COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING MATERIALS other chips that control the flow of data

throughout the system.

COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
In this lesson, we take a look at the different components of a computer
system.

After this lesson, you will be able to Data Bus A group of parallel conductors (circuit
 Define the primary components that make up a computer traces) found on the motherboard and
used by the CPU to send and receive
Estimated lesson time: 10 minutes data from all the devices in the computer.

As you might expect, the components of a computer reflect the function of the
machine—specifically, the three stages of computing, as outlined in Lesson 1.
Let's examine the components.

Input Devices
The following table lists some examples of devices that are used to
put information into a computer:

Device Description
Processing Keyboard The primary input device for a computer,
The central processing unit (CPU) is the heart and brain of the allowing users to type information just as they
computer. This one component, or "chip," is responsible for all primary number once did on a typewriter.
crunching and data management. It is truly the centrepiece of any computer.
Mouse Used with graphical interface environments to
It is so important that whole generations of computer technology are based
point to and select objects on the system's
and measured on each "new and improved" version of the CPU.
monitor. Can be purchased in a variety of
When we refer to the CPU, we are usually speaking of the processor.
sizes, shapes, and configurations.
However, the CPU requires several other components that support it with the
management of data to operate. These components, when working in Scanner Converts printed or photographic information
harmony, make up the primary elements of the PC we know today. The to digital information that can be used by the
following table lists these fundamental support components. computer. Works similar to the scanning
process of a photocopy machine.
Component Description
Motherboard The main circuit board of the computer.
The large circuit board found inside the Microphone Works like the microphone on a tape
computer. Without it, a computer is just a recorder. Allows input of voice or music to be
metal box. The motherboard contains all converted to digital information and saved to a
the remaining items in this table; for all file.
practical purposes, it is the computer.

CD-ROM/DVD drive Compact disc–read only memory: stores large

Chip Set A group of computer chips or integrated amounts of data on a CD that can be read by
circuits (ICs) that, when working together, a computer.
manage and control the computer
system. This set includes the CPU and
Address Bus A group of parallel conductors (circuit Output Devices
traces) found on the motherboard and The following table lists some common devices, known as peripherals,
used by the CPU to "address" memory used exclusively for output.
locations. Determines which information is
sent to, or received from, the data bus. An Device Description
address bus is a computer bus (a series Printer Generates a "hard copy" of information.
of lines connecting two or more devices) Includes dot matrix, ink jet, and laser
that is used to specify a physical address. varieties.
When a processor or DMA-enabled
device needs to read or write to a memory
location, it specifies that memory location Monitor The primary output device. Visually
on the address bus (the value to be read displays text and graphics.
or written is sent on the data bus).
Expansion Slots Specialized sockets that allow additional
devices called expansion cards or, less
commonly, circuit boards, to be attached Plotter Similar to a printer, but uses pens to draw
to the motherboard. Used to expand or an image. Most often used with graphics
customize a computer, they are or drawing programs for very large
extensions of the computer's bus system. drawings.

Clock Establishes the maximum speed at which Speakers Reproduce sound. Optional high-quality
the processor can execute commands. speakers can be added to provide
Not to be confused with the clock that improved output from games and
keeps the date and time. multimedia software.

Input and Output

Some devices handle both input and output functions. These devices
are called input/output (I/O) devices, a term you will encounter quite often.
Battery Protects unique information about the
setup of the computer against loss when Device Description
electrical power fails or is turned off. Also Floppy Disk Drive Mechanism for reading and writing to low-
maintains the external date and time (not capacity, removable, magnetic disks.
to be confused with the CPU's clock). Used to store and easily transport
information.
Memory Stores temporary information (in the form
of data bits) that the CPU and software Hard Disk Drive High-capacity internal (and sometimes
need to keep running. external) magnetic disks for storing data
and program files. Also called fixed disks.
 Modem Converts computer data to information Note: They are both ways to connect a
that can be transmitted over telephone disk drive to a computer. You use the one
wires and cable lines. Allows that matches your computer mother board
communication between computers over (old ones support IDE only, newer ones
long and short distances. will support SATA and may support both
SATA and IDE) and your disk drive (disk
drives are either IDE or SATA, never seen
Network Card An expansion card that allows several one with both available).
computers to connect to each other and USB Cable USB cable is a cable that is used to
share information and programs. Also connect a device to a computer or laptop
called network interface card (NIC). or Printer, Video cameras, Mp3, mp4
even cell phone.

