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DC or AC?

flot

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
3,197
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DC.

Never heard of cinosumption?!

Edit: Sorry, what I meant by the above is : " I have never heard of cinosumption. "
 

BScott881

Senior member
Mar 30, 2001
240
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All digital circuitry devices use DC. The computer power supply uses AC then converts it to DC at +5v, +12v, -5v, and -12v.
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,513
16
81
-12 V is used for serial (COM) ports, sound cards, and some graphics cards.

Power consumption is very variable.

A middle-grade PC (Athlon 1000 MHz, GeForce 2, 2 Hard drives) uses about 90 W when idle, and 125 W when busy. A 17 " monitor uses about 90 W.

A simple PC (Celeron 700, 1 slow HD, integrated graphics) uses about 50 W when idle, and about 60 W when busy. A 14" monitor uses about 50 W.

These figures are based on measurements of my PCs using a true energy meter (not by measuring current in the mains cable which is a very inaccurate method).
 

digme

Senior member
Aug 22, 2000
493
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actually for reasons of DC wander, i think computers use to be specific, -12V not +12.....

most electronic or digital devices use - voltage for reasons of digital modulation and minimizing of error...