A Different Perspective on Power Supplies ATX power supplies have been around a long time—since the mid 1990s. A replacement for the earlier AT standard, they added a 3.3v line and power switching through the motherboard, enhancing power saving features and allowing for less expensive boards with fewer voltage reductions for system components...
The latest system components put ever-higher stress on the power supply, especially the 12v rail. This is mainly due to processors such as the latest P4s drawing power from this rail rather than the traditional 3.3v line. The 3.3v line could no longer supply the amperage needed for these high-wattage parts. Since volts multiplied by amps yields watts, using the 12v line for high-wattage items allows manufacturers to continue using relatively thin, flexible cables for power. Even some video cards now supplement their power with a 12v line connection...
How much power do you need? Looking at UPS readings from various high-end P4 systems, I’ve found 200-250W is the norm. Lesser systems use less power. So why must people buy power supplies of 350W or more rated capacity?
The latest system components put ever-higher stress on the power supply, especially the 12v rail. This is mainly due to processors such as the latest P4s drawing power from this rail rather than the traditional 3.3v line. The 3.3v line could no longer supply the amperage needed for these high-wattage parts. Since volts multiplied by amps yields watts, using the 12v line for high-wattage items allows manufacturers to continue using relatively thin, flexible cables for power. Even some video cards now supplement their power with a 12v line connection...
How much power do you need? Looking at UPS readings from various high-end P4 systems, I’ve found 200-250W is the norm. Lesser systems use less power. So why must people buy power supplies of 350W or more rated capacity?
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