What's Inside a Computer By Glitch Busters

COMPUTER CONSULTANT
for
HOME & SMALL BUSINESS COMPUTER SYSTEMS & NETWORKS

The Forgotten Components

Power Supply:

If there's one underappreciated system component, it's the power supply. But heed this: Running your system with inadequate power is certain to hurt performance and stability.
In fact, some blue screens that people blame on cheap RAM, unstable drivers, or Windows itself can actually be power supply related.
If you're afraid that running a 425W power supply will increase your electricity bills, fear not. A "switching" power supply only pulls out what's needed. If your PC needs 200W total, but you have a 400W supply, the system will only consume 200W. In fact, some power supply vendors say the extra breathing room can actually save you money because the more powerful unit will run cooler and more efficiently than the cheap power supply.

CPU Cooler:

At elevated temperatures a silicon device can fail catastrophically, but even if it doesn't, its electrical characteristics frequently undergo intermittent or permanent changes.
Manufacturers of processors and other computer components specify a maximum operating temperature for their products. Most devices are not certified to function properly beyond 122^oF-176^oF. However, in a loaded PC with standard cooling, operating temperatures can easily exceed the limits. The result can be memory errors, hard disk read-write errors, faulty video, and other problems not commonly recognized as heat related.
The life of an electronic device is directly related to its operating temperature. Each 18^oF temperature rise reduces component life by 50%. It is recommended that computer components be kept as cool as possible (within specs) for maximum reliability and longevity.

Power Supply:
	If there's one underappreciated system component, it's the power supply. But heed this: Running your system with inadequate power is certain to hurt performance and stability. In fact, some blue screens that people blame on cheap RAM, unstable drivers, or Windows itself can actually be power supply related. If you're afraid that running a 425W power supply will increase your electricity bills, fear not. A "switching" power supply only pulls out what's needed. If your PC needs 200W total, but you have a 400W supply, the system will only consume 200W. In fact, some power supply vendors say the extra breathing room can actually save you money because the more powerful unit will run cooler and more efficiently than the cheap power supply.

CPU Cooler:
	At elevated temperatures a silicon device can fail catastrophically, but even if it doesn't, its electrical characteristics frequently undergo intermittent or permanent changes. Manufacturers of processors and other computer components specify a maximum operating temperature for their products. Most devices are not certified to function properly beyond 122^oF-176^oF. However, in a loaded PC with standard cooling, operating temperatures can easily exceed the limits. The result can be memory errors, hard disk read-write errors, faulty video, and other problems not commonly recognized as heat related. The life of an electronic device is directly related to its operating temperature. Each 18^oF temperature rise reduces component life by 50%. It is recommended that computer components be kept as cool as possible (within specs) for maximum reliability and longevity.