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)
Motherboard Power Connector
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.
Processor Power Connector:
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.
Expansion Card Power Connectors:
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.
Storage Device Power Connectors:
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.
Connector Safety
All connectors are keyed to ensure they can only be inserted in the correct orientation, preventing polarity issues
Input Voltages:
Definition: The AC voltage supplied to a PSU from a wall outlet.
Types: 120V AC (US) or 230V AC (Europe/Asia).
Output Voltages
Definition: The DC voltage provided by a PSU to computer components.
Types: 3.3V DC, 5V DC, 12V DC (positive and negative).
Voltage Mismatch Issues:
- 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.
Importance of +12V DC:
The most critical voltage for modern computers, used by the motherboard and high-power components like GPUs and CPUs.
Applications of Different Voltages:
- +12V DC: High-power components (motherboard, CPU, GPU).
- +5V DC: Lower-power devices and peripherals.
- +3.3V DC: Memory, logic circuits, and certain chips.
Dual-Voltage PSU:
Definition: A power supply capable of working with both 120V AC and 230V AC.
Uses: Ensures compatibility in different regions.
Rail:
Definition: A wire or circuit that provides current at a specific voltage.
Types: +12V, +5V, and +3.3V rails.
Wattage Rating:
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).
Calculating Wattage Needs:
- 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.
Efficiency Ratings:
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.
Component Power Consumption Examples:
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.
