MODULE 1:

INTRODUCTION TO
PERSONAL COMPUTER
HARDWARE

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Chapter 1: Introduction to
Personal Computer Hardware

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Chapter 1 - Sections & Objectives
 1.1 Personal Computers
• Explain how to keep personal computer components safe.
• Explain components in a computer.
• Explain electrical and ESD safety.
 1.2 PC Components
• Explain the features and functions of computer components.
• Describe cases and power supplies.
• Describe motherboards.
• Describe CPUs.
• Explain types of memory.
• Describe adapter cards and expansion slots.
• Describe hard disk drives and SSDs.

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 3
Chapter 1 - Sections & Objectives (Cont.)
 1.2 PC Components (Cont.)
• Describe optical storage devices.
• Describe ports, cables and adapters.
• Describe input devices.
• Describe output devices.
 1.3 Disassemble a PC
• Explain the features and functions of each component in the tool kit.
• Disassemble a computer.

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1.1 Personal Computer

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Video Explanation – What is in a computer?

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Personal Computers
Electrical Safety
 Electrical devices have certain power requirements.

 AC adapters are manufactured for specific laptops.

• Exchanging AC adapters with a different type of laptop or device may cause damage to both the AC
adapter and the laptop.
 Some printer parts, such as power supplies, contain high voltage. Check the printer manual for the
location of high-voltage components.

Follow electrical safety guidelines

to prevent electrical fires, injuries,
and fatalities.

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Electrical and ESD Safety
ESD
 Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can occur when there is a buildup of an electric charge that exists on
a surface which comes into contact with another differently charged surface.
 ESD can cause damage to computer equipment if not discharged properly.

 At least 3,000 volts of static electricity must build up before a person can feel ESD.

Follow these recommendations to help prevent ESD

damage:

 Keep all components in antistatic bags until you are

ready to install them.
 Use grounded mats on workbenches.
 Use grounded floor mats in work areas.
 Use antistatic wrist straps when working inside
computers.
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1.2 PC Components

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PC Components
Cases
 The case houses the internal components such as the power supply, motherboard, central
processing unit (CPU), memory, disk drives, and assorted adapter cards.
 The term form factor refers to the physical design and look of a case. Common desktop
computers are available in form factors including:
 Horizontal case
 Full-Size Tower Many case manufacturers may have their own naming
 Compact Tower conventions, including super tower, full tower, mid
 All-in-one tower, mini tower, cube case, and more.

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PC Components
Power Supplies
 Computers use a power supply to convert AC power into a lower voltage DC power required by
internal components.
 Desktop computer power supply form factors include:

• Advanced Technology (AT) – original power supply for

legacy computer systems

• AT Extended (ATX) – updated version of the AT

• ATX12V – the most common power supply on the

market today

• EPS12V – originally designed for network servers but is

now commonly used in high-end desktop models.

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PC Components
Connectors
 A power supply includes several different
connectors. They are used to power various
internal components such as the motherboard
and disk drives.
 Some examples are:
• 20-pin or 24-pin slotted connector
• SATA keyed connector
• Molex keyed connector
• Berg keyed connector
• 4-pin to 8-pin auxiliary power connector
• 6/8-pin PCIe power connector

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PC Components
Power Supply Voltage
 The different connectors in a power supply also provide different voltages.

 The most common voltages supplied are 3.3 volts, 5 volts, and 12 volts.

 The 3.3 volt and 5 volt supplies are typically used by digital circuits, while the 12 volt
supply is used to run motors in disk drives and fans.
 Power supplies can also be single rail, dual
rail, or multi rail.
 A rail is the printed circuit board (PCB) inside
the power supply to which the external cables
are connected.
A computer can tolerate slight fluctuations in
power, but a significant deviation can cause the
power supply to fail.
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PC Components
Motherboards

 The motherboard is the backbone of the

computer.
 It is a printed circuit board (PCB) that
contains buses, or electrical pathways, that
interconnect electronic components.
 These components may be soldered
directly to the motherboard, or added using
sockets, expansion slots, and ports.

