Information Sheet 2

Qualification: COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NCII
Unit of Competency: Install and configure computer systems

Information sheet #2 Parts of computer
Parts of a computer
A computer is really a system of many parts working together. The physical parts, which you can see and
touch, are collectively called hardware, and Software which refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell
the hardware what to do.
Desktop computer system
Mouse
A mouse is a small device used to point to and select items on your computer screen. Although mice come in
many shapes, the typical mouse does look a bit like an actual mouse. It's small, oblong, and connected to the
system unit by a long wire that resembles a tail. Some newer mice are wireless.
Mouse
A mouse usually has two buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button. Many
mice also have a wheel between the two buttons, which allows you to scroll smoothly through screens of
information.
When you move the mouse with your hand, a pointer on your screen moves in the same direction. (The
pointer's appearance might change depending on where it's positioned on your screen.) When you want to
select an item, you point to the item and then click (press and release) the primary button. Pointing and
Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

clicking with your mouse is the main way to interact with your computer.
Keyboard
A keyboard is used mainly for typing text and numbers into your computer. Like the keyboard on a typewriter,
it has keys for letters and numbers, but it also has special keys:
 The function keys, found on the top row, perform different functions depending on where they are used.
 The numeric keypad, located on the right side of most keyboards, allows you to enter numbers quickly.
 The navigation keys, such as the arrow keys, allow you to move your position within a document or
webpage.
Keyboard
You can also use your keyboard to perform many of the same tasks you can perform with a mouse.
Monitor
A monitor displays information in visual form, using text and graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays
the information is called the screen. Like a television screen, a computer screen can show still or moving
pictures.
There are two basic types of monitors: CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors and LCD (liquid crystal display)
monitors. Both types produce sharp images, but LCD monitors have the advantage of being much thinner and
lighter. CRT monitors, however, are generally more affordable.
LCD monitor (left); CRT monitor (right)
Printer
A printer transfers data from a computer onto paper. You don't need a printer to use your computer, but
having one allows you to print e-mail, cards, invitations, announcements, and other materials. Many people
also like being able to print their own photos at home.
The two main types of printers are inkjet printers and laser printers. Inkjet printers are the most popular
printers for the home. They can print in black and white or in full color and can produce high-quality
photographs when used with special paper. Laser printers are faster and generally better able to handle heavy

use.
Inkjet printer (left); laser printer (right)
Speakers
Speakers are used to play sound. They may be built into the system unit or connected with cables. Speakers
allow you to listen to music and hear sound effects from your computer.
Computer speakers
Modem
To connect your computer to the Internet, you need a modem. A modem is a device that sends and receives
computer information over a telephone line or high-speed cable. Modems are sometimes built into the
system unit, but higher-speed modems are usually separate components.
Cable modem
System unit
The system unit is the core of a computer system. Usually it's a rectangular box placed on or underneath your
desk. Inside this box are many electronic components that process information. Almost every other part of
your computer connects to the system unit using cables. The cables plug into specific ports (openings),
typically on the back of the system unit. Hardware that is not part of the system unit is sometimes called
a peripheral device or device.

Parts of System Unit

Casing
The case (or chassis) of a computer is the metallic box which houses the various internal components. Cases
also have other uses, such as blocking noise produced by the computer, and protection from electromagnetic
radiation. There are norms for guaranteeing such protection in a manner compliant with existing regulation.
The main considerations when choosing a case are its form factor, its dimensions, how many drive slots it has,
its power requirements, the connectors it has on the side, and finally its design and color. Although the cases
that housed the first PCs all looked alike, today cases come in all shapes; some are even transparent, so that
users can "soup up" their computers, such as by installing neon lights inside.
Power supply
Most cases come with a power supply. The power supply provides electrical current to all of the computer's
components. In the United States and Canada, power supplies deliver 110V current at 60 Hz, while in Europe
the standard is 220V at a frequency of 50 Hz, which is why most computer power supplies have a switch so
that you can choose the voltage.

