COMPUTER HARDWARE FUNDAMENTALS • Microphone - converts sound waves into electrical
impulses and enables computer-based audio
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER HARDWARE
Hardware
- are the physical components of an analog or digital
computer.
- the tangible aspects of a computing device from software
Charles Babbage
Computer - a machine or device that performs processes,
- Father of the computer
calculations and operations based on instructions provided by a
- He conceptualized and invented the first mechanical
software or hardware program.
computer in the early 19th century.
Types:
Internal Hardware Components
- Instructions sent by the program or operating system
(OS) are processed or stored by internal components
collectively.
• Motherboard - serves as the hub via which all other
hardware components connect, housing the central
processing unit (CPU) and other crucial internal
hardware.
• Central Processing Unit – is the computer's brain,
processing and carrying out digital commands from
various programs.
• Random Access Memory - short-term memory that gives
programs instant access to data. Volatile
• Hard Drive – physical storage units that may hold
permanent and transient data.
• Solid State Drive - electronic storage devices that use
NAND flash memory. Non-Volatile.
• Optical Drive - allow the computer to read and
communicate with non- magnetic external media,
including compact disc read- only memory or digital
videodiscs.
• Heat Sink - removes heat from the system's parts to
control or lower their temperature and help keep them
operating normally.
- Graphic Processing Unit - handles visual data processing
and frequently serves as an addition to the primary CPU.
accelerate graphics and image processing tasks.
- Network Interface Card - a circuit board or chip that
allows a computer to connect to a network.
External Hardware Components
- Peripheral components, sometimes referred to as
external hardware components, are those things that are
frequently attached to the computer from outside to
control input or output operations.
• Mouse - portable pointing tool used to interact with
things on computer screens by moving the cursor around
the screen.
• Keyboard - Users can input text, numbers, and special
characters using a keyboard.
communications.
• Monitor - shows data, documents, or images produced
by the computing equipment.
• Speaker - An external audio output speaker is a device
that connects to a computer to produce sound.
• Printer - convert digital data from a computer into
printed material.
• Personal Computer - single-user computer based on a
microprocessor.
o Tower Model - power supply, motherboard, and
mass storage devices are stacked on top of
each other in a cabinet. Fewer space
constraints, which makes installation of
additional storage devices easier.
o Laptop – small enough that it can sit on your
lap.
o Desktop Model - designed to fit comfortably on
top of a desk.
o Notebook Computer - An extremely lightweight
personal computer.
• Workstation - powerful, single-user computer. A
workstation is like a personal computer, but it has a more
powerful microprocessor and, in general, a higher quality
monitor.
• Minicomputer – a multiprocessing system capable of
supporting up to 200 users simultaneously. mid-sized
computer that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s.
• Mainframe - very large and expensive computer capable
of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users
simultaneously.
• Supercomputer - an extremely fast computer that can
perform hundreds of millions of instructions per second.
Supercomputer is a broad term for one of the fastest
computers currently available. Most powerful computers
in the world.
• Desktop - designed to be stationary and are typically
used in offices, schools, and homes. Not ideal for those
traveling a lot.
• Laptop – portable computer. generally weaker than
desktop computers.
• Mobile Devices - Its highly portable nature makes it ideal
for communication and entertainment on-the-go. Lacking
in terms of performance and capabilities compared to
desktop and laptop computers.
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
- a hardware component that serves as the primary
processor of a computer system.
- receives instructions from the computer's memory and
performs the necessary calculations and logical
operations to execute those instructions.
- serves as the brain of the computer.
- responsible for processing and managing all the
information that passes through the computer system
data from the hard drive.
Types:
Single Core CPU - only one operation at a time. (Intel 4004)
Dual Core CPU - It has 2 processing /executing cores in the same
integrated circuit. (Intel Pentium)
Quad Code CPU - has four cores simultaneously working. (AMD
Phenom, ADM Athlon)
Hexa Core CPU - contains 6 executing cores, suitable for midrange
gaming and design (Intel core i7 - 980x)
Octa Core CPU – 8 cores (MediaTek True)
Deca Core CPU – 10 cores, of which 8 of them operate
autonomously. (MeadiaTek Helio X20)
Components
Arithmetic Logic Unit - Performs arithmetic and logical operations.
Is where calculations are done and where decisions are made. It
acts as a gateway between primary memory and secondary
storage.
Control Unit - unit fetches the instructions from the main memory,
decodes the instructions, and then executes them.
Memory Unit - This unit stores information and acts as a hub for
all the data.
Types of Memory:
Primary - Therefore, it is only used to store recent data. The data
stored in this is temporary. Example: RAM
Secondary - called permanent memory or auxiliary memory.
Example: Hard Disk
Cache - small amount of high-speed random-access memory (RAM)
built directly within the processor. It is used to temporarily hold
data and instructions that the processor is likely to reuse.
Register - part of a computer’s memory that is used to store the
instructions temporarily to provide the processor with the
instructions at times of need.
Buses - A link between the different components of the computer
system and the processor. They are used to send signals and data
from the processor to different devices and vice versa. It is also
used to share data between different devices and supplies power
