Chapter 2

1. Chapter 2 Computer Hardware

2. Chapter Contents • Section A: Personal Computer Basics • Section B: Microprocessors and Memory • Section C: Storage Devices • Section D: Input and Output Devices • Section E: Hardware Security Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

3. Personal Computer Basics • Personal Computer Systems • Desktop and Portable Computers • Home, Media, Game, and Small Business Systems • Buying Computer System Components Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

4. Personal Computer Systems Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

5. Desktop and Portable Computers • The term form factor refers to the size and dimensions of a component, such as a system board or system unit • A desktop computer fits on a desk and runs on power from an electrical wall outlet Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

6. Desktop and Portable Computers • A portable computer is a small, lightweight personal computer • A notebook computer (also referred to as a laptop), is a small, lightweight portable computer that opens like a clamshell to reveal a screen and keyboard • A tablet computer is a portable computing device featuring a touch-sensitive screen that can be used as a writing or drawing pad • An ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) is a small form factor tablet computer designed to run most of the software available for larger portable computers Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

7. Desktop and Portable Computers Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

8. Home, Media, Game, and Small Business Systems • A home computer system offers a hardware platform with adequate, but not super-charged support for most computer applications • A Media Center PC officially uses Windows Media Center Edition operating system • Some of the most cutting-edge computers are designed for gaming • Computers marketed for small business applications tend to be middle-of-the-line models pared down to essentials Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

9. Buying Computer System Components • Decide how your computer will be used, and how much you want to spend • Decide on a platform (Mac, PC, Linux) • Look at ads in computer magazines and at computer/electronic stores • Understand the computer jargon • Expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

10. Buying Computer System Components • Instead of buying a new computer, you might consider upgrading Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

11. Microprocessors and Memory • Microprocessor Basics • Today’s Microprocessors • Random Access Memory • Read-only Memory • EEPROM Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

12. Microprocessor Basics • A microprocessor is an integrated circuit designed to process instructions • ALU • Registers • Control unit • Instruction set Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

13. Microprocessor Basics • Front side bus • HyperTransport • Microprocessor clock • Megahertz • Gigahertz • Word size • Cache • Level 1 cache (L1) • Level 2 cache (L2) • CISC vs. RISC technology Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

14. Microprocessor Basics • Serial processing • Pipelining • Parallel processing • Dual core processor • Hyper-Threading Technology Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

15. Today’s Microprocessors Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

16. Random Access Memory • Random Access Memory is a temporary holding area for data, application program instructions, and the operating system Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

17. Random Access Memory • Microscopic capacitors hold the bits that represent data • Most RAM is volatile • Requires electrical power to hold data Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

18. Random Access Memory • RAM capacity is expressed in megabytes or gigabytes • Personal computers typically feature between 256MB and 2GB of RAM • An area of the hard disk, called virtual memory, can be used if an application runs out of allocated RAM Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

19. Random Access Memory • RAM speed is often expressed in nanoseconds or megahertz • SDRAM is fast and relatively inexpensive • DDR • RDRAM is more expensive, and usually found in high-performance workstations Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

20. Read-Only Memory • ROM is a type of memory circuitry that holds the computer’s startup routine • Permanent and non-volatile • The ROM BIOS tells the computer how to access the hard disk, find the operating system, and load it into RAM Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

21. EEPROM • Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory • More permanent than RAM, and less permanent than ROM • Requires no power to hold data Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

22. Storage Devices • Storage Basics • Magnetic Disk and Tape Technology • CD and DVD Technology • Solid State Storage • Storage Wrap-up Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

23. Storage Basics • A storage medium contains data • A storage device records and retrieves data from a storage medium • Data gets copied from a storage device into RAM, where it waits to be processed • Processed data is held temporarily in RAM before it is copied to a storage medium Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

24. Magnetic Disk and Tape Technology • Magnetic storage stores data by magnetizing microscopic particles on the disk or tape surface Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

