Computer Fundamentals &

Information Processing
Computer Specification and Troubleshooting
Objectives

1. Evaluate the suitability of a given computer for specific purpose

2. Troubleshoot basic computer hardware problems
Computer System Specification
What is meant by specification?

� Specification is a set of requirements that a device should possess.

CPU or processor

� The two main features of the CPU that you need to be aware of are its:
❖ Speed
❖ Type
The two most popular companies that currently produce CPU are Intel and AMD
CPU or Processor

1. Speed – the CPU contains a clock; each time the clock ‘ticks’, on instruction is carried
out. So the faster the clock ticks the more instructions can be carried out. The processors
speeds in PCs are measured GHz (Giga Hertz). GHz means that it can execute
approximately 1 billion instructions per second.
2. Type – the CPU type determines the type of application for which a particular type of
processor is used. There are many types of processors that are developed by Intel and
AMD. Three types of Intel processors are Premium, Core and Celeron and four main
types of AMD processor Athlon, Sempron, Turion and Phenom. Intel processor are a
little more expensive than AMD’s due to the small difference in performance.
Check Your Progress

1. State the difference between MHz and GHz as it relates to the processor speed.
2. Why is it important to know the processor speed?
3. What are the two main features of a CPU that you should consider when you are planning
to purchase a computer system?
Main Memory

In terms of memory it is important to know its:

❖ Capacity
❖ Type
❖ Word size
❖ Speed
Main Memory

1. Capacity – determines the number of programs that it can hold at a time, which affects
the performance of a computer system. More memory capacity indicates that it can hold
more programs at a time. In modern PC’s memory capacity is measured in Gigabytes
(GB) and is distributed with 2GB or more. (up to Terabytes now TB)
2. Type – there are two types of RAM; SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) and
RDRAM (Rambus Dynamic RAM). RDRAMs are faster and more expensive than
SDRAM, and are used mainly for high-performance computers. SDRAMs (also called
PC100 or PC133) are more common and can be Double Data Rate (DDR) RAM, which
offers double data transfer rate.
Main Memory

3. Word size – determines the number of bits that can be stored and processed at a time by
the CPU. Most of today’s PCs have 32-bit or 64-bit.
4. Speed – RAM speed indicates how fast the chip updates the data that is contains. In
modern PCs, RAM speed is measured in Giga Hertz (GHz)
Check Your Progress

1. List four features of RAM that you should consider when you are about to purchase a RAM
chip.
2. What is the advantage of having more memory in a computer system?
3. State two difference between SDRAM and RDRAM.
4. State the purpose of word size.
Hard Disk

The two main specifications to note for a hard disk are its:
❖ Storage capacity
❖ Speed
Hard Disk

1. Storage capacity – this determines the amount of information that it can store for later use.
More hard disk space means you can store more programs and data. The hard disk capacity
are measured in Gigabytes ranging from 120 GB – 2TB.
2. Speed – hard disk speed are normally expressed as data transfer rate or revolutions per
minute. The data transfer rate measures the speed by which data can be transferred from
one hard disk to the CPU. The rate at which data can be transferred partly depends on how
fast the disk is spinning. The spin speed is measured in revolutions per minutes (rpm) hard
disks vary in speed from 5400 rpms to 15000 rpms.
Check Your Progress

1. List two specifications of hard disk you should take into consideration when you are about
to purchase it.
2. What are the two common measurements of a hard disk speed?
3. Why is it important to know the hard disk capacity when you are about to purchase a
computer system.
Other specifications

In addition to memory capacity, speed, type, word size, etc, it is important to know about ports
and expansion slots.

Ports
A computer systems needs to send and receive information from peripheral devices. A port is a
piece of technology that is used to connect external devices to the computer system. There are
different kinds of ports such as:
❖ Parallel - used mainly to connect printers but can also be used to connect certain scanners
an external hard disks.
❖ Serial – used to connect certain types of mouse, modem and printer.
Other Specifications

❖ USB – used to connect around 127 devices including keyboards, mouse, printers, scanners,
flash drives and digital cameras. This is the most common port used in modern computers.
There are USB-1 and USB-2. USB-2 is faster.
❖ Firewire/IEEE 1394 – used to transfer video images from digital devices.
Other Specifications

Expansion slots
Expansion slots are sockets found on the main circuit board (motherboard) that are used to
insert additional circuit boards. They can be used for adding more memory, graphics facilities
and other special devices. Three types of expansion slots are:
❖ PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), used for attaching sound cards, network cards
and video cards.
❖ AGP (Accelerated Graphics Card), mainly for attaching Graphics cards
❖ ISA (Industry Standard Architecture), used for attaching modems and not commonly seen
on most modern computers.
Check Your Progress

1. What is the use of ports in a computer system?

2. Give the purpose of a firewire port in a computer system.
3. List THREE main types of expansion slots used in modern PCs.
4. List TWO common uses of PCI slots.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting - basic computer problems
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting – Printer
Troubleshooting - Printer
Troubleshooting - Monitor
Troubleshooting - Battery
Check Your Progress