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PC Components
Motherboard Components
 Major components on a motherboard
include:
• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Expansion slots
• Chipset
• Basic input/output system (BIOS) chip and
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
(UEFI) chip
• SATA connectors
• Internal USB connector

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 15
PC Components
Motherboard Chipset
 Chipset consists of the integrated circuits on
the motherboard that control how system
hardware interacts with the CPU and
motherboard.
 Most chipsets consist of the following two
types:
• Northbridge – Controls high speed access to the
RAM and video card.
• Southbridge – Allows the CPU to communicate
with slower speed devices including hard drives,
Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, and expansion
slots.

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PC Components
Motherboard Form Factors
 The form factor of motherboards pertains to the size and shape of the board.

 There are three common motherboard form factors: Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX),
Micro-ATX, and ITX.

The choice of motherboard form factor determines how individual components

attach to it, the type of power supply required, and the shape of the computer case.
© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 17
PC Components
What is CPU?
 The central processing unit (CPU) is responsible for interpreting and executing commands .

 The CPU is a small microchip that resides within a CPU package .

 The CPU socket is the connection between the

motherboard and the processor.
 Modern CPU sockets and processor packages are built
in following architectures:
• Pin Grid Array (PGA) - the pins are on the underside of the
processor package and is inserted into the motherboard CPU
socket.
• Land Grid Array (LGA) - the pins are in the socket instead of
on the processor.

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PC Components
Cooling Systems
 Computer components perform better when kept cool.

 Computers are kept cool using active and passive cooling solutions.

 Active solutions require power while passive solutions do not.

 Passive solutions for cooling usually

involve reducing the speed at which
a component is operating or adding
heat sinks to computer chips.
 A case fan is considered as active
cooling.

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PC Components
Types of Memory
 A computer might use different types of memory chips.

 All memory chips store data in the form of bytes.

• A byte is a block of eight bits stored as either 0 or 1 in the memory chip.
 Read-Only Memory (ROM) – such as ROM chip.
 Random Access Memory (RAM) is the temporary
working storage for data and programs that are being
accessed by the CPU. RAM is volatile memory.
 Adding more RAM in a computer enhances the
system performance. However, the maximum amount
of RAM that can be installed is limited by the
motherboard.
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PC Components
Types of ROM
 Types of Read-only Memory (ROM) include:
• ROM chips.
• PROM chips.
• EPROM chips
• EEPROM chips.

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PC Components
Types of RAM
 Types of Random Access Memory (RAM) include:
• Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
• Static RAM (SRAM)
• Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM)
• Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM)
• DDR2 Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR2 SDRAM)
• DDR3 Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR3 SDRAM)
• DDR4 Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR4 SDRAM)
• GDDR Synchronous Dynamic RAM (GDDR SDRAM)

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PC Components
Memory Modules
 Memory chips are soldered to a circuit board to create a
memory module which is placed into a memory slot on the
motherboard.
 Different types of memory modules include: DIP, SIMM,
DIMM memory, and SODIMM.

 The speed of memory has a direct impact on how much data a processor
can process in a given period of time.
 The fastest memory is typically static RAM (SRAM) which is used as
cache memory

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PC Components
Memory Modules (Cont.)
 The speed of memory has a direct impact on how much data a processor can
process in a given period of time.
 The fastest memory is typically static RAM (SRAM) which is used as cache memory
for storing the most recently used data and instructions by the CPU.

 The three most common types of cache memory are:

• L1 cache – integrated into the CPU
• L2 cache – was original mounted on the motherboard, but now
integrated into the CPU
• L3 cache – used some high-end workstations and server CPUs

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PC Components
Memory Modules (Cont.)

 Memory errors occur when the data is not stored correctly in the memory chips. The
computer uses different methods to detect and correct data errors in memory.

 Different types of error checking methods include:

• Nonparity – Nonparity memory does not check errors in
memory.
• Parity – Parity memory contains 8 bits for data and 1 bit for
error checking.
• ECC – Error Correction Code memory can detect multiple bit
errors in memory and correct single bit errors in memory

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PC Components
Adapter Cards
 Adapter cards increase the functionality of a computer by adding controllers for
specific devices or by replacing malfunctioning ports.

