Choosing a PSU

(S4T)

DISCLAIMER

1. This is just a Quickstart guide to choosing a COMPATIBLE PSU for your build. For help assembling, modding, theory-crafting, and other questions please check out the other guides or our discord.
2. You can DIE if you don't know what you are doing or buy hacky, modded, solutions. Be educated, be safe. 
3. NFC sells cases, not power supplies. This is not professional advice. Please don't sue us for trying to educate you. That's uncool!

 

Quick Facts

• PC components use DC voltage

• City Power is AC voltage

• Batteries supply DC voltage

• Higher Voltages are more energy efficient

 

Quick Instructions

• If you are using City Power, you need a AC/DC converter, and likely a DC-DC distributor.

• If you are using a battery (like in a RV), you only need a DC-DC distributor

• Your power cap is always limited to the lower output of the two devices. E.g (500w DC-DC PSU) + (200w AC/DC PSU) will cap you at 200w.

• Higher Voltages are more energy efficient, but it might make sense to choose 12v so you can run 12v components directly off them. 

• Reference Number (e.g R1) goes to the pictures at the bottom of this guide. 

 

Quick Guides

You want a Mini-ITX motherboard and all internal power:

 

1. HDPLEX 250W GaN Passive AIO ATX R1
2. (Meanwell LOP-300-48 AC/DC) + (HDPLEX 200W DC-ATX) R2
3. (Meanwell LOP-300-24 AC/DC) + (Pico-Box Z4-ATX-220) R3
4. (Meanwell LOP-300-12 AC/DC) + (Mini-Box PicoPSU-160-XT) R3
5. (Meanwell LOP-300-48 AC/DC) + (HDPLEX 500W HiFi DC-ATX) R5

You want a Mini-ITX motherboard and use external DC power (like from a battery or a "Laptop Power Brick")

1. HDPLEX 500W HiFi DC-ATX R6
2. HDPLEX 200W DC-ATX R7
3. Pico-Box Z4-ATX-220 R8
4. Mini-Box PicoPSU-160-XT R8

You want a Mini-ITX motherboard with a GPU and all internal power***:

1. HDPLEX 250W GaN Passive AIO ATX R10
2. (Meanwell LOP-300-48 AC/DC) + (HDPLEX 200W DC-ATX) R11
3. (Meanwell LOP-300-12 AC/DC) + (Mini-Box PicoPSU-160-XT) R12
4. (Meanwell LOP-300-24 AC/DC) + (Pico-Box Z4-ATX-220) R12

You want a Mini-ITX motherboard with a GPU and use external DC power (like from a battery or a "Laptop Power Brick")

1. HDPLEX 500W HiFi DC-ATX R14

You want a 12v STX Motherboard (Asrock X300) with a GPU and all internal power:

1. (HDPLEX 250W GaN Passive AIO ATX) + (EZ Motherboard MOD) R15
2. (Meanwell LOP-300-12 AC/DC) + (EZ Motherboard MOD) R16

You want a 18-21v STX Motherboard (Asrock X600) with a GPU and all internal power:

1. (Meanwell LOP-300-18 AC/DC) + (Meanwell LOP-300-12 AC/DC) + (EZ Motherboard MOD) R17
2. (Meanwell LOP-300-12 AC/DC) + (Hardcore Motherboard MOD) R17
3. (HDPLEX 250W GaN Passive AIO ATX) + (Hardcore Motherboard MOD) R15

FAQ (Frequently ANSWERED questions)

• The 500w GaN is either pointless or incompatible with a *base* S4T build
• Other PSU combos exist. Many have been tested. These ones are tried and true.
• HDPLEX ecosystem is the most consumer friendly (safe) option and always my first choice.
• The numbers are in order of my favorite (#1) to least favorite (#5) options.

***Of course you do. But this is a very specific and hard to accomplish build for experts! I believe in you though, just know what you are getting into!

Pictures!

R1

 

R6

R7

R8

R10

R11

 

R12

R14

R15

R16

R17

 

Relevant Videos 

VERY helpful overview of these kinds of PSUs and how they work:

 

There are products out there to further make your building easier:

Playlist with lots of PSU related tips, tricks, and guides.