Power Supply

The power supply converts the electricity from the wall outlet into the flavor that the computer can digest. While all power supplies look pretty much alike, they are not all alike in what they put out.

It is critical that the power supply provide exactly the right kind of power or the motherboard will be fried! Be careful when you are replacing the power supply or motherboard that they match.

Notice the sets of colored wires coming out of the power supply. One or two of the wider connectors must be connected to the motherboard. Other connectors power your hard drive, floppy drive, and CD-ROM drive. A peripheral device must get power either from a wall outlet or from the computer. In the latter case the peripheral's card would have a connection to the power supply.