Which component provides power to the computer?

Which component provides power to the computer?

• A. Motherboard
• B. Power Supply
• C. CPU
• D. RAM

Answer: (B)

Power comes from a dedicated component called the power supply unit. It sits between the wall outlet and the rest of the computer and converts the AC electricity from the outlet into stable DC voltages the components need to run. These DC rails—commonly +12V, +5V, and +3.3V—feed the motherboard and, through it, the CPU, RAM, drives, and expansion cards. The power supply also provides connectors that attach to the motherboard and other devices, and it protects the system from overloads and short circuits. The CPU and RAM are just consumers of power; they don’t generate or supply power themselves. The motherboard’s job is to distribute the power it receives from the power supply and to handle communication and control signals. Without a functioning power supply, nothing in the computer can turn on.

Power comes from a dedicated component called the power supply unit. It sits between the wall outlet and the rest of the computer and converts the AC electricity from the outlet into stable DC voltages the components need to run. These DC rails—commonly +12V, +5V, and +3.3V—feed the motherboard and, through it, the CPU, RAM, drives, and expansion cards. The power supply also provides connectors that attach to the motherboard and other devices, and it protects the system from overloads and short circuits.

The CPU and RAM are just consumers of power; they don’t generate or supply power themselves. The motherboard’s job is to distribute the power it receives from the power supply and to handle communication and control signals. Without a functioning power supply, nothing in the computer can turn on.