- If your computer did not have a power supply, all you would have is a plastic box filled with complex gadgetry that serves you no purpose. For that reason, the power supply of your computer is obviously essential. The capacity of your power supply also determines some of what your computer can do, especially when considering processes that take up a lot of memory, such as gaming.
- The power supply is contained within a metal box that is set in a corner of the CPU. When power comes through the wall and into the power supply, the power supply's job is to transfer the energy input into a form that your computer can use and then distribute it correctly to the various parts of the computer.
- When you press the power button on the computer, you are sending a signal to the power supply to begin the flow of power in the form of electricity to the rest of the components inside the computer. Older computers had a large switch that physically stopped the flow of power into the CPU, so today's form of operating a computer is something of a modern luxury. Even while the power is off, there is a small amount of voltage within the computer so that the button will work.
- An important part of the CPU power supply is the switcher, which allows the voltage from the plug in the wall to be converted to a form that your computer can use. Although switchers used to be large and bulky, modern switchers are more streamlined. A switcher draws only the power it needs from the voltage line to prevent an overload of power within your computer, which would result in chaos.
- Several different types of power supplies are available, but they all work about the same. Their main differences include the amount of power that is able to be provided, as well as the amount of linkages it has to the other internal "organs" of the computer, such as the video card. Certain power supplies, usually in laptops, allow you to control the amount of power used by the computer, affecting performance and battery life.
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