Exapnsion Cards and Cooling

What is a dedicated GPU?

A PCIe x16 add-in card with its own GPU, VRAM, and cooling

When is a GPU needed?

Needed for gaming, video editing, 3-D rendering, CAD, and machine learning

• Tasks that exceed integrated graphics capability

How does a GPU connect to monitors?

Connect using HDMI, display port, or DVI ports on the card’s bracket

What is a sound card?

A PCIe or USB audio interface that provides high-quality analog/digital audio than the motherboard integrated audio

When would you use a sound card?

Production, Home theatre, podcast/streaming or when the on board audio is faulty

What Is a capture card?

A PCI EOUSB device that captures video/audio input from an external source and records or streams via the PC

• used by streamers, content creators and broadcasters

What is a network interface (NIC) add-on card?

A PCIe card that adds or upgrades network connectivity

What are the main types of CPU cooling?

• Air cooler

• All in one (AIO) liquid cooler

• Open-loop system

• Stock cooler

What are the features of an air cooler?

A heat sink (metal fins) with one or more fans attached

• The most common type of cooler

What is an AIO cooler?

A liquid cooler - Close loop system with a pump, radiator, and fans

What is an open loop system?

Custom water cooling with separate reservoir, pump, and radiator

What is a heat sink?

A passive aluminium or copper component with fins that sit on top of the CPU (and sometimes GPU or RAM)

How does a heat sink work?

It draws away heat from the chip via conduction and dissipates it into the air through convection

• Larger surface area = more heat dissipation

What is thermal paste?

A family conductive compound applied between the CPU integrated heat spreader and the base of the heat sink

Why is thermal paste used?

It fills microscopic air gaps between the two metal surfaces that would otherwise act as insulation

• Without it, temperatures rises a significantly

How is thermal paste applied?

Applied as a thin, even layer – a pea-sized amount in the centre is a common method

What are thermal pads?

Pre-cut solid sheets of family conductive material

• Used where paste is impractical

Where are the thermal pads typically used?

Typically on GPU VRAM chips, motherboard VRM, M.2 SSDs, and laptop chips

What is liquid/water cooling?

Uses liquid coolant (usually water plus additives) pumped through a block on the CPU to a radiator where fans dissipate heat

What are the advantages of liquid cooling?

• Quieter at equivalent cooling performances

• Handles higher TDP chips

• Freeze up space around the CPU socket

• AIO sealed units are maintenance free

What do case fans do?

Case fans move out through the chassis to cool all components, not just a CPU

How does airflow direction matter?

Intake fans at the front/bottom pull cool air in and then exhaust fans at the rear/top push hot air out

• This creates positive or neutral pressure airflow

• Incorrect configuration can lead to hot spots and recirculated warm air