MARY HELP COLLEGE

HARDWARE AND NETWORKING SERVICING

LEVEL IV

UC: CARE FOR NETWORK AND COMPUTER HARDWARE

MODULE CODE: EIS HNS2 M05 0322
NOMINAL DURATION: 30 HRS.

UNIT ONE: IDENTIFY COMPUTER HARDWARE COMPONENT

OVERVIEW OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HARDWARE
PERIPHERALS
HARDWARE

 Computer hardware refers to the physical

parts of a computer and related devices.

 Internal hardware devices include

motherboards, hard drives, and RAM.

 External hardware devices include monitors,

keyboards, mice, printers, and scanners etc.
OVERVIEW OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HARDWARE
PERIPHERALS
HARDWARE

 The internal hardware parts of a computer are

often referred to as components, while external
hardware devices are usually called peripherals.

 Together, they all fall under the category of

computer hardware.
 Software, on the other hand, consists of the
programs and applications that run on computers.
OVERVIEW OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HARDWARE
PERIPHERALS
HARDWARE

 Because software runs on computer

hardware, software programs often have
system requirements that list the minimum
hardware required for the software to run.

 Note: Peripheral devices are the devices that

are attached to the computer’s system unit.
 INTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
INTRODUCTION

 Computer Hardware is the physical part of a computer,

as distinguished from the computer software that
executes or runs on the hardware.
 The hardware of a computer is infrequently changed,
while software and data are modified frequently.
 The term soft refers to readily created, modified, or
erased.
 These are unlike the physical components within the
computer which are hard.
INSIDE COMPUTER
 INSIDE COMPUTER
MOTHERBOARD

 Motherboard is the body or mainframe of the

computer, through which all other components
interface.
 It is the central circuit board making up a complex
electronic system.
 A motherboard provides the electrical connections
by which the other components of the system
communicate.
 INSIDE COMPUTER
MOTHERBOARD

The motherboard includes many components

such as:
 Central processing unit (CPU).
 Random access memory (RAM).
 Firmware.
 Internal and external buses.
 COMPONENTS DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE
MOTHERBOARD INCLUDE:

 The central processing unit (CPU) performs most of

the calculations which enable a computer to
function, and is sometimes referred to as the "brain"
of the computer.

 It is usually cooled by a heat sink and fan.

 Newer CPUs include an on-die Graphics Processing

Unit (GPU).
 COMPONENTS DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE
MOTHERBOARD INCLUDE:

 The chipset mediates communication between the

CPU and the other components of the system,
including main memory.
 RAM (random-access memory) stores resident part
of the current running OS (OS core and so on) and all
running processes (application parts, using CPU or
input/output (I/O) channels or waiting for CPU or I/O
channels).
 COMPONENTS DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE
MOTHERBOARD INCLUDE:

 The BIOS includes boot firmware and power

management.
 The Basic Input Output System tasks are handled by
operating system drivers.
 Newer motherboards use Unified Extensible
Firmware Interface instead of BIOS.
 Internal buses connect the CPU to various internal
components and to expansion cards for graphics and
sound.
 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

 The Central Processing Unit (CPU; sometimes just

called processor) is a machine that can execute
computer programs.
 It is sometimes referred to as the brain of the
computer.
 There are four steps that nearly all CPUs use in their
operation: fetch, decode, execute, and writeback.
 The first step, fetch, involves retrieving an instruction
from program memory.
 CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

 In the decode step, the instruction is broken up into parts

that have significance to other portions of the CPU.

 During the execute step various portions of the CPU,

such as the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the floating
point unit (FPU) are connected so they can perform the
desired operation.

 The final step, writeback, simply writes back the results

of the execute step to some form of memory.
 POWER SUPPLY

A power supply unit (PSU) converts

alternating current (AC) electric power to low-
voltage DC power for the internal
components of the computer.

Some power supplies have a switch to change

between 230 V and 115 V.
 REMOVABLE MEDIA DEVICES
CD (COMPACT DISC)

The most common type of removable media,

suitable for music and data.
CD-ROM Drive - a device used for reading data
from a CD.

