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Hardware Components & Communications

The document discusses the main hardware components and communications within a computer system. It describes the motherboard as the central component that links all other parts together, and identifies the CPU, RAM, ROM, cache, expansion slots, and buses that connect different components. Graphics cards and their GPUs are highlighted as specialized processors for image creation. Heat sinks, fans, and thermal paste manage CPU cooling to ensure optimal performance.

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35 views

Hardware Components & Communications

The document discusses the main hardware components and communications within a computer system. It describes the motherboard as the central component that links all other parts together, and identifies the CPU, RAM, ROM, cache, expansion slots, and buses that connect different components. Graphics cards and their GPUs are highlighted as specialized processors for image creation. Heat sinks, fans, and thermal paste manage CPU cooling to ensure optimal performance.

Uploaded by

killer3570
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Hardware Components

&
Communications
Motherboard
• Different speeds
• Different makes

• But all do the same, heart of the computer


that link all the components of a computer
together
CPU
• The brain of the main chip on the
motherboard.
• Speeds in Ghz and how many bits.
• E.g 2.66ghz dual core means 2 X 2.66 twice as
fast as a single core.
• Different makes and speeds.
Heat Sink and Fans
• Is a block made of heat absorbing metal which
absorbs the heat made from the CPU and
efficiently sends it in another direction stopping
the CPU from over heating.
• Fans with heat sinksare called active heat sinks,
heat sinks without a fan are called passive heat
sinks.
• Fans blow the heat in other directions and some
fans take the heat completely out of the
computer.
• A thermal paste is normally attached to the
bottom before connecting with the CPU, this
is added to help absorb the heat from the
CPU.
• If the CPU is kept cooler it will continue to
work faster.
RAM
• Random Access Memory (RAM) is a volatile
memory storage bank.
• Dynamic RAM: Stores data for less than a
second at a time. (slower)
• Static RAM: Stores data for as long as power is
flowing through it. (faster)
• Largest memory a board can take is 16gig
depending on the motherboard.
ROM
• Read Only Memory is used to tell the
computer how to boot, data stored here
cannot be modified.
Cache
• Fast static memory, stored data between the
CPU and the main memory.
• Modern computers have 2 or 3 layers of cache
memory.
PCI, Expansion Slots and Buses
• PCI (Peripheral components interconnect) is a
bus for inserting different hardware devices to
a motherboard.
• Sound cards, network adapters etc can be
placed into these.
• PCI Express replaced the original PCI slots and
are used for graphic cards. PCI 1 has a speed
of 250MB per lane and PCIe 2 ha speeds of
500MB.
Northbridge Memory
• Northbridge memory controls all the data sent
between the CPU, RAM and the AGP (video
card). The northbridge chip contains the
graphics controllers for the computer.
• It tells us the number, speed and type of RAM
and CPU that can be used
Southbridge Memory
• Manages the input/output such as IDE, clock,
Usb, power management, storage devices and
many more.
• Both the North and Southbridge are designed
to work together.
IDE
• IDE (Integrated drive electronics) the parallel
cables used between the motherboard and
the storage devices.
• IDE is also called ATA (advanced technology
attachment).
SATA
• Follows on from the parallel cables, Sata is
rounded and can be up to 1 metre long.
• Sata transfers information at 300Mbps.
USB
• Universal Serial Bus is a way of connecting a
computer to a device.
• Connects printers, phones, MP3 players,
keyboards and many more.
• USB is generally plug and play and speeds vary
depending on USB 1/2/3.
• USB 1 – 12 Mbs, USB 2 – 480Mbps, USB 3 –
due for release 4.8Gbs.
Sound
• Onboard sound is a sound card already built
into the motherboard.
• Not all motherboards have onboard.
Front Side Bus
• Frontside bus carries data to the Northbridge
chip via the CPU.
Address Bus
• Is the bus that sends the address of data
between the CPU and the RAM.
BIOS
• Basic Input and Output System is the first code
read by the computer when you switch it on.
• It detects, tests and starts the computer
hardware.
• BIOS is stored on the motherboard chipset.
• It can be flashed and updated to support
newer hardware.
CMOS RAM
• CMOS RAM is the memory for the BIOS, it acts
the same way as normal ram does but only for
the BIOS settings.
• It is controlled by the small battery.
• The battery also controls the clock on the
computer even if it is turned off.
Graphics Card
• Are used to create images to the
screen/monitor.
• They come in different sizes and have
different features.
• Graphics cards have there own CPU called
(GPU) Graphic processing unit, some are much
more powerful than the main CPU on the
system and have their own memory as well.
• NVIDIA and ATI are the main two companies
that make graphic cards.

• NVIDIA XFX GEFOCE 260 graphics card with


896MB GDDR3 memory, 640MHz CORE
processor on it. Supports DirectX 10 and HD

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