CD Recorder Also called CD-R. You can copy data to a

CD with this device, but you can only A/V Cable A/V cable is to use for connect a device to
write to a section of the disc once. tv and it has the video and audio cable.
Variations on this type of device include
compact disc–rewritable (CD-RW) drives.
These drives allow you to read, write, and
overwrite a special CD-ROM-type disc.
Tape Drive Large-capacity, magnetic, data storage Heat Sink An environment capable of absorbing
devices. Ideal for backup and retrieval of heat from an object with which it is in
large amounts of data. Works like a tape thermal contact without a phase change
recorder and saves information in a linear or an appreciable change in temperature.
format. A protective device that absorbs and
dissipates the excess heat generated by a
Other external storage devices include Iomega Zip drives, which allow users system.
to store 100 MB or 250 MB of data on a single Zip disk. USB HUB A device that increases the number of
USB ports on a PC. However, since the
Other Computer Parts and Accessories hub plugs into one of the USB ports on
The following table lists some examples of cable that are used to the computer, the total number of
communicate to a system. additional ports is minus one. For
example, a four-port hub adds three new
Cable/Cord Description ports. USB hubs are typically used to
IDE (ATA/PATA Cable) IDE is also known as ATA or PATA extend USB sockets to the top of the desk
(Parallel ATA) and is a way of handling a for conveniently connecting external
parallel data bus from a disk drive (well, peripherals.
usually a disk drive) to a computer mother Power Cord A power cord, line cord, or mains cable
board where the disk controller is mostly is a cord or cable that temporarily
embedded in the disk drive. connects an electrical appliance to the
SATA/ATA SATA (Serial ATA) is an advance on this distribution circuits of an electrical power
where the signals are sent over a serial source via a wall socket or extension
bus not a parallel bus. The cable is much cord.
smaller and it will run at higher speed and
will support more than 2 drives on a bus.
 methods and rests beneath the laptop.
AVR (Automatic Voltage A voltage regulator is an electrical Active coolers move air or liquid to direct
Regulator) regulator designed to automatically heat away from the laptop quickly, while
maintain a constant voltage level. passive methods may rely on thermally
It may use an electromechanical conductive materials or increasing
mechanism, or passive or active passive airflow.
electronic components. Depending on the TV Tuner or TV Video A TV tuner card is a computer component
design, it may be used to regulate one or Capture that allows television signals to be
more AC or DC voltages. received by a computer. Most TV tuners
UPS (Uninterruptible Power An uninterruptible power supply, also also function as video capture cards,
Supply) uninterruptible power source, UPS or allowing them to record television
battery/flywheel backup, is an electrical programs onto a hard disk.
apparatus that provides emergency power
to a load when the input power source, SUPPORT HARDWARE
typically the utility mains, fails. A UPS Lesson 2 covered the basic hardware that makes up a computer. There are,
differs from an auxiliary or emergency however, additional components needed to support safe computer operation.
power system or standby generator in that In this lesson, we look at several devices that protect and enhance the value
it will provide instantaneous or near- of a computer.
instantaneous protection from input power
interruptions by means of one or more After this lesson, you will be able to
attached batteries and associated  Identify additional support hardware for a computer
electronic circuitry for low power users,
 Understand the functions of some of the add-on hardware
and or by means of diesel generators and
Estimated lesson time: 5 minutes
flywheels for high power users. The on-
battery runtime of most uninterruptible
In addition to the devices that support a computer's data-processing functions,
power sources is relatively short—5–15
there are others that enhance its operation and performance. The following
minutes being typical for smaller units—
table lists some of these devices.
but sufficient to allow time to bring an
auxiliary power source on line, or to
Device Description
properly shut down the protected
Power supply
equipment Converts a local power source (typically
Computer Fan A computer fan is any fan inside a 110 volts AC in the United States) to 3.3,
computer case used for cooling purposes, 5, or 12 volts DC. Most power supplies
and may refer to fans that draw cooler air also perform some basic line conditioning
into the case from the outside, expel and surge-protection functions.
warm air from inside, or move air across a
heatsink to cool a particular component. Surge suppressor
The use of fans to cool a computer is an
example of active cooling. Used to prevent large power spikes (for
Laptop/Notebook cooler A laptop/notebook cooler, cooler pad or instance, lightning) from damaging a
chill mat is an accessory for laptop computer.
computers that helps reduce their
operating temperature. Normally used
when the laptop's fan device is unable to
sufficiently cool the laptop, a cooling pad
may house active or passive cooling
 Uninterruptible power supply. Acts as JOB SHEET # 1
UPS both a surge suppresser (to prevent high-
power spikes) and a power leveler to DEMONSTRATION: Configure the parts of computer hardware below, give
provide the computer with a constant the exact location in its components (you can draw or label its components/
source of power. Can even provide power peripherals, and equipment)
during a power failure or interruption
(although the duration depends on the
UPS and the computer's power
consumption) so that the user can safely
save data before shutting down.
Case The box that houses most of the system
must provide an environment that
minimizes electrical interference to other 1 2 3 4
electronic devices in the area. It should
provide a proper heat level for safe
operation and bays and connections for
drives, circuit boards, and I/O devices.

