COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

In this lesson, we take a look at the different components of a computer system.

After this lesson, you will be able to

 Define the primary components that make up a computer

Estimated lesson time: 10 minutes

As you might expect, the components of a computer reflect the function of the machine—specifically, the
three stages of computing, as outlined in Lesson 1. Let's examine the components.

Input Devices
The following table lists some examples of devices that are used to put information into a
computer:

Device Description
Keyboard The primary input device for a computer,
allowing users to type information just as they
once did on a typewriter.
Mouse Used with graphical interface environments to
point to and select objects on the system's
monitor. Can be purchased in a variety of
sizes, shapes, and configurations.

Scanner Converts printed or photographic information

to digital information that can be used by the
computer. Works similar to the scanning
process of a photocopy machine.

Microphone Works like the microphone on a tape

recorder. Allows input of voice or music to be
converted to digital information and saved to a
file.

CD-ROM/DVD drive Compact disc–read only memory: stores large

amounts of data on a CD that can be read by
a computer.

Processing
The central processing unit (CPU) is the heart and brain of the computer. This one component, or
"chip," is responsible for all primary number crunching and data management. It is truly the centrepiece of
any computer. It is so important that whole generations of computer technology are based and measured
on each "new and improved" version of the CPU.
When we refer to the CPU, we are usually speaking of the processor. However, the CPU requires
several other components that support it with the management of data to operate. These components,
when working in harmony, make up the primary elements of the PC we know today. The following table
lists these fundamental support components.
 Component Description
Motherboard The main circuit board of the computer. The
large circuit board found inside the computer.
Without it, a computer is just a metal box. The
motherboard contains all the remaining items
in this table; for all practical purposes, it is the
computer.

Chip Set A group of computer chips or integrated

circuits (ICs) that, when working together,
manage and control the computer system.
This set includes the CPU and other chips
that control the flow of data throughout the
system.

Data Bus A group of parallel conductors (circuit traces)

found on the motherboard and used by the
CPU to send and receive data from all the
devices in the computer.

Address Bus A group of parallel conductors (circuit traces)

found on the motherboard and used by the
CPU to "address" memory locations.
Determines which information is sent to, or
received from, the data bus. An address bus
is a computer bus (a series of lines
connecting two or more devices) that is used
to specify a physical address. When a
processor or DMA-enabled device needs to
read or write to a memory location, it specifies
that memory location on the address bus (the
value to be read or written is sent on the data
bus).
Expansion Slots Specialized sockets that allow additional
devices called expansion cards or, less
commonly, circuit boards, to be attached to
the motherboard. Used to expand or
customize a computer, they are extensions of
the computer's bus system.

Clock Establishes the maximum speed at which the

processor can execute commands. Not to be
confused with the clock that keeps the date
and time.
Battery Protects unique information about the setup of
the computer against loss when electrical
power fails or is turned off. Also maintains the
external date and time (not to be confused
with the CPU's clock).

Memory Stores temporary information (in the form of

data bits) that the CPU and software need to
keep running.

Output Devices
The following table lists some common devices, known as peripherals, used exclusively for
output.

Device Description
Printer Generates a "hard copy" of information.
Includes dot matrix, ink jet, and laser
varieties.

Monitor The primary output device. Visually

displays text and graphics.

Plotter Similar to a printer, but uses pens to draw

an image. Most often used with graphics
or drawing programs for very large
drawings.

Speakers Reproduce sound. Optional high-quality

speakers can be added to provide
improved output from games and
multimedia software.

Input and Output

Some devices handle both input and output functions. These devices are called input/output (I/O)
devices, a term you will encounter quite often.
 Device Description
Floppy Disk Drive Mechanism for reading and writing to low-
capacity, removable, magnetic disks.
Used to store and easily transport
information.

Hard Disk Drive High-capacity internal (and sometimes

external) magnetic disks for storing data
and program files. Also called fixed disks.

Modem Converts computer data to information

that can be transmitted over telephone
wires and cable lines. Allows
communication between computers over
long and short distances.

Network Card An expansion card that allows several

computers to connect to each other and
share information and programs. Also
called network interface card (NIC).

CD Recorder Also called CD-R. You can copy data to a

CD with this device, but you can only
write to a section of the disc once.
Variations on this type of device include
compact disc–rewritable (CD-RW) drives.
These drives allow you to read, write, and
overwrite a special CD-ROM-type disc.
Tape Drive Large-capacity, magnetic, data storage
devices. Ideal for backup and retrieval of
large amounts of data. Works like a tape
recorder and saves information in a linear
format.

Other external storage devices include Iomega Zip drives, which allow users to store 100 MB or 250 MB
of data on a single Zip disk.

Other Computer Parts and Accessories

The following table lists some examples of cable that are used to communicate to a system.

