Computer Power Supply

A modern computer power supply is a switched-mode supply designed to convert 110-240 V AC power from the mains supply, to several output both positive (and historically negative) DC voltages in the range 12V to 3.3V. The first computer power supplies were linear devices, but as cost became a driving factor, and weight became important, switched mode supplies are almost universal.

The diverse collection of output voltages also have widely varying current draw requirements, which are difficult to all be supplied from the same switched-mode source. Consequently most modern computer power supplies actually consist of several different switched mode supplies, each producing just one voltage component and each able to vary its output based on component power requirements, and all are linked together to shut down as a group in the event of a fault condition.

The most common modern computer power supplies are built to conform to the ATX form factor. The power rating of a PC power supply is not officially certified and is self-claimed by each manufacturer.A common way to reach the power figure for PC PSUs is by adding the power available on each rail, which will not give a true power figure. The more reputable makers advertise "True Wattage Rated" to give consumers the idea that they can trust the power advertised.