Which is better - a case with a power supply or without a power supply

The motherboard, processor and video card is a classic set of computer parts that the buyer is interested in. But for the stable and safe operation of the PC, the power supply is in the first place. It is this component that can extend the life of all system components. Or burn iron due to poor build quality. Having delved into the essence of the problem, the question arises: "Which is better - a case with a power supply or without a PSU." Let's try to analyze the problem in detail and give the most detailed answer.

Tasks:

• What are good cases with a pre-installed power supply;
• What is the advantage of buying a PSU and a case separately;
• Which case for PC is better to choose;
• Which power supply for the computer is better.

We'll have to disassemble everything separately, so that later it would be easier to choose the right iron. Before buying a computer, you will have to immediately decide what format the PC will have (dimensions) and calculate the electrical power consumed by the system components.

In the context of the dimensions of the system unit. It all depends on the choice of the motherboard and video card. If we are talking about gaming systems - definitely ATX format. If you need a PC for office or multimedia, you can save space and take micro-ATX. In both cases, it is desirable that the niche for installing the PSU is located below. This installation provides better cooling in the area of ​​the processor and RAM.

By the total power consumption of the components. On the Internet, hundreds of calculators capable of marking iron to give the recommended indicator for BP. You can not calculate, but take with a large margin of power. But then the PC will consume more power. This is the specificity of transformer devices, brazenly devouring electricity and lowering the efficiency of the power supply.

Which is better - a case with a power supply or without a power supply

Beautiful, light and cheap Chinese cases with integrated PSUs are swept away immediately. In pursuit of low cost, quality suffers. Let the case fit, but the power supply is definitely not certified. Let it even have a dozen stickers with the inscription GOLD or ISO. Such a PSU is not able to properly support the power of the built-in iron. In particular, the video card and motherboard. To identify a mismatch is simple:

• On the 12-volt line (yellow and black cable), the PSU is connected in parallel with the cooler of the cooling system and a voltmeter;
• The power supply is connected to the network, and on the wide power connector, a green and black contact are closed with a clip;
• In the free rotation of the cooler, the voltmeter shows 12 V when the power supply unit provides voltage;
• The cooler rotor is gently pressed with a finger (braking is performed without stopping);
• In a good PSU, the voltmeter will not change the readings, and the Chinese consumer goods will change the data - the voltage will jump from 9 to 13 Volts.

And this is just a fan, and under load, both the motherboard and the video card work. Such jumps will destroy the iron even during the warranty period.

In the context of branded system cases and integrated power supplies, the situation is different. Definitely, such a system is better than the Chinese by several orders of magnitude. Brands Thermaltake, Zalman, ASUS, Supermicro, Intel, Chieftec, Aerocool, make excellent iron. But such a set of considerable money costs.

Summing up, which is better - a case with a power supply or without a power supply:

• Dear and famous brands make solid power supplies. If there is money, certainly, such cases with a power supply unit are the right choice;
• Chinese miracle devices worth up to 30 dollars are best avoided. I liked the case - take it, but purchase a PSU separately.

What is the advantage of buying a PSU and a case separately

The system unit is selected in appearance and internal design. This is a classic.

• The case must be compatible with the format of the motherboard (mini, micro, ATX, VTX);
• In the case you need to fit the game video card card - so that it does not rest on the basket for screws;
• Well-thought-out cooling and the presence of slots for installing additional coolers will not interfere with game systems;
• Reobass lovers - need an appropriate panel;
• It is good when in the case there are nets for coolers that inhibit dust and debris;
• If the PSU is mounted from below, a case with legs is required, otherwise, where the unit will draw fresh air from.

Power supplies are selected by power and power lines. With power it is clear - there is a calculator for calculations. In the context of cabling:

• The number of hard drives is being clarified - SATA power lines should be 2-4 more;
• The gaming video card requires a separate 8-pin connector (as an option, 6 + 2);
• If the motherboard is with additional power, the PSU must have the appropriate connectors (4 + 4);
• A bunch of fans - you need Molex connectors (more about them later).

The advantages of buying a PSU and a case separately in the flexibility of choice. For any platform, it’s realistic to choose the right hardware. And a good save.