Don't let the term support hardware lead you to underestimate the importance
of these components. How important are roads to commerce, or water to a
city? Without a reliable power source, modern PCs would not exist. The
internal power supply keeps a clean current running to the system.
6 7 8
LO.1 Plan and prepare for task to be taken/undertaken

PRACTICE: Instruction
Create a group at least 3 members. Study Common competency,
Module 1 Perform Computer Operations pages 1 to 40. After 2 hours prepare
for group presentation. Each group discusses what they have study or learned.
Be sure to include or emphasize the following during presentation “The name,
types, classes, purpose or characteristics of each computer parts.”
5 9 12 11
Note: Group presentation but individual evaluation. Remember that
the remarks shall be competent and not yet competent. Those remark
competent shall be move on next project or module, and those remarks not
yet competent shall be again review the lesson for evaluation again.
DURATION: 4 HRS.

10
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Trainer would assign a workstation for this lab.
2. Prepare the following materials and equipment: Computer
Table/no chair, Monitor, System Unit, Keyboard, Mouse,  
Printer, Web camera, Speaker/Headset, 2 pcs. Power
Cord, AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator), and extension ____________ __________ ___________ ___________ __________
wire.
3. Connect all the computer parts/peripherals in their proper The trainee’s underpinning knowledge was: Satisfactory  Not
places or location. Satisfactory 
4. Let the trainer check your work for evaluation. Feedback to candidate:

NOTE: The trainee’s overall performance was: Satisfactory  Not

Safety first! Satisfactory 
Observed 5s in all time.
Trainees signature: Date:
SELF CHECK # 1
Trainee’s signature: Date:
Unit of competency: Perform Computer Operations
Competency standards COMPUTER HARDWARE SERVICING NC II
Satisfact
ory
Answer the following computer hardware’s you know response
YES
NO COMPUTER HARDWARE CLASSIFICATION AND CHARACTERISTICS:

1. MONITOR
A monitor is a visual display
  of information, using text
and graphics. It converts
analog signal to digital
_____________ _____________ ____________ ______________ signal to transmit
information so that monitor
can understand.
  The portion of the monitor
that displays the information
___________________ ____________ _____________ _____________ is called the screen. Like a
television screen, a
computer screen can show still or moving pictures.
 
There are two basic types of monitors: CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors
____________ _________ ____________ ____________ ___________ and LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors. Both types produce sharp images,
but LCD monitors have the advantage of being much thinner and lighter. CRT
monitors, however, are generally more affordable.

Comparison CRT
Pros:
  Not all LCD displays are designed to allow easy replacement of the
 High dynamic range (up to around 15,000:1),[2] excellent color, wide backlight
gamut and low black level.  Cannot be used with light guns/pens
 Can display natively in almost any resolution and refresh rate
 No input lag
 Sub-millisecond response times
 Near zero color, saturation, contrast or brightness distortion. Excellent
viewing angle.
 Usually much cheaper than LCD or Plasma screens.
 Allows the use of light guns/pens
 Large size and weight, especially for bigger screens (a 20-inch unit
weighs about 50 lb (23 kg))
CRT Monitor LCD Monitor Projector
 High power consumption
Major manufacturers
IBM AOC
Apple Inc. Asus BenQ
Dell Eizo
Comparison LCD Gateway Hewlett-Packard
HannStar Display Corporation
Pros:
 Very compact and light Iiyama Corporation Kogan Technologies
LG NEC
 Low power consumption
Samsung Sony
 No geometric distortion
Toshiba Tyco Electronics
 Little or no flicker depending on backlight technology
 Not affected by screen burn-in ViewSonic
 No high voltage or other hazards present during repair/service
2. CASE + PSU
 More reliable than CRTs
A computer case is what contains the entire computer's components,
 Can be made in almost any size or shape there will be space for drives, add-in cards and the motherboard. In addition
No theoretical resolution limit Limited viewing angle, causing color, saturation, to this, space for the Power Supply Unit (PSU). Depending on the size of
contrast and brightness to motherboard that you have and the need for space in your computer there
 Vary, even within the intended viewing angle, by variations in posture. are a variety of computer case sizes to accomodate the computer's
 Bleeding and uneven backlighting in some monitors, causing components.
brightness distortion, especially toward the edges.
 Slow response times, which cause smearing and ghosting artifacts. Things to consider are desk space, cooling, room for expansion and
Modern LCDs have response times of 8 ms or less. cost. With these things in mind you should have no problem selecting the
 Only one native resolution. Displaying resolutions either requires a correct case for your needs.
video scaler, lowering perceptual quality, or display at 1:1 pixel
mapping, in which images will be physically too large or won't fill the Listed below are the cases with the advantages and disadvantages of each,
whole screen. most cases cost more the larger they get however very small cases are
 Dead pixels may occur either during manufacturing or through use. normally more expensive than the bigger ones!
 In a constant on situation, thermalization may occur, which is when
only part of the screen has overheated and therefore looks discolored  Mini - Ideal for people who need a PC in a very small space, for the
compared to the rest of the screen. Micro ATX motherboards. Advantages - Look cool, saves loads of
 space, added features. Disadvantages - Cost, little/no room for STANDARD COMPUTER BOX LAYOUT
expansion, problems of overheating with fast processors.
 Slimline - Ideal for people who want a desktop computer, but dont
want a huge box on their desk. Advantages - Look cool, saves loads
of space, added features. Disadvantages - Cost, little/no room for
expansion.
 Desktop - Cheap case solution for a PC. Advantages - Cheap to
buy, loads of room for expansion. Disadvantages - They are big, take
up desk space. Can have overheating problems if the internal case
design is poor.
 Mini-Tower - Great for more desk space as it can be floor standing.
Advantages - Cheap to buy, loads of room for expansion.
Disadvantages - Having it on the floor can make problems getting to
the drives and cables that are too short.

