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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Your PC (Personal Computer) is a system, consisting of many components. Some
of those components, like Windows XP, and all your other programs, are
software. The stuff you can actually see and touch is hardware.
Hardware
The hardware are the parts of computer itself including the Central Processing
Unit (CPU) and related microchips and micro-circuitry, keyboards, monitors,case
and drives (hard, CD, DVD, floppy, optical, tape, etc...). Other extra parts called
peripheral components or devices include mouse, printers, modems,scanners,
digital cameras and cards (sound, colour, video) etc...
CHAPTER 2: PROCESSOR
The Central Processing Unit, Which is often referred to as the Processor is the
brain of the computer. The chip that performs the majority of calculations and
instructions needed to make your computer run. Without this chip, no other
function of the PC is possible. The processor is attached to the motherboard
(Processor slot).
Internal clock speed Is the speed at which the processor can obtain information
within itself, like with internal cache and registers. (Pentium III 800 MHz. the 800
MHz is the internal clock speed)
External clock speed Is the speed at which the CPU communicates with
components outside itself.
CHAPTER 3: MOTHERBOARD
Memory Modules
Main Memory / Random Access Memory (RAM)
Random access memory or RAM most commonly refers to
computer chips that temporarily store dynamic data when
you are working with your computer to enhance the
computer performance. In other words, it is the working
place of your computer where active programs and data are loaded so that any
time time the processor requres them, it doesn't have to fetch them from the
hard disk which will take a longer access time.
Random access memory is volatile memory, meaning it loses its contents once
power is turned off. This is different from non-volatile memory such as hard disks
and flash memory, which do not require a power source to retain data. When a
computer shuts down properly, all data located in random access memory is
returned back to permanent storage on the hard drive or flash drive. At the next
boot-up, RAM begins to fill with programs automatically loaded at startup, and
with files opened by the user a process called booting.
BIOS Chip
BIOS- Basic Input Output System
BIOS is a term that stands for basic
input/output system, which consists of low-
level software that controls the system
hardware and acts as an interface between the
operating system and the hardware. Most
people know the term BIOS by another name
device drivers, or just drivers. In other words, the BIOS is drivers, meaning all of
them. BIOS is essentially the link between hardware and software in a system.
All motherboards include a small block of Read Only Memory (ROM) which is
separate from the main system memory used for loading and running software.
On PCs, the BIOS contains all the code required to control the keyboard, display
screen, disk drives, serial communications, and a number of miscellaneous
functions.
CMOS Battery
CMOS-Complimentary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor
Motherboards also include a small separate
block of memory made from CMOS RAM chips
which is kept alive by a battery (known as a
CMOS battery) even when the PCs power is
off. This prevents reconfiguration when the PC is powered on.
CMOS devices require very little power to operate.
The CMOS RAM is used to store basic Information about the PCs configuration
e.g.
Floppy disk and hard disk drive types
CPU
RAM size
Date and time
Serial and parallel port information
Plug and Play information
Power Saving settings
The Other Important data kept in CMOS memory is the time and date, which is
updated by a Real Time Clock (RTC).
PCI Slots
Expansion Buses
An input/output pathway from the CPU to
peripheral devices typically made up of a
series of slots on the motherboard. Expansion
boards (cards) plug into the bus. PCI is the
common expansion bus in a PC and other
hardware platforms. Buses carry signals, such
as data; memory addresses, power and control signals from component to
component.
Expansion buses enhance the PCs capabilities by allowing users to add missing
features in their computers in form of adapter cards that are slotted in expansion
slots.
The different types of buses include PCI, ISA, and EISA expansion bus.
Chipset
A chipset is a group of small circuits that coordinate the flow of data to and from
key components of a PC. This includes the CPU itself, the main memory, the
secondary cache and any devices situated on the buses. The chipset also controls
data flow to and from hard disks, and other devices connected to the IDE
channels. A computer has got two main chipsets:-
The NorthBridge (also called the memory controller) is in charge of
controlling transfers between the processor and the RAM, which is way it is
located physically near the processor. It is sometimes called the GMCH, for
Graphic and Memory Controller Hub.
