Chpter 1 Introduction

Welcome

Welcome to the Information Technology (IT) Essentials course. The goal of this course is to introduce you to
computer hardware and software, as well as operating systems, networking concepts, mobile devices, IT
security, and troubleshooting. These online course materials will assist you in developing the skills necessary to
work as a technician in the field of IT. The specific skills covered in each chapter are described at the start of
each chapter.

You can use your smart phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop to access the course, participate in discussions with
your instructor, view your grades, read or review text, and test your understanding using interactive media. You
can also take quizzes and exams on your mobile device. Download Cisco Packet Tracer Mobile to complete
Packet Tracer Activities found throughout the course.

Note: Quiz and exam items that use Packet Tracer will not work properly on your mobile device even if you have
downloaded Cisco Packet Tracer Mobile.

Click here to access the Cisco NetSpace Quick Start Guide. This document shows you how to get around in
NetSpace and navigate within a course. It also explains how to access your assignments and exams.

More than Just Information

The NetSpace learning environment is an important part of the overall course experience for students and
instructors in the Networking Academy. These online course materials include course text and related interactive
media, video demonstrations, Packet Tracer simulation activities, real equipment labs, and many different types
of quizzes. All of these materials provide important feedback to help you assess your progress throughout the
course.

The material in this course encompasses a broad range of technologies that facilitate the way that people work,
live, play, and learn. Although we have worked with instructors from around the world to create these materials, it
is important that you work with your instructor and fellow students to make the material in this course applicable
to your local situation.

How We Teach

E-doing is a design philosophy that applies the principle that people learn best by doing. The curriculum includes
embedded, highly interactive e-doing activities to help stimulate learning, increase knowledge retention, and
make the whole learning experience much richer – and that makes understanding the content much easier.

Interactive Activities

Interactive activities are embedded within the chapters as checks for understanding. Some of these use “drag
and drop” to complete the activity (Figure 1). Others use a “checkbox” method to complete them (Figure 2). You
can check your score immediately. You can also reset and do the activity as many times as you like.

Labs

Labs are activities that are designed to be performed on physical equipment (Figure 3). Some labs are written as
class or small group activities that may or may not involve equipment. It is very important to learn and practice
physical skills by using the labs in this course in preparation for a career in IT. Working on physical equipment not
only develops skills, but also reinforces knowledge and builds confidence. This is very important as you move
into the IT field.

Packet Tracer

In the Networking chapters, you will configure a simple network using Packet Tracer, the Networking Academy
network simulation tool (Figure 4). Click here to download the latest version of Packet Tracer. Packet Tracer may
look complicated at first glance, but is easy to work with, and there are many tutorials to help you learn how to
use it. Packet Tracer is a very robust tool that you will use regularly as you participate in more advanced
networking courses.

Cisco Aspire

Cisco Aspire is a single-player, standalone strategic simulation game (Figure 5). The Networking Academy
Edition incorporates business and communication skills IT employers seek in job candidates. Click here to learn
more about Cisco Aspire Networking Academy Edition.

Assessments

Each chapter in the course has an online quiz and online chapter exam (Figure 6). These are scored
automatically, showing you the areas where you excel, as well as any areas where you may want to do some
additional study or practice. There is an online, end-of-course final exam, and a performance-based skills
assessment which you will do in class.

Mind Wide Open

Our goal at the Cisco Networking Academy is to enrich you, the student, by expanding what you know and can
do. It is important to realize, however, that the instructional materials and the instructor can only facilitate the
process. You must make the commitment yourself to learn new skills.

Education and Certifications

In this course, you will gain the specialized technical skills needed to install, maintain, secure, and repair
computers. Earning an industry-standard certification provides confidence and increases your opportunities in IT.
This course will prepare you to take the CompTIA A+ Certification exams.

This course is only an introduction into the world of IT. A technician can continue to study and earn the following
certifications:

 CCNA - Cisco Certified Networking Associate

 CCNP - Cisco Certified Networking Professional

 CCIE - Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert

 CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional

 MCP - Microsoft Certified Professional

 MCSA - Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator

 MCSE - Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer

 Network+ - CompTIA Network Certification

 Linux+ - CompTIA Linux Certification

You can use IT certifications as credits for some university and college degrees in areas such as computer
science and telecommunications.

