

This book offers you a brief However, today computers are

overview of the current world of present in any office, school,
computing. By the time you've read university or industry, and control
and practiced the exercises in this the operation of airplane flights,
book, words like "Hardware, telephone communications,
software, hard drive, diskette, byte industrial processes or the
or bit" will be familiar to you. It is instruments used by doctors in
possible that you currently use your hospitals. . Currently, computers
computer with games that you have have also become common
obtained from the stores, but you machines in the homes of many
may not yet have acquired the families.
necessary knowledge to use the
But to be able to use a
computer other than for gaming or
computer it is necessary to speak its
entertainment. This book will help
language, to ask questions and to be
you to be able to communicate with
able to understand the possible
the computer.
answers. Only in this way can you
Until not long ago, computers take advantage of all the
were available only to a few people, possibilities offered by the
who needed these machines to do computer.
calculations at high speed.
In this work, therefore, you little you will know and understand
will find the necessary instructions this computer science, it only
to familiarize yourself with the requires some interest and
computer and its language. Little by dedication on your part.
 The computer, also generally known as a computer or computer, is a
complex machine that processes and executes orders of various kinds to
result in an endless number of different tasks. Created many decades ago,
this device is constantly evolving and is one of the most popular inventions
in history, occupying a place in almost every home in the world.

Like the human body, the computer needs a material, tangible and
visible part to function, but also ideas, functions and a "soul" that cannot be
seen. Both things are called hardware and software.

The hardware are the physical elements (peripherals) such as the keyboard,
the mouse, the screen or monitor, the cables, platelets and all kinds of
elements that make up the computer in a solid way. But inside, recorded in
memory, we find the software, which are the programs, operating systems
and installed functions that give it life and coordinate the material to
function.

There are three without which we could not have a

computer.

In the first place, the disk or disks the operating system that makes
that store the information. Here the basics work will be saved from
the factory, and where later the satisfy millions of calculations and
programs can be installed and all executions in a few seconds.
the files that are part of our own
Finally, it is the peripheral elements
use of the device can be saved.
that complete the most important
Secondly, there must be units that functions of a computer. What we
resolve and analyze each of the see through a screen, what we
orders that the users give, and type on a keyboard, or what we
those in charge of this are the print on a printer is what we
processor and the memory. The ultimately do all the time, but it
speed and response of a depends on the two previous
computer will be provided by groups of things. Over time we will
these elements, which today can surely be able to observe the
evolution of these devices forever.
 The acronym PC stands for Personal Computer (personal computer)
and meets the needs of a user. The user can make it perform operations
and interact with it through devices.

These computers, unlike other existing microcomputers at the time,

were made up of standard components that were easy to duplicate.

The screen is the part of the The screen can vary in size and is
computer that will display the calculated in inches with respect
content. Thanks to it, the user can to the diagonal. A laptop can
interact with the so-called have a very compact screen:
computer. When we write with the about 10 inches. Desktop
keyboard and use the mouse, it is computers are at least 15 inches
reflected on the screen and the and can reach 27 inches or more
data is displayed, information that if the user opts for a television
will help you in your basic screen.
computing online courses.
It is used to write text and thus
communicate with the computer.
Keyboards vary by language: in
Keyboards usually have about a
Mexico, we use the QWERTY
hundred keys: letters of the
keyboard (first letters present on
alphabet, numbers, accents, and
the keyboard), the same as in the
special keys. It is the descendant
United States and most other
of the typewriter.
countries in the world, but for
example, in France they use the
AZERTY keyboard .
There are several types of
keyboard: wired or wireless, with or
without numeric keypad, with
additional functions...

With it you can move the cursor optical or laser. But you may
(the arrow) on the screen, point at remember the ball mice! Mice
items and select them by clicking. can be wired or wireless (in this
case, a wireless receiver must be
connected to a USB port on the
Nowadays, mice are equipped computer).
with a movement sensor, usually
It is the box that contains all the instead everything is located
electronic material essential for behind the screen, as is the case
the operation of the computer. with the iMac, or below the
The keyboard, mouse and screen keyboard as on all laptops.
are connected to it. It is for
The central unit contains the
example in the central unit where
processor (brain), hard drive
before a disc/CD-Rom was
(memory), motherboard
inserted.
(backbone), and power supply
Today, most computers no longer (heart and lungs).
have a proper mainframe, but

The internal components of a PC

are not visible from the outside,
rather the case of the computer
must be opened to reveal all the
electronic components necessary The processor or CPU (Central
for its operation. Therefore, the Processing Unit) is the brain of the
components of a computer are computer. It is responsible for the
not limited to what we see, but are exchange of data between the
also made up of: components (RAM, hard drive,
graphics card).
 They can process billions of pieces
of data per second and perform
large calculations that allow
Read the data in memory,
science and medicine to progress
process the data, faster. Computing power is based
on the processor. Who would have
Write data to memory.
thought that a chip 4 or 5
The processor does the centimeters long and a few
calculations allowing the user to millimeters thick could contain so
interact with the computer and much power?
display the system on the screen.
The processor is connected to the
Nowadays, a processor can reach
motherboard.
up to 5 Ghz and some computers
are equipped with multiple
processors.

corresponds to hundreds of
thousands of photographs,
thousands of movies, millions of
text documents...
Its role is to store computer data.
The hard drive contains the
operating system such as
Windows, macOS or Linux (among
others), the installed programs and
the user's personal data.

