Everybody wants one modular power supply while others recommend a power supply does not modulate, But do you really know which is the most convenient option for you?
As you can see in the image this issue has to do entirely with the way in which the cables that connect to our other PC components come. So let's jump right into the differences:
Table of Contents
Non-modular, fixed cables
They are the sources that have all the cables soldered, that simple. They are ideal for anyone who wants a power supply acceptable for an entry / mid-range team for the lowest possible price.
On the contrary, they are not recommended to those who need a large capacity power supply (750W +) and don't have a box with good cable management. If you buy a 750 W + source, for your sake it is of good quality (we already talked about its importance here in hardware) and the combination of high capacity and good quality always ends in too many.
Can they be accommodated? Maybe Is it going to be complicated? Undoubtedly. Does it affect temperatures? Unlike what people think, not at all. Unless the cables are a mess; in that case there is the possibility that these cables stop the fans of the equipment and even cause a short circuit, although this is very rare. Preferring a modular power supply (be it semi or full) is more aesthetic and convenient than anything else.
Advantages:
- They are often the cheaper power supplies.
- Welded cables have the benefit of having lower electrical resistance, although being honest, the difference is NOT so relevant as not to use them in high-end equipment; otherwise they would not make top-of-the-range sources with modular wiring.
Disadvantages:
- Sources that are non-modular and decent at the same time usually come with many cables to ensure compatibility with most systems. This means that always you will get a cunused locks cluttering inside your box.
Half modular source (semi-modular, CM)
These sources have soldered wires that almost everyone uses and the rest come separately so you can connect the ones you need. I say almost all of them because there are those who do not. For example, the PSU above only has the 24-pin ATX connector for the motherboard and the EPS for the processor, both normally essential. However, I know of a situation where you don't need them: si you had a MONSTER PC and you will use two PSUs, one only for GPUs and another only for the rest of the computer; the source that feeds only graphics does not need the ATX cable or the EPS; so that they would continue to clutter your PC (you can always cut them, but it is not recommended, really, do not do it).
In general they are not for the most enthusiastic; either because you can't find a really high-end semi-modular font (they are less and less common), because you use two sources, or simply because you want to use cables of another color / style.
Advantages:
- More economical compared to 100% modular power supply.
- They solve the problem of cable management of the majority of people.
Disadvantages:
- There are users very select they are not going to use the soldered cables.
- If you use a different DC cable set than the one that came with the PSU, the soldered cables will look different from the rest, ruining the aesthetics of your PC.
Modular source (Fully-modular)
Translated into Spanish as "completely modular" they are sources that do not have any soldered cables, they all come separately. A modular source I do not recommend it to the not so enthusiastic (go the redundancy) but I mean it: if you can't afford a monster team No. te obsessions with having a fully modular font. Either you are going to spend more money unnecessarily or you are going to buy a poor quality power supply (eg Seasonic M12II <750 W) to save; which is even worse. As I said, most users do not benefit from a 100% modular font.
Advantages:
- The best sources are almost by rule of this type. That does not mean that all full-modulars are good.
- A complete modular power supply gives you total flexibility when putting and removing cables.
Disadvantages:
- They are usually the More expensive of all the types we mentioned.
Final conclusions
- Power supply are ideal for the most economical.
- An semi-modular power supply is for those interested in better cable management
- La modular power supply Complete is for the most ambitious budgets.