Cable/Cord Description
IDE (ATA/PATA Cable) IDE is also known as ATA or PATA
(Parallel ATA) and is a way of handling a
parallel data bus from a disk drive (well,
usually a disk drive) to a computer mother
board where the disk controller is mostly
embedded in the disk drive.
SATA/ATA SATA (Serial ATA) is an advance on this
where the signals are sent over a serial
bus not a parallel bus. The cable is much
smaller and it will run at higher speed and
will support more than 2 drives on a bus.
 Note: They are both ways to connect a
disk drive to a computer. You use the one
that matches your computer mother board
(old ones support IDE only, newer ones
will support SATA and may support both
SATA and IDE) and your disk drive (disk
drives are either IDE or SATA, never seen
one with both available).
USB Cable USB cable is a cable that is used to
connect a device to a computer or laptop
or Printer, Video cameras, Mp3, mp4
even cell phone.

A/V Cable A/V cable is to use for connect a device to

tv and it has the video and audio cable.

Heat Sink An environment capable of absorbing

heat from an object with which it is in
thermal contact without a phase change
or an appreciable change in temperature.
A protective device that absorbs and
dissipates the excess heat generated by a
system.
USB HUB A device that increases the number of
USB ports on a PC. However, since the
hub plugs into one of the USB ports on
the computer, the total number of
additional ports is minus one. For
example, a four-port hub adds three new
ports. USB hubs are typically used to
extend USB sockets to the top of the desk
for conveniently connecting external
peripherals.
Power Cord A power cord, line cord, or mains cable
is a cord or cable that temporarily
connects an electrical appliance to the
distribution circuits of an electrical power
source via a wall socket or extension
cord.

AVR (Automatic Voltage A voltage regulator is an electrical

Regulator) regulator designed to automatically
maintain a constant voltage level.
It may use an electromechanical
mechanism, or passive or active
electronic components. Depending on the
design, it may be used to regulate one or
 more AC or DC voltages.

UPS (Uninterruptible Power An uninterruptible power supply, also

Supply) uninterruptible power source, UPS or
battery/flywheel backup, is an electrical
apparatus that provides emergency power
to a load when the input power source,
typically the utility mains, fails. A UPS
differs from an auxiliary or emergency
power system or standby generator in that
it will provide instantaneous or near-
instantaneous protection from input power
interruptions by means of one or more
attached batteries and associated
electronic circuitry for low power users,
and or by means of diesel generators and
flywheels for high power users. The on-
battery runtime of most uninterruptible
power sources is relatively short—5–15
minutes being typical for smaller units—
but sufficient to allow time to bring an
auxiliary power source on line, or to
properly shut down the protected
equipment
Computer Fan A computer fan is any fan inside a
computer case used for cooling purposes,
and may refer to fans that draw cooler air
into the case from the outside, expel
warm air from inside, or move air across a
heatsink to cool a particular component.
The use of fans to cool a computer is an
example of active cooling.
Laptop/Notebook cooler A laptop/notebook cooler, cooler pad or
chill mat is an accessory for laptop
computers that helps reduce their
operating temperature. Normally used
when the laptop's fan device is unable to
sufficiently cool the laptop, a cooling pad
may house active or passive cooling
methods and rests beneath the laptop.
Active coolers move air or liquid to direct
heat away from the laptop quickly, while
passive methods may rely on thermally
conductive materials or increasing
passive airflow.
TV Tuner or TV Video A TV tuner card is a computer component
Capture that allows television signals to be
received by a computer. Most TV tuners
also function as video capture cards,
allowing them to record television
programs onto a hard disk.
SUPPORT HARDWARE
Lesson 2 covered the basic hardware that makes up a computer. There are, however, additional
components needed to support safe computer operation. In this lesson, we look at several devices that
protect and enhance the value of a computer.

After this lesson, you will be able to

 Identify additional support hardware for a computer
 Understand the functions of some of the add-on hardware
Estimated lesson time: 5 minutes

In addition to the devices that support a computer's data-processing functions, there are others that
enhance its operation and performance. The following table lists some of these devices.

Device Description
Power supply
Converts a local power source (typically
110 volts AC in the United States) to 3.3,
5, or 12 volts DC. Most power supplies
also perform some basic line conditioning
and surge-protection functions.
Surge suppressor

Used to prevent large power spikes (for

instance, lightning) from damaging a
computer.

Uninterruptible power supply. Acts as

UPS both a surge suppresser (to prevent high-
power spikes) and a power leveler to
provide the computer with a constant
source of power. Can even provide power
during a power failure or interruption
(although the duration depends on the
UPS and the computer's power
consumption) so that the user can safely
save data before shutting down.
Case The box that houses most of the system
must provide an environment that
minimizes electrical interference to other
electronic devices in the area. It should
provide a proper heat level for safe
operation and bays and connections for
drives, circuit boards, and I/O devices.
Don't let the term support hardware lead you to underestimate the importance of these components. How
important are roads to commerce, or water to a city? Without a reliable power source, modern PCs would
not exist. The internal power supply keeps a clean current running to the system.

