Section 4 - Cooling and Power Flashcards
What types of cooling exist
Passive, Active and Liquid
What is thermal load
The heat from different components inside the computer
What is passive cooling
Type of cooling that doesn’t rely on moving parts or power e.g. heat sink
Define heat sink
Finned metal device that radiates heat away from the processor
Define thermal paste
Compound that ensures heat transfer by eliminating air gaps
Passive cooling benefits
Requires no power to operate and is silent when operating
Define active cooling
Uses a fan to cool down the heat from the device
Type/location of fans
Processor fan, Case fan, Back of PSU, External GPU Fan
What is a recommendation when it comes to dust on fans
Remove excess dust from the fan every 3-6 months
When dealing with passive cooling, what is involved
Heat sinks, thermal paste
When dealing with active cooling, what is involved
Case Fans, Processor fans
Liquid cooling system types
Closed Loop System and Open Loop System
Closed Loop vs Open Loop System
Closed Loop cools only a single component whereas an Open Loop system cools different components (Much more popular)
Why does liquid cooling systems work so well
Water and liquids are more effective coolants than air convection
What type of system is Liquid Cooling associated with?
High performance system (Video editing/Gaming)
What happens with alternating current (AC)
Positive and negatives are cycled between repeatedly
PSU main purpose
Delivery direct current (DC) to all components inside the PC when receiving an alternating current (AC) power supply
Explain Modular PSU
Allows to unhook the connectors and detach from the unit
What does a Modular Power Supply Do
Frees up space inside of the computer
What may be a good idea when running a server in terms of PSUs and motherboard
Using a motherboard that supports redundant PSUs, so in the case of 1 ceasing to function, then the backup is there
What does the Main Board / Motherboard adapter on a PSU do
Provides power to the motherboard
Which connector provides power to the motherboard
Main Board / Motherboard Adapter
ATX Motherboard Standard Cable
20-Pin Connector
ATX 12V Motherboard Power Cable
24-Pin Connector
CPU Power / Processor Power PSU Cable
Has a 4,6 or 8-pin connector. Modern uses 8
PCIe sometimes use what cable for additional power?
8 pin power cable
What does the SATA Power Connector do
Used to power the SATA drives
What is the Molex Connector used for
Used for IDE and PATA hard drivers, CDs and DVD Drives
What does the Y Connector do
One connector that can support multiple devices
What is max V + Type + Name of a US-based PSU. Include a fact about the V
120V AC (Low Line Power) - Most of the time the Voltage will be lower than advertised e.g. 110-115 unless you have good clean power
What is max V + Type + Name of a EU/Asia based PSU.
230V AC (High Line Power)
In terms of voltage on PSUs, what is a common function when travelling
Supporting multi-voltage outputs
What is Voltage Sensing / Dual Voltage Power Supplies
Detects the outlet and converts it into the voltage of DC
VDC (Volt Direct Current) Types
3.3, 5, 12
What is a Rail
Wire that provides current at a particular voltage
What is a 12 VDC Rail
Cable or wire that provides 12 VDC
Which is the most common rail
12 VDC Rail
What is Wattage Rating
Power Supply’s output capacity or capability
Amperage to Wattage
A (amps) x V (voltage) = W
I(Current=Amperage) x V = W
What incremental increase do PSUs go up in
50 or 100 Watts
What is a recommendation when buying a PSU
Buy a bigger one than what is calculated
What happens to the other 30% of a 70% efficient PSU
Converted to heat
