Quote:
Originally Posted by PointsOfLight
then the next step should be power supply (which i'm willing to splurge on...the idea of buying a cheap one just scares me).
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Simple steps to locate a power supply. If that supply is without a long list of written specifications, then assume power supply functions are missing. A supply performs many complex tasks. To increase profits, some power supply manufacturers have learned how to ‘forget’ some critical functions. Then when that power supply dies, an assembler blames anything except that supply.
Those specifications may only mean something to less than 1% of consumers. But that 1% are what inferior power supply manufacturers fear. If they don't provide specifications, then the 1% cannot identify defective products. Does not matter if numbers mean nothing to you. If the long list of functions are not listed numerically on at least one full page, then avoid that supply.
Another benchmark for defective supplies: if your AM radio suffers interference when adjacent to the supply, the supply is likely defective – missing an important function.
Fans - one 80 mm fan inside the power supply is more than sufficient to cool a standard computer case. Some use a 120 mm that moves just as much air with less noise. You can (and should) do those numbers. A second fan is sometimes installed in series so that should a first fan fail, then the second fan maintains same airflow. What does the second fan in parallel accomplish? It typically only lowers chassis temperature by single digit degrees – completely irrelevant. What does a third fan do? Even less temperature reduction and greater dust clogging problems. Those who never learned by first doing numbers would never appreciate why Tool Man Taylor so often promoted the joke "More power".