Stores information in binary form.

Classic hard drives: contain
Currently, they are capable of
mechanical parts including a read
storing several Tera bytes of data
head that points to the magnetic
(that is, 1024 gigabytes), which
disks and reads and writes the External hard drives: to have a
data, backup of the computer and its
internal hard drive.
SSD hard drives: without a
mechanical part, read data faster,

It is the support in which all the

components of a computer are
connected.

The motherboard is a circuit into

It is the main component of the which the chipset (set of
central unit. It centralizes and components that provide control
processes the data exchanged of almost the entire motherboard)
within the computer using the is connected. Chipset
processor. Manage the hard drive, components are directly soldered
the keyboard, the mouse, the to the motherboard and dictate
network, the USB ports... the specifics of processors and
memories. that can be
installed.Since 1995, almost all
motherboards have ATX format.
 like the DVD player/recorder for
example.

The transformation of the current

causes a loss of energy in the form
Of course, without electrical of heat, so the computer has a
current, the computer will not ventilation system that exhausts air
work. through the back of the computer
This block transforms and supplies case.
the necessary power to the Generally, a capacity of 400 watts
motherboard, but it is also is sufficient, but some power
connected to some components, supplies can reach 1000 watts.

Its temporary nature: the data is

lost once the computer is turned
off.
RAM (Random Access Memory) is
used by the processor, which Memory ranges from 256 MB to 16
places data there for processing. GB and should be chosen based
on processor, motherboard
The peculiarities of this memory
capacity, and how one uses the
are:
computer.
Your access speed,
 charge of displaying the screen,
freeing the processor from this
function.

It can also be replaced by the

For gaming, it is important to have chipset built directly into the
a good graphics card. It is in motherboard.

A Wi-fi internet connection

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

a memory card
Of course, many devices can be
A joystick or some other video
added to the computer to take
game accessory
advantage of all its possibilities:
Nowadays, almost all devices
A printer
connect to a USB port and have
a scanner several inputs, which makes
everything easier!
A webcam (already built into the
computer)
 Computers are nowadays an inseparable part of our lives and one cannot
understand how we could exist without them some time ago. They help us at work, at
study and offer us entertainment. Unlike older generations, for contemporary children
computers are normal and they learn to use them from an early age.

Computers are nowadays an inseparable part of our lives and one cannot
understand how we could exist without them some time ago. They help us at work, at
study and offer us entertainment. Unlike older generations, for contemporary children
computers are normal and they learn to use them from an early age.

Before starting the assembly

process, we must have two very simple
things at hand that we can find at home
and they will help us to finish everything
without a problem: a normal-size star
screwdriver and scissors.
 When starting the assembly, it is It may seem out of the box, but it
recommended to find a large table in a is an important detail that is not always
place with plenty of space and that is taken into account. It is also advisable to
well lit, so that you are comfortable and remove the tower first and leave it in a
do not have problems when moving, nearby place to serve as an element on
since we will have to move boxes and which to discharge any possible static
move them components and tower. electricity before touching the
components.

for example, since as we said you

have to discharge possible static
electricity.
Some people start by assembling
1-We take the motherboard out of
the motherboard in the case, but
the box (includes back plate),
for greater convenience we
carefully place it on the table and
choose to assemble it in this other
open the socket closure by pulling
way, first installing the processor,
the lever. Don't worry, it's a bit
RAM and heatsink system on the
hard, so apply the necessary
motherboard, which we later
force, although without going too
introduce with all that already
far, obviously. Once open we
mounted on the case. tower.
remove the plastic piece that
Before starting remember to touch protects it.
something metallic, like the tower
2-We take the processor carefully, and proceed to assemble the first
holding it by the lateral ends and part of the fan, the part that will
place it carefully making it match hold it to the plate. As we said, it
the "drawing" of the socket. Don't comes with all the necessary parts,
worry, it's easy and in fact it won't so it's not complicated. We place
go in until it matches, but don't the rear part with its screws,
force yourself, since once it's well making sure that it is well
positioned it will go in on its own, attached, and once this is done,
without the need to push or we temporarily remove the fan
anything like that. from the aluminum finned body to
make it easier for us to assemble it.
3-Lower the safety lock with the
lever, making sure that it fits well

4-With the hook that goes behind the motherboard finished, we will apply
the thermal paste. Be careful not to go overboard, just add a small amount
as we see in the image. We spread it a bit and don't worry, once we put
the heatsink on top it will finish spreading over the surface of the CPU.
5-We proceed to assemble the parts of the heatsink, carefully placing the
fasteners that will be hooked in front and making sure that it makes proper
contact with the processor, since otherwise it will not fulfill its function
correctly. Once the body of fins is assembled, we add the fan and that's it.