Which case for PC is better to choose

Having dealt with the format of the system unit and internal compartments, the case is selected at the request of the user. Color, shape, the presence of "chips" - everything is individual for each buyer. Pay attention to the quality of design and assembly, as well as ease of maintenance:

• The metal edges of the internal structure must be well sanded and painted. The cutting edge is a guaranteed cut of the hands during installation or cleaning;
• It is good when the front panel of the case with a detachable mechanism is very convenient to clean;
• If the basket for hard drives is removed - excellent;
• If you use SSD disks in the system, it’s nice to have the appropriate mounts in the kit;
• An additional panel for connecting devices (USB or sound) should not be located on top - it will constantly clog up with dust;
• It’s good that there is a compartment or an already installed fan on the removable cover for pumping air onto the processor cooler.

In terms of brands, good gaming cases are made by companies: Corsair, Thermaltake, Cooler Master, NZXT, be quiet !, Zalman, Deepcool, Phanteks, ASUS, Fractal Design, AZZA. This is for home PC A great solution if you need cool cooling and reliability. Such cases are bought forever (years on 20 for sure).

For multimedia solutions, brands offer easier: NZXT, Cooler Master, GameMax, Chieftec, FSP. Very thoughtful inside and elegant solutions are faultless in build quality.

For office needs - no matter what the buyer chooses. There, the main thing is low cost and normal cooling for iron. You can even take the cheapest Chinese without a power supply.

Which power supply is better for a computer

Using the calculator, the approximate power of the power supply is calculated. It is clear that you need to buy PSUs on 20-30% more powerful. And it's not in stock. Transformer devices have power losses. And also, the power supply unit on top of the issued power will consume more electricity from the network. This problem has been addressed even in the relevant ISO standards for manufacturers. In order not to waste time, there is such a wonderful tablet that decodes the markings on the PSU.

The higher the efficiency of the power supply, the less it wastes electricity and the less it heats up in operation. The minimum value for good 80 PLUS power supplies. 80 PLUS Titanium is perfection. At Chinese consumer goods, the efficiency indicators are at around 60-65%. That is, by unscrewing the counter on 100 kW, low-quality PSUs dissipate 40 kW. Consider working at a computer with similar units for 10 years, convert the dissipated electricity to money and immediately realize that a good PSU is not as expensive as it seems.

When choosing a power supply, it is better to look at the connection comfort and functionality. With power lines have already figured out. There is another interesting point - detachable cables. Similar solutions at 20-30% cost more. But the removal of unnecessary wires facilitates installation in the system unit and improves air ventilation inside the case. Power supplies with detachable cables are the ideal solution for micro-ATX enclosures. There is so little space for iron, and excess wiring will only interfere.

All power supplies, regardless of brand or build quality, have one serious problem - Molex. This is an 4 pin connector for connecting fans, screws and optical discs. The catch is in the contacts themselves. When installed in the device, the contacts themselves have a weak fixation, and the diameter of the pins does not always coincide with the diameter of the holes on the device. Because of this, microscopic electric arcs arise. With long-term operation of the PC, these arcs heat up the contact and the plastic base. The smell of singe system plastic is a problem with Molex. There is only one solution - switch to the SATA pin. Solder yourself, or buy a cooler with the correct connector - the choice of the user. But for system security, it is better that Molex is not used at all. The negative consequences of a short circuit are the ignition of the braid of a power cable.

Brand name is everything

In terms of brands, the leader, definitely - SeaSonic. The trick is that this is the only company in the world specializing in the production of power supplies from scratch. That is, the plant independently produces all components and performs assembly. Other well-known brands (Corsair, for example) buy SeaSonic products and, having stuck their sticker, they sell them under their own brand. There is no point in overpaying. Thermaltake, be quiet !, Chieftec, Zalman, Antec, ASUS, Enermax, EVGA, Cooler Master have good PSUs.

Sellers claim that it’s easy to distinguish a decent power supply - by weight. So it was 5-6 years ago. The Chinese, who manufacture low-quality PSUs, manage to make the piece of iron heavier in order to look attractive in the market. Therefore, only a reliable and time-tested brand is worthy of choice.

Understanding what is better - a case with a power supply or without a power supply, I had to fully reveal the topic and answer all the questions. But it is better to see the full picture than to suffer in conjectures. If you want to extend the life of computer hardware (mother, CPU, memory, video) - buy a good power supply. Decided to save on consumables - take a cheap option. But do not complain that some piece of iron “for some reason” burned out.

As a result, they came to the conclusion that the PSU separately from the system case is the right decision and economical. The power supply is necessarily miscalculated for power and is selected from a premium class. The case is selected for the size of the motherboard and video card.