Chapter 2

Form Factors, Power Supplies, and

Working Inside a Computer
A+ Guide to Hardware modified 1
by Dr. Feda AlShahwan
 Objectives

• Learn about different form factors used for computer

cases, motherboards, and power supplies
• Learn how electricity is measured and about
electrical components
• Learn how to select a power supply
• Learn how to protect yourself and your equipment
against the dangers of electricity
• Learn how to work inside a computer case
• Learn how to troubleshoot electrical problems

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 2

 Form Factors Used By Computer
Cases, Motherboards, and Power
Supplies
• Computer case, motherboard, power supply
– Interconnected system
– Must be compatible

Figure 2-1 Computer power supply with connectors

Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 3
Form Factors Used By Computer Cases,
Motherboards, and Power Supplies
• Form factor
– Refers to the physical dimensions that specifies size,
shape, and features of a device
• Determined by motherboard
• Using the same form factor ( PSU, motherboard and
case) assures
– Motherboard fits the case
– Powers supply cords provide proper voltage
– Motherboard and case holes align properly
– Case and motherboard ports align
– Wires on case match connections on motherboard
– Power supply holes align with case
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 4
 Types of Form Factors

• Intended use
– Influences computer case, motherboard, power
supply selection (form factor)

Table 2-1 Form factors

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 5

 Types of Form Factors (cont’d.)

• AT form factor
– P8/P9 connector to supply electrical requirements to
the motherboard
• ATX form factor
– Most common
– Three major differences
• Main power connector is now a 20-pin keyed
• Cooling fan pours cool air over the motherboard
• Additional connectors supply voltage for drives (+3.3v)
– Motherboard dimensions: up to 12‖ x 9.6‖

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 6

 Types of Form Factors (cont’d.)

– Versions
• Original ATX form factor used P1 connector
• ATX Version 2.1 specifications added 2-pin auxiliary
connector
• ATX Version 2.2 allowed for 22-pin P1 connector
• Version 2.2 provides +12 volts, +5 volts, and +3.3 volts
pins
– Motherboard offers soft switch feature

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 7

 Figure 2-2 The CPU on an ATX motherboard sits opposite
the expansion slots and does not block the room needed
for long expansion cards
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 8

 Types of Form Factors (cont’d.)

• MicroATX form factor

– Reduces total cost of a system
• FlexATX
– Variation of MicroATX with maximum flexibility
• BTX (Balanced Technology Extended) form factor
– Reduces heat with better airflow
• NLX form factor
– Developed to improve older and similar LPX form
factor

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 9

 Figure 2-7 This MicroATX Figure 2-8 Improved airflow in a
motherboard by Biostar is designed to BTX case and motherboard makes
support an AMD processor it unnecessary to have a fan on top
Courtesy: Course of the processor
Technology/Cengage Learning Courtesy: Course
Technology/Cengage Learning
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 10
 Types of Computer Cases

• Computer case (chassis)

– Houses power supply, motherboard, cards, drives
– Panel switches/lights to control/monitor PC
– Ports connecting cables to motherboard
• Mounted on front, top, side, rear
– Match power supply to system electrical needs

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 11

 Types of Computer Cases (cont’d.)

• Desktop cases
– Motherboard on bottom; power supply to the rear
• Tower cases
– Up to 2 feet high; can contain several drives
• Notebook cases
– Used for all portables; includes desktop components

Figure 2-11 Tower and desktop cases

Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 12
 Measures and Properties of Electricity

• Successful PC technicians:
– Understand electricity
– Know how to use electricity
– Know how to measure electricity
– Can protect computer equipment from electricity
• Units used to measure characteristics of electricity
– Volt, amp, ohm, watt

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 13

 Table 2-3 Measures of electricity

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 14

 AC and DC

• Alternating current (AC)

– Oscillatory current driven by an alternating voltage
• Example: house current oscillates at 60 Hz
• Direct current (DC)
– Single direction current driven by constant voltage
• Required by computer in small amounts, such as 5 V
• Power supply acts as a transformer and rectifier
– Rectifier: converts AC to DC
– Transformer: changes ratio of current to voltage

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 15

 Figure 2-14 A transformer keeps power constant
but changes the ratio of current to voltage
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 16