It is essential to make sure that the switch is in the correct position for the right voltage, so that there is no
risk that the CPU components will deteriorate.
The power supply must have enough power to provide electricity to all of the computer's devices.
Close attention should also be paid to the amount of sound that the power supply makes.
Storage
Your computer has one or more disk drives—devices that store information on a metal or plastic disk. The disk
preserves the information even when your computer is turned off.
Hard disk drive
Your computer's hard disk drive stores information on a hard disk, a rigid platter or stack of platters with a
magnetic surface. Because hard disks can hold massive amounts of information, they usually serve as your
computer's primary means of storage, holding almost all of your programs and files. The hard disk drive is
normally located inside the system unit.
Hard disk drive
CD and DVD drives

Nearly all computers today come equipped with a CD or DVD drive, usually located on the front of the system
unit. CD drives use lasers to read (retrieve) data from a CD, and many CD drives can also write (record) data
onto CDs. If you have a recordable disk drive, you can store copies of your files on blank CDs. You can also use
a CD drive to play music CDs on your computer.
DVD drives can do everything that CD drives can, plus read DVDs. If you have a DVD drive, you can watch
movies on your computer. Many DVD drives can record data onto blank DVDs.

Floppy disk drive

Floppy disk drives store information on floppy disks, also called floppies or diskettes. Compared to CDs and
DVDs, floppy disks can store only a small amount of data. They also retrieve information more slowly and are
more prone to damage. For these reasons, floppy disk drives are less popular than they used to be, although
some computers still include them.
Floppy disk
Why are floppy disks "floppy"? Even though the outside is made of hard plastic, that's just the sleeve. The disk
inside is made of a thin, flexible vinyl material.
CPU
The most important of these components is the central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor, The central
processing unit (CPU) is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer
program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays
a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer.
RAM/MEMORY
Another component is random access memory (RAM), which temporarily stores information that the CPU uses
while the computer is on. The information stored in RAM is erased when the computer is turned off.
RAM is an acronym for random access memory, a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly;

that is, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common
type of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers.
There are two different types of RAM:

DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)
SRAM (Static Random Access Memory).
The two types of RAM differ in the technology they use to hold data, with DRAM being the more common
type. In terms of speed, SRAM is faster. DRAM needs to be refreshed thousands of times per second while
SRAM does not need to be refreshed, which is what makes it faster than DRAM.
DRAM supports access times of about 60 nanoseconds, SRAM can give access times as low as 10 nanoseconds.
Despite SRAM being faster, it's not as commonly used as DRAM because it's so much more expensive. Both
types of RAM are volatile, meaning that they lose their contents when the power is turned off.
Motherboard
In personal computers, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board in many modern computers and
holds many of the crucial components of the system, providing connectors for other peripherals. The
motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, system board, planar board
Integrated components
The motherboard includes some on-board components, meaning that they are integrated into its printed
circuitry:
 The chipset, a circuit which controls the majority of resources (including the bus interface with the
processor, cache memory and random-access memory, expansion cards, etc.)
 The CMOS clock and battery,
 The BIOS,
 The system bus and the expansion bus.
The CMOS clock and battery

The real time clock (or RTC for short) is a circuit which synchronizes system signals. It is made from a crystal

which, as it vibrates, gives off pulses (called timer ticks) in order to keep the system elements running on the
same time. The timer frequency (expressed in MHz) the number of times the crystal vibrates each second.
When the computer is turned off, the power supply stops providing electricity to the motherboard. When the
computer is turned on again, the system is still on the right time. An electronic circuit, called
theCMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxyde Semiconductor, sometimes called the BIOS CMOS), saves some
system information, such as the time, the system date, and a few essential system settings.
The CMOS is kept powered by a battery (a button battery), or a battery located on the motherboard.
Information on the hardware installed in the computer (such as the number of tracks or sectors on each hard
drive) are stored in the CMOS. As the CMOS is a form of slow storage, certain systems sometimes recopy the
CMOS's content into the RAM (fast storage); the term "memory shadow" is used to describe this process of
copying the data into RAM.
The chipset
The chipset is an electronic circuit whose job is to coordinate data transfers between the various components
of the computer (including the processor and memory).
Chipset diagram:
BIOS
The BIOS (Basic Input/output System) is the basic program used as an interface between the operating system
and the motherboard. The BIOS is stored in ROM (read-only memory, which cannot be rewritten), so it uses
data contained within the CMOS to find out what the system's hardware configuration is.
The BIOS can be configured using an interface (named the BIOS setup), which can be accessed when the
computer is booting just be pressing a key (usually the DEL key. In reality, the BIOS setup is only used as an