LO.1 Plan and prepare for task to be taken/undertaken

PRACTICE: Instruction
Create a group at least 3 members. Study Common competency, Module 1 Perform Computer
Operations pages 1 to 40. After 2 hours prepare for group presentation. Each group discusses what they
have study or learned. Be sure to include or emphasize the following during presentation “The name,
types, classes, purpose or characteristics of each computer parts.”
Note: Group presentation but individual evaluation. Remember that the remarks shall be
competent and not yet competent. Those remark competent shall be move on next project or module,
and those remarks not yet competent shall be again review the lesson for evaluation again. DURATION:
4 HRS.

JOB SHEET # 1

DEMONSTRATION: Configure the parts of computer hardware below, give the exact location in its
components (you can draw or label its components/ peripherals, and equipment)

1 2 3 4

6 7 8

5 9 12 11

10
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Trainer would assign a workstation for this lab.
2. Prepare the following materials and equipment: Computer Table/no chair, Monitor,
System Unit, Keyboard, Mouse, Printer, Web camera, Speaker/Headset, 2 pcs.
Power Cord, AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator), and extension wire.
3. Connect all the computer parts/peripherals in their proper places or location.
4. Let the trainer check your work for evaluation.

NOTE:
Safety first!
Observed 5s in all time.

SELF CHECK # 1
Unit of competency: Perform Computer Operations
Competency standards BARISTA NC II
Satisfacto
ry
Answer the following computer hardware’s you know response
YES
NO

 

_____________ _____________ ____________ ______________

 

___________________ ____________ _____________ _____________

 
____________ _________ ____________ ____________
___________

 

____________ __________ ___________ ___________ __________

The trainee’s underpinning knowledge was: Satisfactory  Not

Satisfactory 
 Feedback to candidate:

The trainee’s overall performance was: Satisfactory  Not

Satisfactory 
Trainees signature: Date:

Trainee’s signature: Date:

COMPUTER HARDWARE CLASSIFICATION AND CHARACTERISTICS:

1. MONITOR
A monitor is a visual display of information, using text
and graphics. It converts analog signal to digital signal
to transmit information so that monitor can understand.

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.

Comparison CRT
Pros:

 High dynamic range (up to around 15,000:1),[2] excellent color, wide gamut and low black level.
 Can display natively in almost any resolution and refresh rate
 No input lag
 Sub-millisecond response times
 Near zero color, saturation, contrast or brightness distortion. Excellent viewing angle.
 Usually much cheaper than LCD or Plasma screens.
 Allows the use of light guns/pens
 Large size and weight, especially for bigger screens (a 20-inch unit weighs about 50 lb (23 kg))
 High power consumption
Comparison LCD

Pros:
 Very compact and light
 Low power consumption
 No geometric distortion
 Little or no flicker depending on backlight technology
 Not affected by screen burn-in
 No high voltage or other hazards present during repair/service
 More reliable than CRTs
 Can be made in almost any size or shape
No theoretical resolution limit Limited viewing angle, causing color, saturation, contrast and brightness to

 Vary, even within the intended viewing angle, by variations in posture.

 Bleeding and uneven backlighting in some monitors, causing brightness distortion, especially
toward the edges.
 Slow response times, which cause smearing and ghosting artifacts. Modern LCDs have response
times of 8 ms or less.
 Only one native resolution. Displaying resolutions either requires a video scaler, lowering
perceptual quality, or display at 1:1 pixel mapping, in which images will be physically too large or
won't fill the whole screen.
 Dead pixels may occur either during manufacturing or through use.
 In a constant on situation, thermalization may occur, which is when only part of the screen has
overheated and therefore looks discolored compared to the rest of the screen.
 Not all LCD displays are designed to allow easy replacement of the backlight
 Cannot be used with light guns/pens

CRT Monitor LCD Monitor Projector

Major manufacturers
 IBM
 AOC
 Apple Inc.
 Asus
 BenQ
 Dell
 Eizo
 Gateway
 Hewlett-Packard
 HannStar Display Corporation
 Iiyama Corporation
 Kogan Technologies
 LG
 NEC
 Samsung
 Sony
 Toshiba
 Tyco Electronics
 ViewSonic

2. CASE + PSU
A computer case is what contains the entire computer's components, there will be space for drives,
add-in cards and the motherboard. In addition to this, space for the Power Supply Unit (PSU). Depending
on the size of motherboard that you have and the need for space in your computer there are a variety of
computer case sizes to accomodate the computer's components.

Things to consider are desk space, cooling, room for expansion and cost. With these things in mind
you should have no problem selecting the correct case for your needs.

Listed below are the cases with the advantages and disadvantages of each, most cases cost more the
larger they get however very small cases are normally more expensive than the bigger ones!