 Common adapter cards include:

• Sound adapter
• Network Interface Card (NIC)
• Wireless NIC
• Video adapter or display adapter
• Capture card
• TV tuner card
• Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller card
• eSATA card

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 26
PC Components
Adapter Cards (Cont.)
 Computers have expansion slots on the motherboard to install adapter cards.

 The type of adapter card connector must match the expansion slot.

 Common expansion slots include:

• Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)
• Mini-PCI
• PCI eXtended (PCI-X)
• PCI Express (PCIe)
• Riser card
• Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)

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PC Components
Types of Storage Devices
 Data drives provide non-volatile storage of data.

 Some drives have fixed media, and other drives have removable media.

 Data storage devices can be

classified according to the media on
which the data is stored:
• Magnetic – like hard disk drive and
tape drive
• Solid state – like solid state drive
• Optical – like CD and DVD

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PC Components
Storage Device Interfaces
 Storage devices inside a computer connect to the motherboard using Serial AT
Attachment (SATA) connections. The legacy interface is Parallel ATA (EIDE).
 The interface standards define the way that data is transferred, the transfer rates,
and physical characteristics of the cables and connectors.
 There are three main versions of the SATA standard: SATA 1, SATA 2, and SATA 3.

 The cables and connectors are the same, but the data transfer speeds are different.

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PC Components
Magnetic Media Storage
 This type of storage represents binary values as magnetized or non-magnetized
physical areas of magnetic media.
 Common types of magnetic media storage
drives:
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) – the traditional
magnetic disk devices with storage capacity
ranging from gigabytes (GBs) to terabytes
(TBs).
• Tape Drive – most often used for archiving data.
• Tape drives use a magnetic read/write head and
removable tape cartridge.
• Common tape storage capacities vary between a few
GBs to many TBs.

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PC Components
Semiconductor Storage
 Solid-state drives (SSD) store data as electrical charges in semiconductor flash
memory. This makes SSDs much faster than magnetic HDDs.
 SSDs have no moving parts, make no noise, are more energy efficient, and produce
less heat than HDDs.
 SSDs come in three form factors:
• Disc drive form factor – similar to an HDD
• Expansion cards – plugs directly into the
motherboard and mounts in the computer
case like other expansion cards
• mSata or M.2 modules – these packages
may use a special socket. M.2 is a
standard for computer expansion cards.

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 31
PC Components
Semiconductor Storage (Cont.)
 The Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) specification was developed specifically
to allow computers to take greater advantage of the features of SSDs by providing a
standard interface between SSDs, the PCIe bus, and operating systems.
 NVMe allows compliant SSD drives to attach to the PCIe bus without requiring
special drivers.

 Solid State Hybrid Drives (SSHDs) are a compromise between a magnetic HDD and
an SSD.
• They are faster than an HDD but less expensive than an SSD.
• They combine a magnetic HDD with onboard flash memory serving as a non-volatile
cache.

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 32
PC Components
Types of Optical Storage Devices
 Optical drives are removable media storage devices that use lasers to read and
write data on optical media.
 They were developed to overcome the storage capacity limitations of removable
magnetic media such as floppy discs.

 There are three types of optical drives:

• Compact Disc (CD) - audio and data
• Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) - digital
video and data
• Blu-ray Disc (BD) - HD digital video and
data

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 33
PC Components
Types of Optical Storage Devices (Cont.)
 CD, DVD, and BD media can be pre-recorded (read only), recordable (write once),
or re-recordable (read and write multiple times).
 DVD and BD media can also be single layer (SL) or dual layer (DL). Dual layer
media roughly doubles the capacity of a single disc.

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 34
PC Components
Video Ports and Cables
 A video port connects a monitor to a computer using a cable.

 Video ports and monitor cables transfer analog signals, digital signals, or both.

 Video ports and cables include:

• Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
• DisplayPort
• High-Definition Multimedia Interface
(HDMI)
• Thunderbolt 1 or 2
• Thunderbolt 3
• Video Graphics Array (VGA)
• Radio Corporation of America (RCA)
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PC Components
Other Ports and Cables
 Input/output (I/O) ports on a computer connect peripheral devices, such as printers,
scanners, and portable drives.

