Platinum Computers - Hartlepool Computer repair Centre

PC Computer Power Supplies - the Essential Component

Power Supply Units (PSUs) are one the most important components in your PC, but also one that is most over looked, most people think its just something you plug the power cable in to, and then forget about it, the Graphic Card, Processor and Hard Drive are all the important parts in the PC, more than the PSU. Most people and including some of the big retail stores, think this, couldn't be further from the truth. Some of the small Computer Shops don't mention including a good Power supply when quoting for a Gamers Rig, so they can complete the Computer sale by being cheaper than the competitors, and potentially dealing with an inadequate PSU latter.

NOT at Platinum Computers we prefer to get the PC built right the first time round, we quote to include all components to match the customer requirements, including a good PSU for gaming systems, and a high end office or home Computer, i.e. has raid hard drives, possibly 2 * DVDRW, had a graphic card added to give multiple displays. Then something like an Antec VP450P Power Supply would be recommended to cope with all the additional power requirements.

Look at your PC, DVD Drive, Hard Drive (s), Motherboard, Processor, possibly a Graphic Card, Sound Card, all of which are drawing power, we look at all of this when we are pricing you a new system, all of the internal components in the system and to a degree any external devices, external hard drives or external DVDRW, that may be connected to the computer, all need to be look at for power consumption.

We also make sure when we build any new Computer system that all cabling inside the system is cabled together, tidy to help the air flow inside the PC, extremely important again, the better the graphic card and more components inside the system, the more heat is generated, if air is restricted, then hot air pockets collect and can cause the system to over heat, reducing the performance of the system.

As already said Power supplies are over looked and forgotten about, BUT are an extremely important compontnt, especially in gaming computers, some people put a standard PSU in a gaming machine, and phone us or bring in there machine in to our Hartlepool based Computer Shop and report the graphics are not right or when I play games my computer turns off, or my PC runs slow and sluggish.
THE PSU isn't up the job its being asked to do. Think about if you are exercising at your maximum for a long period of time, what happens, your exhausted and your body gets stressed, a standard PSU does the same.
A GOOD Gaming Power Supply is build with better internal parts, designed to be more power efficient, and runs better for longer under load, as a rough guide the weight of a PSU is a good indication of how good it is, a standard PSU weighs approximately 1 kilo and good Power Supplies weight is 2.5 kilo and up.
If all the components inside your computer aren't getting the required power from the PSU, then they obviously won't be able to work to there optimal, and so the problems mentioned earlier come about.

We have seen people and even Computer Shops put a standard PSU in a gaming machine, and wonder why the system is just not running right, and phone us or bring in there machine in to our Hartlepool based Computer Shop and report the graphics are not right or when I play games my computer turns off, or my PC runs slow and sluggish.
THE PSUjust can't do the job its being asked of it.
Think if you are exercising at your maximum for a long period of time, what happens, your exhausted and your body gets stressed, a standard PSU, thats trying to power a computer drawing more power than the PSU can supply comfortably, does the same, it gets stressed, gets hot and becomes less efficient, nothing can run at its maximum for sustained period of time, something has to give, the components inside the computer can't get the power they need to run at there best.
A GOOD Gaming Power Supply is build with better internal parts, designed to be more power efficient, and last's longer under load, as its not running at its maximum, keeps a little in reserve. As a rough guide a standard PSU weighs approximately 1 kilo and good Power Supplies weighs 2.5 kilo up.
If all the components inside your computer aren't getting the required power from the PSU, then they obviously won't be able to work to there optimal, and so the problems mentioned earlier

Before you buy any Computer Power supply ask yourself a couple of questions

• What is the Computer going to be used for.

• Will I play any games either now or in the future, and what type of games.

This will help you to decide what PSU to buy, if you intend to play games in the future, but are working to a budget now, and buying components as and when, a gaming Power Supply Unit will fit in to a standard Computer case and standard Power Supplies fit in to Gaming Cases. Both cases and PSUs are interchangeable.

At Platinum Computers we stock Standard Power Supplies usually 400 watts to replace a standard blown PSU, a PC used for just general home, office and surfing use. Even then if the PC has been upgraded i.e. more DVD drives, hard drives or even a graphic card then a standard PSU may not be up to the job, to GOOD gaming Power Supplies.

Then we jump up to Antec VP450P and VP550P Power Supplies and PowerCool 550 and 650 watt Modular Power Supplies, (Modular - just add the cables required to the PSU helps to keep the cables tidy) both very well known Power Supplies in the Computer Gaming community, both PSU manufacturers command the highest respect, for the quality build and design, for just doing what they are supposed to do as good as they do it, for something that is totally over looked, but does an exceptional job.

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