Tips on purchasing energy storage power supply

How do I choose a power supply?

Before choosing a power supply, you’ll have to determine what size PSU you actually need. There are a surprisingly large number of power supply form factors out there, but most of you will choose between ATX, SFX, and SFX-L for your builds. ATX is the standard PSU size you’re likely familiar with.

What makes a good power supply?

More efficient power supply units tend to use better parts and output less heat, significantly extending a power supply’s working life. Manufacturers tend to back their Gold-rated and higher PSUs with extended warranties, too, with five-to-ten-year guarantees quite common at the high end.

How efficient is a power supply?

A really good power supply will convert 90% or more. These rating programs basically tell you how efficient a power supply is at converting AC power into DC power. But, it goes a little deeper than that, as the rating systems judge a power supply’s efficiency when it is under specific loads.

Should you buy untested and unproven PC power supplies?

Taking a chance on untested and unproven power supplies isn’t something we recommend doing, so play it safe and choose a PC power supply with proven quality and performance. Need help picking your other parts? Check out our high-level guide to choosing PC parts for some quick tips.

Should I buy a high-efficiency PC power supply?

If you’re concerned with your power bill, you may want to consider a high-efficiency PC power supply. For example, a cheap 80 PLUS PSU will pull 625 watts from the wall to generate 500 watts for your components. In contrast, an 80 PLUS Gold PSU with 90% efficiency only draws around 555 watts from the wall to generate that same 500 watts.

Should you choose a low-quality power supply?

If you choose a low-quality power supply, you run the risk of damaging your components. On the other hand, if you don’t understand how much power you need in order to efficiently power your system, you could end up allocating more of your budget towards your power supply than is necessary.