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Difficulty: HardExpansion Cards and Power Supplies

A technician is selecting components and cabling for a high-performance workstation upgrade. Match each power supply connector or expansion slot interface on the left to its corresponding technical specification or primary function on the right.

  • EPS12V 8-pin connectorSupplies dedicated +12V power to the motherboard specifically for CPU voltage regulation.
  • PCIe 6+2 pin connectorDelivers auxiliary +12V power directly to high-draw graphics processing units (GPUs).
  • PCIe x1 expansion cardCan be installed into any physical PCIe slot (x1, x4, x8, or x16) due to backward slot compatibility.
  • PCIe x16 expansion slotProvides up to 75 Watts of power directly through the bus to an installed expansion card.

Answer

EPS12V 8-pin connector matches with 'Supplies dedicated +12V power to the motherboard specifically for CPU voltage regulation.' PCIe 6+2 pin connector matches with 'Delivers auxiliary +12V power directly to high-draw graphics processing units (GPUs).' PCIe x1 expansion card matches with 'Can be installed into any physical PCIe slot (x1, x4, x8, or x16) due to backward slot compatibility.' PCIe x16 expansion slot matches with 'Provides up to 75 Watts of power directly through the bus to an installed expansion card.'
Matching each item correctly demonstrates understanding of component power requirements and slot architecture: the EPS12V 8-pin delivers power to the CPU; the PCIe 6+2 pin powers discrete graphics cards; a PCIe x1 expansion card physically fits into any equal or larger PCIe slot; and a PCIe x16 slot delivers up to 75W of bus power directly from the motherboard.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary function of motherboard power supply connectors (EPS12V vs PCIe power).
EPS12V supplies power to the CPU socket on the motherboard, while PCIe 6+2 pin connectors supply auxiliary power directly into high-draw expansion GPUs.
EPS12V and PCIe connectors use different pinouts and keying despite both delivering +12V power.
2
Analyze PCI Express physical slot dimensions and mechanical compatibility rules.
Smaller PCIe cards (such as PCIe x1) fit and function properly in any larger open-ended or standard physical PCIe slot (x4, x8, x16).
PCIe lane negotiation allows shorter cards to operate seamlessly inside longer slots.
3
Evaluate native PCI Express slot power delivery limits.
A full-length PCIe x16 slot natively supplies up to 75W of power via the motherboard bus.
Cards demanding more than 75W require supplementary power cables directly from the PSU.

Key Concept

Power supply unit connector pinouts, PCIe slot mechanical compatibility, and bus power limitations.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Expansion Cards and Power Supplies

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