CD Writer - a device used for both reading

and writing data to and from a CD.
 REMOVABLE MEDIA DEVICES
DVD (DIGITAL VERSATILE DISC)

 A popular type of removable media that is the same

dimensions as a CD but stores up to 12 times as much
information.

 It is the most common way of transferring digital video,

and is popular for data storage.
DVD-ROM Drive  a device used for reading data from a DVD.
DVD Writer  a device used for both reading and writing data to
and from a DVD.
 REMOVABLE MEDIA DEVICES
BLU-RAY DISC

 It is a high-density optical disc format for data and

high-definition video.

 Can store 70 times as much information as a CD.

 BD-ROM Drive  a device used for reading data from

a Blu-ray disc.
 BD Writer  a device used for both reading and
writing data to and from a Blu-ray disc.
 REMOVABLE MEDIA DEVICES
FLOPPY DISK

Floppy disk is an out-dated storage

device consisting of a thin disk of a
flexible magnetic storage medium.
 SECONDARY STORAGE

Hardware that keeps data inside the

computer for later use and remains
persistent even when the computer has
no power.
 SECONDARY STORAGE
HARD DISK

 A Hard disk drive (HDD also hard drive or

hard disk) is a non-volatile, random access
digital magnetic data storage device.

 Data is magnetically read from and written

to the platter by read/write heads that
float on a film of air above the platters.
 SECONDARY STORAGE
HARD DISK

Hard disk drives (HDD) have been the

dominant device for secondary storage of data
in general purpose computers.
HDD interfaces:
 Integrated drive electronics (IDE)
 Serial ATA (SATA)
 serial attached SCSI (SAS)
 SECONDARY STORAGE
A SOLID-STATE DRIVE (SSD)

 A solid-state disk or electronic disk, is a

data storage device that uses solid-state
memory to store persistent data with
the intention of providing access in the
same manner of a traditional hard disk
drive.
 SECONDARY STORAGE
RAID ARRAY CONTROLLER

A device to manage several internal or

external hard disks and optionally some
peripherals in order to achieve performance
or reliability improvement in what is called a
RAID array.
 SECONDARY STORAGE
SOUND CARD

 Enables the computer to output sound to

audio devices, as well as accept input from a
microphone.

 Most modern computers have sound cards

built-in to the motherboard.

 Most sound cards, either built-in or added.

 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
MONITOR

 A monitor, also known as a visual display unit

(VDU) or screen, is like a television screen.

 It is measured diagonally in inches.

 The quality of a monitor is determined by its

resolution.
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
MONITOR

Flat panel monitors are now

becoming a popular choice due to
their portability and compactness.
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
KEYBOARD

 It is a combination of a typewriter keyboard

and numeric keypad, a keyboard enables you
to enter data into a computer.

 It is the primary input device.

 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
MOUSE

 A mouse is a device that controls the movement of

the cursor on a screen.

 A mouse is a small object you can roll along a flat

surface, to help you navigate your computer.

 Mice also have a variety of buttons, which can have

different purposes depending on what program is
running.
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
PRINTERS

 A printer is a device that allows you to obtain hard

copies of the data you have created on your
computer system.
 Printers are classified by:

1. Their quality
2. The speed of printing  Pages per minute.
3. The print/image resolution  Measured in dots
per inch (dpi).
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
PRINTERS

 There are different types of printers due to

the different methods of transferring ink to
paper.
 Two common types for the home and office
are:
 Inkjet
 laser
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
PRINTERS – INKJET PRINTER

 Sprays ink onto a sheet of paper, and can

produce high-quality text and photo images.
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
PRINTERS – LASER PRINTER

 It produces very high-quality text and

graphics, using a process similar to a
photocopier to produce print.

 It creates dot-like images on a drum, using

a laser beam light source.
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
SCANNER

 A scanner is a device that captures text or illustrations

on paper and converts the information into a form the
computer can use.
 One of the most common kinds of scanners is called a
flatbed scanner.
 Sometimes scanners can be manufactured so that they
are combined with a printer thus can also be used as a
photocopier and fax machine.
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
USB FLASH DRIVE

 A small, portable device that plugs into a computer’s

USB port and operates as a portable hard drive.
 USB flash drives are considered to be an ideal method
to transport data, as they are small enough to be
carried in a pocket and can plug into any computer with
a USB drive.
 Other names for flash drives are thumb drives, pen
drives or USB drives.
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
WEB CAM

 Web cams are small cameras that plug into

your computer which allow the user to share
a moving image of themselves with others on
other computers through the Internet.
 EXTERNAL HARDWARE PERIPHERALS
DIGITAL CAM

 Digital cameras store images digitally onto a

storage device, either a memory card or a
floppy disk.