to different components of the system.
Complex Instruction Set Computer
- perform multi-step operations that are complex.
- has a memory unit to implement complex instructions
and a microprogramming unit.
- calculations are slow but precise.
- the execution time is very high.
- CISC Pipeline does not function correctly.
- used in low-end applications such as security systems
and home automation.
Reduced Instruction Set Computer
- designed to carry out a few instructions at a similar time.
- the demand for coding is less.
- simple instructions are used than complexed.
- pipeline is easy as the execution of all instructions that
will be done in a uniform interval of time.
- has no memory unit and separates hardware to
implement instructions.
Clock Speed - the number of times per second that an electronic
or a circuit runs, expressed in gigahertz (GHz) or cycles per second.
Cycle - the fundamental unit used to measure how quickly the CPU
operates.
MEMORY
- is a critical component of any computing system.
responsible for storing and retrieving data and
instructions that are necessary for a computer to operate.
Types:
Random Access Memory (RAM) - a volatile memory that stores data
and instructions temporarily while the computer is running. main
memory of the computer, and its contents are lost when the
computer is turned off.
Read Only Memory (ROM) - a non-volatile memory that stores
permanent data and instructions that are needed for the computer
to operate. The contents of ROM cannot be changed, and it retains
its data even when the computer is turned off. ROM is used to
store the BIOS.
Cache Memory - small amount of high-speed memory that is used
to store frequently accessed data and instructions for faster
access.
Hard Disk Drive - non-volatile data storage device.
Solid State Drive – store data using flash-based memory, which is
much faster. Has no moving parts.
Capacity of Memory – amount of data and instructions that can be
stored in it.
Speed of memory - refers to the time it takes for the computer to
access and retrieve data from it.
STORAGE
Hard Disk Drive - non-volatile computer storage device that uses
magnetic disks or platters to store and retrieve data.
Components:
Platter – circular disks, where the 1s and 0s that make up your
files are stored. data is stored on platters in tracks, sectors, and
cylinders to keep it organized and easier to find.
Read/Write Heads - responsible for reading and writing data to
the magnetic coating.
Actuator Arm - responsible for ensuring the read/write heads are
always in exactly the right place.
Spindle - keeps the platters in position and rotates them as
required.
SOLID STATE DRIVES - used in place of conventional hard disk
drives (HDDs) on computers. Much speedier in comparison.
Components:
NAND Flash Memory - form of flash memory that offers faster erase
and write times than hard drives and uses less chip area per cell,
SSD Controller - known as a processor, consists of the electronics
that connect the SSD input/output interfaces to the Flash memory
components.
SSD Cache - temporary storage of data on NAND flash memory
chips in a solid-state drive (SSD) to better handle data requests
quickly.
Flash Drives - portable storage device used to store and transfer
data. It is a small device that connects to a computer or other
compatible devices via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port.
Storage capacity – the maximum amount of data that can be stored
in storage devices.
Storage Speed – speed of the read/write process of data in storage
devices.
Storage reliability - consistent and error-free retention and
retrieval of data in a storage system.
INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES
Input Device - enables users to submit data or commands to a
computer or other electronic device.
Types:
Mouse – enables users to control the cursor on a screen.
Keyboard - device consisting of a set of keys that allows users to
input alphanumeric characters, symbols, and commands into a
computer.
Microphone - allows you to input sound into your computer.
Stylus Pen - pencil-shaped device that is used on tactile supports,
such as monitors and screens, to enter information into the system.
Scanner - optically scans photographs, written text, handwriting,
or an item and converts it to a digital image.
Output Devices - transforms data into a form that can be
understood by humans or, historically, into a form that can be
physically read by a machine and used with other non-
computerized devices.
Types:
Monitor - visual output device that presents information, images,
and videos generated by a computer or other electronic devices.
Printer - produces tangible copies of electronic documents,
images, or other types of digital content.
Speakers - serving as an output device responsible for producing
sound.
Projector - visual display output device. It takes an image from an
electronic device and displays it on a screen or wall.
Speech-generating device - Text is translated into sound using a
speech-generating gadget.
MOTHERBOARDS
- main printed circuit board (also known as PCB) in a
computer. In addition, it is the computer's central
communications backbone connectivity point, through
which all components and external peripherals connect.
Parts:
CPU Chip - brain of electronic devices, containing billions of
transistors packed together to handle different tasks, all made
possible through the semiconducting properties of silicon.
RAM Slot - is where the RAM chips/sticks were plugged in, which
allows us to quickly access data and instructions that are currently
in use.
Northbridge - connects the CPU to other CPU-related parts,
enabling faster communication.
Southbridge - manages input and output functions but operates
at a slower speed.
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) - a pre-installed program on
Windows-based computers that starts the system and verifies the
functionality of input and output devices.
CPU Slot - The CPU socket serves as the location where the CPU
chip is inserted.
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slot is a computer slot
that enables the insertion of expansion cards.
Heat Sink – cool important components such as the CPU, GPU,
chipsets, and RAM modules.