25. Magnetic Disk and Tape Technology Hard disk platters and read-write heads are sealed inside the drive case or cartridge to screen out dust and other contaminants. Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

26. Magnetic Disk and Tape Technology • A controller positions the disk and read-write heads to locate data • SATA • Ultra ATA • EIDE • SCSI • Not as durable as many other storage technologies • Head crash Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

27. Magnetic Disk and Tape Technology • A floppy disk is a round piece of flexible Mylar plastic covered with a thin layer of magnetic oxide and sealed inside a protective casing • A tape drive is a device that reads data from and writes data to a long stream of recordable media similar to the tapes used in audio cassettes • A tape is a sequential storage medium Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

28. CD and DVD Technology • Optical storage stores data as microscopic light and dark spots on the disk surface • CD and DVD storage technologies Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

29. CD and DVD Technology • Today’s DVD drives typically have 16X speeds for a data transfer rate of 177.28 Mbps • Three categories of optical technologies • Read-only (ROM) • Recordable (R) • Rewritable (RW) Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

30. CD-DA DVD-Video CD-ROM DVD-ROM CD-R DVD+R or DVD-R CD-RW DVD+RW or DVD-RW CD and DVD Technology Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

31. CD and DVD Technology Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

32. Solid State Storage • Solid state storage technology stores data in an erasable, rewritable circuitry • Non-volatile • Card reader may be required to read data on solid state storage Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

33. Solid State Storage • A USB flash drive is a portable storage device that plugs directly into a computer’s USB port using a built-in connector • A U3 drive is a special type of USB flash drive that is preconfigured to autoplay when it is inserted into a computer Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

34. Storage Wrap-up Most desktop computers have several drive bays, some accessible from outside the case, and others—designed for hard disk drives—without any external access. Empty drive bays are typically hidden from view with a face plate. Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

35. Storage Wrap-up Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

36. Input and Output Devices • Basic Input Devices • Display Devices • Printers • Installing Peripheral Devices Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

37. Basic Input Devices • Keyboard • Pointing device • Pointing stick • Trackpad • Trackball • Joystick • Touch screen Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

38. Display Devices • A CRT display device uses a bulky glass tube • An LCD manipulates light within a layer of liquid crystal cells • Plasma screen technology illuminates lights arranged in a panel-like screen Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

39. Display Devices • Viewable image size • Dot pitch • Viewing angle width • Refresh rate • Color depth • Resolution • VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA, UXGA, and WUXGA Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

40. Display Devices Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

41. Display Devices • Graphics circuitry generates the signals for displaying an image on the screen • Integrated graphics • Graphics card • Graphics processing unit (GPU) Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

42. Printers • An ink-jet printer has a nozzle-like print head that sprays ink onto paper • A laser printer works like a photocopier Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

43. Printers Laser printers are a popular technology when high-volume output or good-quality printouts are required. Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

44. Printers • Dot matrix printers produce characters and graphics by using a grid of fine wires • The wires strike a ribbon and the paper Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

45. Printers • Printer features • Resolution • Print speed • Duty cycle • Operating costs • Duplex capability • Memory • Networkability Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

46. Installing Peripheral Devices • The data bus moves data within the computer • Expansion cards are small circuit boards that give the computer additional capabilities • Expansion slot • ISA • PCI • AGP • PCMCIA slot • PC card Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

47. Installing Peripheral Devices An expansion card simply slides into an expansion slot and is secured with a small screw. Before you open the case, make sure you unplug the computer and ground yourself—that’s technical jargon for releasing static electricity by using a special grounding wristband or by touching both hands to a metal object. Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

48. Installing Peripheral Devices • An expansion port passes data in and out of a computer or peripheral device • Peripheral device may include the Plug and Play feature, or require a device driver Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

49. Installing Peripheral Devices Chapter 2: Computer Hardware

50. Hardware Security • Anti-theft Devices • Surge Protection and Battery Backup • Basic Maintenance • Troubleshooting and Repair Chapter 2: Computer Hardware