 Mini - Ideal for people who need a PC in a very small space, for the Micro ATX motherboards.
Advantages - Look cool, saves loads of space, added features. Disadvantages - Cost, little/no
room for expansion, problems of overheating with fast processors.
 Slimline - Ideal for people who want a desktop computer, but dont want a huge box on their
desk. Advantages - Look cool, saves loads of space, added features. Disadvantages - Cost,
little/no room for expansion.
 Desktop - Cheap case solution for a PC. Advantages - Cheap to buy, loads of room for
expansion. Disadvantages - They are big, take up desk space. Can have overheating problems if
the internal case design is poor.
 Mini-Tower - Great for more desk space as it can be floor standing. Advantages - Cheap to buy,
loads of room for expansion. Disadvantages - Having it on the floor can make problems getting to
the drives and cables that are too short.

 Midi-Tower - Great for more desk space as it can be floor standing. Advantages - Cheap to buy,
loads of room for expansion. Disadvantages - Having it on the floor can make problems getting to
the drives and cables that are too short.
 Maxi-Tower - Great for more desk space as it can be floor standing. Advantages - Cheap to buy,
loads of room for expansion. Disadvantages - Having it on the floor can make problems getting to
the drives and cables that are too short.

There are two basic common types for Computer Casing or chassis:

 Tower Case – it is designed to stand vertically that will lessen the space being occupied. It
comes in three basic sizes: full, midi and mini.
 Desktop Case – it is designed horizontally which are usually used for office or home PCs. It
comes in two basic sizes: standard and slimline.

STANDARD COMPUTER BOX LAYOUT

 1. COMPUTER MOUSE

In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion

relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's
hands, with one or more buttons. (Although traditionally a button is typically round or square, modern
mice have spring-loaded regions of their top surface that operate switches when pressed down lightly.) It
sometimes features other elements, such as "wheels", which allow the user to perform various system-
dependent operations, or extra buttons or features that can add more control or dimensional input. The
mouse's motion typically translates into the motion of a cursor on a display, which allows for fine control of
a graphical user interface.

Connectivity and communication protocols

Wireless Mouse / Serial interface type Optical USB Interface Type Optical PS2 Interface Type
Battery Operated TrackBall Mouse

2. COMPUTER KEYBOARD
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons
or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. Following the decline of punch
cards and paper tape, interaction via teletype-style keyboards became the main input device for
computers.
Despite the development of alternative input devices, such as the mouse,touchscreen, pen
devices, character recognition and voice recognition, the keyboard remains the most commonly used and
most versatile device used for direct (human) input into computers.

Connectivity and communication protocols

Wireless Mouse / USB Interface Type Optical PS2 Interface Type

OPTICAL DISK DRIVE

CD-ROM Drive
Short for Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory, a type of optical disk capable of storing large amounts
of data -- up to 1GB, although the most common size is 650MB (megabytes). A single CD-ROM has the
storage capacity of 700 floppy disks, enough memory to store about 300,000text pages.

CD-ROMs are stamped by the vendor, and once stamped, they cannot be erased and filled with new
data. To read a CD, you need a CD-ROM player. CD-ROMs are particularly well-suited to information that
requires large storage capacity. This includes large software applications that support color,graphics,
sound, and especially video.

DVD ROM DRIVE

A new type of read-only compact disc that can hold a minimum of 4.7GB (gigabytes), enough for a full-
length movie.
The DVD-ROM specification supports disks with capacities of from 4.7GB to 17GB and access
rates of 600 KBps to 1.3 MBps. One of the best features of DVD-ROM drives is that they are backward-
compatible with CD-ROMs. This means that DVD-ROM players can play old CD-ROMs, CD-I disks, and
video CDs, as well as new DVD-ROMs. Newer DVD players can also read CD-R disks.

Sequential: DVD-R, +R, -RW, +RW or ROM

This group of DVD’s are intended for the hi-tech graphics, video for movies and audio for music. They
provide better quality for graphics and sound along with higher capacity of4.7GB.
Writable: One Time
 DVD-R
o Can only be written with -R type drives.
o Can be read with -R or +R type drives.
 DVD+R
o 2 hours of video in SP mode or 4 hours in EP mode
o Can only be written with +R type drives.
o Can be read with -R or +R type drives.
Writable: Re-writable up to 1000 Times
 DVD-RW
o Contains protection technology that prevents copying of CSS-protected discs.
o Can only be written with -R type drives.
o Can be read with -R or +R type drives.
 DVD+RW
o Can hold 2 hours of MPEG2.
o Can only be written with +R type drives.
o Can be read with -R or +R type drives.
Read Only
  DVD-ROM
o Can only be used for reading.
o Movies you buy or rent are usually DVD-ROM.

