Q&A

Most SPI models can meet AMD requirements. As a rule of thumb, most models above 300W can support the latest Athlon XP releases. 250W models are recommended for Athlon XP up to 1700+.

All SPI models adhere to the ATX12V or “XXX-12V” specifications will power P4 systems. There’s a standard 4-pin connector on 12V. The total power requirement is the sum of the entire system and not just CPU. Power supplies rated at less than 180W in total combined power are not recommended for P4 systems. Required power cables for P4 are usually not available on lower wattage PSU.

Answer: Though power supplies come in many form-factors, there are a few common form-factors widely available. Choosing an appropriate PSU that’s right for your application may not be difficult if you have information on the following: 1) What is the form-factor of your chassis? AT, ATX, Micro ATX or others. 2) What is the wattage requirement for your system? 180W, 200W, 250W, 300W, 350W, or higher.

MTBF is an abbreviation for Mean Time Between Failures. It is a statistical calculation which predicts the reliability of a product in hours.

Most motherboards supporting dual Xeon CPU are based on SSI EPS power connection standards. SPI has different models supporting EPS12V, EPS1U, and EPS2U. For motherboards that are based on other standards, please contact your SPI professional for additional information.

Though SPI PSU are designed to function in diverse temperature environment, continuous intense heat may shorten the life of the unit. Please refer to product specifications for detailed operating and storage temperatures. Aside from heat, the PSU cooling fan may be another life factor because it is a moving part. To maximize the life of PSU, most of SPI’s PSUs are equipped with ball bearing cooling fans.

PFC is an abbreviation for Power Factor Correction. It is a technique for harmonic reduction in power supply source current. There are two types of PFC, namely active and passive.

AT and ATX PSUs have different connector outputs with distinct output voltages. ATX has 20-pin connector for the motherboard while AT has two six-pin connectors. ATX carries +3.3V and +5Vsb, but AT PSU does not.

No, ATX power supply has +3.3V and +5Vsb. Converting AT to ATX is not recommended.

AT power supply come with an On/Off Switch. For ATX power supplies, on/off function is controlled by the motherboard. SPI PSUs are equipped with or without On/Off Switch options, offering users flexibility.

Absolutely not. Your system will only draw the amount of power it needs. The extra capacity of a higher wattage unit will improve the power supply’s operating regulation range; hold up time, ripple, cooling, and MTBF.

The differences between ATX and Micro-ATX are form-factor and output voltages. Micro-ATX provides 4 output voltage rails (+3.3V, +5V, +12V, and -12V). ATX provides 5 output voltage rails (+3.3V, +5V, +12V, -5V, and –12V.)

Redundancy (N+1) power supply are connected in parallel operation so that if one failed the other will continue to deliver enough current to support maximum load. This method is most ideal for applications where power supply failure cannot be tolerated.

Detection of output voltage at a load remote from power supply enabling the power supply to regulate output voltage and compensate for voltage drop across power cables. Permits greater accuracy of regulation than local sensing.