What are the power requirements for your system?<\/p>\n
Without going into too much detail – it’s advisable to get a power supply strong enough to comfortably power your system. Obviously.<\/p>\n
But on the flipside – unless you’re a power-user who needs a 1kw+ power supply, don’t waste money on one in order to future-proof your system.<\/p>\n
Mid-range graphics cards and CPUs often stay within a certain power envelope; meaning that, even though you upgrade to a more powerful, faster graphics card or CPU, the power requirements of the actual components remain similar.<\/p>\n
12v rails <\/strong><\/p>\n The most important aspect of a power supply, right after the total power it is able to supply, is a strong 12v rail system.<\/p>\n The 12v power rails in a PSU supply come with an amp rating – graphics cards, in particular, need a high amp rating on the 12v rails to ensure stable consistent power.<\/p>\n Most low-end power supplies have either one or two low-amp 12v rails – which usually aren’t able to provide enough power and current to the graphics cards.<\/p>\n Higher-end models make use of multiple high-amp 12v rails that ensure power delivery is within the limits of the PSU.<\/p>\n Cable length <\/strong><\/p>\n Another very important feature on power supplies is the length of the cables connecting the PSU to your components.<\/p>\n With modern gaming cases getting bigger and featuring elaborate cable management systems, some PSU cables are no longer long enough to reach all of the components.<\/p>\n As high powered as a PSU may be, it’s useless if it can’t connect to your system correctly.<\/p>\n Modular cable system<\/strong><\/p>\n While not essential, a modular cable system makes life quite a bit easier when installing a new unit.<\/p>\n Having the ability to make use of only the cables you need in a system is great for those who want a neat-looking setup – as well as those who are limited in terms of space and aren’t able to cram the spare cabling into the system.<\/p>\n This being said, there are a few good deals on non-modular power supplies, and users on a budget can forego this.<\/p>\n Modular cabling is more of a convenience than a necessity.<\/p>\n Buying the right power supply for your system is important.<\/p>\n While they often cost a significant amount initially, if you get a PSU that can last three or four years without hassle, the component will pay for itself come time for the next upgrade.<\/p>\n![](\"\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/PSU_cables_295991280.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![](\"\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/PSU_modular_backpanel_559985097.jpg\")
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