 Midi-Tower - Great for more desk space as it can be floor standing.

Advantages - Cheap to buy, loads of room for expansion. 1. COMPUTER MOUSE
Disadvantages - Having it on the floor can make problems getting to
the drives and cables that are too short. In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting
 Maxi-Tower - Great for more desk space as it can be floor standing. two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse
Advantages - Cheap to buy, loads of room for expansion. consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more
Disadvantages - Having it on the floor can make problems getting to buttons. (Although traditionally a button is typically round or square, modern
the drives and cables that are too short. mice have spring-loaded regions of their top surface that operate switches
when pressed down lightly.) It sometimes features other elements, such as
There are two basic common types for Computer Casing or chassis: "wheels", which allow the user to perform various system-dependent
operations, or extra buttons or features that can add more control or
 Tower Case – it is designed to stand vertically that will lessen the dimensional input. The mouse's motion typically translates into the motion of
space being occupied. It comes in three basic sizes: full, midi and a cursor on a display, which allows for fine control of a graphical user interface.
mini.
 Desktop Case – it is designed horizontally which are usually used
for office or home PCs. It comes in two basic sizes: standard and Connectivity and communication protocols
slimline.

Wireless Mouse / Serial interface type Optical USB Interface Type Optical
PS2 Interface Type Battery Operated TrackBall Mouse
 ROMs. This means that DVD-ROM players can play old CD-ROMs, CD-I
2. COMPUTER KEYBOARD disks, and video CDs, as well as new DVD-ROMs. Newer DVD players can
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an also read CD-R disks.
arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic
switches. Following the decline of punch cards and paper tape, interaction Sequential: DVD-R, +R, -RW, +RW or ROM
via teletype-style keyboards became the main input device for computers. This group of DVD’s are intended for the hi-tech graphics, video for movies
Keyboards allow you to input letters, numbers, and other symbols into a and audio for music. They provide better quality for graphics and
computer that can serve as commands or be used to type text sound along with higher capacity of4.7GB.
Despite the development of alternative input devices, such as Writable: One Time
the mouse,touchscreen, pen devices, character recognition and voice  DVD-R
recognition, the keyboard remains the most commonly used and most versatile o Can only be written with -R type drives.
device used for direct (human) input into computers. o Can be read with -R or +R type drives.
 DVD+R
Connectivity and communication protocols o 2 hours of video in SP mode or 4 hours in EP mode
o Can only be written with +R type drives.
o Can be read with -R or +R type drives.
Writable: Re-writable up to 1000 Times
 DVD-RW
o Contains protection technology that prevents copying
of CSS-protected discs.
o Can only be written with -R type drives.
o Can be read with -R or +R type drives.
 DVD+RW
Wireless Mouse / USB Interface Type Optical PS2 Interface Type o Can hold 2 hours of MPEG2.
o Can only be written with +R type drives.
o Can be read with -R or +R type drives.
OPTICAL DISK DRIVE Read Only
 DVD-ROM
CD-ROM Drive o Can only be used for reading.
Short for Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory, a type of optical disk capable o Movies you buy or rent are usually DVD-ROM.
of storing large amounts of data -- up to 1GB, although the most common size
is 650MB (megabytes). A single CD-ROM has the storage capacity of
700 floppy disks, enough memory to store about 300,000text pages.
Connectivity and communication protocols
CD-ROMs are stamped by the vendor, and once stamped, they cannot be
erased and filled with new data. To read a CD, you need a CD-ROM player.
CD-ROMs are particularly well-suited to information that requires large storage
capacity. This includes large software applications that support color,graphics,
sound, and especially video.

DVD ROM DRIVE

A new type of read-only compact disc that can hold a minimum of 4.7GB DVD ROM Drive / IDE Type DVD ROM Drive / SATA Type
(gigabytes), enough for a full-length movie.
The DVD-ROM specification supports disks with capacities of from
4.7GB to 17GB and access rates of 600 KBps to 1.3 MBps. One of the best
features of DVD-ROM drives is that they are backward-compatible with CD-
 3. VIDEO CARD Figure 5.3: A PCI Video Card
A video card connects to the motherboard of a computer system
and generates output images to display. Video cards are also
referred to as graphics cards. Video cards include a processing unit,
memory, a cooling mechanism and connections to a display device
There are three main types of video card commonly in use.
 PCI Express
 AGP
 PCI

PCI Express is the most current, and fastest, of the video cards. If possible,
you will likely want to install a PCI express video card. Figure 5.1 shows a You should not use a PCI card as your primary video display card. PCI cards
PCI Express video card. are to slow to play any of the more advanced video games, or to show video.
Besides, the price difference between PCI and AGI/PCI-Express is minimal.
Figure 5.1: A PCI Express Video Card
What is a good option for PCI cards is using them in conjunction with an AGP
or PCI-Express video card. This allows you to have a second display. This will
be covered in the next section. Now I am going to show you how to install the
video card.

