Power Supply

Question 1

What is the standardised PSU size called?

Answer 1

ATX PSU

Question 2

What voltage is UK?

Answer 2

230v

Question 3

What voltage is USA

Answer 3

110v

Question 4

What is an ATX power connector?

Answer 4

20+4 pin power connector for motherboard.

Question 5

What voltage is the yellow wire for an ATX PSU?

Answer 5

Yellow is 12v

Question 6

What essential is a PSU’s first job?

Answer 6

To act as a step down transformer from AV to DC.

Question 7

What colour wire is 12v for an ATX PSU?

Answer 7

12v is yellow

Question 8

4+4P are what?

Answer 8

ATX 12v Extension for motherboard, primarily gives extra power to the CPU

Question 9

ATX 12v Extension for motherboard, primarily gives extra power to the CPU is what type of connector?

Answer 9

4+4P

Question 10

What connector is this?

Answer 10

6+2 PCIe, used for GPU’s

Question 11

What connector is this?

Answer 11

8 pin PCIe, used for GPU’s

Question 12

What connector is this?

Answer 12

Floppy drive connector

Question 13

What connector is this?

Answer 13

Molex. Powers accessories such as fans.

Question 14

What connector is this?

Answer 14

SATA connector for storage drives.

Question 15

What is a modular PSU?

Answer 15

A PSU that allows you attach and remove cables from the PSU itself.

Allows for easier and better cable management and airflow.

Question 16

What is the 80 Plus rating system?

Answer 16

80 Plus is a rating system for the efficency of the PSU.

Question 17

What are the tiers of 80 Plus?

Answer 17

Plus Standard,

Plus Bronze,

Plus Silver,

Plus Gold,

Plus Platinum,

Plus Titanium.

Question 18

What causes PSU’s to be less than 100% effiecent.

Answer 18

Heat and resistance.

Question 19

What must be checked before purchasing a PSU?

Answer 19

Wattage needs of the system. Ensure there is headroom for peak draw.

Question 20

Heatsinks do what?

Answer 20

Move heat from a source device, passive, and to a cooling device, active.

Question 21

Overheating will cause what symptom for a user?

Answer 21

Rebooting

Question 22

Fan speeds can be controlled through?:

Firmware

Software

Both

Answer 22

Fan speeds can be controlled through both firmware and software.

Question 23

What 2 ways are PSU’s known to die?

Answer 23

Very fast, eg smoke, burning

Very slow, eg unexpected shutdown, no power.

Question 24

What tool can be used to check a PSU?

Answer 24

PSU volt tester or volt/multimeter.

Question 25

Whilst using a voltage tester on a working +12v1 and 2 what voltage would you expect?

Answer 25

12.2v-12.6v

11-12v may work but will cause issues.

Question 26

A voltage tester on a PSU’s +12v2 reads 11.4. What does this mean?

Answer 26

The PSU may work but may cause issues.

Question 27

A voltage tester on a PSU’s +12v1 reads 12.4. What does this mean?

Answer 27

The PSU is working normally.

Question 28

How can a PSU fan be tested witout having everything pluged in?

Answer 28

Bridge the green wire pin to any black wire pin on a motherboard ATX 20/+4 connector.

Question 29

How would you test a PSU with a Volt/Multimeter?

Answer 29

Voltmeter set to 20v DC.

Spare motherboard plugged in (nothing else needed).

Red probe into a yellow 12V

Black prob into any black ground.

Using a jumper or metal or onboard button turn on motherboard.

Looking for the above 12v on volt/multimeter (+0.2-0.6v)

Question 30

What voltage is the red wire for an ATX PSU?

Answer 30

Red is 5v

Question 31

What voltage is the orange wire for an ATX PSU?

Answer 31

Orange wire is 3.3v

Question 32

What colour wire is 5v for an ATX PSU?

Answer 32

5v is red.

Question 33

What colour wire is 3.3v for an ATX PSU?

Answer 33

3.3v is orange.