Computer Hardware

Servicing
 Basic Tools and Gadgets

Philip star screw Anti Static Wrist strap

Philip flat screw Soldering iron
Rubber gloves De-soldering sucker
Diagonal cutter Multi tester
Long nose Crimper
Slide cutter Lan tester
Paint brush Cd or DVD installers
Un used eraser
 Computer Fundamentals
 Computer
- An electronic device that stores, retrieves, and processes data, and can be
programmed with instructions
- A computer is composed of hardware and software, and can exist in a variety of
sizes and configurations.

 Hardware
- The physical equipment of a computer system, including the central processing unit,
data-storage devices, terminals and printers.

 Software
- Written coded commands that tell a computer what tasks to perform. For example,
Word, PhotoShop, Picture Easy, and PhotoDeluxe are software programs.
 PC Fundamentals
Parts of The Personal Computer
System Unit External MODEM Monitor

Scanner
Keyboard
CD ROM Drive

Floppy Disk Drive

Mouse
 PC Fundamentals
 Other PC peripherals

Uninterruptable
AVR Power Supply

PC External Sound
Systems

Printer Pc Camera
 Hardware Functions
 System Unit
- The case that houses the processor, motherboard, internal hard- and floppy disks, power supply,
and the expansion bus.
 Monitor
- A peripheral device with a screen for the visual display of information.
 Mouse
- a computer pointing device used to select and point on a computer screen.
 Floppy Disk Drive
- A drive that reads from or writes to separate diskettes which the user inserts. Information is
stored on the diskettes themselves, not on the drive.
 CD ROM Drive
- A piece of hardware attached to a computer which allows it to read or play a Compact Disk.
 Hardware Functions
 Scanner
- A device that reads a printed page and converts it into a graphics image for the
computer.
 Printer
- A device that puts computer data onto paper.
 External MODEM
- A piece of hardware that lets a computer talk to another computer over a phone line.
 Automatic Voltage Regulator
- A device that regulates the amount of voltage needed for a certain device to
function well.
 PC external Sound Systems
- A system of speakers and woofers to make an output of sound from the computer’s
activity.
 Internal PC Hardware
Motherboard
RAM (random access memory)
Micro Processor
HDD (hard disk drive)
Video card
Ethernet card
Internal modem
FDD (floppy disk drive)
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
Heat sink
Power supply
 Parts of the Motherboard
ROM Chip
ATX Power
AGP Slot Connector

Microprocessor
Expansion socket
slots

FDD Socket

Southbridge Northbridge
chipset

USB Panel
Memory slots
System Panel
Connector
CMOS Battery
IDE Socket
Parts of the Motherboard
 Motherboard Parts
 ROM chip
- The chip or IC which contains and stores critical programs such as the program that
boots the computer and BIOS.
 AGP Slot
- Accelerated Graphics Port supports
- a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a graphics card to a computer's
motherboard, primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D computer graphics.
Read more:
 Expansion Slot
- A socket on the motherboard that accepts an expansion card.
* PCI – Peripheral Component Interconnect is a high-speed connection for devices
including modems, sound cards, LAN cards etc
 Motherboard Parts
 FDD Connector/Socket
- A socket for Floppy Disk Drive cable connector or interface.
 Southbridge
- is the chip that controls all of the computers I/O functions, such as USB, audio,
serial, the system BIOS, the ISA bus, the interrupt controller and the IDE channels. In
other words, all of the functions of a processor except memory, PCI and AGP. They
do not normally come with a heat sink.
 Northbridge
- a Chip that connects to a CPU to memory, the PCI bus, Level 2 cache and AGP
activities. The Northbridge chips communicate with the CPU through the FSB.
 Motherboard Parts
 System Panel Connector
- This connector accommodates several front panel functions
a. System Power LED
b. HDD Activity
c. ATX Power Switch
d. Reset Switch
 IDE Connector Socket (Intelligent Drive Electronics or Integrated Drive Electronics)
- A socket for IDE Cable connector/interface
 ATX Power Connector Socket
- A socket for the ATX Power Supply Cable Connector
 Memory Slots
- A space to place the memory modules or RAM
 Motherboard Parts
 Microprocessor Socket
-CPU socket or CPU slot is a mechanical component that provides mechanical and
electrical connections between a microprocessor and a printed circuit board (PCB).
This allows the CPU to be replaced without soldering.
 CMOS Battery
- CMOS & Clock Backup batteries perform the same function in desktop and laptop
computers: when the computer is turned off, the battery maintains the time and date,
thus insuring their accuracy when the system is once again restarted. More
importantly, the battery saves the computers BIOS setup configuration, which allows
the system to efficiently reboot once it is restarted.
Motherboard Diagram
Motherboard Rear Panel
 Microprocessor
-The heart of any normal computer, it is where software are executed,
whether it’s a desktop machine, server or laptop.

