Power Supply Unit (PSU) basics

including ATX power supply

pinouts

In this section of our project we discuss what a power supply is and what it
does.

We summarise the various voltages produced and cover the different types
of connectors used to connect to the system's devices. We have also
included an illustrated guide to the pinouts of the various connectors along
with their functions.

Power Supplies contain dangerous voltages and should only be opened by

experienced and qualified engineers, there are no user servicable parts inside.
Always disconnect the PSU from the mains supply before removing the cover of
the PC.

What is a power supply and what does it do?

The power supply unit (PSU) in a PC regulates and delivers the power to
the components in the case.

Standard power supplies turn the incoming 110V or 220V AC (Alternating

Current) into various DC (Direct Current) voltages suitable for powering the
computer's components.

Power supplies are quoted as having a certain power output specified in

Watts, a standard power supply would typically be able to deliver around
350 Watts.
The more components (hard drives, CD/DVD drives, tape drives, ventilation
fans, etc) you have in your PC the greater the power required from the
power supply.

By using a PSU that delivers more power than required means it won't be
running at full capacity, which can prolong life by reducing heat damage to
the PSU's internal components during long periods of use.

Always replace a power supply with an equivalent or superior power output

(Wattage).

There are 3 types of power supply in common use:

AT Power Supply - used in very old PCs.

ATX Power Supply - still used in some PCs.

ATX-2 Power Supply - commonly in use today.

The voltages produced by AT/ATX/ATX-2 power supplies are:

+3.3 Volts DC (ATX/ATX-2)

+5 Volts DC (AT/ATX/ATX-2)

-5 Volts DC (AT/ATX/ATX-2)

+5 Volts DC Standby (ATX/ATX-2)

+12 Volts DC (AT/ATX/ATX-2)

-12 Volts DC (AT/ATX/ATX-2)

A power supply can be easily changed and are generally not expensive, so
if one fails (which is far from uncommon) then replacement is usually the
most economic solution.

The power supply connectors

4 Pin Berg Connector
Used to connect the PSU to small form factor devices, such as 3.5" floppy
drives.
available in: AT, ATX & ATX-2

4 Pin Molex Connector

This is used to power various components, including hard drives and optical
drives.
available in: AT, ATX & ATX-2

20 Pin Molex ATX Power Connector

This is used to power the motherboard in ATX systems.
available in: ATX( ATX-2 have four extra pins)

4 Pin Molex P4 12V Power Connector

Used specifically for Pentium 4 Processor Motherboards.
available in: ATX (integrated into the power connector in ATX-2)

6 Pin AUX Connector

Provides +5V DC, and two connections of +3.3V.
available in: ATX/ATX-2

ATX Power Supply Pinouts

Below are pinout diagrams of the common connectors in ATX power
supplies.
note: The pinouts above relate to the connectors not the sockets.
note: To power up an ATX or ATX-2 PSU for testing, short pin 14 (PS_ON)
with one of the grounds.

Internal Computer Hardware

Introduction
Computer Hardware is the physical part of a computer, as distinguished from
the computer software that executes or runs on the hardware. The hardware of a
computer is infrequently changed, while software and data are modified frequently.
The term soft refers to readily created, modified, or erased. These are unlike the
physical components within the computer which are hard.

When you think of the term computer hardware you probably think of the guts inside
your personal computer at home or the one in your classroom. However, computer
hardware does not specifically refer to personal computers. Instead, it is all types of
computer systems. Computer hardware is in embedded systems in automobiles,
microwave ovens, CD players, DVD players, and many more devices. In 2003, only
0.2% of all microprocessors sold were for personal computers. How many other
things in your house or your classroom use computer hardware?
 Inside Computer

Motherboard
The motherboard is the body or mainframe of the computer, through which all other
components interface. It is the central circuit board making up a complex electronic
system. A motherboard provides the electrical connections by which the other
components of the system communicate. The mother board includes many
components such as: central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM),
firmware, and internal and external buses.
 Motherboard

Central Processing Unit

The Central Processing Unit (CPU; sometimes just called processor) is a machine
that can execute computer programs. It is sometimes referred to as the brain of the
computer.

CPU Diagram

There are four steps that nearly all CPUs use in their
operation: fetch, decode, execute, and writeback. The first step, fetch, involves
retrieving an instruction from program memory. In the decode step, the instruction is
broken up into parts that have significance to other portions of the CPU. During the
execute step various portions of the CPU, such as the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and
the floating point unit (FPU) are connected so they can perform the desired
operation. The final step, writeback, simply writes back the results of the execute
step to some form of memory.

Random Access Memory

Random access memory (RAM) is fast-access memory that is cleared when the
computer is power-down. RAM attaches directly to the motherboard, and is used to
store programs that are currently running. RAM is a set of integrated circuits that
allow the stored data to be accessed in any order (why it is called random). There
are many different types of RAM. Distinctions between these different types include:
writable vs. read-only, static vs. dynamic, volatile vs. non-volatile, etc.

RAM

Firmware
Firmware is loaded from the Read only memory (ROM) run from the Basic Input-
Output System (BIOS). It is a computer program that is embedded in a hardware
device, for example a microcontroller. As it name suggests, firmware is somewhere
between hardware and software. Like software, it is a computer program which is
executed by a microprocessor or a microcontroller. But it is also tightly linked to a
piece of hardware, and has little meaning outside of it. Most devices attached to
modern systems are special-purpose computers in their own right, running their own
software. Some of these devices store that software (firmware) in a ROM within the
device itself
Power Supply
The power supply as its name might suggest is the device that supplies power to all
the components in the computer. Its case holds a transformer, voltage control, and
(usually) a cooling fan. The power supply converts about 100-120 volts of AC power
to low-voltage DC power for the internal components to use. The most common
computer power supplies are built to conform with the ATX form factor. This enables
different power supplies to be interchangable with different components inside the
computer. ATX power supplies also are designed to turn on and off using a signal
from the motherboard, and provide support for modern functions such as standby
mode.

Removable Media Devices

If your putting something in your computer and taking it out is most likely a form of
removable media. There are many different removable media devices. The most
popular are probably CD and DVD drives which almost every computer these days
has at least one of. There are some new disc drives such as Blu-ray which can hold a
much larger amount of information then normal CDs or DVDs. One type of
removable media which is becoming less popular is floppy disk.

CD
CDs are the most common type of removable media. They are inexpensive but also
have short life-span. There are a few different kinds of CDs. CD-ROM which stands
for Compact Disc read-only memory are popularly used to distribute computer
software although any type of data can be stored on them. CD-R is another variation
which can only be written to once but can be read many times. CD-RW (rewritable)
can be written to more than once as well as read more than once. Some other types
of CDs which are not as popular include Super Audio CD (SACD), Video Compact
Discs (VCD), Super Video Compact Discs (SVCD), PhotoCD, PictureCD, CD-i, and
Enhanced CD.
 CD-ROM Drive

There are two types of devices in a computer that use CDs: CD-ROM drive and a CD
writer. The CD-ROM drive used for reading a CD. The CD writer drive can read and
write a CD. CD writers are much more popular are new computers than a CD-ROM
drive. Both kinds of CD drives are called optical disc drives because the use a laser
light or electromagnetic waves to read or write data to or from a CD.

DVD
DVDs (digital versatile discs) are another popular optical disc storage media format.
The main uses for DVDs are video and data storage. Most DVDs are of the same
dimensions as compact discs. Just like CDs there are many different variations. DVD-
ROM has data which can only be read and not written. DVD-R and DVD+R can be
written once and then function as a DVD-ROM. DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, or DVD+RW hold
data that can be erased and re-written multiple times. DVD-Video and DVD-Audio
discs respectively refer to properly formatted and structured video and audio
content. The devices that use DVDs are very similar to the devices that use CDs.
There is a DVD-ROM drive as well as a DVD writer that work the same way as a CD-
ROM drive and CD writer. There is also a DVD-RAM drive that reads and writes to the
DVD-RAM variation of DVD.

