All computer hardware components work together to provide four main functions: input, output, processing, and storage. Common hardware components include input devices like keyboards and mice, output devices like monitors and printers, as well as internal components like the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and hard drives. The motherboard serves as the central connection point and contains the CPU and slots for expansion cards.

1. A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC, 6e Chapter 1 Introducing Hardware Tuesday, August 11, 2009

2. Objectives Learn that a computer requires both hardware and software to work Learn about the many different hardware components inside of and connected to a computer

3. Introduction End users need not know how a computer works To add to your end user knowledge, study is needed Studying this text will help you do the following: Install new hardware and software Diagnose hardware and software problems Solve hardware and software problems Evaluate new hardware and operating systems Pass the A+ series of exams

4. Hardware Needs Software to Work Software: instructions used to manipulate hardware Requirements: input, processing, storage, output Hardware: physical portion of a computer Components: monitor, keyboard, memory, hard drive All hardware operations are based on binary values Binary number system consists of two digits: 0 and 1 Fundamental groupings of binary numbers: Bit: binary digit that can take on values of 0 or 1 Nibble: four bits Byte: four bits ☻ ☻ ☻

5. Computer hardware provides 4 major services to software: 1. input 2. output 3. processing 4. storage

6. Figure 1-2 All communication, storage, and processing of data inside a computer are in binary form until presented as output to the user

7. Information entered into the computer from the keyboard is in ASCII form

8. PC Hardware Components Most input/output (I/O) devices are external to the case Most processing and storage devices are internal Central processing unit (CPU) Also called the processor or microprocessor Reads input, processes data, writes data to storage Elements required by I/O and storage devices A method for CPU to communicate with the device Software to instruct and control the device Electricity to power the device ☻

9. Hardware Used for Input and Output Connections to the case can be cabled or wireless Port: access point located in back or front of case Chief input devices: Keyboard: enhanced type holds 104 keys Mouse: pointing device used to select screen items Chief output devices: Monitor: visually displays primary output of computer Printer: produces output on paper (hard copy) ☻

10. Most computer ports are located on the back of the case. Examining the back of a PC Video

11. Figure 1-6 The two most popular output devices are the monitor and the printer Figure 1-5 The two most popular input devices are the keyboard and the mouse

12. You will need to become familiar with the different types of connectors used with computers

13. Hardware Inside the Computer Case Most storage and processing occurs in the case Internal devices common to most computers: Motherboard containing CPU, memory, other parts Floppy drive, hard drive, CD drive for persistent storage Power supply with power cords supplying electricity Circuit boards for internal and external communication Cables to connect devices to all circuit boards Expansion cards are installed in expansion slots Two types of cables: data (communication) and power

14. Figure 1-8: Inside the computer case Looking inside the PC Video

15. The Motherboard The largest and most important circuit board Also known as the main board or system board Contains the CPU, expansion slots, other devices Categories used to group motherboard components Processing, temporary storage, communication, power All devices communicate with CPU on motherboard A peripheral device links to motherboard via cable Some motherboard ports outside of the case: Keyboard, mouse, parallel, USB ports, sound ports ☻

16. Figure 1-9 All hardware components are either located on the motherboard or directly or indirectly connected to it because they must all communicate with the CPU RAM boards are called memory modules ☻ Looking at Motherboards Video

17. Figure 1-10 A motherboard provides ports for common I/O devices FireWire:Used for high speed multimedia such as digital camcorders ☻ USB: Used for external hard drives, keyboards, printers, scanners, etc. ☻ ch01a Quick Quiz

18. The Processor and the Chipset CPU: chip that performs most data processing Chipset: group of microchips controlling data flow Personal computer (PC): chief focus of this text Major manufacturers of CPUs and chipsets for PCs Intel Corporation, AMD, VIA, SiS, and Cyrix

19. Figure 1-11: The processor is hidden underneath the fan and heat sink, which keep it cool.

20. Figure 1-12 This motherboard uses two chips in its chipset (notice the bus lines coming from each chip used for communication) ☻ All circuit boards contain microchips

21. Storage Devices Primary storage (main memory): Temporary storage used by the processor Example: RAM Holds data while being processed Primary storage is faster and more expensive than Secondary Secondary storage (permanent storage): Enables data to persist after the machine is turned off Examples: hard drive, CD, floppy disk Analogy to primary-secondary memory relationship Book stacks in a library are like permanent storage Books can be moved to a desk (temporary storage) ☻ ☻ (random access memory)

22. Figure 1-13 Memory is a temporary place to hold instructions and data while the CPU processes both

23. Primary Storage RAM (random access memory): Device providing temporary storage Located on motherboard and on other circuit boards Three types of RAM boards (memory modules): DIMM (dual inline memory module) RIMM (Rambus inline memory module) SIMM (single inline memory module) RAM is volatile (data does not persist) ROM (read-only memory) is nonvolatile

