500 Watt ATX12V 2.3 80 Plus Computer Power Supply w/ Active PFC

There are a few factors to look at when deciding on an appropriate power supply for your computer. These will be outlined below.

Form factor

StarTech.com offers ATX form factor power supplies.  This form factor is suitable for regular desktop computers.  These will not fit in smaller desktop computer cases that require mini or micro ATX form factors, such as slim line computers.  It is important to verify if your computer case and motherboard use the ATX form factor. Refer to the information provided by the manufacturer to confirm which standard you require

Power output

The power supply that you choose should be able to output enough power for all of your components, even under a very high load. The power output of power supplies can range from 200 to 1800 watts (for very high end products), but the most common power supply outputs are 300 to 500 watts. It is recommended to replace a power supply with one that can output at least the same amount of power.

Available connections

It is important to verify that the power supply has enough connections, and the appropriate type of connections for all of the components in your system. It is recommended you at least check for the most common types of connections, listed below:

• ATX Split Power (20+4 pin) Male
• ATX 12V P4 Power (4 pin) Male
• LP4 (4 pin, Molex Large Drive Power)
• SP4 (4 pin, Small Drive Power)
• SATA Power (15 pin)

Your video card may also require one or two PCI Express Power 6 or 8 pin connectors.  Check your computer to see which connections, and how many of each you need.

StarTech.com lists which connections a power supply provides on each product page under the Technical Specifications tab.