What To Do About Power Supply Reliability

With power supply manufacturers using cheaper transformers and capacitors in their products, you need to find out what goes into your power supply. Don't be afraid to ask questions!

When you have the option to select the power supply, inquire about the quality of the power supply. Ask the retailer what kind of reliability experience and rate of returns they have had with that power supply brand. Ask the retailer what kind of warranty they offer on the power supply. A longer warranty is a good sign that it is a quality power supply. If you like a certain case, but it has a questionable power supply, ask the retailer if the case is available without a power supply. If so, buy the case you like, purchase a quality power supply, and put it in the case yourself. Avoid power supplies that are 250 watts or less! If you are building a new state-of-the-art system, you should be looking at power supplies that are 300 watts or higher. As always I suggest that you look for power supplies that are Intel or AMD certified. Ask the retailer of system builder if they offer a power supply upgrade. If you live in an area that has a lot of brownouts or power spikes, consider purchasing a UPS that offers some level of power conditioning. Every computer should always be operated with a surge protector. Buy a good rated surge protector that is rated for at least 1,400 joules of protection with at least a 15 amp circuit breaker. Pay attention to the amount of stuff you have plugged into the same circuit as your computer. Don't overload the circuit. Don't plug things with high wattage requirements, such as electric heaters, into the same circuit with your computer. Complain to your local electric provider if you continue to experience a lot of brownouts and spikes. Sometimes it does little good, but you never know.

No power supply is going to last forever, but clean power that is consistent will help extend the life of your components and peripherals.

So, What Did I Do?

I purchased the new Antec PP352X power supply from my local retailer, drove to the lab, and installed it. My system is now up and running. Did this system require a 350-watt dual fan power supply? No. But considering the value of the components in the case and the importance of the power supply in relation to these components, I decided that an ounce of prevention really was worth more than a pound of cure (and the alternative, barbequed components).

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