CompTIA A+ Certification
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) developed the A+ certification program. A CompTIA
A+ certification signifies that a candidate is a qualified PC hardware and software technician. CompTIA
certifications are known throughout the IT community as one of the best ways to enter the IT field and build a
solid career. Figure 1 shows the reasons to get CompTIA certified. Figure 2 shows how you can learn, certify,
and work toward your IT goals.

The latest version of CompTIA A+ is the CompTIA A+ 2015 Edition. Two exams must be passed to achieve
certification: CompTIA A+ 220-901 and CompTIA A+ 220-902.

The CompTIA A+ exams measure the necessary competencies for an entry-level IT professional with the
equivalent knowledge of at least 12 months of hands-on experience in the lab or field. Successful candidates
have the knowledge required to assemble components based on customer requirements. They are also able to
install, configure, and maintain devices, PCs, and software. To qualify, they must understand the basics of
networking and security. Candidates must be able to properly and safely diagnose, resolve, and document
common hardware and software problems, provide appropriate customer support, and understand the basics of
virtualization, desktop imaging, and deployment.

Technicians must renew the A+ certification within three years of becoming certified. Maintaining certification
requires either passing the most current A+ exams or enrolling in the CompTIA Continuing Education (CE)
program. The CE program allows participants to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by becoming involved
in approved activities that display an understanding of relevant industry knowledge. Twenty CEUs are required
for A+ certification renewal, along with an annual CE fee of US $25.

Many higher-level certifications, such as Cisco CCNA, CompTIA Network+, and Microsoft MCSE, grant full CEU
credits if they are earned or renewed after earning the A+ certification. Additional details about the CE program
are located on the CompTIA website.

Field, Remote, and Bench Technicians

Your experience working with computers and earning a technical certification can help you become qualified for
employment as a field technician, a remote technician, or a bench technician.

Technicians in different computer careers work in different environments. The degree to which different skills are
needed vary from one job to the next. When you train to become a computer technician, you will need to develop
the following skills:

 Building and upgrading computers

 Performing hardware and operating system installations

 Installing, configuring, and optimizing software

 Performing preventive maintenance

 Troubleshooting and repairing computers

 Communicating clearly with customers

 Documenting customer feedback and the steps involved in finding the solution to a problem

A field technician, as shown in Figure 1, works in a variety of locations, including private homes, businesses, and
schools. You might work for one company and support only the computer and network systems it owns.
Alternatively, you might work for a company that provides onsite computer equipment repair for a variety of
companies and customers. In either of these situations, you need both excellent troubleshooting skills and
customer service skills, because you are in regular contact with customers and work on a wide variety of
hardware and software.

If you are a remote technician, you might work at a help desk answering calls or emails from customers who have
computer problems, as shown in Figure 2. You create work orders and communicate with customers to try to
diagnose and repair problems. Good communication skills are valuable, because customers must clearly
understand your questions and instructions. Some help desks use software to connect directly to a customer’s
computer to fix problems. As a remote technician, you might work on a team of technicians from a business, or in
your own home.

As a bench technician, you typically do not work directly with customers. Bench technicians are often hired to
perform computer warranty service in a central depot or work facility, as shown in Figure 3.

Career Resources for Networking Academy Students

When you participate in the Networking Academy, you are joining a global community linked by common goals
and technologies. Schools, colleges, universities, and other entities in over 160 countries participate in the
program. Click here to view a video about how Cisco Networking Academy is changing the world. Look for the
Cisco Networking Academy official page on Facebook©.

You are on your way to a rewarding tech career, but have you wondered what exactly you need to do in order to
be ready for the workplace?

We provide valuable career resources to help you prepare to be a part of the workforce and successfully seek out
employment. These resources have been created to help you, as a Networking Academy student, succeed in a
tech career. If you are looking for career guidance, virtual learning opportunities, and ways to gain employment –
we have just what you need. Bookmark these three links and start growing your potential today:

 Career Advice

 Employment opportunities

 Webinars

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Personal Computer

A computer is an electronic machine that performs calculations based on a set of instructions. The first
computers were huge, room-sized machines that took teams of people to build, manage, and maintain. The
computer systems of today are exponentially faster and only a fraction of the size of those original computers.