 Hot, Neutral, and Ground

• Completing a circuit:
– AC travels from power station to house on a hot line
– AC travels from panel to device using black (hot) wire
– AC flows out of device circuit in a white (neutral) wire
– AC returns to power station on a neutral line
• Short circuit: failure due to excess flow of electricity
– Fuses protect circuits by melting wire (breaking circuit)
– Grounded neutral lines pass detoured AC to earth
• Lines in three-prong plugs: hot, neutral, ground
– Receptacle tester verifies outlet wiring
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 17
 Figure 2-15 Normally, electricity flows from hot to neutral
to make a closed circuit in the controlled environment of an
electrical device such as a lamp
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 18

 Figure 2-16 A polarized plug
showing hot and neutral, and a
three-prong plug showing hot, Figure 2-17 Use a receptacle
neutral, and ground tester to verify that hot, neutral,
Courtesy: Course and ground are wired correctly
Technology/Cengage Learning Courtesy: Course
Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 19

 Some Common Electronic Components

Figure 2-18 Symbols for some electronic components

and for ground
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 20

 Some Common Electronic Components
(cont’d.)
• Materials to make components:
– Conductors: weakly resist current flow (copper)
– Insulators: highly resist current flow (ceramics)
– Semiconductors: allow flow if charged (silicon)
• Transistor
– Switches current on (1) and off (0)
– Amplifies current
– Contains three layers of semiconductor material
– Charge applied to center layer
• Controls switching
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 21
 Some Common Electronic Components
(cont’d.)
• Capacitor
– Holds electrical charge for a period of time
– Creates even flow of current in a PC
• Diode
– Allows electricity to flow in one direction only
– Rectifies current (convert AC to DC)
• Resistor
– Controls amount of current flowing through device
– Degree of resistance is measured in ohms

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 22

 Figure 2-19 Capacitors on a motherboard or other circuit
board often have embedded crossed lines on top
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 23

 Power Supply
• Power supply or power supply unit (PSU)
– Microprocessor  computer's brain and the power
supply is its heart
– In a personal computer (PC), the power supply is the
metal box usually found in a corner of the case. The
power supply is visible from the back of many
systems because it contains the power-cord
receptacle and the cooling fan
– Box inside a computer case supplying power to
motherboard and other installed devices

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 24

 Power Supply
• The main tasks of power supply
– Both a rectifier and transformer
• Converts AC house current to regulated DC
• Steps down voltage from 110 V or 220 V to 3.5, 5, and
12 V to provide the required voltages and currents that
are needed to operate the components of the computer
• Power supply features:
1. Form factor determines power supply size
2. Wattage ratings
• Maximum amount of power watts required by the
computer

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 25

 Characteristics of Power Supply
• Depends on the components of the computer
• Available PC power-supply ratings are as follows:
– AT clone: 250 watts
• 400-watt switching power supply will not necessarily
use more power than a 250-watt supply. A larger
supply may be needed if you use every available slot
on the motherboard or every available drive bay in the
personal computer case. It is not a good idea to have a
250-watt supply if you have 250 watts total in devices,
since the supply should not be loaded to 100 percent of
its capacity

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 26

 Characteristics of Power Supply
• According to PC Power & Cooling, Inc., some power
consumption values (in watts) for common items in a personal
computer are:
PC Item Watts
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) card 20 to 30W
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) card 5W
small computer system interface (SCSI) PCI
20 to 25W
card
floppy disk drive 5W
network interface card 4W
50X CD-ROM drive 10 to 25W
10W per
RAM
128M
5200 RPM Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)
5 to 11W
hard disk drive
7200 RPM IDE hard disk drive 5 to 15W
Motherboard (without CPU or RAM) 20 to 30W
550 MHz Pentium III 30W
733 MHz Pentium III 23.5W
300 MHz Celeron 18W
600 MHz Athlon 45W

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 27

 Characteristics of Power Supply
3. AC power voltage
• AC power-line voltages and frequencies vary
according to country:
United States: 120V/60 Hz
Canada: 120V/60 Hz
United Kingdom: 240V/50 Hz
Europe: 220V/50 Hz
Japan: 100V/50 Hz
Kuwait: 240V/50 Hz
4. Type and number of power cables, and connectors
5. Warranty and overall quality

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 28

 Components of Power Supply
• External items of ATX Power Supply
– The AC input socket for the main AC power cord.
– The input voltage selector switch. This switch must be
set to match the AC line voltage to which the
computer will be connected

