A LOOK AT PARTS INSIDE YOUR COMPUTER
There are all kinds of parts inside your computer. At first view it may look like a jumbled mess of unknowns. For today’s blog I am going to look at a few of those components. While you may plug your power cord into a 110 volt power socket on the wall, your computer uses different voltages, wattages, and in some cases changes from normal AC electric to DC current. Current here in the USA oscillates at 60 times per second (referred to as 60 hertz or HTZ) and is an alternating current thus the term AC. This term literally means the current flows in both directions. When it is inbound it is a positive current but when it reverses it is a negative current. When the electricity is traveling from the substation to your home the Utility Company has decreased the current and increased the voltage so the electricity will flow a much greater distance. When it reaches your house, travels to the outlets and into your computer it has been stabilized by doing just the opposite. The current increases and the voltage decreases. This change is made just outside your house inside a transformer.
The power supply inside your computer is both a transformer and a rectifier. Your computer uses various voltages including 3.3, 5, and 12 volts and it is no longer alternating but is direct current or (DC). This explains why the power supply is both a transformer and a rectifier; a rectifier changes the current supply to DC by the use of diodes. Not so with your monitor, it still requires 110 volts of electricity; however, it is converted to DC. A main difference between AC and DC current is DC only flows in one direction. This only covers a small explanation of electricity but may give you a little more understanding of the importance of your power supply acting as both a transformer and rectifier. While looking inside your computer you will see the mother board and cards as well as other items attached to the mother board. On the mother board and cards you may also see transistors, capacitors, resistors, and diodes. A transistor acts as a switch and can amplify the electricity flowing in the circuit. A capacitor is a device that holds a charge and causes the flow of electricity to be more even. A diode only allows electricity to flow in one direction, and the resistor limits current. The color code on the resistor informs you of the amount of resistance it provides. If you would like to learn more about electrical circuits, I found this site on the web after I had written all of the above. http://www.allaboutcircuits.com. I liked what I saw on his site.
The power supply is the most important component in your computer’s electrical system. The job of the power supply is to change voltage in your computer to a manageable level by converting it to a lower level of DC voltage. Every component within your computer receives it power from the power supply, including but not limited to, the motherboard and Central Processing Unit (CPU). There may also be connections on the motherboard itself to power more systems or components. I read in another location the motherboard is the most important component inside your computer; however, without the power supply, the motherboard is inoperable so I will agree with the above statement, the power supply is the most important component in your computer.
Different computers come with different sizes of power supplies. (Click on Tiger Direct above and look at different computers) A power supply can have two basic problems. First it may itself be defective, and second it may not be large enough to supply all the power needed for your computer. This can be especially true if you have upgraded by adding additional systems like graphic boards or maybe a video card. If you are experiencing hang, reboot, system errors, and in some cases your computer not booting at all, a first look should be at the power supply. An expansion card within your system that is defective may be drawing too much power and causing your problems. A quick check to determine if any of these are causing your problems is to simply remove nonessential boards one at a time and try your computer to see if the problem goes away. If in fact a too small power supply is your problem the solution is to replace with a larger one. Unless you are very capable working within the case, I suggest you have a computer repair shop in your area make this change. They can measure the current supply with meters and testers to determine if your power supply is providing the correct voltage.
I didn’t go into great detail because that is not the intention of this blog. My intent is whetting your desire to know more. If it has done this I am happy. Check back often and thanks for looking.
Kermit
