Professional Documents
Culture Documents
UD2 - Computer Physical Structure
UD2 - Computer Physical Structure
FUNDAMENTALS
Lesson 2: Computer physical structure
Where can we find connectors on a computer?
On the motherboard, inside the case
On the motherboard, outside the case
On cards that are installed in expansion slots
What are they for?
To connect peripherals that add functionality to the system
1. CONNECTORS
USB
PS/2
keyboard Parallel port VGA Ethernet Sound jacks
PS/2
mouse
USB 3.0
1. CONNECTORS (USB)
Most common to see on Apple brand computers
It uses the USB-C interface
It can be used for any type of device, although it is the most
suitable for those that transfer data at high speed
One of its advantages is that it allows daisy chain connection as
if it were a HUB
It works with two simultaneous channels at 10Gbps
1. CONNECTORS (THUNDERBOLT)
Three USB-C cables
The first one: Implements USB 2.0 protocol
Up to 480Mbps of data
Up to 2.5 watts of power
Second: Implements USB 3.0 protocol
Up to 5-10 Gbps of data
Power delivery: 7.5 watts
Supports HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2
Third: Implements Thunderbolt 3
Up to 40 Gbps of data
Power delivery: 100 watts
Supports HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2
3. MOTHERBOARD
Socket: It is the place where the processor
(CPU) will be placed. The heat sink will be
placed on top
Chipset: In the past, it was made up of two
different chips:
North bridge (covered by a heatsink)
communicates RAM with processor and video
card
South bridge, communicates expansion slots with
the processor
BIOS: It is a small program module that controls
the startup of the computer
3. MOTHERBOARD
RAM memory sockets: Here they can be
inserted
Expansion buses: To expand the pc with
new components
Connectors: They are used to connect the
components to the board or to give it
power
Cell: Holds BIOS information
3. MOTHERBOARD
Currently, the north and south bridges have
been merged
Partly integrated directly into the CPU
Partly combined, now called just “chipset”
Many connectors have disappeared
(NOWADAYS…)
It is where the processor is placed
Normally, it has a notch in one corner to prevent it from a bad
installation
They contain a lever that locks or releases the processor, for
when it needs to be changed
There are two main types:
PGA: Processor with pins, socket with holes
LGA: Processor with contacts, socket with pins.
4. CPU SOCKET
Are slots where the RAM memory
modules are inserted
Thanks to some notches that
they have it is impossible to
mount the memory in the wrong
way
5. RAM SOCKETS
Here, new components are inserted to
increase the performance of our
motherboard:
Graphic card
Surround sound card
More USB ports
Wi-Fi device
There are different models, each with a
different speed, although currently the
most common to see are the PCI-Express
sockets, which have different sizes (see
lower image)
6. EXPANSION CARDS
Max speed (MBps)
140000
Multi-device 128000
120000
GPU exclusive
100000
Coming soon…
80000
Multi-device 64000
60000 2-way bus
Several sizes: 1x to 16x
40000
32000
20000 16000
8000
2100 4000
8 133 266 533 1100
0
Backwards compatibility
Improved signal stability
Communication uses PAM4 instead of binary signal
6.0
Adaptive consumption according to workload
High Volume Manufacturing (HVM) friendly
7. STORAGE DEVICES
RAM
High density
ROM EEPROM
Non volatile Upgradeable
History of computer
storage
FLASH
7. STORAGE DEVICES
M.2 drives
Input/Output
Input devices Output devices
devices
8. PERIPHERAL DEVICES
Some examples of input devices:
Keyboard: mechanical or membrane
Mouse: mechanical, optical or tactile
Image scanner: flatbed, roller or 3D
Graphics Tablet
Camera: webcam or netcam
Microphone
8. PERIPHERAL DEVICES
Some examples of output devices:
Monitor: CRT, TFT, IPS, LED
Printer: liquid inkjet, toner-based, thermal…
Speakers: integrated or external
8. PERIPHERAL DEVICES
Some examples of input/output devices:
Modem
Switch/HUB
Router
Hard Disk Drive
Optical Disk Drive
8. PERIPHERAL DEVICES