Simviation Forums

Firstly, I will say that I know nothing of the internal workings of a PC, hence what will appear to some, to be a bonehead question.

How can I determine what my PSU is and the output of it?

Simple enough question to most on this site.

Having a bad day.

What I really meant to say was:

Without taking my PC to bits, how can I tell what PSU I have fitted to my machine and it's output?  Secondly, what determines what PSU can be fitted to a PC?

Hopefully that makes things clearer, sorry to be a pain.

Having a bad day.

What I really meant to say was:

Without taking my PC to bits, how can I tell what PSU I have fitted to my machine and it's output?

Usually you can see it on the side that is visible when the case is open

Secondly, what determines what PSU can be fitted to a PC?

Space on your case
What cables you need

You'll probably will have to at least open the case. The info you look for is on the side of your PSU. Someone else may have a better answer for you.

Dan

There is a slight chance it may say the wattage on the back, but that's only for them generic $h!t3 ones...

Unless your case is see-through, or something like that, you must remove the cover and there should be info on the side, facing you.  Unless the idiot who put it in (this guy is not an idiot if it was you, because you sound new to PC building) put it in upside-down, so the info would be on the other side.  Then, you would have to unscrew the screws at the back, then take the PSU out, and flip it.

But otherwise, just open the case, and have a look.  The PSU's wattage will probably be in small print, so look carefully.  And don't confuse its maximum continuous power, with its maximum power.  Usually something like, if continuous power is 500W, then maybe the max output would be 520 or 550W.

Thanks guys, by the way, I didn't build it originally so hopefully my mates son put the PSU in so that I can see the label!!

Once you can see the label then read post 2 and 3 here

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 1184770345