Week 3: CPUs and Power Supplies
This is a work in progress. The Central Processing Unit, or CPU, is key to a computer, without it, nothing would function. CPUs are what programs are ultimately run on, and having a powerful enough CPU with enough threads and enough Hz to run programs without slowing down to a crawl is important.
Intel is somewhat notorious for having many CPU sockets and changing them every time a new generation of CPUs is launched. AMD, conversely, tends to have fewer sockets and maintains compatibility between CPU generations for a little while, making upgrades more practical.
In desktop systems, power supplies play a bit larger of a role in that someone designing a build needs to choose a power supply that is reliable (I hope!; some PC system builders cheaped out on power supplies in the past leading to an excess of warranty claims) along with having adequate power and efficiency while remaining on budget (unless you have an outrageous budget and can go all-in on every component Compensator 3 - The INSANE Zero Compromises Build is Back ...). Getting at least an 80+ Bronze power supply is worthwhile (The Difference: Gold vs Bronze Rated Power Supplies ..., Tom's Explains: What Do 80 PLUS Bronze, Silver, Gold ...) since certified power supplies will have at least 80% efficiency at loads of 20%, 50%, and 100%. Higher color tiers have higher efficiencies at those loads, with 80+ Titanium power supplies having 90% or higher efficiency at 10% load as well as 20%, 50% and 100%. Other factors in power supply choice include modularity, which makes installation easier, and RGB/other aesthetics. Power supplies can be non-modular (the traditional way), partially modular, or fully modular. Fully modular power supplies cost the most for the same power output due to having connectors on both ends of the wires to connect to drives, GPUs, fans and the motherboard. Partially modular power supplies have some connectors hardwired, usually the large ATX connector for the main power for the motherboard, which always has to be connected in a normal system build (some obvious exceptions include secondary power supplies for external GPUs or mining rigs). Partially modular power supplies cost a bit less than fully modular power supplies but more than non-modular power supplies, all else being equal (same efficiency and reliability).
Tom's Hardware Glossary is a useful resource that I found helpful, which has information about computers in general.
Intel is somewhat notorious for having many CPU sockets and changing them every time a new generation of CPUs is launched. AMD, conversely, tends to have fewer sockets and maintains compatibility between CPU generations for a little while, making upgrades more practical.
In desktop systems, power supplies play a bit larger of a role in that someone designing a build needs to choose a power supply that is reliable (I hope!; some PC system builders cheaped out on power supplies in the past leading to an excess of warranty claims) along with having adequate power and efficiency while remaining on budget (unless you have an outrageous budget and can go all-in on every component Compensator 3 - The INSANE Zero Compromises Build is Back ...). Getting at least an 80+ Bronze power supply is worthwhile (The Difference: Gold vs Bronze Rated Power Supplies ..., Tom's Explains: What Do 80 PLUS Bronze, Silver, Gold ...) since certified power supplies will have at least 80% efficiency at loads of 20%, 50%, and 100%. Higher color tiers have higher efficiencies at those loads, with 80+ Titanium power supplies having 90% or higher efficiency at 10% load as well as 20%, 50% and 100%. Other factors in power supply choice include modularity, which makes installation easier, and RGB/other aesthetics. Power supplies can be non-modular (the traditional way), partially modular, or fully modular. Fully modular power supplies cost the most for the same power output due to having connectors on both ends of the wires to connect to drives, GPUs, fans and the motherboard. Partially modular power supplies have some connectors hardwired, usually the large ATX connector for the main power for the motherboard, which always has to be connected in a normal system build (some obvious exceptions include secondary power supplies for external GPUs or mining rigs). Partially modular power supplies cost a bit less than fully modular power supplies but more than non-modular power supplies, all else being equal (same efficiency and reliability).
Tom's Hardware Glossary is a useful resource that I found helpful, which has information about computers in general.
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