I find power supplies often missing essential functions.
Missing functions are most common in clone computers. Intel
had even stated what specific functions must exist in a power
supply (if AMD provides such technical specs for power
supplies, then please provide the URL).

Ballpark numbers - a power supply selling for $20 or $30 is
routinely missing those essential functions. Power supplies
that include those essential functions typically sell in the
$60 and $70 region. This does not say all $60+ power supplies
are properly built. But those $20 and $30 supplies are always
missing essential functions.

Again, this is old, simple, basic, techical knowledge. If a
computer assembler does not even know this, then his job is
'prime ready' to be outsourced to Asia. Unfortunately too
many computer 'experts' don't even know the essential
functions that must be in a power supply - which is why Asian
manufacturers have found a very lucritive market in N America
for inferior but low priced power supplies.

Demonstrate one essential function in power supplies: short
together all the DC voltage outputs and power up. Power
supply must not be damaged. Again this was even a defacto
standard 30 years ago. Intel specs even say how big the wire
must be to short all outputs together (please provide the AMD
spec?). This simple test often destroys many unacceptable
supplies routinely found in clone computers. Why? I would
bet many computer assembler here have always assumed this test
would destroy power supplies - only because they have seen a
shorted power supply fail. IOW they never first learned basic
electrical knowledge which is one reason why jobs end up in
Asia. These same people would also recommend that computer
from a 'mon & pop' store when the only spec used to select a
supply was dollars.

Again, a ballpark measure of any acceptable computer - does
the manufacturer provide comprehensive diagnostics. Gateway
does not. Those discount computer assembler stores do not.
Diagnostics are a simple benchmark to find computers built on
an engineering basis - not built using a bean counter
mentality. Too many are so ill informed as to think every
power supply sold to clone computer assemblers contains
essential functions. Unfortunately too many don't even know
what those essential functions are.

BTW there is no relationship between watts and quality.
Many naive computer assemblers assoicate more watts with more
quality. Some of the worst quality power supply are the
grossly oversized 500+ watt supplies. Higher quality supplies
in brand name computers are on the order of 250 and 350 watts.

But lets learn more. Ok Papa. What are the essential
functions inside a power supply? Please demonstrate knowledge
gleaned from those mom and pop computer stores. What are the
essential functions that power supplies had even 30 years ago?

Papa wrote:
I totally disagree on two counts.

One, there is no such thing as a modern computer power supply that
lacks some "essential functions". Sure, some power supplies are
under powered (100 watts, for example) or are of poor quality, but
lacking essential functions?
No.

Two, the people at every Mom and Pop computer store I have ever
visited possess far more technical knowledge than their
counterparts at the larger computer outlets - who are almost
always just clerks having little knowledge and - at most -
possessing only a script to answer customers questions.
Further, the Mom and Pop stores are flexible enough to give the
customer exactly what he wants, including component brand
selection and non-proprietary hardware. Guess who sells the low
quality, proprietary, difficult to upgrade systems to
unsuspecting customers? Ever heard of E-Machines, Packard Bell,
or Compaq? These brands do not come from Mom and Pop stores.

And why the emphasis on Intel? Amd is another perfectly good option.