24. Figure 1-14 A SIMM, DIMM, or RIMM holds RAM and is mounted directly on a motherboard.

25. Secondary Storage Secondary storage is permanent Before a CPU can use the data stored in a permanent storage device, the data must be copied into main memory Hard drive Case containing disks that rotate at high speeds An arm with a read/write head traverses the platter Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) Technology used internally by a hard drive ATA (AT Attachment) standard Specifies motherboard-hard drive interface Types: Serial ATA or parallel ATA (Enhanced IDE) Parallel ATA accommodates up to four IDE devices

26. Figure 1-16 Hard drive with sealed cover removed Identifying Drives Video

27. Figure 1-18 Two IDE devices connected to a motherboard using both IDE connections and two cables

28. Secondary Storage (cont.) Serial ATA standard Allows for more than four drives in a system Applies only to hard drives and not to other drives Some IDE devices: hard drives, Zip drives, CD drive Floppy drive 3.5-inch disk holding 1.44 MB of data Floppy drive connector is distinct from IDE connectors CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) drive Standard equipment for reading software distributions

29. Figure 1-22 A motherboard usually provides a connection for a floppy drive cable Figure 1-22 A motherboard usually provides a connection for a hard drive cable and a CD-ROM drive also. ch01b Quick Quiz

30. Motherboard Components Used For Communication Between Devices Traces: circuits or paths that move data and power Bus: system of pathways and transmission protocols Data bus Lines in a bus that carry the data Binary bits correspond to voltage values of on or off Data path sizes: 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128 bits wide Main bus on motherboard (system bus, memory bus) Communicates with CPU, memory, and chipset Pulse of system clock carried by line on motherboard ☻

33. Figure 1-26 A data bus has traces or lines that carry voltage interpreted by the CPU and other devices as bits The width of the data bus is called the data path size. ☻

34. Motherboard Components Used For Communication Between Devices (cont.) Devices work according to beats (or cycles) Clock speed is measured in hertz (cycles/second) One megahertz (MHz): one million cycles per second One gigahertz (GHz): one billion cycles per second Common ratings for motherboard buses 1066 MHz, 800 MHz, 533 MHz, or 400 MHz Range of CPU speeds: 166 MHz to 4 GHz Buses for expansion slots: PCI, AGP, ISA ☻

35. Figure 1-29 PCI bus expansion slots are shorter than ISA slots and offset farther; the one AGP slot is set farther from the edge of the board Expansion cards are installed in long narrow slots on the motherboard ☻ Figure 1-28: The lines of the bus terminate at an expansion slot where they connect to pins that connect to lines on the expansion card inserted in the slot.

36. Interface (Expansion) Cards Some names for circuits mounted in expansion slots: Circuit cards, adapter boards, expansion cards, cards Cards that connect the CPU to an external device: Video: provides a port for the monitor Sound: provides ports for speakers and microphones Network: provides a port for a network cable Modem: provides ports for phone lines Determine a card’s function by identifying its port ☻

37. Figure 1-31 This circuit board is a modem card and is mounted in a PCI slot on the motherboard Figure 1-32 This easiest way to identify this video card is to look at the port on the end of the card. Identifying Expansion Cards Video

38. The Electrical System Power supply Most important electrical component Converts AC voltage external source to DC voltage Reduces voltage from 110-120 volts to 12 volts or less Runs a fan to cool the inside of the computer case Temperatures > 185 ° F can cause component failure Motherboard has 1 or 2 connections to power supply

39. The Power supply has multiple outputs to drive the internal components including the motherboard, floppy drive, hard drive etc.

40. Figure 1-35 The motherboard receives its power from the power supply by way of one or more connections located near the edge of the board or near the processor

41. Instructions Stored on the Motherboard and Other Boards BIOS (basic input/output system) Data and instructions stored on ROM chips ROM BIOS chips are a type of firmware Three purposes served by motherboard ROM BIOS: System BIOS: used to manage simple devices Startup BIOS: used to start the computer CMOS setup: used to change motherboard settings CMOS RAM: includes date, time, port configurations Flash ROM: ROM chips the can be overwritten

42. Figure 1-36 This firmware chip contains flash ROM and CMOS RAM; CMOS RAM is powered by the coin battery located near the chip

43. Advanced Configuration and Power Interface Also known as ACPI Standards specifying a power saving feature Enables a system to power up by a keyboard Supported by most systems, such as Windows XP Advanced Power Management (APM) Older BIOS power management standard ☻