 A computer may have other ports:

• Personal System 2 (PS/2)
• Audio and game port
• Network
• Serial AT Attachment (SATA)
• Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)
• The Universal Serial Bus (USB)

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PC Components
Adapters and Converters
 There are many connection standards in use today. These components are called
adapters and converters:
• Converter – performing the same function as an adapter but also translates the signals from
one technology to the other.
• Adapter – physically connecting one technology to another

 Example of adapters include:

• DVI to VGA Adapter
• USB to Ethernet adapter
• USB to PS/2 adapter
• DVI to HDMI adapter
• Molex to SATA adapter
• HDMI to VGA converter
© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 37
PC Components
The Original Input Devices
 Input devices all the user to communicate with a computer.

 Some of the first input devices include:

• Keyboard and Mouse – these are the two most commonly used input devices
• ADF / Flatbed Scanner – these devices digitize an image or document
• Joystick and Gamepad – these devices are used for playing games
• KVM Switch – a hardware device that can be used to control more than one computer
while using a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 38
PC Components
New Input Devices
 Some new input devices include touch screen, stylus, magnetic strip reader, and
barcode scanner:
• Touch screen – input devices with touch or pressure sensitive screens
• Stylus – a type of digitizer that allows a designer or artist to create artwork by using a pen-
like tool
• Magnetic strip reader – a device that reads information magnetically encoded on the back
of plastic cards
• Barcode scanner – a device that reads the information contained in the barcodes affixed to
products

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 39
PC Components
More New Input Devices
 A few newer input devices:
• Digital camera – devices that capture digital images and videos
• Webcams – video cameras that can be integrated into a computer
• Signature pad– a device that electronically captures a person’s signature
• Smart card reader – a device used on a computer to authenticate the user. A smart card
may be the size of a credit card with an embedded microprocessor that is typically under a
gold contact pad on one side of the card.
• Microphone – a device that allows a user to speak into a computer and have their voice
digitized

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PC Components
Most Recent Input Devices
 The newest input devices include NFC devices and terminals, facial recognition
scanners, fingerprint scanners, voice recognition scanners, and virtual reality
headsets:
• NFC devices and terminals – Near Field Communication (NFC) tap to pay devices
• Facial recognition scanners – devices identifying a user based on unique facial features
• Fingerprint scanners – devices identifying a user based on unique fingerprint
• Voice recognition scanners – devices identifying a user based on unique voice
• Virtual reality headset – used with computer games, simulators, and training applications
with virtual reality functionalities.

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 41
PC Components
What are Output Devices?
 An output device takes binary information from the computer and converts it into a
form that is easily understood by the user.
 Examples of output devices include monitors, projectors, VR headsets, printers,
speakers, and headphones.

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PC Components
Monitors and Projectors
 Most monitors use one of three types of technology:
• Liquid crystal display (LCD)
• Light-emitting diode (LED)
• Organic LED (OLED)

 Most video projectors use LCD or DLP technology.

• DLP stands for Digital Light Processing
• Different projectors have different numbers of lumens, which affects the
level of brightness of the projected image.

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 43
PC Components
VR and AR Headsets
 Virtual Reality (VR) uses computer technology to create a
simulated, three-dimensional environment.
 A VR headset completely encases the upper portion of users’
faces, not allowing in any ambient light from their
surroundings.
 Augmented Reality (AR) uses similar technology but
superimposes images and audio over the real world in real
time.
 AR can provide users with immediate access to information
about their real surroundings.
 An AR headset usually does not close off ambient light to
users, allowing them to see their real life surroundings.
© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 44
PC Components
Printers
 Printers are output devices that create hard
copies of files.
 A hard copy might be a on a sheet of paper. It
could also be a plastic form created from a 3D
printer.

 Different types of printers:

• Inkjet, impact, thermal, laser, and 3D printers
• Printers use wired or wireless connections
• All printers require printing material (such as ink,
toner, liquid plastic, etc.)
• Printers use a driver to communicate with OS

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PC Components
Speakers and Headphones

 Speakers are a type of auditory output device.

 Most computers and mobile devices have audio support either integrated
into the motherboard or on an adapter card.
 Headphones, earbuds, and the earphones found in headsets are all auditory
output devices.
 These may be wired or wireless. Some are Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled.

© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Confidential 46