TECHNOLOGY AND LIVELIHOOD EDUCATION (ICT) Computer System Servicing QUARTER 1Assemble Computer Hardware The goal of this module is to enable learners to understand the components of computer systems and develop the skills needed to recommend appropriate systems for business purposes and set up and maintain computer systems. WHAT IS A COMPUTER? Acomputer is a machine that changes information from one form into another by performing four basic actions. Those actions are input, processing, output, and storage. Together, these actions make up the information processing cycle. By following a set of instructions, called a program, the computer turns raw data into organized information that people can use. Creation of usable information is the primary benefit of computer technology. There are three kinds of computers: Analog computers are almost extinct today. These are different from a digital computer because an analog computer can perform several mathematical operations simultaneously. It uses continuous variables for mathematical operations and utilizes mechanical or electrical energy. Think of the scales on a mercury thermometer or on the gas gauge of a car. Digital computers work with data that has a fixed value. They use data in digital, or number, form. The computers that run programs for playing games or searching the internet are digital computers. Hybrid Computers are a combination of both digital and analog computers. In this, type of computers, the digital segments perform process control by conversion of analog signals to digital ones. Most computers are not just digital but binary, too. That is, they only recognize two possible values. Think of a television’s power switch. It, too, is binary: The switch is either on or off. There are no other possibilities. Computers break data into pieces called bits and give each bit a value of either 0 or 1. A byte is a group of bits—usually 8. Using 8 bits in different combinations, each byte can represent a different value. For example, one byte might be 00000000, another might be 01010101, and another might be 00110011. There are 256 possible combinations!CLASSIFICATIONS OF COMPUTER 1, Mainframe Computers Large organizations use mainframes for highly critical applications such as bulk data processing and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Most of the mainframe computers have the capacities to host multiple operating systems and operate as a few virtual machines and can substitute for several small servers. 2. Minicomputers In terms of size and processing capacity, minicomputers lie in between mainframes and microcomputers. Minicomputers are also called mid-range systems or workstations. The term began to be popularly used in the 1960s to refer to relatively smaller third generation computers. 3. Servers They are computers designed to provide services to client machines in a computer network. They have larger storage capacities and powerful processors. Running on them are programs that serve client requests and allocate resources like memory and time to client machines. Usually they are very large in size, as they have large processors and many hard drives. They are designed to be fail-safe and resistant to crash. 4, Supercomputers The highly calculation-intensive tasks can be effectively performed by means of supercomputers. Quantum physics, mechanics, weather forecasting, molecular theory are best studied by means of supercomputers. Their ability of parallel processing and their well-designed memory hierarchy give the supercomputers, large transaction processing powers. 5. Microcomputers A computer with a microprocessor and its central processing unit it is known as a microcomputer. They do not occupy space as much as mainframes do. When supplemented with a keyboard and a mouse, microcomputers can be called personal computers. A monitor, a keyboard and other similar input output devices, computer memory in the form of RAM and a power supply unit come packaged in a microcomputer. These computers can fit on desks or tables and prove to be the best choice for single-user tasks.COMPUTER HARDWARE HARDWARE- physical, touchable, electronic and mechanical parts of a computer system. A. System Unit- The main part of a microcomputer, sometimes called the chassis. It includes the following parts: Motherboard Microprocessor Memory Chips Buses Ports Expansion Slots and Cards. Motherboard / Mainboard / System Board - The main circuit board of a computer. It contains all the circuits and components that run the computer. CPU (Central Processing Unit) - The processor is the main “brain” or “heart” of a computer oo, LEP system. It performs all the instructions and ne 2. calculations that are needed and manages the flow of information through a computer. Primary storage (internal storage, main memory, or memory) is the computer's working storage space that holds data, instructions for processing and processed data (information) waiting to be sent to secondary storage. Physically, primary storage is a collection of RAM chips. ‘Two (2) Types of Memory ROM - (Read Only Memory) ROM is non-volatile, meaning it holds data even when the power is ON or OFF.RAM - (Random Access Memory) RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data only when the ie , power is on. When the power is off, RAM's contents S$ are lost. NW ial Expansion Bus A bus is a data pathway between several hardware components inside or outside a computer. It does not only connect the parts of the CPU to each other, but also links the CPU with other important hardware. Adapters Printed-circuit boards (also called interface cards) that enable the computer to use a peripheral device for which it doos not have the necossary connections or circuit boards. They are often used to permit upgrading to a new different hardware. Power Supply Unit (PSU) Installed in the back corner of the PC case, next to the motherboard. It converts 120vac (standard house power) into DC voltages that are used by other components in the PC.Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Also known as hard drive, is a magnetic storage device that is installed inside the computer. The hard drive is used as permanent storage for data. In a Windows computer, the hard drive is usually configured as the C: drive and contains the operating system and applications. Optical Drive An optical drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read data on the optical media. There are three types of optical drives: Compact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc (BD). Digital Versatile Dise (DVD) Designed to optically access data stored on a DVD. A laser moves back and forth near the disk surface and accesses data at a very fast rate. B, Input Devices - Accepts data and instructions from the user or from another computer system, Keyboard - The first input device developed for the PC. Data is transferred to the PC over a short cable with a circular 6-pin Mini-din connector that plugs into the back of the motherboard. Pointing Devices Mouse- The most common ‘pointing device’ used in PCs. Every mouse has two buttons and most have one or two scroll wheel s.Touch sereen - A display screen that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or stylus. Used in myriad applications, including ATM machines, retail point-of-sale terminals, car navigation and industrial controls. The touch screen became wildly popular for smart phones and tablets. Light Pen - A light-sensitive stylus wired to a video terminal used to draw pictures or select menu options. The user brings the pen to the desired point on screen and presses the pen button to make contact. Digitizer Tablet -A graphics drawing tablet used for sketching new images or tracing old ones. Also called a "graphics tablet," the user contacts the surface of the device with a wired or wireless pen or puck. Often mistakenly called a mouse, the puck is officially the "tablet cursor.” Scanning Devices - A device that can read text or illustrations printed on paper and translates the information into a form the computer can use. Voice- Input Devices - Audio input devices also known as speech or voice recognition systems that allow a user to send audio signals to a computer for processing, recording, or carrying out commands. Audio input devices such as microphones allow users to speak to the computer in order to record a voice message or navigate software.C. Output Devices -Any piece of computer hardware that displays results after the computer has processed the input data that has been entered. Computer Display Monitor - It displays information in visual form, using text and graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the information is called the screen or video display terminal. ‘Types of Monitor 1. CRT Monitor Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) were the only type of displays for use with desktop PCs. They are relatively big (14" to 16" deep) and heavy (over 15 Ibs.). 2. LCD Monitor Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology has been used in laptops for some time. It has recently been made commercially available as monitors for desktop PCs. 3. LED Monitor (Light Emitting Diode) - A display and lighting technology used in almost every electrical and electronic product on the market, from a tiny on/off light to digital readouts, flashlights, traffic lights and perimeter lighting. LCD Projectors - utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution between them. An electric current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light. Smart Board - A type of display screen that has a touch sensitive transparent panel covering the screen, which is like a touch screen. Printer - A device that prints text or illustrations on paper. WHAT IS A STORAGE DEVICE? Storage device is any apparatus for recording computer data in a permanent or semi-permanent form. Types of storage devices Floppy diskette . Compact disc (CD) Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) Jump drive and USB flash drive Hard drive LS-120 . Zip drive COMPONENT OF COMPUTER SYSTEM Directions: Draw and label the different hardware of a computer. After drawing and labeling the hardware components, group them into Input Devices, Output Devices and Storage Devices. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.What I Can Do Directions: Look at a computer. Create a five-column chart. In the first column, list all the hardware that you can identify. In the remaining columns, put check whether each item is used for inputting, processing, outputting, or storage. LIST OF ALL INPUT |PROCESSING| OUTPUT STORAGE HARDWARE Examine how the different pieces are connected to the computer. Answer the following questions: 1. What other hardware do you think the computer has that you cannot see? 2. What kinds of hardware were usually peripherals? 3. Which were usually in the computer's case? 4. What exceptions did you identify?