A computer system consists of hardware and software components. Hardware is the physical equipment. It
includes the case, keyboard, monitor, cables, storage drives, speakers, and printers. Software includes the
operating system and programs. The operating system manages computer operations such as identifying,
accessing, and processing information. Programs or applications perform different functions. Programs vary
widely depending on the type of information that is accessed or generated. For example, instructions for
balancing a check book are different from instructions for simulating a virtual reality world on the Internet.

Cases

The case of a desktop computer houses the internal components such as the power supply, motherboard, central
processing unit (CPU), memory, disk drives, and assorted adapter cards.

Cases are typically made of plastic, steel, or aluminum and provide the framework to support, protect, and cool
the internal components.

A device form factor refers to its physical design and look. Desktop computers are available in a variety of form
factors including:

 Horizontal case – These were popular with early computer systems. The computer case was horizontally
oriented on the user desk with the monitor positioned on top. This form factor is no longer popular.

 Full-Size Tower – (Figure 1) This is a computer case which is oriented vertically. It is typically located on
the floor under, or beside, a desk or table. It provides room for expansion to accommodate additional
components such as disk drives, adapter cards, and more. It requires an external keyboard, mouse, and
monitor.

 Compact Tower – (Figure 2) This is a smaller version of the full-size tower and is commonly found in the
corporate environment. It may also be called a mini-tower or small form factor (SFF) model. It can be
located on the user desk or on the floor. It provides limited room for expansion. It requires an external
keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

 All-in-one - (Figure 3) All of the computer system components are integrated into the display. They often
include touch-screen input and built-in microphone and speakers. Depending on the model, all-in-one
computers offer little to no expansion capabilities. It requires an external keyboard, mouse, and power
supply.

Note: This list is not exhaustive, as many case manufacturers have their own naming conventions. These may
include super tower, full tower, mid tower, mini tower, cube case, and more.

Computer components tend to generate a lot of heat; therefore, computer cases contain fans that move air
through the case. As the air passes warm components, it absorbs heat and then exits the case. This process
keeps the computer components from overheating. Cases are also designed to protect against static electricity
damage. The computer’s internal components are grounded via attachment to the case.

Note: Computer cases are also referred to as the computer chassis, cabinet, tower, housing, or simply box.

Power Supplies
Electricity from wall outlets is provided in alternating current (AC). However, all components inside a computer
require direct current (DC) power. To obtain DC power, computers use a power supply, as shown in Figure 1, to
convert AC power into a lower voltage DC power.

The following describes the various computer desktop power supply form factors that have evolved over time:

 Advanced Technology (AT) – This is the original power supply for legacy computer systems now
considered obsolete.

 AT Extended (ATX) – This is the updated version of the AT but still considered to be obsolete.

 ATX12V – This is the most common power supply on the market today. It includes a second motherboard
connector to provide dedicated power to the CPU. There are several versions of ATX12V available.

 EPS12V – This was originally designed for network servers but is now commonly used in high-end desktop
models.

A power supply includes several different connectors, as shown in Figure 2. These connectors are used to power
various internal components such as the motherboard and disk drives. The connectors are “keyed” which means
that they are designed to be inserted in only one orientation. The table in Figure 3 describes common power
supply connectors.

The different connectors also provide different voltages. The most common voltages supplied are 3.3 volts, 5
volts, and 12 volts. The 3.3 volt and 5 volt supplies are typically used by digital circuits, while the 12 volt supply is
used to run motors in disk drives and fans. The table in Figure 4 highlights the different voltages provided by a
power supply.

Power supplies can also be single rail, dual rail, or multi rail. A rail is the printed circuit board (PCB) inside the
power supply to which the external cables are connected. A single rail has all of the connectors connected to the
same PCB while a multi rail PCB has separate PCBs for each connector.

A computer can tolerate slight fluctuations in power, but a significant deviation can cause the power supply to fail.

Power Supply Wattage

Power supply specifications are typically expressed in watts (W). To understand what a watt is, refer to the table
in Figure 1 which describes the four basic units of electricity that a computer technician must know.

A basic equation, known as Ohm's Law, expresses how voltage is equal to the current multiplied by the
resistance: V = IR. In an electrical system, power is equal to the voltage multiplied by the current: P = VI.
Computers normally use power supplies ranging from 250W to 800W output capacity. However, some computers
need 1200W and higher capacity power supplies. When building a computer, select a power supply with
sufficient wattage to power all components. Each component inside the computer uses a certain amount of
power. Obtain the wattage information from the manufacturer’s documentation. When deciding on a power
supply, make sure to choose one that has more than enough power for the current components. A power supply
with a higher wattage rating has more capacity; therefore, it can handle more devices.

