How power supply capacity, connectors, cooling, airflow, and component form factors determine whether a computer upgrade is viable.
An upgrade is compatible only when it fits physically, receives the required power, and can operate within its thermal limits. A wattage number alone does not establish that a power supply, case, or cooler is suitable.
| Upgrade | Confirm |
|---|---|
| Graphics card | Case clearance, slot width, required auxiliary-power connectors, supply capacity, and airflow |
| Power supply | Form factor, motherboard and CPU connectors, GPU and drive connectors, and capacity for expected load |
| CPU cooler | Socket mounting, case clearance, airflow direction, and fan headers |
| Case | Motherboard and PSU form factor, front-panel headers, drive mounts, and ventilation |
Crashes, throttling, or shutdowns that appear only under sustained load can indicate insufficient cooling, constrained airflow, poor power delivery, or an unstable new component. Compare the timing of the failure with the upgrade, inspect connectors and airflow, and verify temperatures before making broad software changes.
Form factor describes physical size and layout—such as ATX, MicroATX, or SFX. Connector availability describes whether the correct power and data paths exist. Both conditions must be satisfied.