– AC output socket for monitor

– The air vents for the cooling fan

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 29

• External items of ATX Power Supply (contd)
– The power switch
– Older form factor desktop PC/XT cases had the power
switch at the back of the machine, usually on the right
side of the case
– Starting with the AT form factor, tower cases changed to
a remote, physical toggle power switch that was
connected to the power supply using a cable
– Starting with the ATX/NLX form factor, the way the power
switch works has been changed altogether. Instead of
using a physical toggle switch connected to the power
supply, on modern systems the power switch is
electronic. It connects to the motherboard, much the way
that the reset switch does, using a feature called soft
power. So on an ATX system, when you press the power
switch, you aren't really turning on the power supply; it is
more like sending a "request" to the motherboard to turn
the system on
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 30
 Components of Power Supply
• Internal items of ATX Power Supply
– Power Connectors:
• The types of connectors used on computer power
supplies are different. When looking at the ends of
each connector we notice that some have flat-blades,
some have round pins, and others have square pins.
• There are five types of power connectors:
– Motherboard Connector: The power supply in your
computer has one 20-pin connector that supplies power
to the motherboard. This style of power connector was
introduced as part of the ATX form factor. It is a female
20-pin connector, which plugs into a male connector on
your ATX motherboard.

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 31

 Components of Power Supply
• Internal items of ATX Power Supply (contd.)
– Large 4-pin DC connector (Molex): These large, round-
pin type connectors with 4-pins are used for some drives
like HDD. The connector is polarized so it can only be
installed in one direction
– Medium DC connector (Berg): these medium, square-pin
type Connectors with 4-pins are used on some drives like
FDD. The connector is polarized so it can only be
installed in one direction
– Small DC connector: this small, connector with 2 or 3
pins is sometimes used for the CPU cooler or other
devices. Never plug this connector directly into the
motherboard
– Auxiliary 12V connector: this is 4-pin square type
connector used to provide the motherboard with 12V
power
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 32
 Troubleshooting Power Supply
• Types of Power Supply Problems
1. Power Up Problems: problems occurred during cold
boot up
– Symptom:
• System is completely dead after power-up (no fan
noise, LED indicators do not turn on)
– Possible faults:
• AC power cord
• Blown fuse in power supply
– Troubleshooting procedures:
• Check AC power-cord connection: Plug the cord into
another power socket (make sure AC wall outlet is
good)
• Substitute good power supply
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 33
 Troubleshooting Power Supply
– Symptom:
• System shuts off almost immediately or emits a
continuous beep or repeating short beeps
– Possible faults:
• New adapter card is overloading the power supply
• Defective adapter card or motherboard
• Defective power supply
– Troubleshooting procedures:
• Remove all adapter cards and check power-supply
status after power-up
• If power supply shuts down with only the motherboard
connected, substitute good power supply
• Add adapter cards one at a time while checking power-
supply status (remember to turn off power when
removing or inserting cards)
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 34
 Troubleshooting Power Supply
2. In-Use Problems: problems occurred during working on
PC
– Symptom:
• System reboots or shuts down while in use
– Possible faults:
• AC power-line disturbance
• Defective power supply
• Thermal problems; e.g., clogged vent
– Troubleshooting procedures:
• Check AC power line
• Substitute good power supply

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 35

 Troubleshooting Power Supply
Cooling the PC:
Cooling Methods
Includes the methods or components used by the
manufacturer for cooling the PC
– Some of the available replacement power supplies
have higher-capacity cooling fans than the originals,
which can greatly prolong system life and minimize
overheating problems—especially for the newer,
hotter-running processors. If system noise is a
problem, models with special fans can run more
quietly than the standard models.

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 36

 Troubleshooting Power Supply
These power supplies often use larger-diameter fans
that spin more slowly, so they run more quietly but
move the same amount of air as the smaller fans.
– Ventilation in a system is also important. You must
ensure adequate airflow to cool the hotter items in the
system.
– Heat-sink is a piece of metal usually Aluminum to
dissipate the heat generated by the CPU, the larger
the surface the better.

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 37

 Troubleshooting Power Supply
Cooling Techniques
Includes the techniques and skills used by the user for
cooling the PC
– If you have free expansion slots, you should space
out the boards in your system to permit airflow
between them.
– Place the hottest running boards nearest the fan or
the ventilation holes in the system.
– Always be sure to run your computer with the case
cover on, especially if you have a loaded system.
With the cover off, the power supply fan no longer
draws air through the system. Instead, the fan ends
up cooling the supply only, and the rest of the system
must be cooled by simple convection.
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 38
 Troubleshooting Power Supply
– In addition, be sure that any empty slot positions have
the filler brackets installed. If you leave these
brackets off after removing a card, the resultant hole
in the case disrupts the internal airflow and can cause
higher internal temperatures.

