Power Supply

Power Supply in Bangladesh

A power supply unit (PSU) converts mains electricity into the stable power every part of your PC needs. This category includes ATX power supplies from 450W to 850W by Corsair, DeepCool, Cooler Master, MSI, Gigabyte, Thermaltake, Antec, 1stPlayer, Gamdias, Xigmatek and Value-Top, for PC builders, gamers and anyone replacing a failed or weak unit.

A good power supply protects every part of your PC, which matters with the voltage changes common in Bangladesh. A poor unit can cause random restarts and may damage other parts, so this is not the place to cut corners.

Types of Power Supply

• Basic ATX power supplies: lower wattage units for office and home PCs without a graphics card.
• 80 Plus Bronze, Silver and Gold units: certified efficiency levels; higher grades waste less power as heat.
• Non-modular and full modular PSUs: modular units have detachable cables for a tidier build and better airflow.
• ATX 3.x units: newer designs with the 12V-2x6 connector used by some recent high-end graphics cards.

How to Choose

• Calculate wattage: add up your processor and graphics card power, follow the card maker's recommended PSU wattage, and leave some headroom.
• Look for 80 Plus certification: it indicates tested efficiency and usually better build quality.
• Check connectors: make sure it has the PCIe power connectors your graphics card needs and enough SATA connectors for your drives.
• Check the size: standard ATX units fit most casings. Some budget casings come with a PSU included, which suits office builds.
• Use a UPS too: a PSU cannot keep a PC running during load-shedding; a UPS gives time to save and shut down.

FAQs

Q: How many watts do I need?
A: Office PCs need much less power than gaming PCs. Add up your processor and graphics card requirements and choose a unit with some extra wattage above that.

Q: What does 80 Plus mean?
A: It is an efficiency certification. An 80 Plus unit converts more of the electricity into usable power and wastes less as heat, and Gold is more efficient than Bronze.

Q: Can a bad power supply damage my PC?
A: Yes. A weak or poor quality unit can cause restarts and may damage other parts, especially with unstable voltage.