What is the primary purpose of a power supply unit in a computer system?

The primary purpose of a power supply unit (PSU) in a computer system is to convert electrical energy from an outlet into the correct type and voltage of power that the computer's components require. The PSU takes high-voltage electricity and transforms it into low-voltage power, supplying the motherboard, CPU, graphics card, storage devices, and other peripherals with the energy they need to operate efficiently and reliably. This conversion process ensures that all components receive stable and adequate power, which is crucial for their functionality and longevity.

In contrast, while cooling internal components is important for maintaining optimal operating temperatures, this function is typically managed by fans or cooling systems rather than the power supply unit itself. Data storage management is handled by storage devices such as hard drives and SSDs, and network connections are facilitated by networking hardware like routers and network interface cards, not the PSU.