Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Tech News Today
Home»Hardware»Power Supply Unit»How to Check PSU Wattage? (Step-By-Step Guide)

How to Check PSU Wattage? (Step-By-Step Guide)

Deep ShresthaBy Deep ShresthaJuly 7, 2022
how to check psu wattage

The Power Supply Unit or the PSU does not directly communicate with the motherboard. Therefore, there is no way of knowing the details about your PSU using third-party software or within the OS itself.

What you can do is, check the PSUs side labels. However, you need to remove the side panel and locate the PSU before you can read its label. This article provides you with a step-by-step guide to accessing the PSU and checking its wattage. So without further delay, let us get right into it.

Table of Contents

  • How to check PSU wattage?
    • Check the PSU Side Label
    • Check the User Manual
  • Understanding PSU Label
  • Related Questions
    • How many watts does my computer need?

How to check PSU wattage?

Here are two simple ways you can check your PSU wattage.

Check the PSU Side Label

You can usually find the PSU on the bottom and the back side of the case compartment. The label, however, can be located on either side of the PSU. So you may need to open the PC case to access it. 

If you have a CPU case with transparent side panels, you may be able to check the PSU wattage from the outside. But, if you have an opaque side panel or cannot read the labels due to tinted side panels, you need to remove it to access the PSU.

Some PSUs even have an LED panel that shows the current power the PC uses, along with the PSU wattage. If you have this kind of PSU with a transparent side panel, check the readings on this LED panel to know your PSU wattage.

If you cannot access the PSU easily, follow the methods mentioned below to access and check the PSU wattage.

Before starting, make sure that you have removed the PC from a wall outlet. Also, press and hold the power button for five to ten seconds to remove any built-up charge from the capacitors.

Open the Side Panel

remove side panel

To remove the side panel, unscrew any screws on the back or the side of the CPU case that is holding the panel in place. We recommend you use a metallic tray to prevent the screws from being misplaced.

There should be three to five screws that hold the panel. Once you remove all the screws, gently take the panel out by sliding it outwards or taking it out at an angle.

Repeat the same process on the opposite side. You can access the entire motherboard once you remove one panel, and the other panel exposes a compartment that stores all the cables.

Search for the PSU

power supply location

The power supply is usually located on the back-top or back-bottom side of the PC case. Search for a rectangular cuboid on the back side of the case compartment. The PSU will be pretty big and, therefore, will be hard to miss.

power switch PSU

Another way you can check where the PSU lies is from the rear side of the PC case. The PSU comes with a switch on the rear of the case. Search the case’s rear for this switch to locate the PSU.

Once you have located the PSU, check for labels written on it. Look for writings on either side. If you cannot find anything written, you might remove it from the PC case.

Remove All PSU Cables

how-to-connect-power-supply-to-the-motherboard

If you don’t have access to the PSU label, you need to remove it from the PC. To remove the PSU, you need to detach all the cable that connects it to the motherboard, SSD/HDDs, disk drives, and GPUs. 

Also, remove the cable that connects the wall outlet to the PSU. The PSU should now be accessible once you pull all the connected wires. 

Once you remove all the cables, remove any screws that holds the PSU in place. Now, slide the PSU outwards to access the PSU label.

Check the PSU label

power supply label

Your PSU wattage will be written in bold numbers, with the letter W written after the number. For example, 550W, 650W, etc,. You can also find details on the label, such as the name and the model number, voltage, maximum power, maximum current, and total power.

A certified PSU will have a certified rating like 80 Plus gold, bronze, silver, or platinum.

Check the User Manual

If you are using a pre-built system and you do not want any hassle of taking the PC apart to read the PC label, you can refer to its user manual. The PC’s user manual will have all the details about its components. 

Once you know the PSU model name, you can refer to the internet to check for its details. 

Understanding PSU Label

Now that you have found the label on the PSU, you can use this to determine the PSU AC input, DC output, maximum load, and Maximum Combined Wattage. 

ac input

AC input or the Alternating Current input the amount of power the PSU can convert into Direct Current. This can be represented on the label as 120-220V + 10A-5A + 50Hz-60Hz. This means that the PSU’s AC should be in the mentioned range.

dc output

The DC output represents the range of voltage that gets sent to the motherboard and all connected hardware.

power supply max power

Finally, under Maximum Combined Wattage, you can see the Total Power. This is your PSU wattage. You can also look for the number written in huge bold writing if you just want to check the PSU wattage.

Related Questions

How many watts does my computer need?

Depending on the hardware components you use in your build, several factors contribute to the number of watts a PC uses. If you use a high-end graphics card, it may require a PSU with high wattage. 

Newegg’s website has a section that calculates the total wattage your computer needs depending on the components you use. 

Open the site and select the CPU, motherboard GPU, RAM, SSD/HDD. The site will give you an approximate value. Using this, you can determine the amount of power your PC needs.

how-to
Deep Shrestha
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Deep Shrestha works as a computer hardware writer at TechNewsToday with several hardware and programming certifications. Although he has been writing technical content for more than a year, his interest in hardware components started at a very young age ever since he heard about PC building. Pursuing his passion, he has assembled several desktop computers. Besides building desktop PCs, Deep also has hands-on experience fixing software and hardware issues on laptops and desktop computers. Using all this knowledge and skills about computer hardware, he's on a quest to make content that's easy to read and understand for everyone. You can contact him at deep@technewstoday.com

Related Posts

how-to-clean-power-supply

How to Clean Power Supply Unit?

September 21, 2022
psu stress test 2

4 Best Ways to Stress Test Your PSU

July 21, 2022
Power-Supply-Voltage-Switch

What is Power Supply Voltage Switch? How to Adjust It

July 20, 2022
power-supply-buzzing

Power Supply Making Buzzing Noise – Why & How to Fix it

July 17, 2022
platinum-vs-gold-power-supply

Platinum Vs Gold Power Supply – Which One Is Better For You?

July 14, 2022
power-supply-clicking

How to Fix Power Supply Clicking Noise?

July 14, 2022
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest Posts
Memory-Compression

What is Memory Compression in Windows? Should You Enable or Disable It

March 1, 2023
dism-vs-sfc-vs-chdsk

DISM, SFC, CHKDSK: What’s the Difference

February 28, 2023
bios-settings-for-gaming

Best BIOS Settings for Gaming

February 16, 2023
You may also like
how-to-clean-hp-printer-rollers

How to Clean HP Printer Rollers

March 3, 2023
keyboard input lag

9 Ways to Fix Keyboard Input Lag

March 3, 2023
keyboard key is stuck

How to Fix a Stuck Key on a Keyboard

March 3, 2023
Recommended
Cookie Clicker Garden Guide

Cookie Clicker Garden Guide to Unlocking Every Seed

September 26, 2021
monitor no signal

Computer Turns On But Monitor Says No Signal (9 Ways To Fix)

November 10, 2022
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
© 2023 TechNewsToday, editor@technewstoday.com | Tech Central Pvt. Ltd.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.