Computer Power SupplyNOTE: The Computer Power Supply is a high voltage component. Never ever try to fix a broken power supply. Buy a new one.  Traditionally the Power Supply received little attention by computer manufacturers. The surge in computer power have changed things and now there are plenty of choice. The purpose of the power supply is to supply electricity to the hardware and transform AC (Alternating Current) to DC (Direct Current). All electronics work with DC, usually at 3.3V, 5V and 12V. Since the power supply always have a fan attached, it also provides necessary cooling to the case, although not complete.Contrary to what many believe, the quality of computer Power Supply is very important. Not only does a low quality Power Supply break easier, it also delivers inferior DC output. This inferior output might severely influence the stability of your computer, making it produce errors or crash without warning. On another page I explained about the binary number system and how the computer works. If we are working with only two states (binary) in order to accomplish tasks, then it is essential that these two states are clearly implemented by the electronic components. If we have a power supply that delivers inferior DC output then obviously it will be more difficult for the electronic components to understand when it is a 0 and when it is a 1 (if the voltage is 2V, is it low or high?), thus creating errors and instigating crashes. The worst is that what might look like a software error in reality could be power supply related – how will you ever figure that one out? When you are shopping for computer components you will discover that some Computer Cases are supplied with a Power Supply already mounted in the Case. This can be a good solution if you are on a budget. Select a case from a manufacturer that produces both cases and Power Supplies, then there is a better chance that the Power Supply is of good quality. If the case also contains a Motherboard then it is called a Barebone.
How to choose a Computer Power SupplyA power supply is rated by its wattage and thus gives you an indication of its capacity. The more hardware you add the bigger the power supply you need. A simple and basic computer will be fine with a power supply rated at 300 W. A high performance computer might need 400 to 600 W and a Gaming Rig 700 W or even more. It all depends on what you put into your case. In order to determine the capacity your system needs, I have developed rough estimates for various components available on the Power ratings page. In addtion to the Wattage, always choose a well known brand for quality.BrandsAs you can see many Computer Case manufacturers also manufacture Power Supplies, for example Antec and Apevia. If you are looking for a Case with Power Supply together, then one of these manufacturers will offer fine solutions. All the brands below offer high quality products but there are always some models that are better value than others.
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If you are looking at a mid-priced or better system I strongly advice you to consider a good power supply. The two weakest links in a computer are the 