ICT 1101 - PC HARDWARE

ASSEMBLY
Presented by
Engr. NDIFON Gervais
ndifon.gervais@ictuniversity.org
Tel: 6 75 73 12 12
The ICT University.
The Basics
Introduction
The fundamentals of PC hardware will be covered in this lecture. We
will start by learning about the many components of both desktop and
laptop computers. Following that, we'll learn about computer
terminologies such as hardware, software, and firmware. We'll learn
how to use a computer's most basic features, such as input, output,
storage, and processing. Then we'll look at the computer's numerous
input and output interfaces, as well as the connections that go with
them. Finally, we'll go over how to connect popular peripherals and how
to use standard ports.
Functions of Computers: Input, Output,
Storage, and Processing
What distinguishes a computer from a machine? Is it necessary for a
computer to contain specific components in order to be considered a
computer? Consider 1980s computers, which all had a display screen,
a keyboard, and a processor unit. Computers have evolved throughout
time into machines that do not resemble a "normal" computer. Consider
the iPhone or Android tablet, which rely solely on touch for input and do
not have a separate keyboard. Is the calculator watch in the picture
below a computer?

Calculator watch. Photo used under CC-BY-NC license from Tim Deering
Regardless of the form factor of the machine, four basic functions — input,
output, storage, and processing — make a computer. Below is a display of how
those functions work together.

So, when we study the history of computers and their future, we must consider what
constitutes a computer and what does not. Our PCs and laptops are obviously
computers because they perform input, processing, output, and storage. Our cellular
phones and smartphones, on the other hand, are capable of doing all of these
functions. What about the televisions in our homes? Because they take information
from our remote control, process it, and return an output, such as an on-demand
movie, many of these are complex computers as well. Many of these televisions also
save information for later replay, such as your favorite channels or even the video
content itself. Remember, the main determination of whether something is a computer
or not relies on the functions it performs: does it perform input, processing, output, and
storage? If so, then it is a computer.

Read more about different types of computers on the Moodle Platform

Learn by doing
True or False: A modern car is a computer.
Correct. Modern cars are computers because four functions exist: input, output, processing, and storage. An example
would be when a dashboard display indicates low tire pressure. The input is the car’s measurement of tire pressure. The
car stores the correct pressure and compares the actual pressure. This comparison is the processing. The output is the
light that illuminates on the dashboard to alert the driver that the pressure is low.

Which of the following is not a function that makes a computer a computer?

1. A computer stores data.
2. A computer processes data.
3. A computer manufactures data.
4. A computer inputs and outputs data.
Correct. The main determination of whether or not something is a computer relies on whether it performs four functions:
input, processing, output, and storage. Manufacturing data is not one of these four functions.

True or False: Any device that performs input, processing, output, and storage is a computer.

Correct. A computer performs four functions: input, output, processing, and storage.
Hardware
Hardware, software, and firmware all make up a computer system. To build a
computer, we must first collect the necessary hardware. The hardware of a
computer is the component that you can touch and feel. Most people are aware
that a computer contains physical components such as the hard metallic or
plastic System unit, central processor unit (CPU), power supply, disk drives,
and other critical components when they see one. Hardware is limited by the
year of manufacture and, more precisely, the motherboard used. Some of the
hardware items may be costly to purchase, fix, or replace, depending on their
age and availability.

For example, if a computer is running slower over time as you add newer
software, it may be necessary to increase the amount of physical memory,
called RAM (random access memory), in the computer. In order to do this, the
technician would need to purchase the correct size, speed, and style of
memory according to the motherboard specifications and install it in the
computer which will then enhance its ability to process information more
quickly.
Hardware
Computer hardware consists of the mechanical and electrical parts of the computer. Data
flows through the motherboard in what is known as the system bus. External ports, which
are discussed in more detail further in this lesson, allow peripheral devices to be
connected to the system unit. Common ports are USB, serial, and parallel ports.

Peripheral devices consist of hardware attached to the system unit and are designated as
input, output, or both. Traditional input device examples are the mouse and keyboard
which are used to input data.

Input devices: keyboard and mouse. Photo used under CC-BY-NC-ND license from Ben Ward.
Hardware
Output devices consist of common items such as monitors, speakers, and printers. All of
these devices are ways that the computer can give feedback to the user through either
visual or auditory output.

Traditionally singular devices have evolved to become both input and output. Gaming
Joysticks which provide feedback to the user through vibrations and of course the touch-
screen display now serve as both.

Output devices: monitor and speaker. Photo used under CC-BY-SA license from WilliamHook.
Learn by doing
For each of the following, identify whether the item shown is an input device, an output
device, or both an input and an output device.
Hardware
The central processing unit (CPU) is the hardware that is the “brains” of the computer
and the central point where processing occurs.

Central processing unit. Photo used under CC-BY-NC license from Edmund Tse.