44. Plug and Play Also known as PnP Standard simplifying installation of hardware devices PnP BIOS begins process of configuring devices PnP-compliant operating system completes configuration ESCD (extended system configuration data) Plug and Play BIOS Enhanced version of PnP Stores manual configuration steps ch01c Quick Quiz

45. Summary A computer comprises hardware and software Main functions: input, output, processing, storage Data is stored in a binary format (1 or 0, on or off) Input/output devices: keyboard, mouse, printer, monitor Motherboard (system board): contains the CPU, access to other circuit boards and peripherals

46. Summary (continued) Primary storage (RAM) is volatile (temporary) Secondary storage is nonvolatile (permanent) Parallel and serial ATA standards: enable secondary storage devices to interface with the motherboard Computer bus: system of communication pathways and protocols ROM BIOS helps start PCs, manage simple devices, and change some motherboard settings

47. A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC, 6e Chapter 1 Introducing Hardware The End

48. A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC, 6e Chapter 1 Introducing Hardware Textbook Questions

49. Reviewing the Basics Chapter 1 Introducing Hardware

50. 1. Why is all data stored in a computer in binary form? ANSWER

51. 2. What are the four primary functions of hardware? ANSWER

52. 3. What are the two main input devices and two main output devices? ANSWER

53. 4. What three things do electronic hardware devices need in order to function? ANSWER

54. 5. How many bits are in a byte? ANSWER

55. 6. What is the purpose of an expansion slot on a motherboard? ANSWER

56. 7. Which component on the motherboard is used primarily for processing? ANSWER

57. 8. Name three CPU manufacturers. ANSWER

58. 9. What technology is most often used today to manufacture microchips? ANSWER

59. 10. What are two other names for the system bus? ANSWER

60. 11. What are two other names for the motherboard? ANSWER

61. 12. What are the two basic types of cables found inside a computer case and what are their basic functions? ANSWER

62. 13. List three types of ports that are often found coming directly off the motherboard to be used by external devices. ANSWER

63. 14. What is the purpose of the S/PDIF port? ANSWER

64. 15. List three kinds of memory modules. ANSWER

65. 16. What is the difference between volatile and nonvolatile memory? ANSWER

66. 17. Of the two types of storage in a system, which type is generally faster and holds data and instructions while the data is being processed? Which type of storage is generally slower, but more permanent? ANSWER

67. 18. What technology standard provides for up to four devices on a system, including the hard drive as one of those devices? What are two common industry names loosely used to describe this standard? ANSWER

68. 19. What is the size of the data path on most system buses today? ANSWER

69. 20. What is the measurement of frequency of a system bus and CPU? Which is faster, the system bus or the CPU? ANSWER

70. 21. Name four types of buses that are likely to be on a motherboard today. ANSWER

71. 22. A power supply receives 120 volts of ___ power from a wall outlet and converts it to 3.3, 5, and 12 volts of ____ power. ANSWER

72. 23. ROM BIOS or firmware chips that can be upgraded without replacing the chips are called ________. ANSWER

73. 24. CMOS setup allows a technician to change configuration settings on a motherboard stored in ______. ANSWER

74. 25. Name three examples of secondary storage devices. ANSWER

75. 26. A hertz is ________ cycle per second; a megahertz is ________ cycles per second, and a gigahertz is ________ cycles per second. ANSWER

76. 27. An AGP slot is normally used for a(n) _______ expansion card. ANSWER

77. 28. How many sizes of PCI Express slots are currently manufactured for personal computers? ANSWER

78. 29. Name the three purposes the motherboard ROM BIOS serves. ANSWER

79. 30. From where does CMOS RAM receive its power? ANSWER

80. Thinking Critically Chapter 1 Introducing Hardware

81. 1. When selecting secondary storage devices for a new desktop PC, which is more important, a CD-ROM drive or a floppy drive? Why? ANSWER

82. 2. Based on what you have learned in this chapter, when working on a Word document, why is it important to save your work often? Explain your answer using the two terms, primary storage and secondary storage. ANSWER

83. 3. Most buses are 16, 32, 64, or 128 bits wide. Why do you think these bus widths are multiples of eight? ANSWER

84. 4. Why would it be difficult to install four hard drives, one CD-ROM drive, and one DVD drive in a single low-end system? ANSWER

85. 5. In this chapter, a light bulb is used to demonstrate the binary concept used for computer storage and communication. Give another example in everyday life to explain this binary concept. Get creative ANSWER

86. 6. If the CMOS battery inside your computer system died, when you first turn on your system, will you expect the system to boot up normally to the operating system level? What information do you think the system would not have available for a successful boot? ANSWER

87. 7. Why is it more accurate to describe the CPU and motherboard bus using the term frequency rather than speed? Explain your answer. ANSWER

88. A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC, 6e Chapter 1 Introducing Hardware The End