Cooling and Power Flashcards

Question

120V AC (Low Line Power) is power supply for where in the world? 230V AC (High Line Power) is power supply for where in the world?

Answer 1

120V AC -- US 230V AC -- Europe

Answer 2

Wattage Rating

Answer 3

A x V (Amperage multiply by Voltage)

Answer 4

**a) The power supply's wattage rating** *Before installing a new dedicated GPU, it's important to check if the power supply has enough wattage to support the new graphics card, as GPUs can consume a lot of power, especially high-performance ones. The wattage rating of the power supply will tell you if the PSU can handle the combined power requirements of all components, including the motherboard, CPU, storage devices, and the new GPU. The other options are less relevant for this situation: b) The power supply supports 12 VDC input: This is generally a given for most modern power supplies and isn't specifically related to the GPU installation. c) The power supply's efficiency rating: While efficiency is important for energy savings and heat management, it doesn't directly affect whether or not the PSU can power the GPU. d) The number of SATA connectors available: SATA connectors are used for storage devices, not for GPUs. A dedicated GPU typically connects to the motherboard via a PCIe slot and requires power from the PSU through dedicated 6-pin or 8-pin PCIe power cables. Therefore, verifying the power supply's wattage rating is the most crucial step before installing a new dedicated GPU.*

Answer 5

**b) SATA 15-pin power cable** *The message "bootable device not found" typically occurs when the system is unable to detect a hard drive or SSD that contains a bootable operating system. The SATA power cable (the 15-pin power cable) is responsible for providing power to storage devices like hard drives or SSDs. If this cable is not connected, the storage device won't power on, causing the error.* *The other cables listed are necessary for other functions: Case fan 4-pin power cable powers the case fans, but it wouldn’t cause the system to fail in finding a bootable device. CPU 8-pin power cable powers the CPU, but since the system is completing POST (Power-On Self Test) and the motherboard LEDs are lighting up, the CPU is likely receiving power. Motherboard 24-pin power cable powers the motherboard itself, and since the system powers on (fans spin, LEDs light up), this cable is likely connected. Thus, the missing cable is most likely the SATA 15-pin power cable to power the hard drive or SSD.*

Answer 6

**b) Liquid cooling** *Liquid cooling systems are often quieter than traditional air cooling methods (like heat sinks and fans), especially when paired with high-performance components. Liquid coolers use a pump and liquid coolant to transfer heat away from components like the CPU and GPU, and they usually have quieter fans compared to air coolers. This makes them ideal for high-performance systems like those used in eSports, where speed and silence are both important.* *The other options are less ideal for both speed and quiet operation: a) Heat sink: While effective for cooling, heat sinks alone can be quite noisy if paired with large fans, and they may not be sufficient for high-performance systems. c) Multiple case fans: Adding many case fans can increase airflow but also generates more noise, which is counterproductive if the goal is to have a quiet system. d) Passive cooling: Passive cooling relies on heat sinks without fans, making it very quiet but less effective at cooling high-performance components, especially in systems with a lot of heat generation like gaming rigs. In short, liquid cooling strikes the best balance between high performance and quiet operation, making it the ideal choice for an eSports participant.*

Answer 7

Input -- 115 VAC or 230 VAC Output -- 12 VDC, 5 VDC, and 3.3 VDC