Introduction To Computer Hardware

Introduction To Computer Hardware :

In  this Tutorial, I am going to elucidate an Introduction of Computer and it's Parts, This tutorial for beginners although some experienced hardware engineers needs to refer it once for better experience. Let's Start  

1. Computer Parts :

First thing i need to explain you what is computer?

C.O.M.P.U.T.E.R :  Common Operating Machine Particularly Used For Technology, Education and Research.

Then you need to know that the below image is not a computer :

Above picture refers to a monitor Only. Computer means a combination of CPU, Monitor and some input devices , See below picture

2. CPU : Common Operating Machine also refers as Heart and Brain of the computer.

Inside the C.P.U :

CPU  consists of 

1. Motherboard 
2. Processor
3. RAM
4. Hard Disk
5. BIOS
6. Ports
7. Cards
8. CPU Fans
9. Peripherals
10. Cabinet 
11. Cables

1.Motherboard :  The main circuit board which connects all the devices on a micro-computer. Also called main board or system board.

If you want to see motherboard of your computer, Takeoff the CPU cabinet door from one side. you can see motherboard is like below image may color of motherboard vary:

Motherboard consists of :

• Chipset

             -  The Chipset sontrols the system and its capabilities. It is the hub of all data                                 transfer.

     

            -  Chipsets are integrated, and are not upgradable without buying a whole new                              motherboard.

            - Some of the items it dictates :

                  * Memory controller

                  *Real=time clock

                  * Keyboard and mouse controller

                  * Secondary cache controller

                  * EIDE controller

• Motherboards are designed for specific processors. A single motherboard cannot be Used with different types of processors.
• The different system bus speeds supported by the motherboard should be of prime consideration

• Form Factors :

        - The form factor is the physical size and dimensions of the motherboard. The form factor determines the general layout, size, and feature placement on a motherboard.

         * Baby AT

         * ATX

         * Proprientary

• On-board devices - Video/Audio/LAN

        - Lowe cost.

        - Lesser flexibility.

• Up-gradability:

        - Bus speeds Supported.

        - Number of expansion slots.

        - number and Types of I/O ports available.

2.Processor :

I've told you CPU consists Heart and Brain of Computer. Processor is the brain of your computer. It's like a human brain. The brain dictates what the computer must do or not to do. In essence, the computer processor is tasked with the harmonizing the processes inside the computer. It determines which tasks should be given priority and delivers what the computer user needs. The speed by which these tasks are accomplished depends on the computer processor's speed. Basically you can't see the processor on motherboard, but you can sense it very easily, That is every mother board must has a fan,The processor right down be the fan. the processor looks like : 

Some key concepts :

         - Clock : In a Computer, clock speed refers to the number of pulses per second that sers                          tempo for the processor.

         - Cache :  * A small but fast memory area.
                           * Levels of cache exists.

         - Bus (FSB and BSB) : Collection of wires connecting different devices.

         - Pipeline : Implementation Technique where multiple instructions  are overlapped.
    

• 32/64 bit processors 

          - The amount of data a processor can process in a clock cycle.

• Clock Speed and overclocking

          - BUS SPEED x MULTIPLIER = CPU SPEED (Clock)

some information on processors :

1. Which processor is faster ?

           - 100 MHz x 10.0     = 1000 MHz

           - 133 MHz x 7.5        =  997.5 MHz

 Top Processor List 2014 :

1.  Intel Core i7 -3770 K

2. Intel Core i7-5960 X

3. Intel Core i7 - 4790 K

4. Intel Core i5 - 4570

5. Intel Core i7 - 4770 K

2. How do you pick a processor for your computer?
       - Performance and Cost
3. How to measure performance of processor
       - Clock speed is one measure of processor of computer "power" but it is not always                     directly proportional to the performance level.
       - The type of microprocessor, the bus architecture, and the nature of the instruction set,           all make a difference.
       - Check for bus speed and cache size as well. 

3. RAM :

RAM is volatile. it can broadly classified as 1) Static RAM and 2) Dynamic RAM

1) Static RAM : Static RAM is fast and has lower access time it is simply called as cache memory

2) Dynamic RAM is slower, and has higher access time, it is simply called as main memory.

Memory bandwidth is proportional to System Bus speed.

Recommendation:

If the computer is running slowly with a high amount of usage in virtual memory, installation of extra RAM memory could make the computer run much faster.

4. HARD DISK :

 Hard  disk is a storage device it looks like below Picture. hard disk stores your data like photos, videos , applications, operating system softwares, all data which are you save in local disks , so,  In my computer all local disks are your hard disk drive partitions. it stores data in magnetic disk like medium, It is non-volatile mass storage device.

                                                

 5. Card using on motherboard :

1. Video Card :

      - video card/ Graphics Card is a circuit board with memory and a dedicated processor.