1. PRINTERS
A printer is an output device that produces text and graphics on
paper.

Before PCI express the most common type of video card was the AGP card. Major types of printer
AGP cards still give great performance. If you have only one video card in your Printers can be divided into two main groups, impact printer and non-impact
system you will want to make sure it is either AGP or PCI Express. Figure 5.2 printer. Impact printer produces text and images when tiny wire pins on print
shows an AGP video card. head strike the ink ribbon by physically contacting the paper. Non-impact
printer produces text and graphics on paper without actually striking the paper.
Figure 5.2: An AGP Video Card
Printers can also be categorized based on the print method or print
technology. The most popular ones are inkjet printer, laser printer, dot-
matrix printer and thermal printer. Among these, only dot-matrix printer is
impact printer and the others are non-impact printers.

Some printers are named because they are designed for specific functions,
such as photo printers, portable printers and all-in-one / multifunction
printers. Photo printers and portable printers usually use inkjet print method
whereas multifunction printers may use inkjet or laser print method.

The oldest style for video cards that I will discuss is PCI. You can see a PCI
video card in Figure 5.3.
Inkjet Printer Dot-Matrix Laser Printer 4. SPEAKER
Speakers are used to play sound. They may be
built into the system unit or connected with cables.
Speakers allow you to listen to music and hear
sound effects from your computer.

Major computer speaker companies

The base of a Harman Kardon speaker.

2. SCANNER Altec Lansing
 A device for examining, reading, or monitoring something, in
Bose Corporation
particular.
Creative Labs
 A machine that examines the body through the use of radiation,
ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging, as a diagnostic aid Cyber Acoustics
Dell
Edifier
General Electric
Harman Kardon
Hewlett-Packard
JBL
Klipsch
3. POWER SUPPLY UNIT
Logitech
A power supply unit (PSU) supplies DC power to the other components in a
computer. It converts general-purpose alternating current (AC) electric power
5. HARD DISK DRIVE
from the mains (110V to 120V at 60Hz [115V nominal] in North America, parts
of South America, Japan, and Taiwan; 220V to 240V at 50Hz [230V nominal]
A hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile, random access digital data storage
in most of the rest of the world) to low-voltage (for a desktop computer: 12V,
device. Main storages devices on computer that store data, files, software on
5V, 5VSB, 3V3, -5V, and -12V) direct current (DC) power for the internal
computer. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a
components of the computer. Some power supplies have a switch to select
protective enclosure. Data ismagnetically read from and written to the platter
either 230 V or 115 V. Other models are able to accept any voltage and
by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the platters.
frequency between those limits and some models only operate from one of the
two mains supply standards.
A hard disk drive normally has one head per platter with all heads mounted on
common rack. The hard disk spins the disk as 3600, 5400, and up to 7200 or
even more RPM (rotation per minute).
Basic Hard drive components:
3. SATA or Serial ATA.
 Disk platters
 Read/ write head
 Spindle motor
 Head actuator
mechanism
 Logic board
 Cable and
connectors STORAGE DEVICES
 Configuration items

The platters, spindle

motor, heads and head
actuator mechanism
are contained in a
sealed chambers called
the Head Disk Assembly (HDA), usually treated as a single components and
is rarely opened. Other parts external to HDA such as the logic board, cover,
and other configuration items can be disassembled from the drive.

Hard drive comes with TWO Basic sizes:

 Hard disk drive 3.5” in size
 Laptop Hard drive 2.5” in size

Types of Hard disk Drive / Communication Interfaces USB Drive Floppy Disk Hard Disk Drive Other Storage Devices
Three of the most common and widely used hard drive types are:
1. IDE