On the back of some power supplies is a small switch called the voltage selector switch, as shown in Figure 2.
This switch sets the input voltage to the power supply to either 110V / 115V or 220V / 230V. A power supply with
this switch is called a dual voltage power supply. The correct voltage setting is determined by the country where
the power supply is used. Setting the voltage switch to the incorrect input voltage could damage the power supply
and other parts of your computer. If a power supply does not have this switch, it automatically detects and sets
the correct voltage.

CAUTION: Do not open a power supply. Electronic capacitors located inside of a power supply, shown in Figure
3, can hold a charge for extended periods of time.

How to choose a PC power supply

By Mark Coppock May 3, 2019 One Comment

One of the least exciting, but most important, PC components is the power supply. PCs
run on electricity, of course, and that’s not provided directly from the wall to every
component inside a PC’s case. Instead, electricity routes from the alternating current
(AC) provided by the power company into the direct current (DC) used by PC
components in the required voltage.
It’s tempting to buy just any power supply to run your PC, but that’s not a wise choice. A
power supply that doesn’t provide reliable or clean power can cause any number of
problems, including instability that can be hard to pin down. In fact, a failing power
supply can often cause other problems such as random resets and freezes that can
otherwise remain mysterious.
Therefore, you’ll want to give your power supply choice as much time and attention as
your CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage options. Picking the right power supply will give you
the best possible performance and help contribute to a lifetime of reliability.
Prices and availability of products discussed were accurate at time of publication,
but are subject to change.

Power output: How much do you need?

While there are several important factors to consider when choosing a power supply –
just like with every PC component – identifying one of the most important factors is
refreshingly simple. You don’t need to pour through benchmarks or read reviews to
know how much power output you need. Rather, you can use a tool like Newegg’s
power supply calculator to determine exactly how much power your new supply
needs to output.
To use the tool, you need to select your components from the drop-down lists for each
category. The tool above is up-to-date with the latest options for central processing unit
(CPU), motherboard, graphics processing unit (GPU), random access memory (RAM),
and more. While the tool doesn’t drill down into the details of every component, it does
so where necessary and takes the guesswork out of deciding how much power you
need.
For example, if you’re building (or buying) a PC with a Ryzen7 Series CPU, an Nvidia
GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, 16 gigabytes (GB) of RAM made up of two 8GB sticks, a 256GB
solid-state drive (SSD), and a 1TB 7200RPM hard disk drive (HDD), then 576 watts of
power would be recommended. You could choose a 600-watt power supply to be safe –
and buying a suitable option is just a click of a button away.

Anticipate upgrades when buying a power supply

Of course, you might want to run some scenarios to make sure you can handle your
long-term needs. For example, upgrading to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 bumps the
recommendation to 631 watts, while doubling the RAM only increases the
recommendation to 582 watts. If you might do both eventually, then you’ll want at least
637 watts.
You get the picture. Don’t just plan to meet your needs today, instead look down the
road a bit and think about what changes you might want to make later. And if you’re
buying a pre-built PC, then you’ll want to make sure you know what power supply it
uses to make sure it can handle whatever you might want to add – or that it’s easy
enough to replace at some point.
An important note regarding power: continuous power and peak power are different
things. Generally, the “Maximum Power” figure of a power supply refers to the
continuous (stable) power the PSU will deliver consistently, while the peak power
refers to the elevated maximum (surge) power the PSU can deliver, albeit for a very
short amount of time (e.g., 15 seconds). When buying a power supply, make sure its
continuous wattage meets your needs or you’ll likely run into problems when your PC is
running a full load.
Finally, don’t be worried that buying a higher-rated power supply means you’ll
necessarily be using more power. A power supply will only pull the electricity
demanded by your PC’s components – and so while it might be a waste of money up
front to purchase a larger power supply than you need, it won’t cost you any more to
operate your PC because of it.