6-It is already taking shape, now can pull them up to make sure
we only have to mount the RAM they do not move. Also keep in
memory before finishing this point. mind that when using two modules
To do this, we must slightly open we must occupy the slots in the
the security locks and insert the correct order. In this case, as seen
modules, taking care to do so in in the image, they are both gray,
the correct direction. If everything which correspond to DDR3 1 and
has gone well, we will hear a DDR3 2.
characteristic noise, although we
 1-Open the front cover of the box
and remove the first grid that
opens the space where we will
We already have some work place the DVD reader. We insert it
done, although I'm not going to lie carefully until it reaches the stop
to you, the hardest part remains, and proceed to fasten it with the
which is dealing with the wiring corresponding screws. We haven't
issue so that it is not visible or connected it yet, that's for last.
hinders the air flow, although we
will see that in the third step.

2-We now mount the SSD. In this case we use the adapter that it includes
and the large black fasteners, placing it in the lower central area, as you
can see. The process is very simple and offers no mystery. Their connection is
also postponed to the end.
3-Now touch the power supply, which in this tower is placed right at the
bottom of the tower. The source we have chosen is modular and comes
with all the cables we need including one PCI-E highlighted in red to avoid
confusion between 6-pin and 6+2-pin. After connecting the cables, we
introduce it and screw it so that it is well fixed.

4-Done this, we connect the corresponding cables to each of the fans that
our box includes, something that already depends on each specific model,
but that in general is not complicated since they are usually clearly
identified.

5-Now it's time to assemble the comfortably, we carefully knock

motherboard inside the tower. down the tower and place the
Don't worry, it's simple and there's screws that will act as a fixing base
no risk of other components being for the plate. We end up screwing
mounted on it, as long as you're so that it is well attached and
careful when handling it, that's it.
obviously. To work more
 openings of the box so that we
can hide them on the rear side of
the tower, so that everything is
"cleaner" and they do not hinder
or affect the correct air flow of the
equipment. It may seem silly and
Now comes one of the heaviest in fact it takes so much time that
steps, which is ordering all the some people pass by and leave
wiring and making the them messy inside, but it is not
connections. The installation of the recommended at all, it is worth
graphics card does not pose any investing the necessary
problems, since it is enough to time.esponding cables to each of the
remove the corresponding rear fans that our box includes, something that
grill and carefully mount it in the already depends on each specific model, but
PCI-E slot. that in general is not complicated since they
are usually clearly identified
1-Wiring and connections. We
pass the cables through the

2-It's time to start making the metal grills from the back due to its
connections with the cables size, and we have installed it
already ordered. Make sure that upside down in the PCI-E 16x slot.
you do not forget any of the Once mounted, we connect the
connectors or additional elements extra power using the PCI-E cable
included in the box, since if you do of the source, since the GTX 970
they will be rendered useless. It has that we have chosen requires an
no mystery, but you will need 8-pin connector and a 6-pin
patience. connector.

3-We install the graphics card. In

this case, we have removed two
4-If we have done everything correctly, we will have a unit as we see in the
image, with almost all the wiring hidden, well ordered, which means that
we will be able to do future updates, cleanings and changes of thermal
paste without inconvenience and in less time. The cable ties are a great
help to organize the cables well

5-Before closing the box, we make sure that everything is well connected,
that the cables do not get in the way on the other side where they are
hidden and that there is nothing loose or badly tightened. Once this is
done, we proceed to close both sides of the box.

essence the most difficult part has

already been done.

We only have to mount the

monitor on its corresponding base,
We move on to the final stage, plug in the speakers in order and
which once finished will allow us to connect everything to the PC in
start enjoying our team. It can get their corresponding outputs.
a bit tedious, but it is not Neither the mouse nor the
complicated at all, since in keyboard need drivers, they are
automatically recognized on the
computer model, but depending to install drivers.
on each case it may be necessary
case, I installed Windows 7 SP1
Professional and upgraded to
With everything assembled and
Windows 10 without problem,
connected to the current, we turn
using a boot disk on which the
on the equipment to proceed to
computer starts and installs the
install the operating system. In my
operating system.