The power supply is arguably the most important part of a PC. When choosing a suitable unit, several important points must be considered. If ignored, trouble may follow.
1. Dimensions
Before purchasing a power supply for your computer build you should already know the computer's form factor, ATX, Micro-ATX etc. Make sure that your chosen PSU will fit in your case.
ATX cases require an ATX form factor PSU but some modern ATX supplies at the top end of the power scale are extended in length. In these circumstances a large ATX case may be required. Micro-ATX cases, of course, require a Micro-ATX PSU. However, most Micro-ATX and smaller cases come with their own supplies.
2. Quality
The quality of the PSU is vital. A cheap supply is more likely to fail and when doing so can damage any number of components in your computer. A poor quality PSU is probably the biggest cause of all PC breakdowns. Stick to premium brands. You really do get what you pay for and skimping on this part of a PC is inadvisable.
3. Power
If you are building a simple general purpose PC, then a standard 350-400W power supply will be perfectly adequate providing it is of good quality. This kind of system would be using a mid range CPU and a low-end video card or integrated graphics. If you think you might upgrade your system sometime in the future, then it would be prudent to pick a more powerful supply say in the range of 500W or so.
If you intend to build a high powered gaming PC, then the choice of power supply becomes more complicated. Fortunately the major video card manufacturers now provide lists of PSUs suitable for their more powerful products. It would therefore be wise to consider your choice of PSU and video card(s) together. If you intend to use one or more high-end video cards, expect to be looking at power supplies of 650W upwards. A system containing a powerful overclocked CPU and a pair of overclocked high end video cards plus an array of hard drives and cooling fans will probably require a supply upwards of 750W. A supply this powerful might be longer than a standard ATX supply, so your case will have to be chosen appropriately.
4. Cooling
Modern power supplies are usually cooled by a single 80mm or 120mm fan. The larger fan spins more slowly for the same amount of cooling so if noise is a consideration, the larger fan is best. Fanless and hence silent power supplies are available but expensive. They can also get very hot so good case ventilation is required, however, any additional ventilation fans would make more noise which defeats the object of a fanless PSU. Avoid.
5. Connectivity
Most importantly, make sure the leads on your chosen PSU are plenty enough and long enough for your needs, in particular ensure that the main cable will reach the motherboard's power connector. Some modern power supplies come in modular form. That is to say the leads can be connected as required, only the main cable is fixed. This can make PC construction both simpler and neater.
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