Is a power supply rating input or output wattage?

Coolmanjack · Jul 10, 2015

When a power supply is rated for 500W 80+ Will that output max of 400W or output a max of 500W and consume 625W?

I have been Confused on this point and have read mixed things and haven't found a straight answer.

Archaic59 · Jul 10, 2015

Input is 110 volts AC (alternating current) U.S.. Output is 500 watts 12 volt DC ( and 3.3volt, 5volt etc..) (direct current).

Check this. It explains it better than I can-
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-power-supplies/

blazorthon · Jul 10, 2015

A 500W power supply is rated for supplying 500W to computer components or whatever you plug into it. It will not likely draw as much as 625W at the wall unless it isn't a very efficient model and/or you are overloading it, but yes, it will draw more than it supplies due to its less than 100% efficiency in converting the input voltage (around 100V to 120V AC in USA and a few other places, around 220V to 240V AC in most other countries) to the much lower DC output voltages (12V, 5V, 3.3V).

Fully loaded, a modern 500W power supply should pull between 540W and 580W, depending on its efficiency. However, since you are not normally fully loading a power supply, it will usually draw much less power. It draws only what it needs to supply its power that the components are consuming at the time.

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Is a power supply rating input or output wattage?

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