Chapter 6

Question 1

What is the most common power supply?

Answer 1

ATX Style Power Supply.

Question 2

True or False: The back of the power supply is where we would plug the cable into a standard wall outlet into a surge protector or something?

Answer 2

True.

Question 3

Where can we find the on-off switch on the PSU?

Answer 3

We can find it on the back of the PSU.

Question 4

Does the switch on the PSU turn on the actual computer?

Answer 4

No, the switch is not what turns on the actual computer but instead is what gives the PSU the juice itself.

Question 5

What does the red connector or slider depending on your PSU do?

Answer 5

The switch is used to convert between 230 volts to 110 volts of AC power. 230 volts used in European outlets and 110 in North Americans. VAC. (Volts Alternating Current)

Question 6

True or False: Most power supplies are auto sensing and will automatically adjust to any input voltage?

Answer 6

True: Most power supplies are auto-sensing and will automatically adjust to any input voltage.

Question 7

True or False: Power supplies likes to be the one that air goes through?

Answer 7

True: Air comes into the case and out the PSU. Might be more of an exception to that with modern PSU’s.

Question 8

Do PSU’s supply the power to turn on a PC?

Answer 8

No, your electric company supplies the power, all a PSU does is transfers warmers that convert AC power into DC power.

Question 9

What is the ATX Main Power Supply?

Answer 9

It is the main power supply connector for a computers PSU that connects to the motherboard. It is split into two pieces. An original ATX Standard had a 20 pin connector that plugged into the motherboard. Later found out that it needed more power and added 4 more pins.

Question 10

True or False: There are 4 main types of power that power supplies provide?

Answer 10

False: There are 3 main types of power supplies that power supplies provide. 12v (yellow connector), 5v,(Red connector) and a 3.3v(orange connector).

Question 11

Back then the original ATX cable was all we needed for power, but as CPU’s got bigger and more powerful and needed more electricity, we discovered that we needed more power how did we solve this?

Answer 11

We came up with what is known as the ATX 12V. It was basically extensions to the original power ATX power that allows us to put more electricity into the motherboard.

Question 12

True or False: Depending on your motherboard it could use one of the two ATX 12V or both?

Answer 12

True.

Question 13

What is a Molex connector?

Answer 13

They are very general purpose and you can tell by the colors of the connectors that they provide, both 5v and 12v. Used to power the insides of systems.

Question 14

What is a Mini connector?

Answer 14

It was originally designed to run a component known as a floppy drive. Floppy drives are dead but we will still see some components use this connector to provide power.

Question 15

What is a SATA power connection?

Answer 15

Used primarily for hard drives, although you’ll see it on optical media, things like that.

Question 16

What if we don’t want all those connectors?

Answer 16

Before we would tie up all the connectors and try to hide them the best way we could. Now we have a modular power supply. It has no cables coming out of it that’s because all the cables are in the box it came with and you can simpy just plug it in.

Question 17

True or False: When we’re buying a PSU we buy it based on Watts

Answer 17

True when buying a PSU we buy it based on Watts. Watts = AMPS * Volts.

Question 18

True or False: PSU’s are perfectly efficient when plugged into your wall outlet?

Answer 18

False: it is not perfectly efficient. Only a percentage of that electricity is being converted into the DC voltage your PC needs.

Question 19

What causes us to lose electricity during the conversion?

Answer 19

Heat or friction anything that prevents us from getting electricity.

Question 20

True or False: When shopping for a PSU we notice that there is a wattage rating on the box. You should get the wattage you need but also to give yourself some buffer.

Answer 20

True

Question 21

Due to power efficiency being lost to heat and it being a big issue what did the PSU industry do to solve this?

Answer 21

They came up with the 80+ Rating system. Was used for those wanting good high efficiency power supplies. There is a ranking within the 80+ rating system.

Question 22

How can you choose a PSU that works for you?

Answer 22

First, you have to pick what wattage works for you and if you want to use modular or a soldered PSU.

Question 23

True or False: When it comes to power supplies the standard atx size covers the vast majority of the system?

Answer 23

True, the standard atx size covers the vast majority of the system, even small form factors systems fit the full size power supply. Be aware there are smaller PSU’s out there.

Question 24

What are some things that can effect the airflow that cools down the system?

Answer 24

Poor cable management and it being covered in dust.

Question 25

What are the purpose of fans?

Answer 25

Fans help regulate airflow and bring in cold air to cool down the system while pushing out hot air. PSU can also push air out.

Question 26

True or False: When handling a PSU make sure to unplug them especially if it’s an ATX because they are gonna have some bit of active power in them.

Answer 26

True

Question 27

Given the scenario: When we finished installing the PSU in our open case PC the PSU and CPU turned off. What could we do to help fix this issue?

Answer 27

We can use the PSU tester or ATX tester to see what is going on. Values can tell us if everything looks right in our PSU manual.