POWER SUPPLY AND COOLING

Power supply - an electrical device that supplies electric power to

an electrical load.

Types:

ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) - 150mm x 86mm

SFX (Small Form Extended) - 100mm x 125mm x 63.5mm

Flex ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) - 81.5mm x 40.5mm x

150mm

TFX (Tall Form Extended) - 85mm x 65mm x 175mm

NON-MODULAR POWER SUPPLY - all the cables are already

connected to the power supply, and they are NOT removable.

SEMI-MODULAR POWER SUPPLY - only the basic and important

cables attached to the unit.

FULLY MODULAR POWER SUPPLY - Allow users to connect the

minimum number of cables for each device.

Passive Cooling System - refers to the operating system throttling

one or more devices in the thermal zone to reduce heat
production.

Active Cooling System - pertains to a more straightforward

approach to the heat where it uses fans, etc. to reduce heat in our
computers.

Types of Cooling System:

AIR COOLING SYSTEM - easiest and most affordable setup that

dissipates heat by employing cold air to neutralize the heat
produced by the computer hardware.

Liquid cooling system - most effective setup to lessen the heat

produced by computer hardware. A liquid cooling system employs
water to cool a gadget because of its high thermal conductivity.

TROUBLESHOOTING AND MAINTENANCE

Troubleshooting - process of identifying, planning, and resolving

a problem, error or fault within a software or computer system. It
enables the repair and restoration of a computer or software when
it becomes faulty, unresponsive or acts in an abnormal way.