Unlike most other PC components, PSUs don't have as much variety to them. The main features that vary within PSUs are the connections available, whether they're modular or not, and the wattage provided. Connections you should look for when buying a PSU include:
- Hard Drive/SSD connection
- GPU connection (only if required)
- CPU connection ( check your motherboard to see how many pins your connector should be)
- Optical drive connection
- ATX power connector (most have 24 pins but some older ones may only have 20)
The amount of watts used by your power supply is also an important factor in determining the stability and function of your computer. To figure out how many watts you'll need to be using you would first have to find out how many watts each part of your computer will consume. For example, if you buy a GPU with a minimum demand of 400W, you'll have to make sure that your PSU is 400W or greater.
If you're not restricted by a budget and you're looking to get a PSU with additional features, some characteristics available for the higher end power supplies include modular configurations and SLI/Crossfire support ( SLI or Crossfire is when you run multiple GPUs at once ).
Modular power supplies offer the capability to use only the cables you need and leave out the ones you don't by removing them completely
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| Modular PSU with ALL cables removed |
