Computer Hardware

Ñ Section A: Personal Computer Basics

Ñ Section B: Microprocessors and Memory
Ñ Section C: Storage Devices
Ñ Section D: Input and Output Devices
Ñ Section E: Hardware Security

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Personal Computer Systems

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Desktop and Portable Computers

Ñ The term form factor refers

to the size and dimensions
of a component, such as a
system board or system
unit
Ñ A desktop computer fits on
a desk and runs on power
from an electrical wall outlet

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Desktop and Portable Computers

Ñ A portable computer is a small, lightweight personal

computer
Ñ A notebook computer (also referred to as a laptop), is a
small, lightweight portable computer that opens like a
clamshell to reveal a screen and keyboard
Ñ A tablet computer is a portable computing device featuring a
touch-sensitive screen that can be used as a writing or
drawing pad
Ñ An ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) is a small form factor tablet
computer designed to run most of the software available for
larger portable computers

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Desktop and Portable Computers

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Home, Media, Game,
and Small Business Systems
Ñ A home computer system offers a hardware platform with
adequate, but not super-charged support for most computer
applications
Ñ A Media Center PC officially uses an operating system
capabilities: Windows Media Center Edition
Ñ Some of the most cutting-edge computers are designed for
gaming
Ñ Computers marketed for small business applications tend to
be middle-of-the-line models pared down to essentials

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Buying Computer System Components

Ñ Decide how your computer will be used, and how much you
want to spend
Ñ Decide on a platform (Mac, PC, Linux)
Ñ Look at ads on-line dealers, in computer magazines and at
computer/electronic stores
Ñ Understand the computer jargon
Ñ Expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to several
thousand dollars

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Ñ Instead of buying a new computer, consider upgrading

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Microprocessors and Memory
Ñ Microprocessor Basics
Ñ Today’s Microprocessors
Ñ Random Access Memory
Ñ Read-only Memory
Ñ EEPROM

A microprocessor is an integrated circuit

designed to process instructions
– ALU
– Registers
– Control unit
– Instruction set

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Microprocessor Basics

Ñ Front side bus

– HyperTransport
Ñ Microprocessor clock
– Megahertz
– Gigahertz
Ñ Word size
Ñ Cache
– Level 1 cache (L1)
– Level 2 cache (L2)

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Microprocessor Basics
Ñ Serial processing
– Pipelining
Ñ Parallel processing
Ñ Dual core processor
Ñ Hyper-Threading Technology

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Random Access Memory
Ñ Random Access Memory is a temporary holding area for
data, application program instructions, and the operating
system

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Random Access Memory
Ñ Microscopic capacitors hold the bits that represent data
Ñ Most RAM is volatile
– Requires electrical power to hold data

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Random Access Memory
Ñ RAM capacity is expressed in megabytes or gigabytes
Ñ Personal computers typically feature between 256MB and
2GB of RAM
Ñ An area of the hard disk, called virtual memory, can be used
if an application runs out of allocated RAM
Ñ RAM speed is often expressed in nanoseconds or
megahertz
Ñ SDRAM is fast and relatively inexpensive
– DDR
Ñ RDRAM is more expensive, and usually found in high-
performance workstations

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Read-Only Memory
Ñ ROM is a type of memory circuitry that holds the computer’s
startup routine
– Permanent and non-volatile
Ñ The ROM BIOS tells the computer how to access the hard
disk, find the operating system, and load it into RAM
Ñ EPROM – Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only
Memory
Ñ More permanent than RAM, and less permanent than ROM
Ñ Requires no power to hold data

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Storage Basics
Ñ A storage medium contains data
Ñ A storage device records and retrieves data from a storage
medium
– Data gets copied from a storage device into RAM, where
it waits to be processed
– Processed data is held temporarily in RAM before it is
copied to a storage medium

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Magnetic Disk and Tape Technology
Ñ Magnetic storage stores data by magnetizing microscopic
particles on the disk or tape surface

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Hard disk platters and read-write heads are sealed inside the
drive case or cartridge to screen out dust and other
contaminants.

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Magnetic Disk and Tape Technology
Ñ A controller positions the disk and read-write heads to locate
data
– SATA
– Ultra ATA
– EIDE
– SCSI
Ñ Not as durable as
other storage
technologies
– Head crash

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CD and DVD Technology
Ñ Optical storage stores data as microscopic light and dark
spots on the disk surface
– CD and DVD storage technologies

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CD and DVD Technology
Ñ Today’s DVD drives typically have 16X speeds for a data
transfer rate of 177.28 Mbps
Ñ Three categories of
optical technologies
– Read-only (ROM)
– Recordable (R)
– Rewritable (RW)

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CD and DVD Technology

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Solid State Storage
Ñ Solid state storage technology stores data in an erasable,
rewritable circuitry
Ñ Non-volatile
Ñ Card reader may be required
to read data on solid state
storage

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Solid State Storage
Ñ A USB flash drive is a
portable storage device that
plugs directly into a
computer’s USB port using
a built-in connector
Ñ A U3 drive is a special type
of USB flash drive that is
preconfigured to autoplay
when it is inserted into a
computer

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Storage Wrap-up

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Basic Input Devices
Ñ Keyboard
Ñ Pointing device
– Pointing stick
– Trackpad
– Trackball
– Joystick
Ñ Touch screen

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Display Devices
Ñ Viewable image size
Ñ Dot pitch
Ñ Viewing angle width
Ñ Refresh rate
Ñ Color depth
Ñ Resolution

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Display Devices
Ñ Graphics circuitry generates the signals for displaying an
image on the screen
– Integrated graphics
– Graphics card
– Graphics processing
unit (GPU)

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Printers
Ñ An ink-jet printer has a nozzle-like print head that sprays
ink onto paper
Ñ A laser printer works like a photocopier
Ñ Printer features
– Resolution – Duplex capability
– Print speed – Memory
– Duty cycle – Networkability
– Operating costs

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Installing Peripheral Devices
Ñ The data bus moves data within the computer
Ñ Expansion cards are small circuit boards that give the
computer additional capabilities
– Expansion slot
• ISA
• PCI
• AGP
– PCMCIA slot
• PC card

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Installing Peripheral Devices
An expansion card simply slides into an expansion slot and is
secured with a small screw.

Before you open the case, make sure you unplug the
computer and ground yourself—that’s technical jargon
for releasing static electricity by using a special grounding
wristband or by touching both hands to a metal object.

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Installing Peripheral Devices
Ñ An expansion port passes
data in and out of a
computer or peripheral
device
Ñ Peripheral device may
include the Plug and Play
feature, or require a device
driver

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Surge Protection and Battery Backup
Ñ A power surge is a sudden increase or spike in electrical
energy, affecting the current that flows to electrical outlets
Ñ A surge strip is a device that contains electrical outlets
protected by circuitry that blocks surges and spikes
Ñ A UPS is a device that not only provides surge protection,
but also furnishes your computer with battery backup power
during a power outage

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Basic Maintenance
Ñ Computer component failures can be caused by
manufacturing defects and other circumstances beyond your
control
Ñ Keep the keyboard clean
Ñ Clean your computer screen on a regular basis
Ñ Keep the area clean around your computer
Ñ Make sure fans are free of dust
Ñ Carefully use a Q-tip and a can of compressed air or a
vacuum cleaner to remove dust and debris from your
keyboard.

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Troubleshooting and Repair
Ñ There are several telltale signs that your computer is in
trouble
– Failure to power up – plugged in?
– Loud beep
– Blue screen of death
Ñ Help and Support Center – system help
Ñ Safe Mode – boot in safe mode, if OK, reboot again...

Ñ Don't panic,

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