Cooling and Power Flashcards
Thermal Load
- All computer components generate heat, which needs to be dissipated to prevent damage.
- Excessive heat can damage sensitive components like the motherboard.
Passive Cooling:
Definition: Relies on components with no moving parts or power.
Examples: Heatsinks and thermal paste.
Active Cooling
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.
Dust Management
- Dust buildup on fans can reduce cooling efficiency or cause fans to fail.
- Best practice: Clean computer case and fans every 3-6 months
Proper Installation for Cooling
- 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.
Heatsink
- A metal device that radiates heat away from components, providing more surface area for cooling.
Thermal Paste
- Fills air gaps between the processor and heatsink, ensuring efficient heat transfer.
CPU Fan
A fan specifically designed to cool the processor.
Case Fan
A fan mounted in the computer case to improve overall airflow.
Power Supply Fan
A fan within the power supply to cool its components.
GPU Fan
A fan attached to a graphics processing unit to dissipate heat.
Liquid Cooling
- 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
Components of Open-Loop Systems
Water Loop/Tubing
Pump
Reservoir
Water Block
Radiator
Advantages of Liquid Cooling:
- Quiet operation.
- Superior heat dissipation compared to air cooling.
Pump
Moves liquid through the cooling loop.
Radiator:
Dissipates heat from the liquid.
Water Block:
Transfers heat from components to the liquid.
Reservoir:
Stores coolant and compensates for expansion/contraction
Closed-Loop System:
- 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.
Open-Loop System
- Customizable, capable of cooling multiple components (CPU, GPU, etc.).
- Requires additional components like a pump, reservoir, water loop/tubing, water blocks, and a radiator
Power Supply Units (PSUs)
- 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.
Modular PSU:
- Definition: A PSU with detachable cables.
- Uses: Reduces case clutter and improves airflow.
Redundant PSU
- Definition: Dual power supply configuration for high-availability systems.
- Uses: Ensures uninterrupted operation by providing backup power.
Power supply connectors
- Main Power Connectors (Motherboard and Processor power connector)
- Expansion Card Power Connectors (PCIe)
- Storage Device Power Connectors (SATA and Molex
- Adapter Cables (Y connectors)