Friday, August 22nd, 2025

Friday – Storage, GPU, PSU, Cables

Storage
- HDD: High capacity, slow, mechanical.
- SSD (SATA): Faster, durable, moderate cost.
- NVMe (PCIe): Fastest, compact, expensive.
- Interfaces: SATA (600 MB/s), PCIe (GB/s).
GPUs
- PCIe x16 slot required.
- VRAM: 4GB (basic), 6–8GB (gaming), 12GB+ (high-end).
- Specs: Core clock, CUDA cores (NVIDIA) or Stream processors (AMD).
PSUs
- Wattage: Must support all parts (CPU + GPU biggest draw).
- Efficiency: 80 Plus Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium.
- Modular vs non-modular: Cable management + airflow.
- Rails: 12V rail stability important for GPUs.
Cables & Connectors
- 24-pin ATX power: Main motherboard power.
- 4/8-pin CPU power.
- PCIe 6/8-pin power: For GPUs.
- SATA power & data: For drives.
- Front panel headers: Power switch, reset, LEDs.

Component	Spec / Detail	Why It Matters (A+ Test)
Storage	HDD vs SSD vs NVMe	Affects speed, durability, cost
Storage	SATA vs PCIe	Different connectors + speed
Storage	Capacity (GB/TB)	Determines storage space
GPU	PCIe x16 slot	Must fit motherboard slot
GPU	VRAM size	Affects graphics performance
GPU	Power connector type	Must match PSU
PSU	Wattage (e.g., 550W)	Must support system load
PSU	Efficiency rating	Impacts energy + heat
PSU	Modular vs non-modular	Impacts cable management
PSU	12V rails	Stability for high-power parts
Cables	24-pin ATX	Main motherboard power
Cables	4/8-pin CPU	CPU-specific power
Cables	PCIe 6/8-pin	GPU power
Cables	SATA power/data	Storage connections
Cables	Front panel header	Case buttons + lights