The CPU is the master of the computer. Every subsystem, including the input, output,
and storage systems, interacts with and through the processor. For example, the
processor receives the user’s input (such as a mouse double-clicking a file on the
screen), then interacts with the storage device (such as the hard drive) to retrieve the file.
Processing, which is the act of taking data that has been input and converting it to
something usable, occurs. Then, the processor creates a visual display of the file by
outputting it to the monitor through the output subsystems.
Hardware
Some hardware serves as storage. The storage functions are handled in the
storage subsystems. This area is focused on the act of saving data for future
use and retrieval. Early computers had very limited storage, so each program
had to be entered prior to running it each time you wanted to use it. In modern
computers, storage space has grown exponentially; even basic computers
have hundreds of gigabytes or even terabytes of information storage available.
Computers use both short-term and long-term storage in their daily operations.
For example, when you are typing up a report for school, it is stored in the
short-term memory (RAM) of the computer while you are typing and editing the
document. Once you save the document, it is transferred to the hard drive
(internal) or a USB flash drive (external) for long-term storage and future
access.
Learn by doing
For each of the following internal components, link the component name to the
corresponding description.

Description Internal Component

This item is used for installation of

devices, such as hard drives or System clock
CD/DVD drives.
This component enhances the
functions of a component of the
system unit and/or provides a Hard drive
connection to a peripheral such as a
monitor or mouse.
An adapter card would be installed
CPU socket(s)
here.
This is what the PC uses to receive
the electrical power it needs to Memory module
operate.
This component contains a control
Motherboard (system board)
unit and an arithmetic logic unit.
This thin, flat piece of circuit board
directly or indirectly connects all Processor chip (CPU)
other components and peripherals.
Learn by doing
For each of the following internal components, link the component name to the
corresponding description.

Description Internal Component

This component temporarily stores

instructions, data, and results during Power supply
processing.
Primary or additional processors are Adapter card slot(s) or expansion
inserted here. card slot(s)
This component stores instructions,
programs, data, and information for Adapter card (expansion card)
future use.
This component controls the speed
at which instructions are retrieved Internal drive bay
and processed by the CPU.
Software
Software is completely intangible and cannot be physically touched. Software, in its
purest form, is a series of 1s and 0s (bits) that make up the code that gives the computer
its instructions on how to perform a certain task. While you may be able to touch the
media on which the software is stored (like a CD or DVD), you cannot really touch the
software code itself.

The most basic software that a computer requires is the operating system. There are
numerous operating systems on the market today, including various versions of Microsoft
Windows, Macintosh OS X, Linux, Android, and iOS, to name just a few. The operating
system provides the standard methods for saving, retrieving, changing, printing, and
transmitting information in the computer. Operating systems contain internal commands,
which are programs that are built into the operating system to perform basic tasks such
as file management (delete, copy, and rename files). Additionally, operating systems also
contain external commands, which are added programs to complete more complicated
functions, such as defragmentation of a hard drive or handling the remote control of
another computer on the network.

Finally, there are software programs called applications. These programs are used to
create, store, modify, and view information that you create. Applications, such as
Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat, allow you to read and create documents and
presentations. Other applications, such as games and web browsers, may instead be
used for entertainment.
Learn by doing
Which of the following is not true of software?

1. Software provides instructions to tell the computer’s hardware what to do.

2. An operating system is a form of software.

3. Software can be touched and physically handled.

4. Applications are a form of software.

Correct. Software is digital code. It is intangible. The code itself cannot be touched or physically handled.
Firmware
Firmware is a combination of hardware and software, often called “software on a chip.”
Firmware allows control of the device to which the chip is connected. A firmware chip
contains specialized software and is often attached to motherboards, optical drives (such
as CD, DVD, or Blu-ray), mass storage devices, and other specialized hardware.

In older generations of firmware, the firmware was not upgradable unless you replaced
the physical chip, but in recent years firmware has been designed to be “flashable.” This
means that the chip can be upgraded if the software is outdated or has a programming
error. This firmware “flash” replaces the older software on the chip with the latest version,
improving performance or enhancing security.

The most common type of firmware found in a computer is called the BIOS (basic
input/output system), which provides the computer with the most basic of tasks before
the operating system is even loaded. Without the BIOS, the computer would be rather
useless, as it wouldn’t even be able to read the hard drive and load the operating system.
Firmware is persistent: it remains on the chip even after the power is removed, unlike
temporary storage (such as RAM).
Learn by doing
True or False: Firmware is software on a chip.
Correct. Firmware is a combination of hardware and software.

Which of the following is not a form of long-term memory?

1. USB flash drive
2. RAM.
3. Hard Drive.
4. DVD.
Correct. RAM is a form of short-term memory.

Which is true of the central processing unit (CPU)?