interface for configuration; the data is stored in the CMOS. For more information, check your motherboard's
manual.)
CPU SOCKET
The motherboard has a slot (sometimes several, for multi-processor motherboards) into which the processor
is inserted, called the processor socket or slot.
 Slot: A rectangular connector into which the processor is mounted vertically.
 Socket: In addition to being the general term, it also refers more specifically to a square-shaped connector
with many small connectors into which the processor is directly inserted.
Within these two large families, there are different versions used, depending on the type of processor.
Whatever slot or socket is used, it is essential that the processor be inserted gently; so that none of its pins are
bent (it has hundreds of them). To make inserting them easier, a concept called ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) has
been created. ZIF sockets have a small lever, which, when lifted, allows the processor to be inserted without
applying any pressure, and when lowered, it holds the processor in place.
The processor generally includes some sort of foolproof device, in the form of a notched corner or colored
markings, which must be aligned with the corresponding markings on the socket.
Since the processor releases heat, it is necessary to dissipate it, to keep the circuits from melting. This is why it
is generally mounted atop a heat sink , which is made of a metal which conducts heat well (copper or
aluminum) in order to increase the microprocessor's heat transfer surface. The heat sink includes a base in
contact with the processor and fins in order to increase the heat transfer surface. A fan generally accompanies
the cooler in order to improve air circulation around it and to improve the heat transfer. The unit also includes
a fan which vents hot air from the case and let fresh air come in from outside.
RAM CONNECTORS
Is where the RAM or the memory card is inserted

Expansion slots
Expansion slots are compartments into which expansion cards can be inserted. These are cards which give the
computer new features or increased performance. There are several types of slots:
 ISA slots (Industry Standard Architecture): For inserting ISA slots. The slowest ones are 16-bit.
 PCI slot (Peripheral Component InterConnect): used for connecting PCI cards, which are much faster than
ISA cards and run on 32 bits
 AGP slot (Accelerated Graphic Port): A fast port for a graphics card.
 PCI Express slot (Peripheral Component InterConnect Express): Faster bus architecture
than AGPand PCI buses.
I/O connectors
The motherboard has a certain number of input/output sockets found on the rear panel.
Most motherboards have the following connectors:

 A serial port, for connecting old peripherals;
 A parallel port, mainly for connecting old printers;
 USB ports for connecting more recent peripherals;
 RJ45 connector (called LAN or Ethernet port) used for connecting the computer to a network. It
corresponds to a network card integrated into the motherboard;
 VGA connector (called SUB-D15), for connecting a monitor. This connector interfaces with the built-in
graphics;
 Audio plugs (Line-In, Line-Out and microphone), for connecting sound speakers or a hi-fi system, as well as
a microphone. This connector interfaces with the built-in sound card;
Front Panel
It is where the power switch, reset switch and the HDD and power LED is connected
Audio Panel
Audio connectors in front of the CPU case is connected
USB Panel
Some Motherboards have a USB front panel header that allows an additional 2 USB ports. The ports can be
connected either to the front or rear of the chassis by attaching a front panel USB cable. The header may be
labelled “Front Panel USB” or “FNT USB” on the desktop board. The other way to tell where your USB goes is
by the pins. Number 9 is missing.


Information Sheet 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Information Sheet 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Qualification: COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NCII

Unit of Competency: Install and configure computer systems

Desktop computer system

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

LCD monitor (left); CRT monitor (right)

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

Inkjet printer (left); laser printer (right)

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

Parts of System Unit

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

Hard disk drive

CD and DVD drives

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

Floppy disk drive

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

There are two different types of RAM:

The CMOS clock and battery

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

Most motherboards have the following connectors:

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

Trainer: Jehu J. Ariba La Milagrosa Academy Training Center

You might also like