CLARK COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

(formerly Clark International College of Science & Technology)

SNS Bldg., Aurea St., SamsonvilleSubd., Dau, Mabalacat City, Pampanga
Telefax No.: (045) 624-0215

Name:

Grade/Section/Strand:

Teacher OMAR SHARIF CUYUGAN Year Level 11

Teaching Date Week 3 - 4 Learning Area Computer Hardware
and Time Servicing
Semester / 1st Semester
Quarter
FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF A COMPUTER
Important things to ponder…
SYSTEM UNIT - The system unit of the computer contains the hard drive, disc drive, CPU, graphics card,
sound card, and countless ports used to connect external devices to your computer. In essence, the
system unit is “brains” of the computer. Without it, you couldn’t store data, run processes, or do much
of anything at all.

 PARTS OF THE SYSTEM UNIT

o MOTHERBOARD – The main circuit board of a computer. It contains all the
circuits and components that run the computer. It is the super highway of all
computer components.
o CPU – The processor is the main “brain” or “heart” of a computer system. It
performs all of the instructions and calculations that are needed and manages
the flow of information through a computer.
o PRIMARY STORAGE (Internal storage, main memory or memory) – is the
computer’s working storage space that holds data instructions for processing
and processed data (information) waiting to be sent to secondary storage.
Physically, primary storage is a collection of RAM chips.
 Two (2) Types of Memory
 ROM (Read only Memory) – is non-volatile, meaning it holds
data even when the power is ON or OFF.
 RAM (Random Access Memory) – is volatile, meaning it holds
data only when the power is on. When the power is off, RAM’s
contents are lost.
o ADAPTERS (optional) – Printed- circuit boards (also called interface cards) that
enable the computer to use a peripheral device for which it does not have the
necessary connection or circuit boards. They often used to permit upgrading to
a new different hardware.
o POWER SUPPLY UNIT (PSU) – Installed in the back corner of the PC case, next to
the motherboard. It converts AC (Active Current) into DC voltages (Direct
Current) that are used by other components in the PC.
o SECONDARY STORAGE – sometimes called auxiliary storage, is non-volatile and
is used to store data and programs for later retrieval
 Hard Disk Drive – Also known as hard drive, is a magnetic storage
device that is installed inside the computer. The hard drive is used as
permanent storage for data. In a windows computer, the hard drive is
usually configured as the C: drive and contains the operating system and
applications.
 Solid State Drive – A solid-state drive (SSD) is a new generation of
storage device used in computers. SSD’s use flash-based memory, which
is much faster than a traditional mechanical hard disk.
o COMPUTER CHASSIS - is the housing that helps protect and organize all the
components that make up a desktop computer.
 CLARK COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(formerly Clark International College of Science & Technology)
SNS Bldg., Aurea St., SamsonvilleSubd., Dau, Mabalacat City, Pampanga
Telefax No.: (045) 624-0215

o FANS - is any fan inside, or attached to, a computer case used for active cooling.

MOTHERBAORD – The main circuit board of a computer. It contains all the circuits and components that
run the computer. It is the super highway of all computer components.

Types of Motherboards – Motherboards come in different sizes, known as form factors. The most
common motherboard form factor is ATX.

 ATX
 Micro – ATX
 Mini – ATX
 Nano- ITX
 Pico – ITX

Parts of the motherboard:

 CPU Socket - Also called as CPU socket is the connector on the motherboard that houses a CPU
and forms the electrical interface and contact with the CPU.
 Chipset – controls or manages input and output. Examples of I/O interface connections
controlled by south bridge are USB, serial, IDE and ISA.
 RAM Slot – are the place on your motherboard where the RAM goes.
 PCIe x16 slot – is a slot on a motherboard that has 16 data links known as PCIe lanes. This is a
slot with the highest throughput rate and can be occupied with expansion cards that have a very
high bandwidth requirement such as graphics card.
 PCIe x1 slot – is used to plug in low demanding PCIe expansion cards that do not have a very
high throughput (transfer rate) such as Network adapters, Port Expansion Cards, Sound Cards
and Certain Riser Cards.
 M.2 Connector - At the moment, M.2 is primarily used as an interface for super-fast SSDs, both
on laptops and desktops.
 SATA ports - Short for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, SATA is a bus interface for
connecting secondary storage devices to your computer. These storage devices can be SSDs,
HDDs, or optical drives.
 Front Panel Audio Connector – lets you connect to a front panel audio module built into a
system chassis.
 USB Headers – are basically the physical connectors found on the motherboard for connecting
the extra USB ports found on the PC case.
 ATX power connector (24 pin) – It powers the entire motherboard.
 ATX 12v Power connectors (8pin) – It powers the processor in the motherboard.
 BIOS Chipset - a ROM chip found on motherboards that lets you access and set up your
computer system at the most basic level.
 CMOS Battery - powers your computer’s BIOS firmware, which is responsible for booting up
your computer and configuring data flow.
 FAN Headers - are terminals found on your motherboard where you plug your many PC cooling
fans. They operate and provide monitoring capability for the fans of your PC.
 Front Panel Headers – is a block of connectors on a motherboard that control the power on,
power reset, beep code speaker and the LED light indicators on your PC case/chassis.
 COM Serial Header – is a 9-pin connector on some older motherboards that is used to connect
serial port devices.
 VRM Heatsink - help to dissipate heat from VRM. Voltage Regulator Module. It helps on cooling
the PCB board of the motherboard.
 TPM Header – or Trusted Platform Module is a microchip that is often built into a computer to
provide hardware-based security.
 RGB Header – are 12v DC and are used for powering RGB LED strips. If your motherboard has
this header, you’re free to power your LED strips off it.
 CLARK COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(formerly Clark International College of Science & Technology)
SNS Bldg., Aurea St., SamsonvilleSubd., Dau, Mabalacat City, Pampanga
Telefax No.: (045) 624-0215

Name:
Grade /Section/ Strand:

I. Draw and define the parts of the system unit indicated below. You can use yellow pad to
answer, after answering please staple it together with this module.

1.) MOTHERBOARD
2.) CPU
3.) RAM
4.) GPU/Video Card
5.) POWER SUPPLY UNIT
6.) HDD/SSD
7.) COMPUTER CHASSIS
8.) COMPUTER FANS

II. Indicate the parts of Front Panel Header on the motherboard on the blanks.

1.) ______________________ 3.) ____________________

2.) ______________________ 4.) ____________________

5.) ______________________ 6.) ______________________

Prepared by: Checked by:

OMAR SHARIF E. CUYUGAN ARVIN MARK D. SERRANO
Instructor SHS Principal