The functionality of a PC power supply is intricate yet vital.
As mentioned, when plugged into an electrical outlet, the PSU draws in AC. The incoming AC power undergoes a transformation process, where it is converted into high-voltage DC. This conversion is facilitated by the utilization of substantial filtering components. Subsequently, the high-voltage DC is subject to rapid on-and-off switching, occurring thousands of times per second. These switching actions generate pulses that are then directed into a power transformer. The transformer's role is to convert these high-voltage pulses into low-voltage, high-current pulses.
Following this transformation, the pulses are further converted into DC and subjected to a filtration process, resulting in the generation of clean and stable power. This refined power supply is then distributed at various voltages to different components of the PC, such as the motherboard, CPU, and graphics card, through a bundle of wires, ensuring the proper functioning of the entire system.
This power distribution must be precise: too much power can damage components, while too little can cause system instability. To manage this, the PSU employs voltage regulators to ensure that each component receives the correct amount of power.