What does this mean?

Charlie7940

Charlie7940

Member
Type: ATX
Maximum Power: 500W
PFC: No
Input Voltage: 115/230V AC
Input Frequency Range: 50/60Hz
Output: +3.3V@15A, +5V@40A, +12V@19A, [email protected], [email protected], +5VSB@2A
MTBF: 100,000 Hours
Approvals: UL, FCC, UR, TUV, and NOM
Features:
- Acrylic window
- Fan speed control
- 1 x 120mm LED Fan, 1 x 80mm LED Fan
- Fan guard & wire sleeve and SATA

That is just some randow PSU I picked out to look at. What do all those numbers mean? I don't understand Input Voltage, Input frequency Range, Output, etc...

I don't know what to look for other than form factor and watts when purchasing a PSU.
 
What do all those numbers mean?
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Yeah, that guide looks like it explains most everything pretty well (though I didn't read through all of it)
I don't understand Input Voltage, Input frequency Range, Output, etc...
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Don't worry about that. Basically it will work in the US and elsewhere.
What PSU is that? Also, what price range are you looking in? Someone could recommend one.
 
Yeti said:
What PSU is that? Also, what price range are you looking in? Someone could recommend one.
Click to expand...

Oh no I'm not looking to buy one, I just never knew what all those numbers meant, the only thing I ever looked at when I buy a PSU is the # of Watts and the brand.

Thanks Yeti
 
Output: +3.3V@15A, +5V@40A, +12V@19A, [email protected], [email protected], +5VSB@2A
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Good for an older PSU but 500W PSUs should not be classed as "older" ... as such this isnt so great. Look for 24A off the 12V rail (or preferably 30A+)

the only thing I ever looked at when I buy a PSU is the # of Watts and the brand.
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A few things:
1. Active PFC is kewl but dont get blown away by it. Something like the OCZ PowerStream 420, 470 and 520 dont have it and they still are amoung the best PSUs available. It should be noted that they added it to their PowerStream600 (as for the other models, they do have ActivePFC on their international models).

2. Twin (or more) 12V rails. More marketing mumbo jumbo for the most part. Flagship PSUs like the PowerStreams (other than their 600 model) and even the PC Power & Cooling (god of PSUs) dont have twin 12V rails on many of their models (again the PowerStream600 has 2 and the PC P&P SLI850 has 4 rails). Twin 12V rails is neato but definitely not something that makes or breaks a PSU

3. Look for a PSU that supports a lot of current on the 12V rail -- many of these "500W" PSUs have their power rating from the 3.3 and 5V rails -- not something that is stressed much on a modern system
 
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