LESSON 3:

System Unit
 SYSTEM
UNIT
• One of the basic components of a
computer which contains all of the main
parts of it.
•It houses the internal components of the
computer such us motherboard, CPU, RAM
and
others.
PARTS OF A
SYTEM UNIT
 POWER SUPPLY (Power Supply
Unit/PSU)
• The component that supplies power to a computer.
• Most personal computers can be plugged
into standard electrical outlets. The power supply
then
pulls the required amount of electricity and converts
the AC current to DC current.
• It regulates the voltage to eliminate spikes and
surges common in most electrical systems.
• 20 ATX pin connector - connects the power supply to a particular
motherboard. ATX motherboards are attached with 20 or 24 pin
connectors.
• CPU connector - used to connect power supplies to
motherboards with on board computer processing units (CPUs).
These are either 4 ("P4") or 8 pin connectors.
• Molex connector - the IDE connector that connects to hard
drives and CD ROM drives. Most computer power supplies
include at least one of these connectors.
• Floppy connector - 4 pin connector used to supply power to
floppy drives, card reader drives, and other similar devices.
• AUX connector - a 6 pin connector that is a necessary
connection for some computer motherboards.
• SATA connector - connectors for devices using serial advanced
technology attachment (SATA) interfaces, such as hard drives.
• PCI express connector - used to connect to PCI express video
cards, which receive power directly from the power supply rather
than from the motherboard.
 OPTICAL DISK
DRIVE (CD
or DVD ROM/ODD)
• A device that uses
photo diodes to detect
reflecting
lights on optic discs.
• Uses laser to read or
write
data.
 FLOPPY DISK
DRIVE
(Floppy Drive/FDD)
•

e to floppy
disks.
• A computer disk
drive that enables a
user to save data to
removable
diskettes.
 HARD DISK DRIVE
(Hard
Drive/HDD)
• Main storage device used to store
all the data permanently.
•Commonly, hard drives are
permanently paced in an internal
drive bay at the front of the
system
case. But nowadays, there are
portable which use USB ports and
cables for connection.
 INTEGRATED DRIVE
ELECTRONICS
•(IDE)
Generally, it refers to the types
of cables and ports used to
connect some hard drives and
optical drives to each other and
to the motherboard.
• A standard type of connection
for storage devices in a
computer.
 RANDOM ACCESS
MEMORY (RAM)
• Personal computer memory
module.
• A piece of hardware
that allows stored data
to be
accessed randomly. Its main
function is to store the
data temporarily.
 CENTRAL PROCESSING
UNIT (CPU)
•Often referred to as the
brain of the computer.
• Handles all instructions it
receives
from
running on the computer.
EXPANSION CARD (Add-on or Interface
Card)
• An electronic board or card added
in a personal computer so the
co
• An expansion card is used to give
a computer additional capabilities,
such
as enhanced video performance
via a graphics card.
 VIDEO CARD (Graphics Card/Display
Adapter)
A hard component use to generate and
display the output images to a computer
monitor.

TYPES:
PCI – Peripheral Component
Interconnect
AGP – Accelerated Graphic
Port
MOTHERBOARD
• A printed circuit board that is the
foundation of a computer, located
at the bottom of the computer
case.
• It allocates power to the CPU, RAM,
and all other
computer hardware components.
Most importantly, the motherboard
allows hardware components to
communicate with one another.
 CPU
•
SOCKET
Holds the CPU
• All
connected to the motherboard.

MEMORY
• SLOT(RAM) to be
Allows computer memory
inserted into the computer
• There may be 2 to 4 memory slots and
are what determine the type of RAM used
with
the computer.
 CPU FAN AND HEAT SINK
An electronic device that to keep the processor cool

COMPLEMENTARY METAL-OXIDE
SEMICONDUCTOR
An on-board, battery powered semiconductor chip inside
computers that stores information which ranges from the
system time and date to system hardware settings for
your computer.

BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM

A chip located on all motherboards that allows you to
access and set up your computer system at the most basic
level
 NORTHBRIDGE
Responsible for communications between
the CPU interface, AGP, and the memory.

SOUTHBRIDG
E
Responsible for the hard drive controller,
I/O controller and integrated hardware.
Integrated hardware can include the sound
card and video card if on the
mot
herboard, USB, PCI, IDE, BIOS, and
Ethernet.
 PCI
SLOT
• Used by the computer to connect to
peripheral add-
• on devices (LAN card, VGA card).

• AGP SLOT
• Is an advanced port designed for
Video cards and 3D accelerators.
• ATX POWER CONNECTOR
The
• standard motherboard power connector.
ensure proper orientation when connecting the
ATX power connector.
The holes on the power connector are keyed to
 PRIMARY CONNECTOR
(HDD)
Used to connect the HDD to motherboard.

SECONDARY CONNECTOR
(ODD)
Used to connect the ODD to motherboard.

FDD CONNECTOR
Used to connect the FDD to motherboard.
 SUPER I/O (INPUT/OUTPUT)
Handles the
slower and less prominent input/output devices
shown below
• FDD Controller
• Game Port
• Keyboard/Mouse
• Parallel and Serial Port
• CMOS

CAPACITOR
Stores the electrical this energy again to the
energy and give
circuit when necessary

AUDIO CODEC
Used to
convert digital sound waves
BACK
PANEL
The portion of the motherboard that allows you
to connect external devices such as your monitor,
speakers, keyboard, mouse and others.