2. SCSI
 EPoX Computer
MOTHERBOARD A relatively new motherboard manufacturer that has many high performance
motherboard options.
In personal computers,
FIC Inc.
a motherboard is the Manufacturer of a number of different motherboards. Note: This site does not
central printed circuit view well outside of Internet Explorer.
board (PCB) in many GigaByte Technology
modern computers and Manufacturer of a wide variety of motherboards.
holds many of the crucial Intel
components of the The Company most known for its CPUs also develops a line of motherboards
system, providing based upon its own chipsets and CPUs.
connectors for other IWILL
peripherals. The Manufacturer that started out developing SCSI controller cards that has
expanded into the PC motherboard market.
motherboard is
MSI Inc.
sometimes alternatively Developer of a wide range of well prices motherboards which still contain
known as excellent features.
the mainboard,system Shuttle Computer Group
board, or, Manufacturer of a wide variety of motherboards including the small form
on Apple computers, factor X PC line.
the logic board.[1] It is Soltek USA
also sometimes casually One of the newest motherboard manufacturers on the market that recently
shortened to mobo.[2] began produce small form factor products.
Tyan Computer
Manufacturer well known for their multiple processor motherboards.
MOTHERBOARD MANUFACTURERS - CENTRAL PROCESSING
ABIT Ltd. UNIT
Motherboard manufacturer specializing in motherboards for the overclocking The central processing
and performance market. unit (CPU) is the portion of
AOpen acomputer system that carries
A division of Acer Corporation that sells primarily to the OEM market. They out the instructions of
even make a computer motherboard which has a vaccuum tube on it. acomputer program, and is the
ASUSTek primary element carrying out
One of the oldest and most respected motherboard manufacturers on the the functions of the computer or other processing
market. device. The central processing unit carries out each instruction of the
Chaintech program in sequence, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and
Chaintech is one of the newer entries in the US performance input/output operations of the system. This term has been in use in the
motherboard market. computer industry at least since the early 1960s.[1] The form, design and
implementation of CPUs have changed dramatically since the earliest
DFI
examples, but their fundamental operation remains much the same.
Maker of a wide variety of ATX and microATX design PC motherboards.
ECS Elitegroup
Maker of a wide range of PC motherboards that has recently started selling
to the performance market.
CPU Images: 5. LGA
LGA stands for Land Grid Array. If you look at
the image, you can see there are no pins.
Instead it is an array of pads that is built on the
CPU's surface.
At the installation the CPU is sat on the
socket's pins where they are fixed to the
motherboard and contact with the circuits.
The LGA form offer a clock frequency higher
than the PGA caused by its larger contact
point. Maybe it is the reason why Intel decided
to go back to this form that was used long ago.

CPU socket Types:

 PGA
 PGA stands for Pin Grid Array. As on the
image, the CPU's circuits are integrated inside
a ceramic layer with an array of pins on the
surface.
 At the installation the pins are inserted in the
socket's holes making contact with the
motherboard's circuits.
 There are other form variants and they have
their own technology. I will not discuss them PGA CPU Form
here, because I think it is not important until you
are a complete savvy. But still, here are the
variants names I know it exist.

1. PPGA stands for Plastic Grid Array

2. FCPGA stands for Flip-Chip Pin Grid Array
3. CPGA stands for Ceramic Pin Grid Array
4. OPGA stands for Organic Pin Grid Array

 Socket 478 - for older Pentium and Celeron processors

 Socket 754 - for AMD Sempron and some AMD Athlon processors
 Socket 939 - for newer and faster AMD Athlon processors
 Socket AM2 - for the newest AMD Athlon processors
 Socket A - for older AMD Athlon processors
SELF CHECK # 2 COMPUTER MEMORY THEORY
Unit of competency: Perform Computer Operations
Lesson 3 covered the basic hardware that makes up a computer. There are,
Competency standards COMPUTER HARDWARE SERVICING NC II however, additional components needed to support safe computer operation.
Satisfactor In this lesson, we look at several devices that protect and enhance the value
y response of a computer.
Answer the following computer hardware’s you know YES
NO After this lesson, you will be able to
Identify the types of computer RAM (Memory)
Understand the functions of memory

  Estimated lesson time: 30 minutes

_____________ ______________ _____________ _________ In addition to the devices that support a computer's data-processing
functions, there are others that enhance its operation and performance.

RAM
 
RAM or Random Access Memory is the memory used by the computer while
it is in operation, this memory is described as volitile as it is wiped clean when
___________ ____________ ______________ ______________
the computer is shutdown. Again the more RAM that you have installed in your
computer the faster the computer will operate.

  There are various types of RAM, they vary becuase of the increasing in
processor speeds and the need for the RAM to keep up. You can get RAM
__________ ____________ ____________ ___________ _________ modules in various sizes i.e. their logical sizes, the amount of data they can
hold. This range from 1MB, 2MB, 4MB, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB,
256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB. Nowadays you will normally only find RAM in sizes
of 128MB or above.
 
SIMM or DIMM?
__________ __________ _________ __________ _________
The two main types of RAM are:
1. SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module)
2. DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)
  all modern computers use the DIMM type of RAM.