Protection
Some power supply manufacturers will build in protections to help keep your
components safe from power-related issues. These protections often add some cost to a
power supply, but they can offer some additional peace of mind as well.
The first is overvoltage protection, which refers to a circuit or mechanism that shuts
down the power supply unit if the output voltage exceeds the specified voltage limit,
which is often higher than the rated output voltage. This protection is important since
high output voltages may cause damage to computer components that connect to the
power supply.
The second is overload and overcurrent protection. These are circuits that protect the
power supply unit and the computer by shutting down the power supply unit when
there is excessive current or power load detected, including short circuit currents.

Efficiency matters with a PSU

Wattage is just one measure of a power supply’s performance. Another is its efficiency
rating, which is a measure of how much DC power it sends to the PC and how much is
 lost primarily to heat. Efficiency is important because it affects how much you’ll spend
on keeping your PC juiced up.
As an example, consider a PC that requires 300 watts of power. If you use a power
supply with an 85% efficiency rating, your PC will pull about 353 watts of input power
from your power company. A power supply that’s only 70% efficient, on the other hand,
will pull 428 watts of power from the wall. Choosing the more efficient power supply
will save some cash on your monthly power bill.
At the same time, a power supply with a higher efficiency rating will allow your PC to
run cooler as well. Every PC component generates some heat, and that tends to work
against top performance. A more efficient power supply will dissipate less heat, which
will mean a quieter system thanks to fans that don’t have to run as fast or as long, better
reliability, and a longer lifespan.
What is 80 PLUS certification?
As you’re searching for power supplies, you’ll see many that carry 80 PLUS
certification labels. 80 Plus is a certification program that manufacturers can utilize to
provide some assurances that their power supplies will meet certain efficiency
requirements. 80 PLUS has various levels ranging from the basic certification to
Titanium, and power supplies are rated by independent labs to provide the following
efficiency levels for consumer 115-volt power systems:

% of Rated Load 10% 20% 50% 100%

80 PLUS – 80% 80% 80%

80 PLUS Bronze – 82% 85% 82%

80 PLUS Silver – 85% 88% 85%

80 PLUS Gold – 87% 90% 87%

80 PLUS Platinum – 90% 92% 89%

80 PLUS Titanium 90% 92% 94% 90%

When you’re shopping for a power supply at Newegg, you can choose to filter by 80
PLUS certification level. That makes it easier to dial in exactly the level of efficiency that
you want to achieve in your new PC.

Rails aren’t just for trains

 Wattage
isn’t the only measure of a power supply’s ability to support all of your components,
however. Power is provided to the components by rails, and while each voltage rail
requires attention, the most attention needs to go to the +12V rail(s) that provide
power to the most power-hungry components, as the processor and PCIe video cards
receive their power from them.
A modern power supply must output at least 18A (amps) on the +12V rail(s) for a
mainstream up-to-date computer, more than 24A for a system with a single enthusiast-
class graphics card, and no less than 34A when it comes to a high-end SLI/CrossFire
system. The output amperage figure we’re talking about here is the combined figure for
PSUs offering more than one +12V rail.
Of course, it is the combined total output number you should look for, and you can’t
always add up the+12V rails to calculate the combined output. For instance, a PSU
labeled with rails labeled +12V1@18A and +12V2@16A may only have a 30A combined
power output instead of 34A. Look for this information in the detailed item
specifications or on the PSU information label.
If you are going to run an SLI/Crossfire configuration, you should make sure the +12V
rail(s) provide no less than 34A combined. Different power supplies are labeled
differently – some show the maximum amperage provided by each rail, and some will
provide the maximum combined maximum wattage, e.g., 396W, which equals
396W/12V = 33A.
Another important consideration is the number of rails a power supply uses to provide
power to its components. Simply put, a power supply can provide just one +12 volt rail
to provide all of the power to your PC’s components, or it can have multiple rails. Using
one rail means that all the power is available to all components connected to it – that
makes configuration easy because you don’t need to worry about matching components
to rails, but it also means that a power supply failure, such as a surge, will affect all
components. Conversely, having multiple rails gives some security against catastrophic
failure but requires more care in setting things up.

Form factor – Will your power supply

fit?
The next consideration is a simple one – you’ll need to pick a form factor that you’re
sure will physically fit into your case. Fortunately, there are standards in terms of
power supplies just as there are in cases and motherboards.
This topic can get quite complicated, but the important thing to remember is you’ll want
to match your power supply with your case and motherboard. The following is a basic
overview of the most important power supply form factors today.

