Energy Efficiency PSU 3.5

Why is energy efficiency important in computer systems?

It reduces power consumption, lowers heat output, and extends component lifespan.

How can BIOS or UEFI help with energy efficiency?

They can offer power management settings like CPU throttling, fan curves, and sleep states.

What are common energy efficiency settings in Windows?

Power plans like Balanced, Power Saver, and High Performance that control CPU, display, and sleep behavior.

What is CPU throttling?

A feature that reduces CPU speed when full performance isn't needed to conserve power and reduce heat.

How do SSDs contribute to energy efficiency?

They consume less power and generate less heat than traditional hard drives.

How do sleep and hibernate modes save energy?

Sleep mode lowers power to RAM and peripherals, while hibernate saves RAM contents to disk and powers down completely.

Why is display brightness adjustment important for energy savings?

Lower brightness uses less power, especially on laptops and mobile devices.

How can enabling power-saving features impact performance?

It may slightly reduce speed or responsiveness to prioritize battery life or lower energy use.

What component generates the most heat and draws the most power?

Typically the CPU or GPU, depending on system workload.

How does efficient cooling relate to energy use?

Efficient cooling helps prevent thermal throttling and reduces fan speed/power draw.

Why isn't AC to DC conversion 100% efficient?

Some power is lost as heat during the conversion process inside the power supply.

What does PSU efficiency mean?

It’s the percentage of input power that gets converted to usable DC power — the rest is wasted as heat.

What are typical efficiency ranges for modern power supplies?

Most range from 80% to over 90%, depending on quality and certification.

How does higher PSU efficiency save money?

Less power wasted means lower electricity bills and less heat to cool.

What is the 80 PLUS program?

An industry certification for power supplies that meet or exceed 80% energy efficiency at different loads.

What are the 80 PLUS certification levels?

Standard, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium — with Titanium being the most efficient.