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Questions tagged [power-supply]

A power supply is an electronic device that supplies electric power to another device, such as a computer, monitor or printer. This is achieved by converting wall power (or mains power) to a lower voltage, and in most cases also from AC to DC. Most power supplies also provide protection from overload, power surges and other potentially problematic or hazardous conditions.

61 votes
11 answers
214k views

Laptop power supplies, does current matter?

I have two laptops (same manufacture), with the same type of power connector. However, the power supplies/transformers are slightly different. The output on the first laptop's power supply is 15.6&...
BIBD's user avatar
  • 1,574
238 votes
6 answers
207k views

Should laptops remain plugged in when their battery is 100% charged?

When your laptop's battery is 100% charged, should you leave it plugged in so any battery power doesn't get used, or will that cause overcharging, overheating, etc.? Should the laptop be unplugged ...
Click Upvote's user avatar
  • 4,220
6 votes
5 answers
8k views

Graphics card and PSU requirement

Note: This is intended to become a canonical post. I got a dedicated graphics card of type XXX and it claims I need at least a YYY Watt PSU. How big does my PSU really need to be?
Hennes's user avatar
  • 65.3k
14 votes
2 answers
115k views

How can I tell if an AC adapter is compatible with my laptop? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: charging laptop with a diffrent manufacture charger How can I tell if an AC adapter is compatible with my laptop? For example, does the voltage output have to bee the same, ...
Jim's user avatar
  • 359
122 votes
6 answers
239k views

Why do some AC adapters and power supplies generate a whining noise, and what can I do about it?

I have many different AC adapters and power supplies for a variety of devices, ranging from small 5V/1A USB chargers to laptop power adapters and desktop PSUs. However, I often hear a whining noise ...
rishat's user avatar
  • 1,377
6 votes
3 answers
4k views

Can a 20V 4.51A power supply be used with a computer that requires a 19V 3.42A power supply? [duplicate]

I have a laptop that says it needs a 19V 3.42A power supply. I have a Dell 20V 4.51A power supply. Can I use this power supply with my laptop, or will it destroy the machine?
Dandy52002's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
4k views

Power Supply Capacity Formula

Given that I am building a home computer from scratch and I have several components (MB, CPU, HDD, Video, Sound, etc) which have specific power requirements, is there a formula for me to calculate the ...
λ Jonas Gorauskas's user avatar
30 votes
5 answers
45k views

How to test a power supply?

My computer powered off the other day on its own, and now when I push the power button, nothing happens. My assumption would naturally be that the power supply is done (possibly well done) but is ...
Sam Hoice's user avatar
  • 403
42 votes
4 answers
231k views

How to choose a UPS / calculate power for a new PC

Seven years ago a friend gave me a Liebert PowerSure 250 UPS and it has done well for whatever (home) PC and monitor I've plugged into it over the years. I've just ordered a new PC with the Intel core ...
Dan's user avatar
  • 583
6 votes
3 answers
15k views

Is it safe to use a power supply with a different laptop? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: charging laptop with a diffrent manufacture charger I have a Dell Vostro 1500 laptop, but unfortunately I lost the power supply in Indianapolis last month. I have a power ...
Colen's user avatar
  • 982
7 votes
4 answers
8k views

Will a 500W SMPS consume more electricity than a 250W SMPS if they are powering computers with same specifications?

Will a 500W SMPS consume more electricity than a 250W SMPS if they are powering computer with same specifications ? Or is the SMPS designed in such a way that it only draws the required power form ...
Torpido's user avatar
  • 507
6 votes
8 answers
13k views

How to troubleshoot a computer not booting up when powered on?

I can turn on my computer and sometimes it will boot up just fine. After a while of use, days or even a week, when I try to turn it on, it powers up, in that the fans spins up, the power indicator ...
Laz's user avatar
  • 258
-1 votes
2 answers
6k views

Battery not charging, laptop only works when plugged

Yesterday my battery was working fine (for an old computer). It could sustain a normal usage for three hours at least. Today I have the following symptomas: I noticed that it didn't charge, even ...
Legisey's user avatar
  • 131
149 votes
6 answers
1.1m views

What is the power output of a USB port?

As the title says, what's the power output of a USB port? Is it a standard value, or it may change depending on manufacturer/model, and so on? If that value is not standard, how can one determine ...
Sekhemty's user avatar
  • 9,506
6 votes
3 answers
254k views

How can I check if my system needs more PSU power?

i've just bought a new Radeon HD5850. Seems to be working fine, etc. BUT, when I turn the computer on, it sounds like .. hmm .. maybe the HD's try to spin up 3 times during POST. And POST always has ...
Pure.Krome's user avatar
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