Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
I recommend checking the lists or looking for the “NVIDIA SLI-Ready” or “AMD
CrossFireX Technology” logos (see
figures 18.36
and
18.37
) on a power supply as an ex-
cellent indicator of a high-power, high-quality unit.
Figure 18.36
NVIDIA SLI-Ready logo.
Figure 18.37
AMD CrossfireX Technology logo.
Safety Certifications
Many agencies around the world certify electric and electronic components for safety
and quality. The most commonly known agency in the United States is Underwriters
Laboratories, Inc. (UL). UL standard #60950—
Safety of Information Technology Equip-
ment
—covers power supplies and other PC components. You should always purchase
power supplies and other devices that are UL-certified. It has often been said that, al-
though not every good product is UL-certified, no bad products are.
In Canada, electric and electronic products are certified by the Canadian Standards
Agency (CSA). The German equivalents are TÜV Rheinland and VDE, and NEMKO op-
eratinginNorway.Theseagencies areresponsible forcertification ofproductsthroughout
Europe. Power supply manufacturers that sell to an international market should have
products that are certified at least by UL, the CSA, and TÜV—if not by all the agencies
listed, and more.
Apart from UL-type certifications, many power supply manufacturers, even the most
reputable ones, claim that their products have a Class B certification from the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), meaning that they meet FCC standards for elec-
tromagnetic and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI). This is a contentious point,
however,becausetheFCCdoesnotcertifypowersuppliesasindividualcomponents.Title
47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 15, Section 15.101(c) states the following:
