Week 04 vocabulary deck
Power, Cooling, Expansion, and Displays
Say the definition before you flip. Use the example and distinction to repair fuzzy terms, then take the separate vocabulary quiz.Vocabulary lab
Flip the idea, not just the card
Explain the term before you reveal the back. Then compare your explanation with the definition, example, and warning.
Read all terms without animation
- PSU
- A power supply unit converts incoming AC power into regulated DC power used by computer components. Example: A desktop PSU supplies the motherboard, CPU, GPU, drives, and fans. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse PSU wattage with actual system power draw; wattage is the unit's capacity.
- ATX power
- The ATX main power connector supplies primary motherboard power from the PSU. Example: A 24-pin ATX connector is firmly seated before troubleshooting a no-power system. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse the ATX main connector with the CPU power connector.
- EPS12V
- EPS12V is the motherboard power connection that supplies dedicated power to the CPU voltage-regulation circuitry. Example: A system may not POST if the CPU power connector near the socket is disconnected. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse EPS12V with PCIe GPU power; they serve different devices.
- PCIe power
- PCIe auxiliary power connectors provide additional PSU power to high-demand expansion cards such as GPUs. Example: A graphics card requires an 8-pin auxiliary connector in addition to slot power. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse PCIe power cables with CPU EPS cables even when the plugs look similar.
- surge protector
- A surge protector helps protect equipment from brief voltage spikes. Example: A classroom workstation is plugged into a surge-protected power strip. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse surge protection with battery backup; it does not keep the computer running during an outage.
- UPS
- An uninterruptible power supply provides temporary battery power and often power conditioning during outages. Example: A server stays online long enough to shut down safely when building power fails. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse a UPS with a surge protector; a UPS includes stored energy.
- heatsink
- A heatsink transfers heat away from a component into a larger surface area for cooling. Example: CPU heat moves into a finned heatsink where airflow removes it. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse a heatsink with a fan; a fan moves air while the heatsink conducts and disperses heat.
- thermal throttling
- Thermal throttling is automatic performance reduction used to control excessive component temperature. Example: A CPU lowers clock speed when cooling is insufficient. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse throttling with permanent hardware failure; it can be a protective response.
- GPU
- A graphics processing unit handles graphics workloads and can be integrated or installed on an expansion card. Example: A dedicated GPU drives multiple high-resolution displays. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse the GPU with the display connector; HDMI or DisplayPort only carries the output signal.
- DisplayPort
- DisplayPort is a digital display interface used to carry video and often audio. Example: A workstation connects a monitor through a DisplayPort cable. Do not confuse it with: Do not confuse DisplayPort with HDMI solely by shape; the connectors and capabilities differ.