What's the best way to learn about PC components?

[TheBiggestOfBuschemis]

Hello, everyone. I really want to learn about different kinds of stuff relating to PCs. I especially want to learn about power supplies. OCP, OVP, 12v rails, 5v rails. Importance of OCP protection. Are there any websites that provide in-depth information on stuff like this? Any websites that you recommend?

[Perrin]

Watch LTT videos obviously

[Eschew]

Hey there. In general, I've found that the best way to learn is by trying to teach or trying to answer questions. That's what I've been doing on the LTT forums -- doing the research and verifying my sources, and receiving feedback if my info is wrong or outdated.

 

There are also a bunch of PC building/parts guides floating around on the forums, if you're up for a bit of reading:

• DIY PC by Windspeed 36: The basic run-down on the parts in a PC build, what each part's purpose is, and why the parts have the features they have or how these features work.
• General Rules of Thumbs and Q&A Guide on Basic PC Parts by Gonio: A detailed guide on picking PC parts, understanding what each part's purpose is, and deciding what parts are best suited for your individual situation/intent.
• The Ultimate PC Part Compatibility Guide by Fgtfv567: A good guide on PC part compatibility that takes way more into account than PC Part Picker.

Please note that these threads were written some time ago, so specific item recommendations may not apply to 2020. Some have TLDR's in them, some don't. Overall they're pretty well-written and easy to understand.

 

For stuff specifically relating to PSUs:

• PSU Tier List 4.0 by LukeSavenije: The Tier List includes a list of "commonly mentioned terms" (rails, ripples, etc.) when it comes to PSUs and explains what they mean.
• 80 PLUS Efficiency and What It Really Means by STRMfrmXMN: A mythbuster/FAQ-style explanation of PSU efficiency.

[TheBiggestOfBuschemis]

8 minutes ago, Eschew said:

Hey there. In general, I've found that the best way to learn is by trying to teach or trying to answer questions. That's what I've been doing on the LTT forums -- doing the research and verifying my sources, and receiving feedback if my info is wrong or outdated.

 

There are also a bunch of PC building/parts guides floating around on the forums, if you're up for a bit of reading:

• DIY PC by Windspeed 36: The basic run-down on the parts in a PC build, what each part's purpose is, and why the parts have the features they have or how these features work.
• General Rules of Thumbs and Q&A Guide on Basic PC Parts by Gonio: A detailed guide on picking PC parts, understanding what each part's purpose is, and deciding what parts are best suited for your individual situation/intent.
• The Ultimate PC Part Compatibility Guide by Fgtfv567: A good guide on PC part compatibility that takes way more into account than PC Part Picker.

Please note that these threads were written some time ago, so specific item recommendations may not apply to 2020. Some have TLDR's in them, some don't. Overall they're pretty well-written and easy to understand.

 

For stuff specifically relating to PSUs:

• PSU Tier List 4.0 by LukeSavenije: The Tier List includes a list of "commonly mentioned terms" (rails, ripples, etc.) when it comes to PSUs and explains what they mean.
• 80 PLUS Efficiency and What It Really Means by STRMfrmXMN: A mythbuster/FAQ-style explanation of PSU efficiency.

Can I actually ask people about the importance of multiple rails, OCP protection etc. in the PSU Tier List thread? If so, that's pretty rad!

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

55 minutes ago, TheBiggestOfBuschemis said:

Hello, everyone. I really want to learn about different kinds of stuff relating to PCs. I especially want to learn about power supplies. OCP, OVP, 12v rails, 5v rails. Importance of OCP protection. Are there any websites that provide in-depth information on stuff like this? Any websites that you recommend?

Maxxarcade has some pretty good videos about power supplies of all types.

 

It's not going to be schematics level of detailed. But enough to get started at least. 

[Shreyas1]

Whenever I'm trying to learn stuff like this, I usually start on youtube and google any questions that I come across.