There are 4 main types of RAM listed below and then within these there are
__________ _________ ____________ ___________ ____________
even more types under each of these main types. The traditional RAM type is
The trainee’s underpinning knowledge was: DRAM (dynamic RAM). The other type is SRAM (static RAM). SRAM
Satisfactory  Not continues to remember its content, while DRAM must be refreshed every few
Satisfactory  milli seconds. DRAM consists of micro capacitors, while SRAM consists of
off/on switches. Therefore, SRAM can respond much faster than DRAM.
SRAM can be made with a rise time as short as 4 ns. It is used in different
versions in L2 cache RAM (for example pipe line BURST Cache SRAM).
DRAM
 Different RAM Types and its uses
Currently, there are at least four types: The type of RAM doesn't matter nearly as
FPM (Fast Page Mode) much as how much of it you've got, but using
ECC (Error Correcting Code) plain old SDRAM memory today will slow you
EDO (Extended Data Output) down. There are three main types of RAM:
SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) SDRAM, DDR and Rambus DRAM.
SO-DIMM memory (Laptop Memory
SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM)
SO-DIMM three types (Laptop Memory): Almost all systems used to ship with 3.3 volt,
168-pin SDRAM DIMMs. SDRAM is not an
There are three types of SO-DIMM memory, which build on each other's extension of older EDO DRAM but a new type
capacities. of DRAM altogether. SDRAM started out
running at 66 MHz, while older fast page mode
- SDRAM stands for synchronous dynamic DRAM and EDO max out at 50 MHz. SDRAM
random access memory. This type of is able to scale to 133 MHz (PC133) officially,
memory syncs itself up with your computer's and unofficially up to 180MHz or higher. As
processor, allowing smooth access. With the processors get faster, new generations of
advances of technology, most newer laptops memory such as DDR and RDRAM are
no longer use SDRAM. required to get proper performance.
- DDR SDRAM is SDRAM with a double data
rate. This means it's twice as fast as standard DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM) DDR basically doubles the rate of data
SDRAM, and it's one of the two most transfer of standard SDRAM by transferring data on the up and down tick of a
common types of memory found in modern clock cycle. DDR memory operating at 333MHz actually operates at 166MHz
laptops as of August 2009. * 2 (aka PC333 / PC2700) or 133MHz*2 (PC266 / PC2100). DDR is a 2.5 volt
- DDR2 SDRAM is yet another upgrade to the technology that uses 184 pins in its DIMMs. It is incompatible with SDRAM
original SDRAM concept. A big advantage of this type of memory is physically, but uses a similar parallel bus, making it easier to implement than
that it draws less power than its predecessors, thus creating less drain RDRAM, which is a different technology.
on your laptop.
Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) Despite it's higher price, Intel has given RDRAM
Most Common DRAM used in PC’s are: Synchronous Dynamic RAM it's blessing for the consumer market, and it will be the sole choice of memory
(SDRAM) for Intel's Pentium 4. RDRAM is a serial memory technology that arrived in
1. Single Data Rate (SDR) SDRAM is a synchronous form of DRAM. three flavors, PC600, PC700, and PC800. PC800 RDRAM has double the
2. Double data rate (DDR) SDRAM was a maximum throughput of old PC100 SDRAM, but a higher latency. RDRAM
later development of SDRAM, used in PC designs with multiple channels, such as those in Pentium 4 motherboards, are
memory from 2000 onwards. DDR2 currently at the top of the heap in memory throughput, especially when paired
SDRAM is a minor enhancement on with PC1066 RDRAM memory.
DDR-SDRAM that mainly affords higher
clock speeds and somewhat deeper DIMMs vs. RIMMs DRAM comes in two major form factors: DIMMs and
pipelining. RIMMS. DIMMs are 64-bit components, but if used in a motherboard with a
dual-channel configuration (like with an Nvidia nForce chipset) you must pair
them to get maximum performance. So far there aren't many DDR chipset that
use dual-channels. Typically, if you want to add 512 MB of DIMM memory to
your machine, you just pop in a 512 MB DIMM if you've got an available slot.
DIMMs for SDRAM and DDR are different, and not physically compatible.
SDRAM DIMMs have 168-pins and run at 3.3 volts, while DDR DIMMs have
184-pins and run at 2.5 volts.
RIMMs use only a 16-bit interface but run at higher speeds than DDR. To get
maximum performance, Intel RDRAM chipsets require the use of RIMMs in
pairs over a dual-channel 32-bit interface. You have to plan more when
upgrading and purchasing RDRAM.

Types of Memory
Pretty much every new laptop on the market should use DDR3 memory now.
It is still possible to find some older netbooks or laptops on the market that use Kingston= Stable and warranty/RMA is fast
DDR2 but it is best to avoide them now. In addition to the type of memory
installed in the laptop, the speed of the memory can also make a difference in
the performance. When comparing laptops, be sure to check both of these
pieces of information to determine how they may impact performance.
There are two ways that the memory speeds can be designated. The first is
by the memory type and its clock rating, like DDR3 1066. The other method is
by listing the type along with the bandwidth. In the case the same DDR3
memory would be listed as PC3-8500 memory.
OCZ= Very good stick and 2nd. line after the above manufatures.
Below is a listing in order of fastest to slowest memory types in both
formats:
 DDR3 1600 / PC3-12800
 DDR3 1333 / PC3-10600
 DDR3 1066 / PC3-8500
 DDR2 800 / PC2-6400
 DDR3 800 / PC3-6400
 DDR2 667 / PC2-5300 or PC2-5400
 DDR2 533 / PC2-4200
 DDR2 400 / PC2-3200

BEST RAM Manufacturer

Mushkin = Excellent Performance and Durable

Crucial = Compatibility and Warranty

SELF CHECK # 3 TYPES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Unit of competency: Perform Computer Operations
Lesson 4 covered the basic hardware that makes up a computer. There are,
Competency standards COMPUTER HARDWARE SERVICING NC II however, additional components needed to support safe computer operation.
Satisfactory In this lesson, we look at several devices that protect and enhance the value
response of a computer.
Answer the following computer hardware’s you know YES After this lesson, you will be able to
NO  Enumerate the types of Computer Software
 General security, privacy legislation and copyright
Estimated lesson time: 15 minutes
  In addition to the devices that support a computer's data-processing functions,
there are others that enhance its operation and performance.