Connectivity and communication protocols

DVD ROM Drive / IDE Type DVD ROM Drive / SATA Type

3. VIDEO CARD
There are three main types of video card commonly in use.
 PCI Express
 AGP
 PCI

PCI Express is the most current, and fastest, of the video cards. If possible, you will likely want to install a
PCI express video card. Figure 5.1 shows a PCI Express video card.

Figure 5.1: A PCI Express Video Card

Before PCI express the most common type of video card was the AGP card. AGP cards still give great
performance. If you have only one video card in your system you will want to make sure it is either AGP
or PCI Express. Figure 5.2 shows an AGP video card.

Figure 5.2: An AGP Video Card

The oldest style for video cards that I will discuss is PCI. You can see a PCI video card in Figure 5.3.
 Figure 5.3: A PCI Video Card

You should not use a PCI card as your primary video display card. PCI cards are to slow to play any of
the more advanced video games, or to show video. Besides, the price difference between PCI and
AGI/PCI-Express is minimal.

What is a good option for PCI cards is using them in conjunction with an AGP or PCI-Express video card.
This allows you to have a second display. This will be covered in the next section. Now I am going to
show you how to install the video card.

1. PRINTERS
A printer is an output device that produces text and graphics on paper. 

Major types of printer

Printers can be divided into two main groups, impact printer and non-impact printer.  Impact printer
produces text and images when tiny wire pins on print head strike the ink ribbon by physically contacting
the paper.  Non-impact printer produces text and graphics on paper without actually striking the paper.

Printers can also be categorized based on the print method or print technology.  The most popular ones
are inkjet printer, laser printer, dot-matrix printer and thermal printer.  Among these, only dot-matrix
printer is impact printer and the others are non-impact printers.

Some printers are named because they are designed for specific functions, such as photo
printers, portable printers and all-in-one / multifunction printers.  Photo printers and portable printers
usually use inkjet print method whereas multifunction printers may use inkjet or laser print method.

Inkjet Printer Dot-Matrix Laser Printer

2. SCANNER
 A device for examining, reading, or monitoring something, in particular.
 A machine that examines the body through the use of radiation, ultrasound, or magnetic
resonance imaging, as a diagnostic aid
 3. POWER SUPPLY UNIT
A power supply unit (PSU) supplies DC power to the other components in a computer. It
converts general-purpose alternating current (AC) electric power from the mains (110V to 120V at 60Hz
[115V nominal] in North America, parts of South America, Japan, and Taiwan; 220V to 240V at 50Hz
[230V nominal] in most of the rest of the world) to low-voltage (for a desktop computer: 12V, 5V, 5VSB,
3V3, -5V, and -12V) direct current (DC) power for the internal components of the computer. Some power
supplies have a switch to select either 230 V or 115 V. Other models are able to accept any voltage and
frequency between those limits and some models only operate from one of the two mains supply
standards.

4. SPEAKER
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.

Major computer speaker companies

The base of a Harman Kardon speaker.

 Altec Lansing
 Bose Corporation
 Creative Labs
 Cyber Acoustics
 Dell
 Edifier
 General Electric
 Harman Kardon
 Hewlett-Packard
 JBL
 Klipsch
 Logitech

5. HARD DISK DRIVE

A hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile, random access digital data storage device. Main storages
devices on computer that store data, files, software on computer. It features rotating rigid platters on a
motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data ismagnetically read from and written to the platter
by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the platters.

A hard disk drive normally has one head per platter with all heads mounted on common rack. The hard
disk spins the disk as 3600, 5400, and up to 7200 or even more RPM (rotation per minute).
Basic Hard drive components:

 Disk platters
 Read/ write head
 Spindle motor
 Head actuator mechanism
 Logic board
 Cable and connectors
 Configuration items

The platters, spindle motor, heads and head

actuator mechanism are contained in a
sealed chambers called the Head Disk
Assembly (HDA), usually treated as a
single components and is rarely opened.
Other parts external to HDA such as the logic
board, cover, and other configuration
items can be disassembled from the drive.

Hard drive comes with TWO Basic sizes:

 Hard disk drive 3.5” in size
 Laptop Hard drive 2.5” in size

Types of Hard disk Drive / Communication Interfaces

Three of the most common and widely used hard drive types are:
1. IDE

2. SCSI

3. SATA or Serial ATA.

STORAGE DEVICES
USB Drive Floppy Disk Hard Disk Drive Other Storage Devices

MOTHERBOARD
In personal computers, a motherboard is
the central printed circuit board (PCB) 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, or,
on Apple computers, the logic board.[1] It
is also sometimes casually shortened
to mobo.[2]