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 39

 Troubleshooting Power Supply
• Repairing Power Supply:
– It is rarely recommended that an inexperienced user
open a power supply to make repairs because of the
dangerous high voltages present. Even when
unplugged, power supplies can retain dangerous
voltage and must be discharged (like a monitor)
before service.
– Also the price of the power supply is cheap.
– So repairing a power supply is by replacing it.

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 40

 How to Select a Power Supply

• Considerations
– Match form factor to case, motherboard
– Make sure it provides necessary connectors
– Match wattage capacity to system requirements
– Consider warranty, price, and additional features
• Determining wattage capacity
– Consider all components inside case
– Consider USB and FireWire devices
• Get power from ports connected motherboard

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 41

 How to Select a Power Supply (cont’d.)
• Point to keep in mind
– It may have two ratings
• Room temperature (peak rating)
• Continuous operation (actual rating)
– Video cards draw the most power
– Use power supply rated 30 percent higher than
expected
– Web sites have wattage calculators
– Never use Dell power supply with non-Dell
motherboard
• Pinout verification or pinout converter

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 42

 Table 2-5 To calculate power supply rating, add up total wattage

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 43

 Power Disturbance
• Power Disturbances
1. Complete power failure:
– Power-line voltage drops to zero for extended periods
of time Consequences: data loss
2. Transients:
– It is an over voltage condition caused by lighting or
electric motors resulting in possible permanent
system damage
– Classified as:
• Spikes (nanosecond)
• Surges (millisecond)

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 44

 Power Disturbance
3. Sags
– It is an under voltage condition where voltage dips
below voltage required by power supply resulting in
data loss.
– Classified as:
• Voltage sag (milliseconds)
• Brown out (longer seconds)
Sag Brown out

•Causes of Power-Line Disturbances

1.Power Company
– Disturbances in power supplied by utility company
may be intentional or due to natural causes; e.g.,
lightning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 45

 Power Disturbance
2. Building-related
– Power fluctuations may be caused by faulty or
inadequate building wiring
– Building machinery; e.g., air conditioners, lighting,
heating systems
3. User wiring
– Multiple PCs plugged into the same power line
– PCs plugged into power line shared by high-current
machines; e.g., laser printers, air conditioners, coffee
makers, copiers, etc.
– PC plugged into an ungrounded power strip

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 46

 Power Disturbance
• Solutions to power line disturbances
1. Surge Suppressors
– What is a surge suppressor?
– Power-distribution box that suppresses voltage spikes
using a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV)
– Protects equipment from sudden power changes
– Absorbs and/or blocks surge (AC filter)
– Metal oxide varistor:
• Electrical circuit protection component placed across
AC power-line inputs
• Short-circuits high-voltage spikes
• Effectiveness deteriorates with use (over voltage conditions)

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 47

 Power Disturbance
• Solutions to power line disturbances
1. Surge Suppressors
2. Backup Power Supplies
– What is a backup power supply?
– Power supply incorporating a battery and an AC inverter
circuit that provides continuous power when line
power fails
– Two basic types are available: SPS and UPS
• Standby Power Supply (SPS):
– Batteries charged while current level is monitored
– If power fails, batteries switch on automatically
– Faster switch times desirable (5 ms or less)

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 48

 Power Disturbance
• Uninterruptible power supply (UPS):
– Batteries always used to provide power to system
– Input power used to charge batteries while in use
– More expensive than SPS
AC outlet PC input
power power
Line sensor

Charger Battery Switch Invertor

Figure 2-26: SPS Block Diagram

AC outlet PC input
Charger Battery Invertor
power power

Figure 2-27: UPS Block Diagram

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 49

 Protect Yourself and the Equipment
Against Electrical Dangers
• PC support activities present physical dangers
– PC technicians must protect themselves and others
– PC technicians must protect the equipment

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 50

 Protect Yourself Against Electrical
Shock and Burns
• Protection from electrical shock
– Disconnect power
• Pull plug at AC outlet
– Protect power cord
• Do not pull on cord itself
– Remove jewelry
– Power supplies and CRT monitors contain capacitors
• Technician must not be grounded
• Both considered field replaceable unit (FRU)

