Computer Hardware

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Chapter 6

• Computer Hardware
• Ruth Watson

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Objectives (1 of 2)

• Explain the difference between RAM and ROM
• Explain the difference between RAM and storage
• Explain what a motherboard is
• Explain what a processor does
• Explain the what RAID is
• Explain what a UPS is
• Demonstrate how to write-protect a disk
• Explain the difference between a partition and a
  disk

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Objectives (2 of 2)

• Explain the role of the boot.ini file
• Explain why binary math is important to computers
• Explain the difference between a modem and a
  network interface card
• Explain the difference between a parallel and
  serial connection
• Identify at least 4 different ports, by sight, on
  a computer
• Demonstrate how to clean a mouse
• Explain what a driver is
• Explain what an interrupt is

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Introduction

• Computers are made up of hardware and software
• The software tells the hardware what to do
• Computers receive input via the keyboard and
  mouse or other input devices
• Processing happens though the motherboard via
  ROM, RAM, and the processor
• The output comes through the monitor, printer,
  sound card, or more

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Important Terms to Understand

• EIDE
• Floppy disk
• Gigahertz
• Hard disk
• IDE
• IEEE
• IEEE 1394
• Interrupt
• I/O
• IRQ
• ISA
• Master/slave
• Memory
• Microprocessor

• Modem
• Motherboard
• Network interface card
• Parity
• Partition
• PCI
• Plug and play
• Port
• RAM
• ROM
• SCSI
• Sector
• Virtual Memory
• Volume

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What Is a Computer?

• Microprocessor
• Internal Memory
• Auxiliary Storage
• Input Units
• Output Units

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Any Computer System
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Internal Hardware Components

• CD-ROM
• CPU
• Expansion slots
• Floppy drive
• Hard disk
• Memory chip
• Motherboard
• Power supply

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Back of the Computer

• Cooling Fan
• Power Supply
• Keyboard Connector

• Mouse Connector
• Parallel Printer Port
• Video Connector

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Processor

• Brain of the computer
• Current chips for PC
• Intel (Celeron, Pentium III, and Pentium IV)
• AMD (K-6 and Athlon)
• Which do I buy?
• Pentium or Athlon for graphic-intensive programs
• K-6 or Celeron for business and Internet browsing

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Types of Disks

• Floppy Disk
• Most common is 1.44Mb
• LS-120 disk is 120Mb
• High Capacity Removable Storage
• Zip disks
• Jazz Disks
• CD-R
• CD-RW
• Hard (Fixed) Disk
• Most common are 2.0 GHz or higher

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Care of a Disk

• Disk can be damaged easily
• Power spikes can harm hard disks
• A UPS can help with power surges
• Floppy disks can be damaged when exposed to
  extreme heat or cold conditions

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Monitor Size and Resolution

• Monitors come in different sizes 17, 19, and
  21
• Resolution is expressed in pixels
• 800 x 600
• 1024 x 768
• The higher the resolution, the more you can see
• Larger monitors let you run at higher resolutions
• e.g., 19 to run 1024 x 768 comfortably
• A graphics card (video display adapter) speeds
  processing

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Formatting a Disk

• Formatting prepares a disk to accept data
• Formatting can also delete any data already
  stored on the disk
• Full format wipes everything out
• Quick format deletes pointers only, but data is
  overwritten later

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Multiple Drives

• Each storage device has its own drive letter
• C is usually the first hard drive
• Partitioned hard drives also contain their own
  letters

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Partitions

• Partitioning means to slice up one hard drive
  into separate areas
• Installing one Office program would not affect
  the installing of another version on the second
  half

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Boot Options

• The boot file boot.ini is responsible for
  creating boot options for your OS
• The boot file gives you the option to go into
  different OS installed on either side of a
  partition

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Storage- Internal Memory (RAM)

• Temporary (erased when power is turned off)
• Measured in bytes
• 1 Byte 1 character (8 bits)
• 1 Kilobyte 210 (1,000 bytes)
• 1 Megabyte 220 (1,000,000 bytes)
• 1 Gigabyte 230 (1,000,000,000 bytes)
• Need 512 MB of RAM
• Keep multiple programs data files in memory
• Graphic-intensive programs demand a lot of memory
• ROM is read only memory that contains
  instructions burned in at the computer factory

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Data Transfer and Format

• Data travels along the computer bus via a series
  of pathways
• connects the hardware components to the processor
• The wider the pathway, the faster the data moves
• Data is transferred in the form of electronic
  signals represented by two states 0 or 1 (off or
  on)
• ASCII code translates computer language into
  something we can understand

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Network Interface Cards and Modems

• A NIC card connects two or more computer together
  to share information and resources
• Connected to the back through a RF45 connector
• A modem connects the computer to the Internet
• A modem is connected to the back with a RJ11
  connector

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Additional Components

• Ink Jet Printers
• B/W or color
• Smears
• Laser Printers
• Highest quality output
• Speakers

• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Trackball
• Scanner
• Joystick
• Pens

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Peripheral Devices- Drivers

• Most peripheral devices require a driver to
  operate
• Windows comes with many drivers for common mouse,
  keyboard, and other devices
• Most manufacturing Web sites have drivers
  available for download

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Peripheral Devices- Interrupts

• Interrupts (mouse clicks, keyboard taps, etc.)
  are handled by the processor
• Interrupts travel on IRQs (Interrupt Request
  Lines)
• Windows reserves IRQs for your devices
• Preview the Device Manager to see which ones are
  reserved
• Interrupt conflicts can cause your computer to
  lock up

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Installing Hardware

• Hardware can be upgraded
• Increase RAM
• Increase your Processor
• Add another drive
• Must understand your system to purchase the
  correct upgrades
• Add/Remove hardware components using Add/Remove
  Hardware Wizard

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Summary

• Sometimes you will want to open up your computer
  and to add upgraded hardware
• IT professionals must understand
• the role of the processor,
• what ROM does,
• the difference between RAM and storage space
• and how to partition your hard disk
• Newer computer systems do a better job handling
  interrupt conflicts
• Newer computer systems have more drivers to add
  upgrades

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Questions?