1. It receives input, interacts with storage, processes data, and provides output.
2. It is master of the computer.
3. It runs all the systems.
4. All of the above.
Correct. The CPU is the master of the computer. It also runs all the systems, and it receives input, interacts with storage,
processes data, and provides output.
Componentization/Standardization
Componentization is the process of breaking down large and complex items into simple,
reusable, and interchangeable pieces. For many years, computer software and hardware
were made by individual companies building things that only worked for a single system.
For example, if IBM made a network card, it would not work in a Compaq or Dell
computer. Over the years, hardware developers realized that if they could agree to a set
of standards, they could create components that could be built to work together using
standard interfaces, which saves time, money, and complexity. This same concept is now
being used in the software world under object-oriented programming — a standardized
method of programming.

Standardization allows for a set of rules that everyone can follow so that hardware is
interoperable and software is interoperable. This increases the ability to have
componentization of hardware and software, since the input and output created are
standardized. For example, web pages are coded in HTML (Hypertext Markup
Language), which all web browsers understand. Therefore, the user can use any web
browser and still get the content they are interested in viewing because of the
standardization of the system.

True or False: A USB device is an example of interoperable hardware.

Connection Interfaces and Cables
When looking at a customer’s personal computer, you must be able to easily identify the
various components that make up the computer by sight. As you look at the image of the
computer, you notice the various parts, such as the CD/DVD drive and the memory card
reader bay. Both of these components would be classified as part of the storage
subsystem. The headphone jack is used for audio output, while the microphone jack is
used for audio input. The USB and FireWire ports are used for both input and output, as
well as storage, depending on the device that is connected to the port. For example, if we
connect a printer to the USB port, it would be used for output, but if we instead connected
a mouse to the USB port, it would be used for input.

For more information on cables and connections, watch on the Moodle Platform.

True or False: Some ports can be used for both input and output.
Connections Between Common Peripherals and Standard Ports
The peripherals connect to the computer via standard ports. Ports allow for information to
flow into or out of the computer as part of the input and output subsystems. External
devices, such as keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, storage devices, monitors, and
others can connect to the computer through various types of cables, which connect to
specific ports. On most modern systems, this has been reduced down to a common,
standard interface, the universal serial bus port (USB port). Older systems have various
ports for various functions, which are now referred to as legacy ports, such as PS/2,
serial, and parallel ports. They were difficult to configure and required hardware
resources to be dedicated to them, such as interrupt requests, direct memory access,
and specific I/O (input/output) port addresses. In USB, this is all handled by the operating
system automatically. This makes hardware conflicts rare in current systems. Many
customers will still have computers with legacy ports. So, it is important to understand
multiple ports and connections.
The photo below offers a close-up view of a motherboard’s port cluster.

Port cluster photo used under CC-BY license from Edmund Tse. Firewire port photo used under CC-BY-SA license
from Wikimedia Commons.
 The chart below describes the functions of the ports depicted in the image above.
PORTS NAME FUNCTION

A PS/2 Used to connect keyboards and mice.

B USB Used to connect external devices with a universal serial bus

(USB) connector, such as mice, keyboards, printers, and
storage devices.
C S/PDIF Optical Used to connect digital high-fidelity audio systems.

D HDMI Used to connect a high-definition multimedia interface

(HDMI).
E VGA Used to connect a video graphics array (VGA) display
device.
F DVI Used to connect a digital video interface (DVI) display device.

G USB

H IEEE 1394 Used to connect external FireWire devices, such as hard

drives and cameras.
I RJ-45 Used to connect to an Ethernet network.

J USB

K AUDIO Used to connect to a speaker system.

The photo below shows various types of connectors.
The chart below describes the functions of the connectors depicted in the image above.
CONNECTOR NAME
A DB-9 serial
B DB-25 parallel
C DB-15 (two rows of
pin receptacles)
D High-density DB-15
(three rows of pins)
E DVI video
F 6-pin mini-DIN
G RJ-11 (four wires
inside plug interface)
H RJ-45 (eight wires
inside jack interface)
I USB type A
J HDMI
K Mini Stereo
FUNCTION
Used for serial devices such as a mouse or external modem.
Used to connect printers.
Used to connect digital high-fidelity audio systems.
Used to connect joysticks or musical instrument digital interface
(MIDI) devices.
Used to connect a digital video interface (DVI) display monitor.
Used for PS/2 keyboards and mice. By convention, purple
connectors are used for keyboards and green connectors are used
for mice.
Used for internal modem or telephone.
Used to connect to an Ethernet network.
Used for external universal serial bus (USB) devices such as
printers and storage devices.
Used to connect a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI)
display monitor.
Also known as "1/8 inch" or "3.5 mm" connectors, these are used to
connect audio devices such as headphones and speakers.
During our next class, we shall be talking about

Procedures and Safety