Power Supply

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

Definition

A power supply (power supply unit or PSU) is a hardware component that supplies power to an electrical device. It receives power from an electrical outlet and converts the current from AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current), which is what the computer requires. This voltage can be switched on and off electronically,  which can be set to 110v/115v or 220v/240v. This switch position is crucial because of the different power voltages supplied by power outlets in different countries. A switched- mode power supply can also shut itself down before damage is done when a short is detected.

It also regulates the voltage to an adequate amount, which allows the computer to run smoothly without overheating. The power supply an integral part of any computer and must function correctly for the rest of the components to work. Power supply units are rated by wattage to show how much power they can provide to the computer. Since each computer part requires a certain amount of power to function properly, it's important to have a PSU that can provide the right amount. The more powerful the computer, the more watts it can provide to components.

Power Supply Cable Management

Everything contained in the computer chassis is powered by the power supply. For example, the motherboard, RAM, CPU, hard drive, and disc drive are all drawing power from the power supply. Some higher end video cards draw power directly from the power supply as well. Any other external devices and peripherals, such as the computer monitor and printer, have their own power source.