compare your computation with the power supply output. If you have not exceeded the
power available, you do not need to upgrade. If you have, you will need to obtain a suit-
able power supply and install it.
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