LAB No.
2
FAMILIARIZATION WITH COMPUTER HARDWARE AND
ITS ASSEMBLY
PRE LAB TASK
Objectives:
Main objective of this lab is to develop understanding of the internal structure of the
computer and its components. What are they? How they work? and their arrangements within
the structure of computer.
Introduction:
System Unit:
A system unit is the part of a PC that houses the essential devices that perform operations
and produce results for complex estimations. It incorporates the motherboard, CPU, RAM and
different parts, and in addition the case in which these gadgets are housed. This unit is also called
chassis or a tower in layman's terms, and it plays out most of the major functions and
calculations that a PC is required to do. Fig 1
Fig 1
Components in The System Unit:
Major components within a system unit is as follows.
1- Storage
2- Processor
3- Ports
4- Slots
5- Buses
6- Mother Board
7- Power Supply
THEORY:
Motherboard:
A physical arrangement in a computer that includes the basic circuitry and components of
computer is called Motherboard. On a typical motherboard the circuitry is imprinted or affixed to
the surface of a firm planner surface and built in one step usually. Fig 2
Fig2
A motherboard of computer contains following parts.
1. Microprocessor
2. Coprocessor (optional)
3. Memory
4. Basic Input output system (BIOS)
5. Expansion (slot)
6. Interconnecting circuitry
Processor Socket
Central piece of motherboard is processor socket. It is central piece because it contains
the processor which is brain of computer. Fig3
Fig. 3
Power Connectors
In computer no component can operate without power connections. It contains 20 or 24
pin connector and situated on the right edge of motherboard or somewhere close to the processor
depending on the model of the motherboard. It is used to apply power supply to the motherboard
and other components. Fig4
Fig4
Memory Slots
Memory slots are allocated at upper right part of motherboard and are used for housing of
computer computer’s memory module. Number of slots can vary depending on the model of
motherboard.
Fig5
Video Card Slot
Video card located right below the motherboard. Video slot is used to install video cards
and on cannot be able to install video card without it. High end gamming motherboards come
with multiple video card slots allowing the installation of multiple video cards. Fig6
Fig6
IDE and SATA Ports
Connectivity of optical and storage devices are provided by the help of IDE and SATA
ports. The IDE interface is getting replaced with SATA interface which ha maximum speed of
600 MB/s, as compared to IDE interface, which can reach a maximum of 133 MB/s. Fig 7
Fig 7
Bios Chip and Battery
It contains the code for the boot process of the system. It is stored in a memory chip
whose power is maintained by battery. Fig 8
Fig 8
Northbridge & Southbridge
The data flow between memory, video cards, and processor is coordinated by the
Northbridge. Whereas Southbridge with similar function that is it maintains he data flow
between processor, peripherals such as sound cards and network cards. Fig 9
Fig 9
Front Panel Connectors, USB Headers & Audio Header
Front panel is situated at front and includes connections for power buttons, reset button,
power led, audio connectors and USB connectors. Fig 10
Fig 10
Rear Connectors
These connectors are bridge between outside and inside of the computer. Peripherals that
are external like keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers and so on are all connected through these
connectors. Fig 11
Fig 11
Bus
Buses are used to transfer data within the components there are different types of buses.
Different type of buses is used to perform different functions. Fig 12
Fig 12
Bus Width
Numbers of bits that can be send by a bus refer as bus width. Fig 13
Fig 13
Types of Buses:
1. Data Bus
2. Address Bus
3. Control Bus
Ram:
Acronym for ram is Random access memory. This memory of computer can be accessed
randomly. It is volatile memory the data stays in it as long as computer is running.
Rom:
It is read only. It is non-volatile memory contains data even after the computer is turned
off.
Cache Memory
It is also random access memory. It can be accessed more quickly than regular RAM.
Fig 14
Fig 14
Hard Disk Drive
Hard disk drive is the mechanism that controls reading, positioning and writing of the
hard disk which furnished the large amount of data storage for the PC. As the hard disk
drive or hard drive and the hard disk are not the same thing, they are packaged as a unit
and so either term is sometimes used to refer to the whole unit. Fig 15
Fig 15
Units of Data Storage
LAB SESSION
Questions:
Q1. Define microprocessor, coprocessor and BIOS?
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Q2. Name and explain different types of Buses?
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