Question | Answer |
Also known as a power supply unit (PSU). A box inside a computer case that supplies power to the motherboard and other installed devices. | power supply |
Used to measure the output of each connector coming from the power supply. | power supply tester: |
EMI in the radio frequency range. | radio frequency interference (RFI): |
An electrical device that converts AC to DC. A PC power supply contains a rectifier. | rectifier: |
An electronic device that resists or opposes the flow of electricity. A resistor can be used to reduce the amount of electricity being supplied to an electronic component. | resistor |
A card that plugs into a motherboard and allows for expansion cards to be mounted parallel to the motherboard. Expansion cards are plugged into slots on the riser card. | riser card |
Another term for a soft switch. | soft power |
A feature on an ATX or BTX system that allows an OS to power down the system and allows for activity such as a keystroke or network activity to power up the system. Also called soft power. | soft switch |
Temporary surges in voltage, which can damage electrical components. Also called swells. | spikes |
An electrical charge at rest. Also known as electrostatic discharge (ESD). | static electricity |
A device or power strip designed to protect electronic equipment from power surges and spikes. | surge protector or surge suppressor |
The largest type of personal computer case. Tower cases stand vertically and can be as high as two feet tall. They have more drive bays and are a good choice for computer users who anticipate making significant upgrades. | tower case |
A device that changes the ratio of current to voltage. A computer power supply is basically a transformer and a rectifier. | transformer |
An electronic device that can regulate electricity and act as a logical gate or switch for an electrical signal. | transistor |
A device designed to provide a backup power supply during a power failure. Basically, a UPS is a battery backup system with an ultra-fast sensing device. | uninterruptible power supply (UPS) |
A measure of potential difference in an electrical circuit. A computer ATX power supply usually provides five separate voltages: +12 V, -12 V, +5 V, -5 V, and +3.3 V. | volt (V) |
A power supply might have a voltage selector switch on the back. Often, | voltage selector switch |
The unit used to measure power. A typical computer may use a power supply that provides 200 W. | watt (W) |