Module 1.

Hardware
THE MOTHERBOARD
• Provides connections for other circuits
(RAM, CPU etc.)
• Ensures communications between
components
• Provides power
Modular design – separate
components

NB for repair and upgrading

• ZIF-socket
• DIMM-slots
• SATA connectors
• External connectors (USB, VGA)
• Expansion slots (ISA, MCA, EISA, PCI, PCI-X,
AGP, PCI-E
 Components on the motherboard

CPU
The machine cycle
1. Gets data & instructions from
RAM (memory)
2. Decodes instructions
3. Executes instructions
4. Sends data back to memory
ROM – Read only memory
• Firmware – Software on the ROM
• BIOS (Booting up)
• Controls hardware at the lowest level
• Options for the user to configure
• Checks that rest of hardware is
present and working (POST)
• Find OS and loads it
• CMOS
ROM in other devices
 Firmware controls the basic working of
a device
 E.g. The printer driver receives “print”
instruction from operating system and
translates it to an instruction that the
firmware can understand
 The OS on smartphones and tablets is
stored in firmware
Upgrading of firmware
 Device can be made to function faster and
get new functions
 EEPROM is totally wiped and replaced
with an updated version (This is called
flashing)
 This process must not be interrupted

Typical types of devices that need ROM

firmware upgraded: Smartphones, tablets,
GPS devices, video cards
RAM
DIMMs
RAM is:
• electronic
• fast
• volatile
• comparatively expensive
• limited by
 number memory addresses that can
be accessed (32 bit / 64 bit)
 number of memory slots
Video / Graphics cards

• Has a GPU and RAM

• Its task is to create images and display it on the

monitor

• Lessens the burden on the CPU

• Laptops have built-in/integrated video adaptor

AND video card, switches between them

• DVI – VGA – S-Video – HDMI -Crossfire

Act 1
Data transmission
• Role of motherboard: communication
between components

• How does data transmission takes place?

 system clock controls timing of everything
 two main types of connections
 Communication between devices and system
Data-transfer
• System Clock (GHz) – a quartz crystal that vibrates at a constant
frequency. All activities is coordinated against this.
 Clock multiplication

• Bus – path along which data travels

• Point to point connections
 Direct and dedicated, not shared between multiple components
 CPU to RAM
 CPU to graphics card
• To peripherals
Physical connection (USB, Firewire, Thunderbolt)
 IRQ / Hardware interrupt
 Plug and play
• Device identifies it self
• IRQ and memory space is allocated
• Search for driver
• Automatically loaded
Hot-swappable Plug-and-Play
• the ability to plug in • technology that
or remove a device automates the
even when the configuration
power is on and process of a
computer is device before it
working can be used
• E.g.: USB devices
• Not: video card,
hard drive
Caching
In different situations
1. CPU
• Special high speed memory
• Level 1, 2, 3
2. Hard disk / Storage: part of
normal RAM
3. Communication
Web caching
Purpose of caching
• Prevents a slower medium from slowing
down the performance of a faster
medium. Act 2
Storage
Characteristics Types of storage
• Non-volatile / Permanent • Hard disk – Made of plate covered in magnetic
• Relatively slow powder
• Relatively cheap – RPM
• Most is mechanical – Magnetic
 Magnetic – 2 physical sizes
 Optical • Optical disks
• Other – CD
 Uses EEPROM – DVD
 Is electronic – BluRay
 E.g. flash-memory and • Flash disks
SSD • Solid state disks
• IDE – SSD
• SATA – Expensive
– Fast
• Portable hard drives
Act 3 – Firewire, USB, Thunderbolt, eSATA
Storage
Only public domain pictures and clipart
used.
• http://www.wpclipart.com
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_P
age