DVD

Blu-ray
Blu-ray is a newer optical disc storage media format. Its main uses are high-
definition video and data storage. The disc has the same dimensions as a CD or
DVD. The term Blu-ray comes from the blue laser used to read and write to the
disc. The Blu-ray discs can store much more data then CDs or DVDs. A dual layer
Blu-ray disc can store up to 50GB, almost six times thecapacity of a dual layer DVD
(WOW!). Blu-ray discs have similar devices used to read them and write to them as
CDs have. A BD-ROM drive can only read a Blu-ray disc and a BD writer can read and
write a Blu-ray disc.

Floppy Disk
A floppy disk is a type of data storage that is composed of a disk of thin,
flexible(floppy) magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular
plastic shell. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive. Floppy disks
are a dying and being replaced by the optical and flash drives. Many new computers
do not come with floppy drives anymore but there are a lot of older ones with floppy
drives lying around. While floppy disks are very cheap the amount of storage on
them compared to the amount of storage for the price of flash drives makes floppy
disks unreasonable to use.

Floppy Disk

Internal Storage
Internal storage is hardware that keeps data inside the computer for later use and
remains persistent even when the computer has no power. There are a few different
types of internal storage. Hard disks are the most popular type of internal storage.
Solid-state drives have grown in popularity slowly. A disk array controller is popular
when you need more storage then a single har disk can hold.

Hard Disk Drive

A hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile storage device which stores digitally
encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces. Just about every
new computer comes with a hard disk these days unless it comes with a new solid-
state drive. Typical desktop hard disk drives store between 120 and 400GB, rotate at
7,200 rpm, and have a madia transfer rate of 1 Gbit/s or higher. Hard disk drives are
accessed over one of a number of bus types, including parallel ATA(also called IDE),
Serial ATA (SATA), SCSI, Serial Attached SCSI, and Fibre Channel.

Hard Drive

Solid-State Drive
A solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to
store persistent data. An SSD emulates a hard disk drive, thus easily replacing it in
any application. SSDs have begun to appear in laptops because they can be smaller
than HDDs. SSDs are currently more expensive per unit of capacity than HDDs which
is why they have not caught on so quickly.

Disk Array Controller

A disk array controller is a device which manage the physical disk drives and
presents them to the computer as logical units. It almost always implements
hardware RAID. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Drives) is a technology that
employs the simultaneous use of two or more hard disk drives to achieve greater
levels of performance, reliability, and/or larger data volume sizes. A disk array
controller also provides additional disk cache.
How to mount a hard drive disk?
Introduction

Installing an internal hard drive is one of the more straightforward upgrades out there
and is often a better option than using external drives that are slower and may be
dropped or misplaced.
The process usually requires no more than mounting it, connecting a couple of cables,
and formatting the drive for use. Still, there are a few things you should know to make
installation as smooth as possible.

Drive cages, bays and mounting options

Internal 3.5-inch hard disk drives are typically mounted in a drive cage or in an
available drive bay. Placement and orientation of the cages or bays will vary from case
to case. The most common location is at the lower front, near the intake fans and away
from other components. Drive cages/bays will most often be mounted perpendicular to
the bottom of the chassis, while drives mounted in the cages usually sit parallel to the
bottom of the case.

Screws are the best way to secure your hard drive into your cases drive cage. Magnet-
tipped screw drivers can help keep you from dropping screws in difficult-to-reach places.
In mainstream cases, drive connectors will typically point to the rear. In enthusiast-
class cases, its becoming more common to see the drives connectors facing the right
side, making it easier to route and hide cables behind the motherboard tray. Some
enthusiast-class also cases give users the ability to remove drive cages or to mount
them in different positions to optimize air flow and simplify cable management.

