Install A New
Power Supply
A
Step-By-Step Guide
Cooler
Master's GX-450W power supply offers a power efficiency of 85% and Is 80 Plus
Bronze-certified.
The
Cooler Master CM 690II Advanced computer case offers a variety of helpful
features for routing power cables.
The power supply provides
your computer with the energy necessary to operate. If the PSU (power supply
unit) in your PC fails or new, power-hungry components make an upgrade
necessary, its fairly simple to install a new one in your desktop computer.
Here, we'll take you through the installation process and provide some tips for
routing the cables to improve airflow and make hardware easier to access.
Power
Supply Selection
One of the key
specifications to consider when selecting a power supply is the amount of
wattage it can provide. There are a number of online utilities, such as Cooler
Master's Power Calculator (www.coolermaster.outervision. com), you can use to
determine the number of watts your computer likely to use. It's a good idea to
invest in a power supply that provides at least 100 more watts than your
expected us age so you'll have headroom for heavy loads and minor upgrades.
Once you've selected a
wattage, you can compare PSU options. Most modern power supplies offer enough
connections for any basic build, but if your PC has multiples of a single
component, such as hard drives or optical drives, ensure the power supply has
enough compatible connections to support your needs. For the instructions in
this article, we selected a Cooler Master GX-450W ($59.99;
www.coolermaster-usa.com) power sup ply, which provides us with five SATA (Serial
Advanced Technology Attachment; for modern hard drives, SSDs, and optical
drives) connectors, three Molex (for legacy HDDs and internal fans) connectors,
and one PCI-E (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express; for a graphics card)
connector.
The
Installation
Installing your power
supply won't take long. Grab a Phillips-head screwdriver and follow these easy
steps.
1.
Prepare
your workspace.
Touch the metal in your computer's case (to discharge static electricity)
before working on the PC. Also, check that the power supply isn't plugged into
an outlet.
2.
Remove the
old power supply.
If you are replacing a power supply, detach all cords from the components
inside the computer, such as the motherboard, graphics card, and all drives.
Remove the screws at the back of the case and slide the PSU free.
3.
Place the
PSU inside the PC case.
The power supply will need to be installed next to the rectangular opening at
the rear bottom or rear top of the case. In our Cooler Master CM 690 II
Advanced ($99.99) case, the power supply cut out is located at the bottom, and
there are vents in the bottom of the case, which allows the power supply's fan
to pull fresh, cool outside air into the unit and exhaust it outside the case.
Note that if your case doesn't offer a vent at the top or bottom, you'll want
the power supply's fan to point towards the inside of the case (not butted
against the flat metal chassis), so the fan will be able to move air across
internal parts of the power supply.
4.
Attach the
PSU with screws.
Use the screws supplied with your power supply. Secure the screws firmly, but
don't overdo it.
5.
Route the
power cables.
You're ready to route the cables to the hardware inside the case. If this is a
new build, we suggest that you place the motherboard onto the case's
motherboard tray to help you see where you'll need to run the cables, such as
the main power 20+4-pin and 4+4- pin CPU cables. Many new cases, including
Cooler Master's CM 690 II Advanced, feature holes with rubber grommets to let you
easily conceal cables behind the motherboard tray. Besides being aesthetically
pleasing, neatly routed cables help to maintain consistent airflow throughout
the case and make the interior components easier to reach. For the devices in
the front portion of the case, such as the hard drive, optical drive, memory
card readers, and fans, it's best to route the cables behind the motherboard
tray and bunch the cables behind the drive cages. This method will both conceal
the cable and make it easy to connect when you add the components.
Wrap
Things Up
Once all of the power
cables are connected to the computer's internal components, your case should be
pretty tidy. Some users like to take a few minutes to bundle some cables using
Velcro ties or zip ties, so everything will stay securely in place when you
move the computer.