ATX
Although there are still AT form factor power supplies available for purchase, AT form
factor power supplies are undoubtedly legacy products, on the way out. Even the later
ATX form factor power supplies (ATX 2.03 and earlier versions) are falling out of favor.
The major differences between the ATX and AT power supply form factors are:
1. ATX power supplies provide an extra +3.3V voltage rail.
2. ATX power supplies use a single 20-pin connector as the main power connector.
3. ATX power supplies support the soft-off feature, allowing software to turn off the
power supply.

ATX12V
The ATX12V form factor is the mainstream choice now. There are several different
versions of the ATX12V form factor, and they can be very different from one another.
The ATX12V v1.0 specification added over the original ATX form factor a 4-pin +12V
connector to deliver power exclusively to the processor, and a 6-pin auxiliary power
connector providing the +3.3V and +5V voltages. The ensuing ATX12V v1.3 specification
added on top the 15-pin SATA power connector on top of all that.
A substantial change occurred in the ATX12V v2.0 specification, which changed the
main power connector from a 20-pin to a 24-pin format, removing the 6-pin auxiliary
power connector. Also, the ATX12V v2.0 specification also isolated the current limit on
the 4-pin processor power connector for the 12V2 rail (+12V current is split into the
12V1 and 12V2 rails). Later, the ATX12V v2.1 and v2.2 specifications also increased
efficiency requirements and mandated various other improvements.
All ATX12V power supplies maintain the same physical shape and size as the ATX form
factor.
EPS12V, SFX12V, and Others

The EPS12V power supply form factor utilizes an 8-pin processor power connector in
addition to the 4-pin connector of the ATX12V form factor (this isn’t the only difference
between these two form factors, but for most desktop computer users, knowing this
should be sufficient). The EPS12V form factor was originally designed for entry-level
servers, but more and more high-end desktop motherboards are featuring the 8-pin
EPS12V processor power connector now, which enables users to opt for an EPS12V
power supply.
The Small Form Factor (SFF) designation is used to describe a number of smaller power
supplies, such as the SFX12V (SFX stands for Small Form Factor), CFX12V (CFX stands
for Compact Form Factor), LFX12V (LFX stands for Low Profile Form Factor)
and TFX12V (TFX stands for Thin Form Factor). They are all smaller than the standard
ATX12V form factor power supply in terms of physical size, and small form factor power
supplies need to be installed in corresponding small form factor computer cases.

Connectors
A power supply is useless if it won’t connect to and power every component in your PC.
That means it needs to have all the required connector types.
The first connector to consider is the main connector that powers the motherboard.
This connector comes in two types, 20-pin and 24-pin. The latter is increasingly
popular, and it’s likely that your power supply will provide both options. Just check to
be sure.
Next up is the processor power connector, which comes in 4-pin and 8-pin versions. As
with the main power connector, many modern motherboards have switched to the
larger format. Again, make sure your power supply is compatible.
The most frequently used power connector is the 4-pin Molex connector. It’s used for a
variety of components including older HDDs, optical drives, fans, and certain other
devices. Newer SATA components have their own SATA power connector, and you can
also use Molex to SATA adapters if you run out of either. And, you can even use splitter
cables to increase the number of components you can connect – but keep in mind your
power supply’s upper limits.

Fan noise and cable convenience

Now that we’ve considered the most important power-related factors, there are a
couple of other things to consider when choosing a power supply. These aren’t as vital,
but they can affect how pleasant a power supply is to live with throughout your PC’s
lifespan.

Fan noise
As we’ve already discussed, power supplies generate heat. That means they require fans
to stay cool and run efficiently. You’ll want to give some thought to how quiet you want
your PC to run, which will be determined a lot by your environment. If your PC operates
in a quiet space, then larger fans that spin more slowly to move the same amount of air
will likely result in a quieter PC.
There aren’t any real standards around power supply cooling, and so you’ll need to
compare marketing materials for your power supply options. This is one area where in-
depth reviews will be particularly helpful, as they tend to measure how loud a power
supply is during various levels of operation and so offer some guidance as to how loud
you can expect your PC to run.