MOTHERBOARD MANUFACTURERS
ABIT Ltd.
Motherboard manufacturer specializing in
motherboards for the overclocking and performance market.
AOpen
A division of Acer Corporation that sells primarily to the OEM market. They even make a computer
motherboard which has a vaccuum tube on it.
ASUSTek
One of the oldest and most respected motherboard manufacturers on the market.
Chaintech
Chaintech is one of the newer entries in the US performance motherboard market.
DFI
Maker of a wide variety of ATX and microATX design PC motherboards.
ECS Elitegroup
Maker of a wide range of PC motherboards that has recently started selling to the performance market.
EPoX Computer
A relatively new motherboard manufacturer that has many high performance motherboard options.
FIC Inc.
Manufacturer of a number of different motherboards. Note: This site does not view well outside of Internet
Explorer.
GigaByte Technology
Manufacturer of a wide variety of motherboards.
Intel
The Company most known for its CPUs also develops a line of motherboards based upon its own
chipsets and CPUs.
IWILL 
Manufacturer that started out developing SCSI controller cards that has expanded into the PC
motherboard market.
MSI Inc.
Developer of a wide range of well prices motherboards which still contain excellent features.
Shuttle Computer Group
Manufacturer of a wide variety of motherboards including the small form factor X PC line.
Soltek USA
One of the newest motherboard manufacturers on the market that recently began produce small form
factor products.
Tyan Computer
Manufacturer well known for their multiple processor motherboards.

- CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

The central processing unit (CPU) is the
portion of acomputer system that carries out the
instructions of acomputer program, and is the
primary element carrying out the functions of the
computer or other processing device. The central
processing unit carries out each instruction of the
program in sequence, to perform the basic
arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. This term has been in use in the
computer industry at least since the early 1960s. [1] The form, design and implementation of CPUs
have changed dramatically since the earliest examples, but their fundamental operation remains
much the same.
CPU Images:

CPU socket Types:

 PGA

 PGA  s tands for Pin Grid

Array. As on the
image, the CPU's
circuits are
integrated inside a ceramic layer with
an array of pins on the surface.

 At the installation the pins are inserted in the socket's holes

making contact with the motherboard's circuits.

 There are other form variants and they have their own
technology. I will not discuss them here, because I think it is PGA
not important
CPU Form until you are a
complete savvy. But still, here are the variants names I know it exist.

1. PPGA stands for Plastic Grid Array

2. FCPGA stands for Flip-Chip Pin Grid Array
3. CPGA stands for Ceramic Pin Grid Array
4. OPGA stands for Organic Pin Grid Array

 Socket 478 - for older Pentium and Celeron processors

 Socket 754 - for AMD Sempron and some AMD Athlon processors
 Socket 939 - for newer and faster AMD Athlon processors
 Socket AM2 - for the newest AMD Athlon processors
 Socket A - for older AMD Athlon processors

5. LGA
LGA stands for Land Grid Array. If you look at the image, you
can see there are no pins. Instead it is an array of pads that
is built on the CPU's surface.
At the installation the CPU is sat on the socket's pins
where they are fixed to the motherboard and contact with the
circuits.
The LGA form offer a clock frequency higher than the PGA
caused by its larger contact point. Maybe it is the reason why
Intel decided to go back to this form that was used long ago.
SELF CHECK # 2
Unit of competency: Perform Computer Operations
Competency standards BARISTA NC II
Satisfactory
response
Answer the following computer hardware’s you know YES
NO

 

_____________ ______________ _____________ _________

  

___________ ____________ ______________ ______________

 

__________ ____________ ____________ ___________ _________

 

__________ __________ _________ __________ _________

 

__________ _________ ____________ ___________

____________
The trainee’s underpinning knowledge was:
Satisfactory  Not
Satisfactory 

COMPUTER MEMORY THEORY

Lesson 3 covered the basic hardware that makes up a computer. There are, however, additional
components needed to support safe computer operation. In this lesson, we look at several devices that
protect and enhance the value of a computer.

After this lesson, you will be able to

 Identify the types of computer RAM (Memory)
 Understand the functions of memory

Estimated lesson time: 30 minutes

In addition to the devices that support a computer's data-processing functions, there are others that
enhance its operation and performance.
RAM

RAM or Random Access Memory is the memory used by the computer while it is in operation, this
memory is described as volitile as it is wiped clean when the computer is shutdown. Again the more RAM
that you have installed in your computer the faster the computer will operate.

There are various types of RAM, they vary becuase of the increasing in processor speeds and the need
for the RAM to keep up. You can get RAM modules in various sizes i.e. their logical sizes, the amount of
data they can hold. This range from 1MB, 2MB, 4MB, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB,
512MB, 1GB, 2GB. Nowadays you will normally only find RAM in sizes of 128MB or above.

SIMM or DIMM?

The two main types of RAM are:

1. SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module)
2. DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)
all modern computers use the DIMM type of RAM.