Mounting your hard drive

Physically mounting the hard drive in a PC is probably the most difficult part of the
installation process.

Securing the drive to a cage usually requires four screws on the sides or bottom of the
drive. Many casesespecially enthusiast casesuse tool-less trays that hold the
drives with simple pins and clips.

Some cases come with tool-less brackets that make mounting hard drives really easy.
However, these brackets are often less secure than traditional screws.
Using screws is the more robust mounting method, but tool-less trays are fine for
systems that wont be moved around much.

This hard drive is flipped upside-down to show its parts. Seven of the 10 screw holes are
circled in red, while SATA power and data connections are circled in blue and green,
respectively.

Drives last longer when they stay nice and cool. When mounting drives in a system, try
to leave as much space between them as possible to maximize airflow over the tops
and bottoms. Positioning the drives directly in front of an intake fan also helps.

Connect the hard drives with SATA

Once the drive is mounted, connecting it to your system is quick and easy.
Virtually all new desktop hard drives sold today use the SATA interface (unless youre
dealing with servers). SATA uses simple cables that are keyed to fit on the drive and
motherboard connector one way.

Connect one end of the SATA cable to the drive, and the other end to an available
SATA port on your motherboard, and youre halfway there.

Some SATA data cables come with L-shaped ends, which can help keep cables tidy.

You may find the SATA cables included with your new drive or motherboard feature
different connectors: straight ends or right-angle (L-shaped). Some may have metal
retention clips, while others do not. The shape of the connector makes no difference in
performance.
I like to use SATA cables with right-angle connectors on the drive side, provided there
is adequate clearance between any drives in the system. Using right-angle connectors
on the motherboard side will will result in blocked ports, because the connector may
overlap adjacent ports.

Try to find SATA cables with metal retention clips, because they help keep the
connectors secured. Newer SATA 3 (6-gigabit)-compliant cables will usually come with
the clips, but older SATA 2 (3-gigabit) cables do not.

The SATA power cable connection looks similar to the data cable, but is longer. The
connector is keyed to fit only one way.

When youre done connecting the SATA cable, youll have to connect the drive to your
power supply unit (PSU). The SATA power cable from your PSU, like the SATA data
cable, is keyed to fit onto the drive one-way. As long as you dont force it, theres really
no way to mess it up.

Prepare the hard drive for use

Once youve mounted and connected the drive, power up your system and enter the
BIOS/UEFI. You can usually access the BIOS/UEFI by pressing the DEL or F2 keys
right after powering up the system. Usually, your system will display a message along
the lines of Press DEL to enter Setup. Consult your motherboards manual for the
correct key.

In the BIOS, go to the standard System Settings menu or the Integrated Peripherals >
SATA menu to see all of the drives installed in the system. If all of your drive controllers
are enabled and the drive is properly connected (and functional), it should be listed in
the BIOS.

If the drive isnt listed, shut down your PC. Double-check all of the connections, boot
into the BIOS and check again. If the drive still isnt showing up and all the connections
are secure, try plugging the SATA data cable into a different port on the motherboard.
The UEFI BIOS will show all hard drives that are connected correctly and detected by the
system. BIOS and UEFI interfaces can differ based on the motherboard make and model, so
check your motherboard manual or manufacturer website for details.

To confirm that Windows recognizes the drive, open up Device Manager. In Windows
8, right-click the Windows button on your desktop and select Device Manager. Check
for the drive in the Disk Drives section.

When you boot into Windows after installing the drive, you may see the New Hardware
Found wizard pop up if the drive is detected.

The last thing you need to do is partition and format the drive.
And with that, the drive should be available for use. If you split the drive up into
multiple partitions, you should see several drives appear in File Explorer, each with its
own drive letter and label.