The SouthBridge (also called the input/output controller or expansion
controller) handles communications between peripheral devices. It is also
called the ICH (I/O Controller Hub). The tem bridge is generally used to
designate a component which connects two buses.
Chipset manufacturers include SIS, VIA, ALI, OPTI e.t.c.
Interesting hubs
Motherboard Form Factors
The motherboard form factor describes its general shape, the type of case
and power supply it can use, and its physical organization (layout of the
motherboard). It is what we are going to have a look at in this hub.
Cpu Clock
The clock synchronizes the operation of all parts of the PC and provides the basic
timing signal for the CPU. Using a quartz crystal, the CPU clock breathes life into
the microprocessor by feeding it a constant flow of pulses.
For example, a 200 MHz CPU receives 200 million pulses per second from the
clock. A 2 GHz CPU gets two billion pulses per second. Similarly, in a
communications device, a clock may be used to synchronize the data pulses
between sender and receiver.
A "real-time clock," also called the "system clock," keeps track of the time of day
and makes this data available to the software. A "timesharing clock" interrupts
the CPU at regular intervals and allows the operating system to divide its time
between active users and/or applications.
These are just some of the features that a motherboard may have as standard,
some motherboards come with integrated components such as a sound card,
graphics card, modem, NIC (Network Interface Card) and more.
Types of Motherboards
The type of motherboards depends on the CPU it was designed for. You can
therefore categories motherboards by which socket type they have. e.g. Socket A,
Socket 478 etc.
The Type of motherboard you buy is very important, as it will need to house your
CPU, and they are not interchangeable. When buying a motherboard, it will
always tell you what socket type it has.
Chapter 3.2: How to Choose a Motherboard
As everything you have on the PC at some point needs the motherboard, you
need to consider these components when buying a motherboard. For example, if
you have a lot of devices with a PCI interface that you wish to use, there is little
point buying a motherboard that only offers you 3 PCI slots. Like wise with
CHAPTER 4: RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the basic working
memory of your computer system. A computer used
RAM to hold volatile (Temporary) instructions and data
needed for processing. Volatile simply means that it is
not permanent, which means anything written to RAM
will be loses if the machine loses power or if it's turned off.
Another key point about RAM is that data stored init can be accessed much more
quickly than data retrieved from the hard disk. Theoretically data retrieved from
RAM is accessed 100 to 300 times faster then the same information from a hard
disk, optical drive, or a floppy.
Memory is measured in bytes, so you'll often encounter the terms megabyte (MB)
and gigabyte (GB) in describing RAM sizes (a megabyte is a million bytes; a
gigabyte, a billion). RAM is something that you do not want to skimp on. You can
choose a slower processor, but with RAM you want as much as you can get.
Types of RAM:
SDRAM DDR2
DDR DDR3
SDRAM
Almost all systems used to ship with 3.3
volt, 168-pin SDRAM DIMMs. SDRAM is not
an extension of older EDO DRAM but a new
type of DRAM altogether. SDRAM started
out running at 66 MHz, while older fast
page mode DRAM and EDO max out at 50
This may be worth considering if you want to run Dual-Channel memory where
you must use the same speed and ideally matching pairs to ensure compatibility.
To use DDR3 memory, your system motherboard must have 240-pin DIMM slots
and a DDR3-enabled chipset.
CHAPTER 5: HARDDISK
The hard disk (or hard drive) is the permanent
storage area of your computer. It stores information
whether the computer is on or off. A hard drive is a
mass storage device found in all PCs (with some
exclusions) that is used to store permanent data
such as the operating system, programs and user
files.
The data on hard drives can be erased and/or
overwritten, the hard drive is classed as a non-
volatile storage device which means it doesn't require a constant power supply in
order to retain the information stored on it (unlike RAM).
Inside every hard drive are small round disk-like objects made of either an
aluminum/alloy or a glass/ceramic composite, these are called platters, each
platter is coated with a special magnetic coating enabling them to store data
magnetically. Hovering above these platters are read/write heads that transfer
data to and from the platters.
Hard drives come with many different storage capacities, hard drive capacity is
measured in bytes, with common capacities being stated in MB (Megabytes) and
GB (Gigabytes).
