CIT165 HW Comp Chapter 4 - Form Factors, Power Supplies
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| alternating current (AC) | Current that cycles back and forth rather than traveling in only one direction. In the United States, the AC voltage from a standard wall outlet is normally between 110 and 115 V. In Europe, the standard AC voltage from a wall outlet is 220 V.
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| antistatic wrist strap | See ground bracelet.
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| ampere or amp (A) | A unit of measurement for electrical current. One volt across a resistance of one ohm will produce a flow of one amp.
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| ATX | The most common form factor for PC systems presently in use, originally introduced by Intel in 1995. ATX motherboards and cases make better use of space and resources than did the AT form factor.
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| ATX12V power supply | A power supply that provides a 12 V power cord with a 4-pin connector to be used by the auxiliary 4-pin power connector on motherboards used to provide extra power for processors.
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| brownouts | Temporary reductions in voltage, which can sometimes cause data loss. Also called sags.
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| BTX (Balanced Technology Extended) | The latest form factor expected to replace ATX. It has higher quality fans, is designed for better air flow, and has improved structural support for the motherboard.
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| bus riser | Also called a riser card.
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| capacitor | An electronic device that can maintain an electrical charge for a period of time and is used to smooth out the flow of electrical current. Capacitors are often found in computer power supplies.
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| clamping voltage | The maximum voltage allowed through a surge suppressor, such as 175 or 330 volts.
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| compact case | A type of case used in low-end desktop systems. Compact cases, also called low-profile or slim-line cases, follow either the NLX, LPX, or Mini LPX form factor. They are likely to have fewer drive bays, but they generally still provide for some expansion.
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| data line protector | A surge protector designed to work with the telephone line to a modem.
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| daughter card | A subordinate extension of a motherboard.
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| desktop case | The initial screen that is displayed when an OS has a GUI interface loaded.
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| diagnostic card | A card that is useful when troubleshooting errors with hardware.
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| diode | An electronic device that allows electricity to flow in only one direction. Used in a rectifier circuit.
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| DIP (dual inline package) switch | On/off switches used on older motherboards to configure the board.
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| direct current (DC) | Current that travels in only one direction (the type of electricity provided by batteries). Computer power supplies transform AC to low DC.
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| electromagnetic interference (EMI) | A magnetic field produced as a side effect from the flow of electricity. EMI can cause corrupted data in data lines that are not properly shielded.
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| electrostatic discharge (ESD) | An electrical charge at rest. Also known as static electricity.
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| field replaceable unit (FRU) | A component in a computer or device that can be replaced with a new component without sending the computer or device back to the manufacturer. Examples
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| FlexATX | A version of the ATX form factor that allows for maximum flexibility in the size and shape of cases and motherboards. FlexATX is ideal for custom systems.
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| form factor | A set of specifications on the size, shape, and configuration of a computer hardware component such as a case, power supply, or motherboard.
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| ground bracelet | A strap you wear around your wrist. The strap has a cord attached with an alligator clip on the end. Attach the clip to the computer case you are working on to prevent static electricity. It is also called an antistatic wrist strap or ESD bracelet.
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| intelligent UPS | A UPS connected to a computer by way of a USB or serial cable so that software on the computer can monitor and control the UPS. Also called smart UPS.
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| inverter | A device that converts DC to AC.
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| joule | A measure of work or energy. One joule of energy produces one watt of power for one second.
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| line conditioner | A device that regulates, or conditions, power, providing continuous voltage during brownouts and spikes.
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| line-interactive UPS | A variation of a standby UPS that shortens switching time by always keeping the inverter that converts AC to DC working, so that there is no charge-up time for the inverter.
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| low-profile case | Another term for a compact case.
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| MicroATX | A version of the ATX form factor. MicroATX addresses some new technologies that were developed after the original introduction of ATX.
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| Midsize towers | Also called midi-towers or mid-towers, are the most versatile and most popular tower case.
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| multimeter | A more general-purpose tool that can measure several characteristics of electricity in a variety of devices.
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| NLX | A low-end form factor that is similar to LPX but provides greater support for current and emerging processor technologies. NLX was designed for flexibility and efficiency of space.
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| notebook case | A type of case used for portable notebook computers.
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| ohm (Ω) | The standard unit of measurement for electrical resistance. Resistors are rated in ohms.
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| overclocking | Running a processor, motherboard, or video card at a higher frequency than the manufacturer recommends and is not considered a best practice. It might also void the warranty of a component.
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| P1 connector | Power connection on an ATX or BTX motherboard.
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| POST (power-on self test) | A series of tests performed by the startup BIOS when you first turn on a computer.
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| power conditioner | A line conditioner that regulates, or conditions, power, providing continuous voltage during brownouts.
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| power supply | Also known as a power supply unit (PSU). A box inside a computer case that supplies power to the motherboard and other installed devices.
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| power supply tester | Used to measure the output of each connector coming from the power supply.
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| radio frequency interference (RFI) | EMI in the radio frequency range.
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| rectifier | An electrical device that converts AC to DC. A PC power supply contains a rectifier.
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| resistor | 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.
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| riser card | 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.
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| sag | Another term for a brownout.
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| slimline case | another term for compact case.
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| smart UPS | Another term for intelligent UPS.
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| soft power | Another term for a soft switch.
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| soft switch | 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.
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| spikes | Temporary surges in voltage, which can damage electrical components. Also called swells.
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| static electricity | An electrical charge at rest. Also known as electrostatic discharge (ESD).
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| surge protector or surge suppressor | A device or power strip designed to protect electronic equipment from power surges and spikes.
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| swell | another term for spike.
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| tower case | 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.
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| transformer | A device that changes the ratio of current to voltage. A computer power supply is basically a transformer and a rectifier.
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| transistor | An electronic device that can regulate electricity and act as a logical gate or switch for an electrical signal.
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| uninterruptible power supply (UPS) | 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.
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| volt (V) | A measure of potential difference in an electrical circuit. A computer ATX power supply usually provides five separate voltages
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| voltage selector switch | A power supply might have a voltage selector switch on the back. Often, the voltage selector switch on the power supply can be set to 230 V or 115 V.
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| watt (W) | The unit used to measure power. A typical computer may use a power supply that provides 200 W.
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