Different Types of Power Supplies

A power supply often influences a computer's design and physical dimensions. Personal computers use various types of power supplies, each varying in size and design. One way to classify these designs is to group them by date. Power supplies used prior to the mid-1990s include: PC/XT, AT/Desk, AT Tower, and the Baby AT.

These designs, however, are outdated by current standards and only exist in older computers. Following the mid-1990s, the two most prevalent types of power supplies became the Slimline and the ATX. The Slimline, ATX, and micro-ATX power supplies are in wide use today and are easily distinguished by their smaller size.