Hard Drive RPM Speeds
You will often see hard drives advertised as being capable of a certain RPM
(Revolutions Per Minute), this figure (as the name suggests) refers to how many
times the spindle makes a complete 360? turn in any single minute. RPM values
range from about 5,400RPM to 12,000RPM and above.
CHAPTER 6: CARD
6.1: Video Card
VGA Card is the one sending the monitor signal to the monitor.
A computer video card is placed in the motherboard, where it transfers video
signals through a cable to your monitor. The video card can either be built into
the motherboard or be a separate card that is placed in either the AGP or PCI-
Express Slot.
Server
If you're using your computer as a mail server, FTP server, print server, or even a
game server, you definitely do not need a high-end video card. What you need is
a simple, no-frills low-end video card.
Simple Applications
Say you're using the PC for simple applications only, for example, word
processing, email or web surfing. Again, you do not need the best video card out
there. A cheap and decent one will do the trick.
Complex Applications
If you need to perform more complex tasks like 3D computer aided design or
video editing, it will make more sense to go for a heavy duty card. Screen
resolution and image quality tend to be important factors for this type of work.
Look for a video card whose processor which supports a high screen resolution,
with ample graphics memory.
General Games
If you'll only play simple games like Minesweeper, Reverse or Backgammon, then
my advice is to save your money and just get a simple video card. No need for the
latest 3D graphics gizmo.
A device that translates data from your PC into a form that can be sent to other
computers over regular phone lines. The modem also receives signals from other
computers and converts it into something your computer can understand. A
modem is the device most home computers use to connect to the Internet.
A Modem converts digital information into sound so that it may be transmitted
over telephone lines. When the modem hears this sound on the other end it
converts the sound back into digital information.
CHAPTER 7: PERIPHERALS
Chapter 7.1: Keyboard and Mouse
These two input devices are obviously needed, otherwise you can't interact with
the computer system. These components are fairly standard stuff and can be
purchased at pretty cheap prices.
Keyboards
The keyboard is the main input device for most
computers. There are many sets of keys on a
typical windows keyboard. On the left side of the
keyboard are regular alphanumeric and
punctuation keys similar to those on a typewriter.
These are used to input textual information to the
PC.
A numeric keypad on the right is similar to that of an adding machine or
calculator. Keys that are used for cursor control and navigation are located in the
middle. Keys that are used for special functions are located along the top of the
keyboard and along the bottom section of the alphanumeric keys.
1.Multimediakeyboard.2.OrdinaryKeyboard.
Mouse
CD-Rom
A CD-ROM drive used to be an 'optional extra' in
computers - it is no longer so. Most software
packages come in CD format, so you must have a
CD-ROM drive to read them. Typically, CD-ROM
drives today need to be at least 24X speed to
keep up with the newer software applications out
there.
A CD drive connects to the computer
motherboard through two types of cables. The
older and more common connection is through the IDE Ribbon cable . Recently
SATA (Serial ATA) drives have been produced and will gradually become more
common. The benefits of having SATA cables is that they are smaller and the
transfer rate is higher.
Computer Case
The computer case is your computer's housing. You need this to store your
components, the largest of which is your motherboard.
Types of Case
Mini Tower :
Mid-Size Tower:
Full-Size Tower
Advantages: Excellent computer for
upgradeability. Excellent case for a server
machine.
Disadvantages: Cost is going to be a lot more
then a standard case. Generally A large case
which cannot be placed on top or beneath a desk.
Recommendations: This case is an excellent
choice for all users and businesses.
Desktop
External Space
The first factor to consider is how much space your PC case is going to take up.
Are you placing it on a tight, crammed desk? Or on a large desk? If you have the
space, tower PC cases are a good choice. If you're short of space, you may wish to
consider smaller mini PC cases which are getting more popular these days.
Internal Space
Another factor to consider is how many components you wish to fit in your PC
case. If you're a computer nut like me, you'll want to fit in a good motherboard,
CPU, a couple of hard drives, video card, LAN card, cooling fans, a CD-ROM drive
and a DVD writer. That's a lot of components to be cramming into a PC case!
