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2.2.3. Power Supplies and System Cooling

šŸ’” First Principle: To ensure system stability and longevity, you must provide stable, sufficient power to handle peak loads and design a cooling system that effectively dissipates the heat generated by all components.

Scenario: You are building a high-end gaming PC with a powerful video card that requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors and a CPU known for running hot. You need to select a PSU that can handle the load and a cooling system that can prevent thermal throttling.

The PSU and cooling system are the life support of a PC.

  • Power Supply Unit (PSU):
    • Connectors: Provides various voltages (3.3V, 5V, 12V) to components. The main connector is the 20+4 pin motherboard connector.
    • Wattage Rating: The total power the PSU can supply. Must be sufficient to power all components, especially the CPU and video card. It's wise to choose a PSU with a higher wattage than the calculated minimum to allow for future upgrades.
    • Energy Efficiency: Look for 80 Plus ratings (Bronze, Silver, Gold, etc.), which indicate higher efficiency (less wasted energy as heat).
    • Modular Power Supply: Allows you to connect only the cables you need, improving airflow and aesthetics.
  • Cooling:
    • Fans: Case fans create airflow. CPU and GPU fans cool those specific components.
    • Heat Sink: A block of metal with fins that draws heat away from a component (like the CPU).
    • Thermal Paste/Pads: A thermally conductive material applied between a component (CPU) and its heat sink to ensure efficient heat transfer.
    • Liquid Cooling: A more advanced system that uses a pump, radiator, and liquid to move heat away from components. Offers superior cooling performance for high-end systems.

āš ļø Common Pitfall: Underestimating the power requirements of a high-end video card. This can lead to random shutdowns and system instability under load.

Key Trade-Offs:
  • Air Cooling vs. Liquid Cooling: Air cooling is simpler, cheaper, and very reliable. Liquid cooling offers better performance and can be quieter but is more complex and expensive.

Reflection Question: Why is it crucial to reapply thermal paste whenever you remove and reinstall a CPU cooler?