Cabling

Finally, there are three basic types of power supply cabling. Whether you choose a hard-
wired, modular, or hybrid system will determine how clean the inside of your case will
be and how much work you’ll need to put in to keep your PC uncluttered and organized.
Hard-wired cabling means that every connector is directly connected to the power
supply and so will be present whether needed or not. The advantage – and it’s a small
one with modern power supplies – to hard-wired systems is that it’s both simpler and
doesn’t impose any additional resistance with extra connectors.
Modular cabling means that each connector can be added in as needed. That makes it
easier to keep your case clean and uncluttered, but it also introduces some additional
complexity – and price – and some additional resistance thanks to extra physical
connections. That’s most likely irrelevant for most users, though.
Hybrid systems have some cables, such as the main power connect, physically
connected and the others being optional. A hybrid system can present a good
compromise, in that certain cables are required and even if the additional resistance of
modular connections is minimal, it’s easy enough to avoid.

Time to power up
Obviously, there’s a lot to picking a power supply, and it’s an important decision in
putting together a new PC. But spending a little time up-front to make sure your power
supply provides your PC components with reliable, consistent, and safe power will save
you huge amounts of time in the long term, and it will help make your PC a better and
more efficient machine.
For more information about power supplies, click here.

Lab - Ohm’s Law

In this lab, you will answer questions based on electricity and Ohm’s Law.

Lab - Ohm’s Law

Lab - Ohm’s Law Answer the following questions based on electricity and Ohm’s Law. Show
all steps when solving problems.

a. What are the four basic units of electricity? Provide the variable name and symbol, and
unit name and symbol.

b. Write the equation for Ohm’s Law.

c. Re-arrange the Ohm’s Law equation to solve the following: I = R = d. Power is equal to
voltage multiplied by current. Add the missing information in each of the following power
equations. P = V P = R P = V2 e. The yellow wire connected to a power supply carries 12V.
If the power supply provides 60W of power to the yellow wire, how much current is passing
through the yellow wire?

f. There are 3.3V passing through an orange power supply cable, and there are 0.025 ohms
of resistance in the orange wire. How much power is supplied to the orange wire by the
power supply?

g. A wire from the power supply is carrying 120W of power and 24A of current. Which
color(s) of cable is the wire.

Motherboards

The motherboard, also known as the system board or the main board, is the backbone of the computer. As
shown in Figure 1, a motherboard is a printed circuit board (PCB) that contains buses, or electrical pathways, that
interconnect electronic components. These components may be soldered directly to the motherboard, or added
using sockets, expansion slots, and ports.

These are some connections on the motherboard where computer components can be added, as shown in
Figure 2:

 Central Processing Unit (CPU) - This is considered the brain of the computer.

 Random Access Memory (RAM) - This is a temporary location to store data and applications.

 Expansion slots - These provide locations to connect additional components.

  Chipset - This consists of the integrated circuits on the motherboard that control how system hardware
interacts with the CPU and motherboard. It also establishes how much memory can be added to a
motherboard and the type of connectors on the motherboard.

 Basic input/output system (BIOS) chip and Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) chip - BIOS
is used to help boot the computer and manage the flow of data between the hard drive, video card,
keyboard, mouse, and more. Recently the BIOS has been enhanced by UEFI. UEFI specifies a different
software interface for boot and runtime services but still relies on the traditional BIOS for system
configuration, power-on self test (POST), and setup.

Figure 3 displays a motherboard with some additional components installed.

Most chipsets consist of the following two types:

 Northbridge – Controls high speed access to the RAM and video card. It also controls the speed at which
the CPU communicates with all of the other components in the computer. Video capability is sometimes
integrated into the Northbridge.

 Southbridge – Allows the CPU to communicate with slower speed devices including hard drives, Universal
Serial Bus (USB) ports, and expansion slots.

Figure 4 illustrates how a motherboard connects various components.

The form factor of motherboards pertains to the size and shape of the board. It also describes the physical layout
of the different components and devices on the motherboard.

There have been many variations of motherboards developed over the years. There are three common
motherboard form factors:

 Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX) - This is the most common motherboard form factor. The ATX
case accommodates the integrated I/O ports on the standard ATX motherboard. The ATX power supply
connects to the motherboard via a single 20-pin connector.

 Micro-ATX – This is a smaller form factor that is designed to be backward-compatible with ATX. Micro-ATX
boards often use the same Northbridge and Southbridge chipsets and power connectors as full-size ATX
boards and therefore can use many of the same components. Generally, Micro-ATX boards can fit in
standard ATX cases. However, Micro-ATX motherboards are much smaller than ATX motherboards and
have fewer expansion slots.