Again, a good choice would be a tower PC case. However, with so many
components, you have to watch out for overheating problems - make sure you
deck out the system with a couple of good fans.
Motherboard Support
Check that your motherboard can fit into the case! Some cases are flexible
enough to support AT, ATX and Baby-AT boards, but others only support one of
these sizes. Even then, you need to be careful - some cheaper 'ATX' cases don't
really fit ATX motherboards. I remember buying a wonderful ATX motherboard
and it couldn't fit into my PC case! Imagine my frustration!
Power Supply
Most PC cases come with power supplies. With more and more components
being fitted into a PC, you will certainly need enough juice to power them.
Cooling
If you're a over clocker or have many system components, you'll need to ensure
you've got enough fans in that case to cool the system. Good PC cases allow
multiple (4 or more) cooling fans to be installed, ensuring good ventilation.
The most common power supply that we have in our computers today are the
ATX Power Supply. The AT Power Supply was found in many computers a few
years ago but this has become less common.
The graphic below shows each power cable and its name.
The computer power supply is placed inside the computer case generally near
the top of the case. It is sometimes necessary to buy a mini power supply for
some cases are so small that they need one. Most computer cases when bought
come with a power supply that is suited to its case. There are usually power ports
The information listed here is to assist Network Administrators in the color coding of Ethernet
cables. Please be aware that modifying Ethernet cables improperly may cause loss of network
connectivity. Use this information at your own risk, and ensure all connectors and cables are
modified in accordance with TIA standards.
BASIC THEORY:
By looking at a T-568A UTP Ethernet straight-thru cable and an Ethernet crossover cable with a
T-568B end, we see that the TX (transmitter) pins are connected to the corresponding RX
(receiver) pins, plus to plus and minus to minus. You can also see that both the blue and brown
wire pairs on pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 are not used in either standard. What you may not realize is
that, these same pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 are not used or required in 100BASE-TX as well. So why
bother using these wires, well for one thing its simply easier to make a connection with all the
wires grouped together. Otherwise you'll be spending time trying to fit those tiny little wires
into each of the corresponding holes in the RJ-45 connector.
The T-568A standard is supposed to be used in new network installations. Most off-the-shelf
Ethernet cables are still of the T-568B standard; however, it makes absolutely no functional
difference in which you choose.
Both the T-568A and the T-568B standard Straight-Through cables are used most often as patch
cords for your Ethernet connections. If you require a cable to connect two Ethernet devices
directly together without a hub or when you connect two hubs together, you will need to use a
Crossover cable instead.
A good way of remembering how to wire a Crossover Ethernet cable is to wire one end using
the T-568A standard and the other end using the T-568B standard. Another way of
remembering the color coding is to simply switch the Green set of wires in place with the
Orange set of wires. Specifically, switch the solid Green (G) with the solid Orange, and switch
the green/white with the orange/white.
IP Classes
Earlier, you read that IPv4 addresses represent four eight-digit binary numbers.
That means that each number could be 00000000 to 11111111 in binary, or 0 to
255 in decimal (base-10). In other words, 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255. However,
some numbers in that range are reserved for specific purposes on TCP/IP
networks. These reservations are recognized by the authority on TCP/IP
addressing, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). Four specific
reservations include the following:
0.0.0.0 -- This represents the default network, which is the abstract concept
of just being connected to a TCP/IP network.
255.255.255.255 -- This address is reserved for network broadcasts, or
messages that should go to all computers on the network.
127.0.0.1 -- This is called the loopback address, meaning your computer's
way of identifying itself, whether or not it has an assigned IP address.
169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 -- This is the Automatic Private IP
Addressing (APIPA) range of addresses assigned automatically when a
computer's unsuccessful getting an address from a DHCP server.
The other IP address reservations are for subnet classes. A subnet is a smaller
network of computers connected to a larger network through a router. The
subnet can have its own address system so computers on the same subnet can
communicate quickly without sending data across the larger network. A router on
a TCP/IP network, including the Internet, is configured to recognize one or more
subnets and route network traffic appropriately. The following are the IP
addresses reserved for subnets:
10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255 -- This falls within the Class A address range of
1.0.0.0 to 127.0.0.0, in which the first bit is 0.