 Once a picture has been taken, it can be

downloaded to a computer system, and then
manipulated or printed.
DETERMINE ANY REQUIREMENTS AS SPECIFIED
BY THE HARDWARE MANUFACTURER

 Warranties and support

 Before acquiring hardware peripheral
devices, it is vital to assess what kind of
warranties, service and support, the
suppliers will provide.
DETERMINE ANY REQUIREMENTS AS SPECIFIED
BY THE HARDWARE MANUFACTURER

 Warranties
 A warranty is an agreed upon term which covers
a computer or computer component.
 Generally, most computers have a 1- or 3-year
warranty.
 This warranty may or may not cover the service,
repair and replacement of computer parts.
 SERVICE AND SUPPORT

 It is important to know what kind of support

services are offered by the supplier.
 There are many questions to consider such
as:
 If a device requires repairs does it have to be
sent back to the supplier (called ‘Return to base’)
or will they provide on-site visits?
 SERVICE AND SUPPORT

 What is the average response time if service is

required?
 What kinds of maintenance and repair costs could
be incurred during the duration of use of the
device?
 Will the device require regular servicing? If so, how
many services will be necessary over a one-year
period?
 SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

 It is important to find out the specifications of

the computer system you are planning to
connect the peripheral device to.

 Many newer types of peripheral devices require

a specific amount of memory, CPU speed, hard
disk space, and may only be compatible with
certain operating systems.
 SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

 You also need to be aware of the peripheral’s

system requirements.

 The manual for the peripheral device as well

as the manufacturer’s website will help you
determine the minimum system
specifications.
 COMPATIBILITY

 Compatibility is the ability of a system or a product

to work with other systems or products without
special effort on the part of the customer.
 One-way products achieve interoperability is to
comply with industry interface standards.
 For example, a memory module is compatible with a
motherboard because the manufacturer of the memory
module and the motherboard both work to the same
industry standard.
 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

 Once the business requirements have been

considered, the technical specifications of the
hardware device need to be evaluated.
 Areas for evaluation include the following:
 Processing speed of the CPU
 Storage capacity of the hard drive
 Size of memory (RAM)
 Software capabilities
 Compatibility with existing systems
 Upgradeability
 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

 The technical specifications to be considered will

depend on the computer hardware device to be
purchased.
 For example, technical specifications to be
considered for a printer include:
 Interface – USB or network
 Resolution – measured in dots per inch
 Printing speed – measured in pages per minute
 Memory
 Paper capacity
 WARRANTY

 When computer hardware devices are purchased,

the supplier provides a guarantee that if a fault
develops in the equipment within a certain time,
they will repair or replace it free of charge.
 Organizations need to consider the warranty
conditions before purchasing to ensure their
business needs will be met.
 Common warranty conditions include:
 WARRANTY

 The length of the warranty  typically one or more

years.
 The actions needed to have the repairs undertaken.
 Either the repairs will be done on-site or the equipment
will need to be returned to the supplier, known as
return-to-base.
 How long the supplier has to make good any required
repairs
 Any exclusions to the warranty, such as damage caused
to hardware by accidental damage.
 WARRANTY

 Many computer hardware suppliers offer extended

warranties at additional cost.
 For example, the extended warranty may extend the
period of cover from one year to three years.
 The level of service purchased by an organization will
depend on how critical the device is to the IT system.
 A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is an agreement which
sets out the level of service and maintenance to be
provided.
 ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES

 Some organizations have a policy of using

preferred suppliers for computer hardware
purchases.

 This ensures the quality and consistency of

computer hardware devices is maintained
throughout an organization.
 ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES

A standard operating environment is a

specification for computer hardware and
software which organizations develop to
maintain consistency and reduce support costs.

 Many organizations such as universities, publish

their standard operating environment policies on
the internet.
End of Unit #1