 ITX - The ITX form factor has gained in popularity because of its very small size. There are many types of
ITX motherboards; however, Mini-ITX is one of the most popular. The Mini-ITX form factor uses very little
power, so fans are not needed to keep it cool. A Mini-ITX motherboard has only one PCI slot for expansion
cards. A computer based on a Mini-ITX form factor can be used in places where it is inconvenient to have a
large or noisy computer.

The table in Figure 5 highlights these and other form factor variations.

Note: It is important to distinguish between form factors. The choice of motherboard form factor determines how
individual components attach to it, the type of power supply required, and the shape of the computer case. Some
manufacturers also have proprietary form factors based on the ATX design. This causes some motherboards,
power supplies, and other components to be incompatible with standard ATX cases.
Motherboards

The motherboard, also known as the system board or the main board, is the backbone of the computer. As
shown in Figure 1, a motherboard is a printed circuit board (PCB) that contains buses, or electrical pathways, that
interconnect electronic components. These components may be soldered directly to the motherboard, or added
using sockets, expansion slots, and ports.

These are some connections on the motherboard where computer components can be added, as shown in
Figure 2:

 Central Processing Unit (CPU) - This is considered the brain of the computer.

 Random Access Memory (RAM) - This is a temporary location to store data and applications.

 Expansion slots - These provide locations to connect additional components.

 Chipset - This consists of the integrated circuits on the motherboard that control how system hardware
interacts with the CPU and motherboard. It also establishes how much memory can be added to a
motherboard and the type of connectors on the motherboard.

 Basic input/output system (BIOS) chip and Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) chip - BIOS
is used to help boot the computer and manage the flow of data between the hard drive, video card,
keyboard, mouse, and more. Recently the BIOS has been enhanced by UEFI. UEFI specifies a different
software interface for boot and runtime services but still relies on the traditional BIOS for system
configuration, power-on self test (POST), and setup.

Figure 3 displays a motherboard with some additional components installed.

Most chipsets consist of the following two types:

 Northbridge – Controls high speed access to the RAM and video card. It also controls the speed at which
the CPU communicates with all of the other components in the computer. Video capability is sometimes
integrated into the Northbridge.

 Southbridge – Allows the CPU to communicate with slower speed devices including hard drives, Universal
Serial Bus (USB) ports, and expansion slots.

Figure 4 illustrates how a motherboard connects various components.

The form factor of motherboards pertains to the size and shape of the board. It also describes the physical layout
of the different components and devices on the motherboard.

There have been many variations of motherboards developed over the years. There are three common
motherboard form factors:
  Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX) - This is the most common motherboard form factor. The ATX
case accommodates the integrated I/O ports on the standard ATX motherboard. The ATX power supply
connects to the motherboard via a single 20-pin connector.

 Micro-ATX – This is a smaller form factor that is designed to be backward-compatible with ATX. Micro-ATX
boards often use the same Northbridge and Southbridge chipsets and power connectors as full-size ATX
boards and therefore can use many of the same components. Generally, Micro-ATX boards can fit in
standard ATX cases. However, Micro-ATX motherboards are much smaller than ATX motherboards and
have fewer expansion slots.

 ITX - The ITX form factor has gained in popularity because of its very small size. There are many types of
ITX motherboards; however, Mini-ITX is one of the most popular. The Mini-ITX form factor uses very little
power, so fans are not needed to keep it cool. A Mini-ITX motherboard has only one PCI slot for expansion
cards. A computer based on a Mini-ITX form factor can be used in places where it is inconvenient to have a
large or noisy computer.

The table in Figure 5 highlights these and other form factor variations.

Note: It is important to distinguish between form factors. The choice of motherboard form factor determines how
individual components attach to it, the type of power supply required, and the shape of the computer case. Some
manufacturers also have proprietary form factors based on the ATX design. This causes some motherboards,
power supplies, and other components to be incompatible with standard ATX cases.

Figure mother board connection……..

Mother board with components

Motherboard components connection..

 Motherboard form factor:-

Form factor description

1. ATX * Advanced Technology eXtended

*Most popular form factor
*12 in X 9.6 in (30.5cm X24.4cm)

2. Micro-ATX