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December 27th > Cooling and Power > Flashcards

Cooling and Power Flashcards

1
Q

Thermal Load

A
  • All computer components generate heat, which needs to be dissipated to prevent damage.
  • Excessive heat can damage sensitive components like the motherboard.
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2
Q

Passive Cooling:

A

Definition: Relies on components with no moving parts or power.

Examples: Heatsinks and thermal paste.

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3
Q

Active Cooling

A

Definition: Uses powered components like fans to dissipate heat.

Examples: CPU fans, case fans, power supply fans, and GPU fans.

How it Works:
- Fans increase airflow to cool components.
- Common on high-heat-generating components like processors, GPUs, and power supplies.

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4
Q

Dust Management

A
  • Dust buildup on fans can reduce cooling efficiency or cause fans to fail.
  • Best practice: Clean computer case and fans every 3-6 months
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5
Q

Proper Installation for Cooling

A
  • CPU cooling involves a combination of heatsinks, thermal paste, and fans.
  • Ensure proper application of thermal paste (pea-sized amount) and secure installation of fans and heatsinks.
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6
Q

Heatsink

A
  • A metal device that radiates heat away from components, providing more surface area for cooling.
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7
Q

Thermal Paste

A
  • Fills air gaps between the processor and heatsink, ensuring efficient heat transfer.
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8
Q

CPU Fan

A

A fan specifically designed to cool the processor.

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9
Q

Case Fan

A

A fan mounted in the computer case to improve overall airflow.

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10
Q

Power Supply Fan

A

A fan within the power supply to cool its components.

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11
Q

GPU Fan

A

A fan attached to a graphics processing unit to dissipate heat.

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12
Q

Liquid Cooling

A
  • Designed for high-performance systems like gaming PCs, CAD machines, and video editing setups.
  • More effective than air cooling for dissipating heat but more complex and expensive.

Types
1. Closed-loop system
2. Open-loop system

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13
Q

Components of Open-Loop Systems

A

Water Loop/Tubing
Pump
Reservoir
Water Block
Radiator

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14
Q

Advantages of Liquid Cooling:

A
  • Quiet operation.
  • Superior heat dissipation compared to air cooling.
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15
Q

Pump

A

Moves liquid through the cooling loop.

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16
Q

Radiator:

A

Dissipates heat from the liquid.

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17
Q

Water Block:

A

Transfers heat from components to the liquid.

18
Q

Reservoir:

A

Stores coolant and compensates for expansion/contraction

19
Q

Closed-Loop System:

A
  • Self-contained, cooling a single component (e.g., CPU or GPU).
  • Includes a radiator, tubing, and liquid to transfer heat from the component to the radiator.
  • Easier to install and operate.
20
Q

Open-Loop System

A
  • Customizable, capable of cooling multiple components (CPU, GPU, etc.).
  • Requires additional components like a pump, reservoir, water loop/tubing, water blocks, and a radiator
21
Q

Power Supply Units (PSUs)

A
  • Converts alternating current (AC) from a wall outlet into direct current (DC) required by computer components.
  • In the US: 110–120V AC; in Europe/Asia: 230–240V AC.
  • Common DC output voltages: 12V, 5V, and 3.3V.
22
Q

Modular PSU:

A
  • Definition: A PSU with detachable cables.
  • Uses: Reduces case clutter and improves airflow.
23
Q

Redundant PSU

A
  • Definition: Dual power supply configuration for high-availability systems.
  • Uses: Ensures uninterrupted operation by providing backup power.
24
Q

Power supply connectors

A
  1. Main Power Connectors (Motherboard and Processor power connector)
  2. Expansion Card Power Connectors (PCIe)
  3. Storage Device Power Connectors (SATA and Molex
  4. Adapter Cables (Y connectors)
25
Q

Motherboard Power Connector

A

20-pin or 24-pin: Supplies power to the motherboard.
20+4-pin: Modular version for compatibility with older systems.
Most modern motherboards require a 24-pin connector.

26
Q

Processor Power Connector:

A

Provides power to the CPU.
4-pin, 6-pin, or 8-pin: Most modern CPUs require 8 pins.
4+4-pin: Modular option to combine into an 8-pin connector.

27
Q

Expansion Card Power Connectors:

A

PCIe Power Connector:
Supplies additional power to high-performance GPUs.
Comes in 6-pin or 8-pin, with some modern PSUs offering a 6+2-pin for flexibility.
PCIe slots provide 25–75 watts, but many GPUs need additional power from the PSU.

28
Q

Storage Device Power Connectors:

A

SATA Power Connector:
15-pin L-shaped connector.
Powers SATA storage devices (e.g., HDDs, SSDs, optical drives).
Molex Connector:
4-pin legacy connector for IDE/PATA drives and older CD/DVD drives.
Rarely used in modern systems but included for backward compatibility.

29
Q

Connector Safety

A

All connectors are keyed to ensure they can only be inserted in the correct orientation, preventing polarity issues

30
Q

Input Voltages:

A

Definition: The AC voltage supplied to a PSU from a wall outlet.
Types: 120V AC (US) or 230V AC (Europe/Asia).

31
Q

Output Voltages

A

Definition: The DC voltage provided by a PSU to computer components.
Types: 3.3V DC, 5V DC, 12V DC (positive and negative).

32
Q

Voltage Mismatch Issues:

A
  • Plugging a 120V device into a 230V outlet can damage the power supply and components.
  • Plugging a 230V device into a 120V outlet will cause the device to not turn on due to insufficient power.
33
Q

Importance of +12V DC:

A

The most critical voltage for modern computers, used by the motherboard and high-power components like GPUs and CPUs.

34
Q

Applications of Different Voltages:

A
  • +12V DC: High-power components (motherboard, CPU, GPU).
  • +5V DC: Lower-power devices and peripherals.
  • +3.3V DC: Memory, logic circuits, and certain chips.
35
Q

Dual-Voltage PSU:

A

Definition: A power supply capable of working with both 120V AC and 230V AC.
Uses: Ensures compatibility in different regions.

36
Q

Rail:

A

Definition: A wire or circuit that provides current at a specific voltage.
Types: +12V, +5V, and +3.3V rails.

37
Q

Wattage Rating:

A

Definition: The total power output capacity of a PSU, measured in watts.
Uses: Determines how many and what type of components a PSU can power.
Standard office desktops: 200–300 watts.
Gaming PCs or high-performance systems: 500–900 watts or more.
Higher wattage is required for systems with multiple or high-power components (e.g., GPUs, CPUs, hard drives).

38
Q

Calculating Wattage Needs:

A
  • Add the power requirements of all components (e.g., motherboard, CPU, GPU, fans, drives).
  • Use the formula watts = amps × volts if component specs are given in amps.
  • Purchase a PSU with more wattage than required to allow for future upgrades and avoid overloading.
39
Q

Efficiency Ratings:

A

PSUs are not 100% efficient; some power is lost as heat.

Typical efficiency:
- 70% efficiency: Draws more power from the wall (e.g., 714 watts for a 500-watt PSU).
- 80% efficiency (ENERGY STAR): Saves energy, drawing less power (e.g., 625 watts for a 500-watt PSU).

Types: Standard and ENERGY STAR certified.

Higher efficiency = Lower energy costs over time.

40
Q

Component Power Consumption Examples:

A

High-power CPU: Up to 250 watts.
GPU: ~230 watts.
Motherboard: 50–80 watts.
Hard drive: 9 watts.
Case fan: 6 watts each.
Optical drive: 30 watts.

December 27th (20 decks)

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