Two Common Types of Processors

-PGA (pin grid array)
- a feature of a CPU socket where the pins are aligned in uniform rows around
the socket, pins on the underside of the processor are inserted into the
socket.
 Microprocessor

LGA (Land Grid Array)

-The land grid array (LGA) is a physical interface for microprocessors of
the Intel Pentium 4 and AMD Opteron families, there are no pins on the
chip; in place of the pins are pads of bare gold-plated copper that touch
pins on the motherboard.
Microprocessor Socket
Types
Tab

Blank areas
 Memory
- memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs (sequences of instructions) or data (e.g.
program state information) on a temporary or permanent basis for use in a computer or other digital
electronic device.
 Primary Memory
- is directly connected to the central processing unit of the computer, primary storage is also volatile,
they lose the information when not powered.
a. RAM – Random Access Memory
b. ROM – Read Only Memory

 Secondary Memory
- also known as external memory or auxiliary storage, The computer usually uses its input/output
channels to access secondary storage and transfers the desired data using intermediate area in
primary storage. Secondary storage does not lose the data when the device is powered down—it is
non-volatile.
a. Magnetic disk/storage
b. Optical disk
 Memory
- Optical disc storage is non-volatile and sequential access.

The following forms are currently in common use:

 CD, CD-ROM, DVD: Read only storage, used for mass distribution of digital
information (music, video, computer programs)

 CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R: Write once storage, used for tertiary and off-line storage

 CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM: Slow write, fast read storage, used for
tertiary and off-line storage
 Random Access Memory
-is a form of computer data storage, it takes the form of integrated circuits
that allow stored data to be accessed in any order These modules are
installed in the RAM slots on the motherboard of your computer.

SIMM 30-pin (usually FPRAM)

SIMM 72-pin (EDO RAM)

DIMM 168-pin (SDRAM)

DIMM 184-pin (DDR SDRAM)

Ram Types
 Random Access Memory
Most Common DRAM used in PC’s are:

Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM)

1. Single Data Rate (SDR)

2. Double data rate (DDR)

 Hard Disk Drive
- a hard drive or hard disk drive is used to store operating system, software and data, non
volatile storage disk size is currently measured in gigabytes for Workstations or terabytes
for servers
 Hard Disk Drive
IDE- (Intelligent Drive Electronics or Integrated Drive Electronics)
 Hard Disk Drive
SATA – (Serial Advance Technology Attachment)
HDD Jumper Settings
 BIOS
 BIOS
- stands for Basic Input/output System or Basic Integrated Operating System. BIOS
refers to the software code run by a computer when first powered on. The primary
function of BIOS is to prepare the machine so other software programs stored on
various media (such as hard drives, floppies, and CDs) can:
 load,
 execute,
 control of the computer.
- This process is known as booting up.

Common keys to press when entering CMOS SETUP UTILITY

DELETE
F2 (Function 2)
BIOS
 CMOS Battery
-Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
- it provides power to CMOS chip, while the computer is turn off, the chip contains
system configuration, CMOS battery allows CMOS to preserve the settings
jumper
1. Shut down your computer and disconnect the power plug
2. Now identify where the jumpers are located, then check
the present pin location and the location of the jumper on
those pins to determine their default location. As an
example, the default location on the above motherboard
is to have the jumper across pins #1 and #2. Write it down!
3. Next, move the jumpers from the their default location
(Example: from across pins #1 and #2 as above) and then
place the jumper across pins #2 and #3.
4. Leave the jumper in place for 6 to 30 seconds and then
return it to its default location.
5. Now plug the power cord back in and restart the computer.
END OF THE HOT TOPICS