      - Converts digital information into the pixels to display in on the monitor.

Frame Buffers :

       - The card simply holds a frame of information that is sent to the screen.

       - Pixel updates are done by the microprocessor.

       - Slow

Graphics accelerators with GPU:

       - Pixel updates are done by the GPU

       - GPU is optimized for graphics operations.

       - Reduces load on the main processor.

BUS Interfaces of PCI(Peripheral Components Interconnect) :

Bus Interfaces of AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) :

Video card look like : 

Choosing a Graphic card :

• PCI or AGP
• Integrated or Add-on card
• Non- Accelerated or 3D accelerated
• Cost. 

Sound Card :  sound card look like :

some of no audio support motherboards has integrated this sound card and also to improve the quality of audio for surround support , this audio or sound card will install on the motherboard. 

• sound card converts digital data(bits) into analog sound wave and vice-verse.
• Has Digital signal processor, RAM, ADC and DAC.
• Has jacks for speaker, microphone, line in, line out and joysticks.

Choosing Sound card :

• Integrated or External add-on card.
• CPU utilization.
• Sound reproduction capabilities (dolby, 5.1 channels etc).
• cost.

Network Interface Card :

• Connects PC to LAN (Local Area Network).
• Ethernet, Token Ring,
• Speeds

       -10Mbps

       - 100Mbps

• On-board or Add-on Card?

PORTS :

• Serial ports : Serial Ports 'serializes' data , VGA monitor uses serial ports.

• Parallel ports: Bits transmitted in parallel. Used primary for Printers.

• PS/2 : Used to interface keyboards and pointing devices. Frees the serial for other devices.

• USB ports : Data transfer rate 12 Mbps/480 Mbps. Multiple devices supported on the bus (127). Hot pluggable. Plug-and-Play. Provide power through the cable. Host based.

• Fire-wire (IEEE 1394)

         - Originally created by Apple and standardized in 1995.

         - Fast transfer of data (up to 400 Mbps/800 Mbps).

         - Multiple devices supported on the bus (63).

         - Hot pluggable, Plug-and-play.

         - Provide power through the cable.

         - Peer to Peer.

         -Supports synchronous devices.

*BIOS :

• What is BIOS? - B.I.O.S : Basic Input Output System.
• Why is it necessary ?  - Boot Up
• Important Functions 

         - Check CMOS St-up

         - Post-Powre on self Test.

         - Display system setting.

         - Initiate bootstrap sequence.

• How it look like on motherboard :

Configuring BIOS :

• System Time/Date.
• Boot Sequence.
• Plug-and-play
• Drive Configuration
• Security
• Power Management.

*Peripherals :

• KEYBOARD :

      - Switching action.

      - No.of keys.

      - Control, Functional, Special, Alpha-Numeric Keys.

      - Connects to PC using PS/2 Connector.

• MOUSE :

      -  Different shapes and size.

        - 2 and 3 buttons mouse.

        - Scroll mouse.

        - Connects to PC using PS/2 Connector.

• CD ROM/WRITABLE :

       - Sturdier, Unaffected by magnetic fields.

       - Speed -12x. 24x, 48x, 52x and etc.

• PRINTERS :

Printers are mostly classified as Two types they are :  1. Impact Printers - Dot matrix

                                                                                                               2. Non-Impact Printers 

• Impact Printers / Dot Matrix Printers : 

            - Section: Speed, Unidirectional 

            - Advantages : Inexpensive, Multi-copy forms.

            - Disadvantage : Slow, Loud, Graphics of low Quality.

• Non-Impact Printers :

       - Inkjet

         - Thermal

         - Laser

         - Advantage : Quiet, Can handle graphics, Varieties of fonts.

        - Disadvantages : Expensive. 

*MODEMS :  Used to connect Internet 

• Internal Modem :

        - Resides on the expansion board on the slot of the motherboard.

        - Does not require separate power adapter.

        - Cheaper than external modem

        - Has natural protection inside PC cabinet.

• External Modem :

       -Resides on a self-contained box out-side the PC

         - Requires external power adapter.

         -Connected to PC's serial port via the cable.

         - Easy to install and troubleshoot such as resetting the modem.

         - Expensive than internal modems.

*Cabinet :

 1. Cabinet Door

2. SMSP : S.M.P.S : Switch Mode Power Supply : converts AC power into DC and supplies DC power to All CPU peripherals such as : Motherboards, fans,Hard drives, CD Rom, Floppy drives, etc.

3. CPU Cooling Fan

4. Cards support Case.

5. CD ROM, Floppy Drives Cases

6. Hard Drive case.

7. Cabinet Back Cover.

8. Cabinet Base.

That's all about computer and it's peripherals , now, you are ready for trouble shoot.