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 51

 Protect the Equipment Against Static
Electricity or ESD
• Static electricity (electrostatic discharge or ESD)
– Touching device causes discharge, damaging device
– Particularly severe in dry and cold climates
• Protecting system from ESD
– Use ground bracelet, static mat, static shielding bags,
ESD gloves
– Touch computer case before touching components
– Touch person when passing components
– Remove jewelry, work on hard floors
– Unplugged power cord before working inside case
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 52
 Protect Against Electromagnetic
Interference
• Caused by magnetic fields generated by current flow
• RFI (radio frequency interference)
– EMI in radio frequency range affecting reception
• Crosstalk problem
– Data in cables crossing EM fields gets corrupted
– Control crosstalk by shielding cables, power supply
• Detect EMI using tuned-down AM radio
• Other ways to protect device:
– Use line conditioners; shield cables, power supply
– Move PC to a new location
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 53
 Surge Protection and Battery Backup
• Storms and uneven AC flow cause power surges
– Prevented by installing an AC filter
• Devices between AC outlet and computer
equipment:
– Power Strips
– Surge suppressors
– Power conditioners
– Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs)
• Use devices with UL (Underwriters Laboratory) logo
– UL 1449

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 54

 Surge Protection and Battery Backup
(cont’d.)
• Surge protector
– Protects equipment from sudden power changes
– Absorbs and/or blocks surge
• Recommended features:
– Joules rating greater than 600 joules
– Protection activation time (2 nanoseconds or less)
– Warranty for connected equipment and UL seal
– Light indicating surge protection working
– Data line protector for telephone line to modem
– Let-through voltage rating and line noise filtering
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 55
 Figure 2-28 Both surge suppressors alert you when protection is not
working. The small surge suppressor is designed to travel with a laptop
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 56

 Surge Protection and Battery Backup
(cont’d.)
• Line conditioners (power conditioners)
– Protect against spikes or swells (voltage surges)
– Raise voltage during brownouts (voltage sags)
– Filter EMI/RFI interference from the electrical line
• Power conditions are measured in watts, volt-
amperes (VA), kilovolt-amperes (kVA)
• Determining VA needed
– Multiply amperage of each component by 120 V
– Add up the VA for each component
• Provide no protection against a total blackout
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 57
 Surge Protection and Battery Backup
(cont’d.)
• Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) benefits
– Conditions line to account for brownouts, spikes
– Provides backup power during a blackout
– Provides protection against very high spikes
• Designs: standby, inline, line-interactive
• Smart (intelligent) UPS: controlled with software
• Considerations when buying
– VA rating and watts
– Degree of line conditioning
– Warranties, guarantees, and service policies
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 58
 How to Work Inside a Computer Case

• Skills needed to:

– Replace computer parts inside the case
– Build a system from scratch
• Requires tools and safety precautions
• Taking a PC apart and putting it back together
– Should follow step-by-step procedures

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 59

 PC Support Technician Tools

• Essential tools
– Ground bracelet, ground mat, ground gloves
– Flat-head screwdriver
– Phillips-head or cross-head screwdriver
– Torx screwdriver set (size T15)
– Insulated tweezers
– Extractor
– OS recovery CD or DVD
• Many other non-essential tools exists
• Use a toolbox
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 60
 Figure 2-31 PC support technician tools
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 61

 PC Support Technician Tools (cont’d.)
• Post Diagnostic Cards
– Helps discover, report computer errors and conflicts
at power-on self test (POST)
• Tests performed by startup BIOS

Figure 2-32 Post Code Master diagnostic card by Microsystems Developments, Inc.
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 62

 PC Support Technician Tools (cont’d.)
• Power Supply Tester
– Measures output of each power supply connector

Figure 2-33 Use a power supply tester to test the output

of each power connector on a power supply
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 63

 PC Support Technician Tools (cont’d.)
• Multimeter
– Measure several characteristics of electricity in a
variety of devices

Figure 2-34 This digital multimeter can be set to measure voltage, resistance, or continuity
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 64
 Safety Precautions

• Make notes for backtracking

• Stay organized, do not stack boards
• Do not touch board chips
– With hands, magnetized screwdriver
• Do not change dual inline package (DIP) switch
settings with a graphite pencil
• Protect yourself and the equipment
– Never ever touch inside of a turned on computer
– Consider monitor, power supply as ―black boxes‖
– Protect against static electricity
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 65
 Steps to Take Apart a Computer

• Tools needed
– Ground bracelet, a Phillips-head screwdriver, a flat-
head screwdriver, paper, pen
• Guidelines
– Back up data
– Power down system, unplug it, press power button
– Put computer on a table with plenty of room
– Open computer case
– Diagram all cable connections

