SMPS- (Switch Mode

Power Supply)
•A switched-mode power supply, switch-mode
power supply, or SMPS, is an electronic power
supply unit (PSU).
• It incorporates a switching regulator to
convert electrical power efficiently.
•SMPS transfers power from a DC or AC source
(often mains power), to DC loads.
 Primary Function and Operation
• The basic function of the power supply is to
convert the type of electrical power available
at the wall socket to the type the computer
circuitry can use.
• The power supply in a conventional desktop
system is designed to convert either 115-volt
(nominal) 60Hz AC (alternating current) or
230v (nominal) 50Hz AC power into +3.3v,
+5v, and +12v DC (direct current) power.
 Positive DC Voltages
•The digital electronic components and
circuits in the system (motherboard, adapter
cards, and disk drive logic boards) use the
+3.3v or +5v power.
•the motors (disk drive motors and any fans)
use the +12v power.
Voltage Devices Powered

+3.3v Chipsets, DIMMs, PCI/AGP cards, miscellaneous chips

+5v Disk drive logic, SIMMs, PCI/AGP cards, ISA cards,

voltage regulators, miscellaneous chips

+12v Motors, voltage regulators (high output)

 Negative DC Voltages
• In PC power supply specification sheet, you
can see +3.3v, +5v, and +12v, and also –5v
and –12v.
• The positive voltages supplies power
everything in the system (logic and motors).
• Although –5v and –12v are supplied to the
motherboard via the power supply
connectors, the motherboard normally uses
only the +3.3v, +5v, and +12v.
• –5v is required on the Industry Standard
Architecture (ISA) bus for full backward-
compatibility.
• The motherboard logic normally doesn't use
–12v.
• however, it might be used for serial port or
LAN circuits.
 The Power Good Signal
• The power supplied to run the system, should be sufficient
to operate the system properly.

• The power supply also ensures that, power supply

voltages are within the proper ranges.

• The power supply completes internal checks and tests

before allowing the system to start.

• If the tests are successful, the power supply sends a special

signal to the motherboard, called Power Good.
• when the AC voltage dips and the power supply cannot
maintain outputs within regulation tolerance, the Power
Good signal is withdrawn (goes low) and forces the
system to reset.
• The system will not restart until the Power Good
signal returns.
• The Power Good signal (sometimes called Power_OK
or PWR_OK) is a +5v (nominal) active high signal.
 Power Supply Form Factors
•The shape and general physical layout of a
component is called the form factor.
•form factors use one of only two types of
connector designs, either AT or ATX.
Modern PS Originated Connector Type Associated MB
Form Factors From Form Factors

LPX style* IBM PS/2 Model AT Baby-AT, Mini-

30 (1987) AT, LPX

ATX style Intel ATX, ATX ATX, NLX,

ATX12V Micro-ATX
(1985/2000)

SFX style Intel SFX (1997) ATX Flex-ATX,

Micro-ATX
 Power Supply Specifications
• Power supplies have several specifications that
define their input and output capabilaites,.
– Power supply loading.
– Power supply rating
– Power Factor Correction
– Power Supply Safety Certifications
 Power supply loading.
•PC power supplies are of a switching rather than
a linear design.
•The switching type of design uses a high-speed
oscillator circuit to convert the high AC voltage
to lower DC voltage.
• very efficient in size, weight, and energy
consuming.
•We need to load the power supply, in order to
function properly.
•A power supply that is turned on with no load
attached will either fail to function or will
function improperly.
•Better-quality supplies will detect a no-load
situation and shut down, but cheap ones can be
damaged.
 Power Supply Ratings
• A system manufacturer should be able to provide
you the technical specifications of the power
supplies it uses in its systems.
• This type of information can be found in the
system's technical-reference manual, as well as
on stickers attached directly to the power supply.
• Power supply manufacturers can also supply this
data, which is preferable if you can identify the
manufacturer and contact them directly or via
the Web.
 Power Factor Correction
•The power factor measures how effectively
electrical power is being used, and is expressed
as a number between 0 and 1.
•A high power factor means that electrical power
is being used effectively.
•whereas a low power factor indicates poor
utilization of electrical power.
 Power Supply Safety Certifications
•Many agencies around the world certify
electric and electronic components for safety
and quality.
•United States is Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
(UL)
•the Standard for Safety of Information
Technology Equipment