There are 4 main types of RAM listed below and then within these there are even more types under
each of these main types. The traditional RAM type is DRAM (dynamic RAM). The other type is SRAM
(static RAM). SRAM continues to remember its content, while DRAM must be refreshed every few milli
seconds. DRAM consists of micro capacitors, while SRAM consists of off/on switches. Therefore, SRAM
can respond much faster than DRAM. SRAM can be made with a rise time as short as 4 ns. It is used in
different versions in L2 cache RAM (for example pipe line BURST Cache SRAM). DRAM

Currently, there are at least four types:

 FPM (Fast Page Mode)
 ECC (Error Correcting Code)
 EDO (Extended Data Output)
 SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM)
 SO-DIMM memory (Laptop Memory

SO-DIMM three types (Laptop Memory):

There are three types of SO-DIMM memory, which build on each other's capacities.

- SDRAM stands for synchronous dynamic random access

memory. This type of memory syncs itself up with your computer's
processor, allowing smooth access. With the advances of
technology, most newer laptops no longer use SDRAM.
- DDR SDRAM is SDRAM with a double data rate. This means it's
twice as fast as standard SDRAM, and it's one of the two most
common types of memory found in modern laptops as of August
2009.
- DDR2 SDRAM is yet another upgrade to the original SDRAM
concept. A big advantage of this type of memory is that it
draws less power than its predecessors, thus creating less
drain on your laptop.

Most Common DRAM used in PC’s are: Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM)
1. Single Data Rate (SDR) SDRAM is a synchronous form of DRAM.
2. Double data rate (DDR) SDRAM was a later development of
SDRAM, used in PC memory from 2000 onwards. DDR2
 SDRAM is a minor enhancement on DDR-SDRAM that mainly affords higher clock speeds and
somewhat deeper pipelining.

Different RAM Types and its uses

The type of RAM doesn't matter nearly as much as how much of
it you've got, but using plain old SDRAM memory today
will slow you down. There are three main types of RAM:
SDRAM, DDR and Rambus DRAM.

SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM)

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 MHz. SDRAM is able to scale to 133
MHz (PC133) officially, and unofficially up to 180MHz or
higher. As processors get faster, new generations of
memory such as DDR and RDRAM are required to get proper
performance.

DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM) DDR basically

doubles the rate of data transfer of standard SDRAM by transferring data on the up and down tick of a
clock cycle. DDR memory operating at 333MHz actually operates at 166MHz * 2 (aka PC333 / PC2700)
or 133MHz*2 (PC266 / PC2100). DDR is a 2.5 volt technology that uses 184 pins in its DIMMs. It is
incompatible with SDRAM physically, but uses a similar parallel bus, making it easier to implement than
RDRAM, which is a different technology.

Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) Despite it's higher price, Intel has given RDRAM it's blessing for the consumer
market, and it will be the sole choice of memory for Intel's Pentium 4. RDRAM is a serial memory
technology that arrived in three flavors, PC600, PC700, and PC800. PC800 RDRAM has double the
maximum throughput of old PC100 SDRAM, but a higher latency. RDRAM designs with multiple
channels, such as those in Pentium 4 motherboards, are currently at the top of the heap in memory
throughput, especially when paired with PC1066 RDRAM memory.

DIMMs vs. RIMMs DRAM comes in two major form factors: DIMMs and RIMMS. DIMMs are 64-bit
components, but if used in a motherboard with a dual-channel configuration (like with an Nvidia nForce
chipset) you must pair them to get maximum performance. So far there aren't many DDR chipset that use
dual-channels. Typically, if you want to add 512 MB of DIMM memory to your machine, you just pop in a
512 MB DIMM if you've got an available slot. DIMMs for SDRAM and DDR are different, and not
physically compatible. SDRAM DIMMs have 168-pins and run at 3.3 volts, while DDR DIMMs have 184-
pins and run at 2.5 volts.
RIMMs use only a 16-bit interface but run at higher speeds than DDR. To get maximum performance,
Intel RDRAM chipsets require the use of RIMMs in pairs over a dual-channel 32-bit interface. You have to
plan more when upgrading and purchasing RDRAM.

Types of Memory
Pretty much every new laptop on the market should use DDR3 memory now. It is still possible to find
some older netbooks or laptops on the market that use DDR2 but it is best to avoide them now. In
addition to the type of memory installed in the laptop, the speed of the memory can also make a
difference in the performance. When comparing laptops, be sure to check both of these pieces of
information to determine how they may impact performance.
There are two ways that the memory speeds can be designated. The first is by the memory type and its
clock rating, like DDR3 1066. The other method is by listing the type along with the bandwidth. In the case
the same DDR3 memory would be listed as PC3-8500 memory.

Below is a listing in order of fastest to slowest memory types in both formats:

 DDR3 1600 / PC3-12800
 DDR3 1333 / PC3-10600
 DDR3 1066 / PC3-8500
 DDR2 800 / PC2-6400
 DDR3 800 / PC3-6400
 DDR2 667 / PC2-5300 or PC2-5400
 DDR2 533 / PC2-4200
 DDR2 400 / PC2-3200

BEST RAM Manufacturer

Mushkin = Excellent Performance and Durable 

Crucial = Compatibility and Warranty 

Kingston= Stable and warranty/RMA is fast 

OCZ= Very good stick and 2nd. line after the above manufatures.
SELF CHECK # 3
Unit of competency: Perform Computer Operations
Competency standards BARISTA NC II
Satisfactory
response
Answer the following computer hardware’s you know YES
NO
  

________________ ________________
_________________

 

________________ ________________ ________________

 

____________________________
How do you choose ram for your desktop computer?
 

How do you choose ram for your laptop computer?