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 66

 Steps to Take Apart a Computer
(cont’d.)
• Guidelines (cont’d.)
– Before removing ribbon cables, look for red color or
stripe down one side of each cable
– Remove cables to all drives
– Remove expansion cards
– Remove motherboard
– Remove power supply
– Remove drives

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 67

 Steps to Put a Computer Back
Together
• Reverse disassembly process
• Component installation order
– Power supply, drives, motherboard, cards
– Connect all data and power cables
– Plug in keyboard, monitor, mouse
– Turn on power
– Verify PC working properly

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 68

 Troubleshooting the Electrical System

• Electrical problems can occur before or after boot

– May be consistent or inconsistent
• Possible electrical problem symptoms:
– PC appears ―dead‖
– PC sometimes halts during booting
– Error codes or beeps occur during booting
– Smell burnt parts or odors exists
– PC powers down at unexpected times
– Hear a whine coming from the power supply
• Most PC problems have simple solutions
A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 69
 Problems with External Power

• Brownout (reduced current) may create issues

– Check out other devices using same circuit
– Remove other devices
• See if voltage increases
• Resolution
– Install line conditioner
• Conditions voltage to the PC

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 70

 Problems with Loose Internal
Connections
• Can cause a system to appear dead or reboot itself
• Troubleshooting tasks:
– ATX and BTX power supplies
• Verify power switch wire connected properly to
motherboard and turned on before power comes up
– Remove case cover
• Check all power connections
• Check cables linking power supply to motherboard
• Check cables linking power supply to drives
– Verify case front panel in place before power-on

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 Problems that Come and Go

• Intermittent symptoms indicating a post-boot

problem
– Computer stops, hangs, reboots for no reason
– Memory errors appear intermittently
– Data written incorrectly to the hard drive
– Keyboard stops working at odd times
– Motherboard fails or is damaged
– Power supply overheats, becomes hot to the touch
– Power supply fan becomes very noisy or stops
• Intermittent problems are more difficult to solve
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 Problems with an Inadequate Power
Supply
• Power supply may not meet needs of new devices
• Testing for an adequate power supply
– Make all devices in the system work at the same time
• Example: copy files from new drive to old drive
• Simple solution: upgrade to a higher power supply
• Calculate total wattage needed by system

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 Problems with a Faulty Power Supply

• Test with a power supply tester or multimeter

• Power supply with correct voltages
– May still be problem source
• ATX power supply monitors motherboard voltage
range
– Halts motherboard if voltages inadequate
• If power supply appears ―dead‖, replace it

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 74

 Problems with the Power Supply Fans

• Fans usually hum, whine before failing

– Replace fan or entire power supply
– Suspect another short if failure continues
– Do not operate PC if fan not working
• Troubleshooting nonfunctional fan
– Turn off power; remove all power cord connections to
all components except motherboard; turn on power
– Turn off power; reconnect one card or drive at a time
– Motherboard power supply problem
• Fan does not work when all devices except
motherboard disconnected
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 Problems with Overheating

• Computer powers down after operating for a few

minutes or a few hours
• Troubleshooting
– Leave system turned off for about 30 minutes, try
again
– Check computer’s internal temperature
– Install additional fans

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 Power Problems with the Motherboard

• Bad contact between board component and chassis

– Short can seriously damage motherboard
– Check for missing or extra standoffs (spacers)
• Shorts in the circuit on motherboard
– Look for damage to the bottom of the motherboard
– Look for burned-out capacitors

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 Replacing the Power Supply

• Criteria for replacement power supply

– Uses correct form factor
– Adequately rated for power in watts
– Has necessary power connectors
• Determining power supply problem
– Turn off PC, open computer case, set new power
supply on top of the old one
– Disconnect old power supply’s cords, plug PC
devices into the new power supply
– Turn on PC, verify new power supply solves problem

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 78

 Summary

• Form factor specifies size, shape, features of device

– Motherboard, power supply, and case share the same
form factor
• Types of cases: desktop, tower, notebook
• Quantities characterizing electricity
– Voltage, current, resistance, power
• Current flows from hot wires to neutral wires
– Excess current escapes through grounds

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 79

 Summary (cont’d.)

• AC supplied by power station

– Transformed, rectified before flowing into PC
• Major components in a circuit board
– Transistor, capacitor, diode, resistor
• Electrical threats
– ESD, EMI, uneven current flow, sudden power surges
(or spikes)

A+ Guide to Hardware modified by Dr. Feda AlShahwan 80