Major Types of Software

________________ ________________ _________________ Software is the means by which computer systems speak with computer users.
Software forms the heart of computer systems. What are the major types of
software? Read on to find out.
 
Software, by definition, is the collection of computer programs, procedures and
________________ ________________ ________________ documentation that performs different tasks on a computer system. The term
'software' was first used by John Tukey in 1958. At the very basic level,
computer software consists of a machine language that consists of groups of
binary values, which specify processor instructions. The processor instructions
change the state of computer hardware in a predefined sequence. Briefly,
 
computer software is the language in which a computer speaks.

There are different types of computer software. What are their major types?
____________________________ Programming Software: This is one of the most commonly known and
How do you choose ram for your desktop computer? popularly used forms of computer software. These software come in forms of
tools that assist a programmer in writing computer programs. Computer
  programs are sets of logical instructions that make a computer system perform
certain tasks. The tools that help the programmers in instructing a computer
How do you choose ram for your laptop computer? system include text editors, compilers and interpreters.
 
System Software: It helps in running the computer hardware and the
computer system. System software is a collection of operating systems; devise
The trainee’s underpinning knowledge was:
drivers, servers, windowing systems and utilities. System software helps an
Satisfactory  Not Satisfactory application programmer in abstracting away from hardware, memory and other
 internal complexities of a computer.

Application Software: It enables the end users to accomplish certain specific

tasks. Business software, databases and educational software are some forms
of application software. Different word processors, which are dedicated for
specialized tasks to be performed by the user, are other examples of
application software.
 The copyright infringement of software (often referred to as software piracy)
Apart from these three basic types of software, there are some other well- refers to several practices which involve the unauthorized copying of computer
known forms of computer software like inventory management software, ERP, software. Copyright infringement of this kind is extremely common. Most
utility software, accounting software and others. Take a look at some of them. countries have copyright laws which apply to software, but the degree of
enforcement varies.
Inventory Management Software: This type of software helps an
organization in tracking its goods and materials on the basis of quality as well SELF CHECK # 4
as quantity. Warehouse inventory management functions encompass the Trainee’s name:
internal warehouse movements and storage. Inventory software helps a
company in organizing inventory and optimizing the flow of goods in the Unit of competency: Perform Computer Operations
organization, thus leading to an improved customer service. Competency standards COMPUTER HARDWARE SERVICING NC II
Satisfactory
Utility Software: Also known as service routine, utility software helps in the
Answer the following question given below response
management of computer hardware and application software. It performs a
small range of tasks. Disk defragmenters, systems utilities and virus scanners YES NO
are some of the typical examples of utility software. What is software?
 
Data Backup and Recovery Software: An ideal data backup and recovery
software provides functionalities beyond simple copying of data files. This
software often supports user needs of specifying what is to be backed up and What is Operating System software / System Software?
when. Backup and recovery software preserve the original organization of files
and allow an easy retrieval of the backed up data.  

This was an overview of the major types of software. Computer software are What is Application Software?
widely popular today and hence we cannot imagine a world of computers
without them. We would not have been able to use computers if not for the  
software. What is fascinating about the world of computers is that it has its own
languages, its ways of communication with our human world and human
What is Utility Software?
interaction with the computers is possible, thanks to computer software. I
wonder, if the word 'soft' in ‘software’ implies ‘soft-spokenness’, which is an
important quality of a pleasant communication.  

Software copyright What is Programming Software?

Software copyright is the relatively recent extension of copyright law
to machine-readable software. While many of the legal principles and policy
debates concerning software copyright have close parallels in other domains  
of copyright law, there are a number of distinctive issues that arise with
software. This article will primarily focus on topics peculiar to software.

Software copyright is commonly used by proprietary software companies to The trainee’s underpinning knowledge was:
prevent the unauthorized copying of their software. Open source licenses also Satisfactory  Not
rely on copyright law to enforce their terms. For instance, copyleft licenses Satisfactory 
impose a duty on licensees to share their modifications to the copylefted work
under some circumstances. No such duty would apply had the software in
question been in the public domain.
Activity 1 Pin details of PSU
Familiarized the following computer components bellow. State the name of
COLOUR OF THE
each part includes the types and brand or manufacturer. SUPPLY VOLTAGE ( VOLT)
WIRE
Yellow 12 V
Red 5V
Orange 3.3V
White -5V
Blue -12V
Black GND / Common
Purple 5V STB ( First Level )
Green P.On ( Open Source Command )
Grey PG ( Power Good Signal )