Power. It’s the fundamental basis for everything that makes a business run. Deciding on the right power source and supply units is an important business decision that needs to be carefully considered.
As more and more businesses set out to achieve even greater robust work stations for people who both work in the office and now more recently support those workers who telecommute and log-in from home, starting with the right amount of power that can also scale is a key component to office structure and design.
If your IT services are outsourced in Los Angeles, a company like Be Structured can help you outline the best considerations for your new or expanding network.
When a start-up business begins, there’s always a fair amount of consideration for necessities like the computer workstations, their RAM, telephony requirements and the need for graphic cards. Within that context, however, power supply variables are often an afterthought.
Considering that computers won’t be able to run without one, it’s a shame that Power Supply Units (PSU) rarely get as much attention as RAM or graphics cards. When it’s time to install a new workstation, business owners often don’t fully understand all the variables that go into choosing the correct PSU, and often select a product that is inefficient and more expensive than what was expected.
To avoid unnecessary outlays of cash, especially when trying to stick to a strict initial budget, consider these suggestions for powering up your enterprise.
More Power May Be Less
Many users assume the higher the total wattage, the better the performance of the PSU. While enormous 1800W PSUs are useful for running multiple drives and graphics-intensive applications, they’re unnecessary and often cost a lot more than you may actually need.
Most computers don’t run at full capacity all the time. In fact, if your computer has mid-level graphics cards, processors and RAM, 600W is more than enough.
Another thought on the issue is – just like beer at a Super Bowl party – it’s better to have more power than not enough. So there is a school of thought that running a higher wattage unit at half capacity is preferable to maxing out a lower wattage unit at full capacity.
Again, it’s a question of system and user requirements along with budget. To find out exactly how much you need, online Power Supply Units calculators will give you a rough estimate of your daily power consumption.
When designing a business’ technical infrastructure, consider that the best power supply for any PC platform build takes into consideration the right wattage amounts to run all office components simultaneously. Simply multiply the total amps of all components by the total volts of all components which locally can be accomplished with the help of a managed service provider in the Los Angeles area who can come to your facility and take stock of all the components your network currently shares or plans to share in the future. The result is the total watts that the business will need.
Once you’ve calculated how much wattage you need, you’ll ideally want a PSU that has a slightly higher total wattage limit to provide some wiggle room in case your business hopes to expand and install additional components down the road.
Pay Attention to Efficiency Ratings
More and more, businesses are dutifully aware of not only minimizing their carbon footprint on the world, but realizing that greater energy efficiency will also minimize their monthly operating budget.
Highly efficient PSUs tend to have more effective components, consume less energy and produce less heat. Understanding that principle will save any company plenty of money from ballooning monthly energy and cooling bills. It will also minimize the risk of workstations seizing from overloaded power surges.
Be Structured recommends a PSU efficiency rating of “80 plus”. This certification means that a unit is at least 80% efficient and loses no more than 20% due to excess heat.
On the risk versus reward front, higher efficiency ratings will mean higher cost for the power supply. It’s important to weigh the monthly budget and environmental impact when considering the cost of your IT build out and its accompanying power supply.
Consider Larger PSUs
Although they can be quite cumbersome, larger PSUs are more reliable than lightweight models. Large PSUs are equipped with more advanced internal components and better cooling management. Fans are larger too, which means they can move more air, make less noise and keep your workstation cool.
Choose Your Cables Wisely
Being a Los Angeles-based IT support company, Be Structured likes to consider every detail of design when it comes to power sources and cabling. When it comes to cabling, there are three basic options: hard-wired cabling, partially modular cabling or fully modular cabling.
- Hard-wired Cabling
These cables are more suited to smaller companies or start-ups with modest expectations for growth. In this scenario, the cables are attached directly to the PSU box. While this setup is cheaper than the other two cabling options, the number of plugs are limited and not suited for customization or large expansion.
- Fully Modular Cabling
This is an efficient way to design your cabling scheme. In this case, all PSU cables are removable, making installation and cabling management easy. These PSU models, however, tend to be much more expensive than other types of cabling. Cost versus convenience? Your IT consulting service in Los Angeles will always leave that up to the business owners.
- Partially Modular Cabling
This approach mixes the best of both worlds. The necessary amount of cables are provided for the PSU while available space is allocated for additional components at a moderate price.
Within these three broad categories, there are literally hundreds of different kinds of cable options to ask your IT support company about that includes:
- Coaxial cable
- Direct-buried cable
- Flexible cables
- Filled cable
- Heliax cable
- Non-metallic sheathed cable
- Metallic sheathed cable
- Multicore cable
- Paired cable
- Portable cord
- Ribbon cable
- Shielded cable
Research The Manufacturer
Ideally, your PSU should be provided by a reliable manufacturer that offers reasonable warranties and comprehensive support. Most people tend to opt for Corsair, Seasonic, and Antec PSUs, but you should still take time to research the products.
Look for customer reviews about the specific make and model of your PSU. If that’s not possible, get a hardware technician’s expert opinion.
Choosing the right hardware can be extremely difficult, especially if you don’t have the technical know how. So if you need more guidance about all things related to hardware, call Be Structured today. We’re more than happy to answer any of your questions.
