Power Supply Calculator

A power supply calculator is a tool that estimates the wattage and amperage your custom PC build needs based on the components you select. Choose Newegg's PC power supply calculator to build the perfect computer for your needs. Select the components you want, such as the CPU, GPU, and motherboard, and use our PSU wattage calculator to ensure each component receives the right amount of power.

Newegg's PSU calculator simplifies the PC building process by taking the guesswork out of selecting the right components. It helps you avoid the risk of underpowering or overpowering your PC. Our computer power supply calculator will make buying easier whether you are looking for specific gaming elements or essential professional requirements.

Calculating the wattage of a Power Supply Unit (PSU) is important because it ensures your computer gets the right amount of power. The best power supply for your PC build is the one that delivers the correct amount of electrical power to all components at once. To determine the correct PSU for your PC build, you need to find the total power your PC requires, measured in watts. First, consider and calculate the power needs of your PC's components, including CPU, Motherboard, GPU, RAM, hard drives, and any other devices you plan to use.

The power supply calculator will help you multiply the total amperage (amps) drawn by all components by the total voltage (volts) they need. The result will give you the total wattage your PC build needs to function properly. Use Newegg’s PSU wattage calculator to help you estimate the right wattage for your PSU. Choosing a PSU with a slightly higher wattage than your calculations initially suggest is a good practice. A higher wattage estimate provides a safety margin, ensuring your power supply can handle peak power demands, preventing issues like system instability, and leaving room for future upgrades.

When estimating the power needs of your PC components, you want to avoid under and overpowering your power supply unit. Our PSU calculator will help you to prevent such power-related issues and damage to your PC.

As with most electronics purchases, you want to choose a cost-effective and efficient PSU. Choosing the right PSU ensures your components work at their best, which can help you save on electricity bills. Don’t forget to think about potential future upgrades or additional components you may install. You want to ensure your PSU can accommodate these additions to avoid frequent replacements.

To make sure that the Power Supply Unit (PSU) fits your computer correctly, first, check the wattage to ensure it matches the power requirements you calculated for your PC components. How do you check your PSU wattage usage? The simplest way is to check the label on your PSU. It typically shows the maximum wattage it can provide, representing the PSU's capacity. It's a good practice to choose a PSU with slightly more wattage than you calculated to be safe. You can also use the power supply calculator to estimate your computer's power needs based on its components.

Next, make sure your PSU fits your PC case. Every PC case has a specific spot for the power supply unit, but the size and shape of this space can vary. Decide on a form factor to help you pick a compatible PSU. ATX and SFX are two common form factors for power supplies. SFX power supplies are more compact, designed for smaller PC cases, and easily fit into these space-constrained spaces. ATX power supplies are the standard size and shape for most desktop PC cases. They are typically larger and come in various wattages, suitable for mid and full-tower cases.

Once you verify the wattage, form factor, and case compatibility, it can also be beneficial to look for certifications, such as the 80 PLUS Certification, which can indicate higher efficiency and better quality in your power supply.

The 80 PLUS Certification is a rating system that tells you how efficient your PSU is at turning electricity into usable power for your computer. It evaluates how your power supply converts AC to DC power. The certification comes in various levels, such as Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium, with Titanium being the most efficient. Higher 80 PLUS ratings mean less power is wasted as heat, leading to energy savings and reducing overall energy consumption. This certification is important for everyone to consider; whether choosing a setup for personal use, managing a small business, or setting up an intricate gaming system, the 80 PLUS certification helps you pick an energy-efficient PSU and be more conscientious of your PC build’s environmental impact.

Newegg offers PSUs from reliable, popular brands such as Corsair, EVGA, Rosewill, Seasonic, Cooler Master, Silverstone, FSP, and Thermaltake. For gaming-specific power supplies, browse the products of trusted brands such as Corsair and EVGA, which offer PSU models tailored to gaming PCs' higher power demands and performance requirements. When selecting a PSU brand, explore our product offerings to find the option that best fits your needs and preferences.

When choosing the correct power supply to buy, the first thing you should do is identify the components you need and plan to add. Thinking about your PC's purpose (gaming, work, etc.) can help you determine the list of components you will need for your PC build. If you need a hand with choosing the right components, the easiest way to configure your own PC is to use our custom PC builder.

Consider these key components:

• Central Processing Unit (CPU): Selecting a CPU is similar to choosing the make and model of a car. For example, our PSU calculator allows you to pick a brand (Intel or AMD) and then select a specific CPU model from that brand.
• Motherboards: The motherboard is the control center for your PC and is responsible for distributing power. When choosing a motherboard, think about its type (desktop, laptop, server, etc.) and form factor, like ATX. Selecting the motherboard is essential for your PC build because most of your components connect to and get power from the motherboard.
• Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): To determine the power supply for your GPU or graphics card, use Newegg's wattage calculator to choose the GPU chipset, series, and the number of required cables. GPUs receive their power through cables with pins on them. GPUs typically need 6, 8, or a combination of 6+6, 6+8, or 8+8 pins. Make sure your PSU has the necessary cables to support these requirements. Most PSUs include at least one cable compatible with both 8-pin and 6-pin connectors.
• Memory (RAM): When selecting memory (RAM) for your computer, check your motherboard's specifications to find out which types of memory sticks it can support and the maximum size (in GB) of each stick. Be aware of how many memory sticks your motherboard can accommodate. The PSU calculator helps guide your memory (RAM) selection and overall system performance, preventing underpowered setups that might affect memory performance.
• Solid State Drive (SSD): Don’t forget to consider your Solid State Drives (SSDs) when using our computer power supply calculator. These high-speed drives, with sizes ranging from under 120GB to over 1TB, are essential to your build. Some SSDs can be directly attached to the motherboard, so be sure to include them in your calculations.
• Hard Drives (HDD): Use Newegg's power supply calculator to account for your hard drives as part of your PC build. Be sure to note the physical size and rotation speed of each drive you have or plan to include (for example, 7200RPM, 3.5").
• Optical Drive: If you're adding an optical drive to your PC build, include it in your PSU calculations. Make sure you know the type of optical media it uses, like Blu-ray or CD-ROM, and account for it in your power supply considerations.
• Fans/Peripherals: Consider any additional components like sound cards or RGB case fans you want to include in your PC build. These add-ons consume some power, so it's wise to include them in your calculations. Use the Newegg wattage calculator to account for your other components accurately; then, you can err on the side of caution by rounding up your power wattage to accommodate these additional devices.

Browse Newegg Insider to get information about the latest and greatest in tech. Check out articles like "The FSP Hydro PTM+ is a water-cooled power supply with RGB lights" or "Future-Proofing 101 – Cases and Power Supplies."

While highly accurate, it's recommended to add a 10-20% buffer to the calculated wattage for safety and future upgrades. For best results, input as much detail as possible, but the PSU calculator tool can estimate based on common setups if specifics aren't known. After calculating your needs, Newegg’s power supply calculator will suggest compatible power supplies, but the final choice depends on your preferences and requirements.