When you plug in your computer, it just works (we hope), but under the hood, the power supply is what does the heavy lifting, converting the power from the 110V outlet in your house to all the voltages each component needs. Yep, it's a metal box with wires, but there is a bit more to it. You know we're obsessed with gadgetry; the power supply is our latest fetish. Here's how it works.
A computer's power supply consists of several parts. There are all kinds of wires, both inside its metal shell and protruding from it. Inside the shell, there are many capacitors and electronic components that work the magic. The other big part of any power supply is the massive fan that pushes all the heat out of the power supply's shell and out the grate on the back of your PC.
This fan is essential to the smooth and cool operation of the power supply and your PC as a whole. It's usually the first thing to go out on a power supply if it fails. Thankfully, most modern computers have built-in heat sensors that will safely shut down the computer rather than burn up the electronics and start a fire, should the power supply (or the fan inside) fail. This fan is replaceable, but isn't recommended since the power supply has some sensitive and dangerous elements that you don't want to compromise. You don't want to be electrocuted — if you have any sense, that is!
It is better, faster, easier to simply yank the power supply and march it down to your local clueless computer salesperson to see if they have a new one. Before you yank it though, note which connectors go to which components, or you might have trouble getting it back together and getting the right replacement. Write down each component and its corresponding connector number — most are like P5, P3, P8, and so forth. This will come in very handy later.
If you have to get a new power supply or want one with special features, the rule of thumb is to get one with a wattage rating no lower than the one you had originally; going higher is generally a good idea. For example, if you are replacing a 350W power supply, try to get a 450W or above.
The only things to watch out for are the type of power supply, and the connectors it sports. You want to be able to plug all the components you have into the power supply, so make sure that it has what you need. Some computers have different types (ATX, Micro-ATX, and so forth) so be sure to check out the motherboard's info if you can find it to be sure what kind of power supplies are compatible. This info is on the motherboard manufacturer's website. If you have an older computer, don't forget to look under "legacy products" since that is where they put old stuff. Also Google it if you can't find it. Chances are someone out there has info on your motherboard.
Many power supplies have special features, such as internal lighting, SLI support (which allows for multiple graphics cards), and special connectors. When buying a power supply, always check it out online first so you know exactly what you are looking for. You also want to be sure that a new power supply is the same size/shape as the old one, along with screw hole placement, since a lot of after-market power supplies aren't necessarily made for your machine per se.
To keep your power supply in ship shape, be sure to blow the crud out of it with a can of air from time to time. It helps to spray Endust or Pledge on a paper towel and put it about 2" away from the rear grate on your computer while you do it, since the dust flying out will go everywhere if you're not careful. The Endust or Pledge will grab the dust as it exits and it won't fly everywhere as you continue to blow out the power supply's fan. Excess dust will make your PC noisy and increase the rate of failure, but doing this every three to six months will limit that.
In general, power supplies don't fail all too often, but you can get a PC that is a bad apple in the power department once in a while. The good news is that none of your data has to be lost or moved if you power supply fails. You replace it, and you'll back to looking for funny cat videos in no time. If you are curious about the more nitty-gritty of power supplies and want to make it your life's shining achievement, Wikipedia has a bunch of information.
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