 

The trainee’s underpinning knowledge was:

Satisfactory  Not Satisfactory


TYPES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Lesson 4 covered the basic hardware that makes up a computer. There are, however, additional
components needed to support safe computer operation. In this lesson, we look at several devices that
protect and enhance the value of a computer.
After this lesson, you will be able to
 Enumerate the types of Computer Software
 General security, privacy legislation and copyright

Estimated lesson time: 15 minutes

In addition to the devices that support a computer's data-processing functions, there are others that
enhance its operation and performance.
Major Types of Software
Software is the means by which computer systems speak with computer users. Software forms the heart
of computer systems. What are the major types of software? Read on to find out.

Software, by definition, is the collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that
performs different tasks on a computer system. The term 'software' was first used by John Tukey in 1958.
At the very basic level, computer software consists of a machine language that consists of groups of
binary values, which specify processor instructions. The processor instructions change the state of
computer hardware in a predefined sequence. Briefly, computer software is the language in which a
computer speaks.

There are different types of computer software. What are their major types?
Programming Software: This is one of the most commonly known and popularly used forms of computer
software. These software come in forms of tools that assist a programmer in writing computer programs.
Computer programs are sets of logical instructions that make a computer system perform certain tasks.
The tools that help the programmers in instructing a computer system include text editors, compilers and
interpreters.

System Software: It helps in running the computer hardware and the computer system. System software
is a collection of operating systems; devise drivers, servers, windowing systems and utilities. System
software helps an application programmer in abstracting away from hardware, memory and other internal
complexities of a computer. 

Application Software: It enables the end users to accomplish certain specific tasks. Business software,
databases and educational software are some forms of application software. Different word processors,
which are dedicated for specialized tasks to be performed by the user, are other examples of application
software.

Apart from these three basic types of software, there are some other well-known forms of computer
software like inventory management software, ERP, utility software, accounting software and others. Take
a look at some of them.

Inventory Management Software: This type of software helps an organization in tracking its goods and
materials on the basis of quality as well as quantity. Warehouse inventory management functions
encompass the internal warehouse movements and storage. Inventory software helps a company in
organizing inventory and optimizing the flow of goods in the organization, thus leading to an improved
customer service.

Utility Software: Also known as service routine, utility software helps in the management of computer
hardware and application software. It performs a small range of tasks. Disk defragmenters, systems
utilities and virus scanners are some of the typical examples of utility software.

Data Backup and Recovery Software: An ideal data backup and recovery software provides
functionalities beyond simple copying of data files. This software often supports user needs of specifying
what is to be backed up and when. Backup and recovery software preserve the original organization of
files and allow an easy retrieval of the backed up data.

This was an overview of the major types of software. Computer software are widely popular today and
hence we cannot imagine a world of computers without them. We would not have been able to use
computers if not for the software. What is fascinating about the world of computers is that it has its own
languages, its ways of communication with our human world and human interaction with the computers is
possible, thanks to computer software. I wonder, if the word 'soft' in ‘software’ implies ‘soft-spokenness’,
which is an important quality of a pleasant communication.
Software copyright
Software copyright is the relatively recent extension of copyright law to machine-readable software.
While many of the legal principles and policy debates concerning software copyright have close parallels
in other domains of copyright law, there are a number of distinctive issues that arise with software. This
article will primarily focus on topics peculiar to software.

Software copyright is commonly used by proprietary software companies to prevent the unauthorized

copying of their software. Open source licenses also rely on copyright law to enforce their terms. For
instance, copyleft licenses impose a duty on licensees to share their modifications to the copylefted work
under some circumstances. No such duty would apply had the software in question been in the  public
domain.

The copyright infringement of software (often referred to as software piracy) refers to several practices

which involve the unauthorized copying of computer software. Copyright infringement of this kind is
extremely common. Most countries have copyright laws which apply to software, but the degree of
enforcement varies.

SELF CHECK # 4
Trainee’s name:
Unit of competency: Perform Computer Operations
Competency standards BARISTA NC II
Satisfactory
Answer the following question given below response
YES NO
What is software?
 

What is Operating System software / System Software?

 

What is Application Software?

 

What is Utility Software?

 

What is Programming Software?

 

The trainee’s underpinning knowledge was:

Satisfactory  Not
Satisfactory 
Activity 1

Familiarized the following computer components bellow. State the name of each part includes the types
and brand or manufacturer.