Cooling and Power Flashcards
What are the 3 main cooling types?
1) Passive cooling
2) Active cooling
3) Liquid cooling
DC stand for?
AC stand for?
Direct Current
Alternating Current
AC coverts into DC
Heat from the different components inside the computer
Thermal Load
Type of cooling that doesn’t rely on moving parts or power
Passive Cooling
A finned metal device that radiates heat away from the processor (categorized as a passive cooling device)
Heat Sink
Compound that ensures heat transfer by eliminating air gaps (used with a heat sink)
Thermal Paste
Which cooling method requires no power to operate and is silent when operating?
a) Passive cooling
b) Active cooling
c) Liquid cooling
a) Passive cooling
Cooling method that uses a fan to cool down the heat from the device
Active Cooling
How often should you remove excess dust from the fans?
Every 3-6 months
The 2 types of Liquid Cooling systems
1) Closed loop system
2) Open loop system
Liquid cooling based system that cools a single component
Closed Loop System
Liquid cooling based system of different components
Open Loop System
True or False? Water and liquids are more effective coolants than air convention
True
High performance systems (such as gaming) often use which type of cooling?
a) Passive cooling
b) Active cooling
c) Liquid cooling
c) Liquid cooling
Power Supply Unit that allows you to unhook the connectors and detach from the unit (frees up space inside your computer)
Modular PSU (Power Supply Unit)
Power connector that provides power to the motherboard
Main Board / Motherboard Adapter
Power connector that has a 4, 6, or 8 pin connector (usually 8-pin)
Processor / CPU Power
Power connector used to power the SATA drives
SATA Power Connector
Legacy power connector used for IDE and PATA hard disks, CDs, and DVD drives
Molex Connector
One connector that can support multiple devices
Y Connector / Adapter
Detects the outlet and converts it into the voltage of DC (Direct Current)
Voltage Sensing / Dual Voltage Power Supplies
What are the 3 VDC (Voltage Direct Current) amounts?
1) 3.3 VDC
2) 5 VDC
3) 12 VDC
A wire that provides current at a particular voltage
Rail
Which VDC (Voltage Direct Current) amount is the most commonly used voltage in a PC?
12 VDC rail
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?
120V AC – US
230V AC – Europe
Power supply’s output capacity or capability
Wattage Rating
Formula that of Amperage converted into Wattage?
A x V
(Amperage multiply by Voltage)
True or False? Power supplies are not 100% efficient
True
Dion Training’s video editor wants to install a new dedicated GPU using an expansion card. Which of the following should they verify before installing the new card?
a) The power supply’s wattage rating
b) The power supply supports 12 VDC input
c) The power supply’s efficiency rating
d) The number of SATA connectors available
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.*
A technician is building a new computer for Dion Training. The technician installs the motherboard, processor, memory, hard drives, and case fans, then they attempt to connect the cables to the appropriate connections. When the technician powers on the system, the fans spin, the motherboard’s LEDs light up, and the computer completes its POST. Unfortunately, the monitor displays a “bootable device not found” error.
Which of the following cables did the technician likely forget to connect?
a) Case fan 4-pin power cable
b) SATA 15-pin power cable
c) CPU 8-pin power cable
d) Motherboard 24-pin power cable
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.
An eSports participant wants to build a custom computer system that is extremely fast but also operates quietly. Which of the following options should they install as their cooling mechanism?
a) Heat sink
b) Liquid cooling
c) Multiple case fans
d) Passive cooling
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.
The power supply should support ___ or ___ as its input and provide ___, ___, and, ___ as its output.
Input – 115 VAC or 230 VAC
Output – 12 VDC, 5 VDC, and 3.3 VDC
