What is the typical wattage rating for a standard PC power supply?

The correct wattage rating for a standard PC power supply typically falls within the range of 400-500 watts. This capacity is generally sufficient to support mid-range desktop systems that may include components like a typical motherboard, processor, a few hard drives, and a mid-range graphics card. As system requirements and components evolve, many users opt for power supplies in that range to ensure there is adequate headroom for performance and future upgrades.

Wattages below this range, such as 100-200 watts and 200-300 watts, are often suitable for very basic systems, typically comprising low-power components or used in specific applications like lightweight PCs or embedded systems. These lower wattages would not adequately support the needs of a standard consumer desktop featuring more demanding hardware.

The option suggesting a power supply rating of 500-600 watts extends into a higher tier that is generally more suitable for high-performance gaming PCs or workstations that require significant computational power, including high-end GPUs and multiple drives. While this rating is certainly common in more powerful builds, the standard configuration for an average PC typically aligns more closely with the 400-500 watt range.