ABT Builder’s Guide: September-October 2008

POWER SUPPLY UNITS (PSUs)

With all the hardware you want to put in your computer, the power supply unit is very important and is often the most overlooked piece of the equation.  What happens if you get all the latest and greatest hardware, only to find out that your PSU cannot give you enough juice?  I don’t know about you, but I’d be peeved.  This is not an area in which you should get into the habit of skimping on.  A quality efficient PSU will ensure that you have enough power to run all of your components, and at the same time, be clean enough not to waste energy.

Active Power Factor Correction or Active PFC is one method by which PSUs help their own efficiency.  APFC also improves the overall stability of the power supply. This is a must.

80 PLUS Certification is one that ensures a PSU will maintain at least 80% efficiency at 20%, 50% and 100% load. Units that achieve this certification, receive a tag. The tag that they receive is based on the unit having an efficiency rating of at least:
•    80% – 80 PLUS Certified
•    82% – 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified
•    85% – 80 PLUS SILVER Certified
•    87% – 80 PLUS GOLD Certified

With that in mind, the only PSUs that have made it onto this list are those that have Active PFC and are at least 80 PLUS Certified.

Honourable Mention:
Good Deal – Antec Sonata III 500. This is an ATX Mid Tower case that comes with the Antec EA500 earthwatts PSU.

This brings me to my next section . . .