Comparison Aerocool Value VX-600 vs Aerocool Eco-Friendly E78-530

The output power of the power supply, in other words, is the maximum power that it is capable of delivering to the system. For the computer to operate efficiently, the power supply must be greater than the total power consumption of the system at maximum load. The latter can be calculated by summing the power of individual components, however, in general, for office configurations , about 400 W — 450 W is considered sufficient, for medium gaming — about 600 W( 500 W, 550 W, 650 W, 700 W, 750 W), and for the top ones — power of 800 W and above ( 850 W, 1000 W and even more than 1 kW).

Efficiency, in this case — the ratio of the power of the power supply (see "Power") to its power consumption. The higher the efficiency, the more efficient the power supply, the less energy it consumes from the network at the same output power, and the cheaper it is to operate. Efficiency may differ depending on the load; the characteristics can indicate both the minimum efficiency and its value at an average load (50%).

It should be noted that compliance with one or another level of 80PLUS efficiency directly depends on this indicator (for more details, see "Certificate").

The number of Molex (IDE) connectors provided in the design of the power supply.

Initially, such a connector was intended to power peripherals for the IDE interface, primarily hard drives. And although the IDE itself is completely obsolete today and is not used in new components, however, the Molex power connector continues to be installed in power supplies, and almost without fail. Almost any modern PSU has at least 1 – 2 of these connectors, and in high-end models this number can be 7 or more. This situation is due to the fact that Molex IDE is a fairly universal standard, and with the help of the simplest adapters, components with a different power interface can be powered from it. For example, there are Molex - SATA adapters for drives, Molex - 6 pin for video cards, etc.

Number of 6-pin PCIe power connectors provided in the power supply unit.

These connectors are used for additional power to types of internal peripherals for which the 75W supplied directly through the PCIe slot on the motherboard is insufficient (a typical example being graphics cards). A 6-pin connector on the power supply unit provides an additional 75W, allowing the connection of boards with power consumption up to 150W.

Note that some graphics cards have multiple connectors for additional power. In light of this, a PSU may have either one PCIe 6-pin plug or two such connectors. However, this type of plug is generally used quite rarely due to the proliferation of the more convenient and versatile 8-pin "6+2" format connector, which can be used as either a six- or eight-pin (see more about it below).

Number of 8-pin PCIe power connectors (6+2) provided in the PSU design.

Additional PCIe power connectors (of all formats) are used for additional power to types of internal peripherals that require more than the 75W supplied directly through the PCIe slot on the motherboard (a typical example is graphics cards). In PC components, there are two types of such connectors — 6-pin, providing up to 75W of additional power, and 8-pin, giving up to 150W. The 8-pin (6+2) connectors used in power supplies are universal: they can work with both 6-pin and 8-pin connectors on the expansion board. Therefore, this type of connector is the most popular in modern PSUs.

As for the quantity, there are models on sale with 1 PCIe 8-pin (6+2) connector, 2 such connectors, 3 connectors, 4 connectors, and in some cases — 6 or more. Several of these connectors can be useful, for example, when connecting multiple graphics cards — or for a powerful high-performance video adapter equipped with multiple additional PCIe power connectors.

The noise level produced by the power supply.

Usually, the characteristics indicate the average value of the noise level during normal operation. The lower this value, the quieter the power supply and the more comfortable it is to use. However, it is worth noting that modern computer PSUs produce very little noise. So, in the quietest models, this figure does not exceed 20 dB — this is no louder than the rustling of leaves in a light breeze, such a sound is almost inaudible and is quite acceptable even in a residential area at night. Also acceptable for this application are noise sources of 21 – 25 dB(corresponding to a whisper at a distance of about 1 m) and 26 – 30 dB(wall clock ticking). Noise of more than 30 dB is already considered quite significant for computer PSUs; according to sanitary standards, such equipment in residential premises can only be used during the day.

When choosing a power supply for this indicator, it is worth considering a few points. First, noise reduction comes at a cost: it can affect the cooling performance and/or cost of the device. Secondly, the noise from the power supply is often lost against the background of louder PC components — for example, powerful cooling systems for the CPU or graphics card. Thirdly, the very environment where the PC is installed can be noisy — an example is a...n office or coworking. Thus, specifically looking for a low-noise model makes sense mainly in cases where maximum silence is crucial for you.

PC PSU dimensions are defined by the form factor (most often ATX 150×86 mm), and the key factor in compatibility is depth — the PSU case length. “Universal” ATX units are usually 140, 150 mm, while quiet, high-power models with large heatsinks and a 135/140‑mm fan range from 160 to 200+ mm; compact builds use SFX/SFX-L (depth ~100 and ~125 mm with an adapter bracket). The greater the depth, the higher the risk of hitting drive cages, the PSU shroud, cable management, or a front LCS radiator, and modular connectors plus cable bend radius require another 20 – 40 mm of real clearance.