COMPUTER SYSTEM COMPONENTS

1.MOTHERBOARD
The motherboard is the main printed circuit board. It contains the buses, or electrical pathways, found in a computer.

2. CPU
The central processing unit (CPU) is considered the computers brain. It is sometimes called the processor.

3. COOLING SYSTEM
Electronic components generate heat. Heat is caused by the flow of current within the components. Computer components perform better when kept cool. If the heat is not removed, the computer may run slower. If too much heat builds up, computer components can be damaged.

4. ADAPTER CARDS
Adapter cards increase a computers functionality by adding controllers for specific devices or by replacing malfunctioning ports.

6. HARD DISK DRIVE (HDD) A device that stores and retrieves data from magnetic-coated platters that rotate at high speeds. The HDD is the primary storage medium on a computer.

6. POWER SUPPLY
Converts AC (alternating current) into the lower voltages of DC (direct current), which powers all the computers components. Power supplies are rated in watts.

7. FLOPPY DISK DRIVE (FDD) A device that spins a magnetically coated floppy disk to read data from it and write data to it.

8. DVD drive An optical device that reads DVDs. A DVD-rewritable (DVD-RW) drive can write to DVDRWs.

9. COMPACT DISC DRIVE (CD-ROM) An optical storage medium for audio and data.

INPUT Data or instructions entered into memory of computer Input device is any hardware component that allows users to enter data and instructions A hardware device that sends information into the CPU

INPUT DEVICES

1. KEYBOARD
One of the main input devices used on a computer, a PC's keyboard looks very similar to the keyboards of electric typewriters, with some additional keys.

2. MOUSE
In computing, a mouse (plural mouses, mice, or mouse devices.<>) is a pointing device that functions by detecting twodimensional 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.

3. SCANNER
Scanner is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an object, and converts it to a digital image.

4. WEBCAM
A camera connected to a computer or server that allows anyone connected to the Internet to view still pictures or motion video of a user.

5. MICROPHONE
a microphone is a hardware peripheral that allows computer users to input audio into their computers.

6. JOYSTICK
A computer joystick allows an individual to easily navigate an object in a game such as navigating a plane in a flight simulator.

OUTPUT
Data that has been processed into a useful form Output device is any hardware component that can convey information to one or more people Any peripheral that receives and/or displays output from a computer.

1. Monitor
monitor is a video display screen and the hard shell that holds it. In its most common usage, monitor refers only to devices that contain no electronic equipment other than what is essentially needed to display and adjust the characteristics of an image.

2. Printer
An external hardware device responsible for taking computer data and generating a hard copy of that data. Printers are one of the most used peripherals on computers and are commonly used to print text, images, and/or photos.

3. Projector
A hardware device that enables an image, such as a computer screen, to be projected onto a flat surface. These devices are commonly used in meetings and presentations as they allow for a large image to be shown so everyone in a room can see.

4. Sound Card
Also known as a sound board or an audio card, a sound card is an expansion card or integrated circuit that provides a computer with the ability to produce sound that can be heard by the user either over speakers and/or headphones.

5. Speakers
A hardware device connected to a computer's sound card that outputs sounds generated by the card.

6. Video Card
Also known as a graphics card, video card, video board, or a video controller, a video adapter is an internal circuit board that allows a display device such as a monitor to display a picture from the computer.

MOTHERBOARD
What Is The Motherboard Main Goal? The main goal is to connect all the hardware together like hard drives, memory modules, CPU, etc... A computer mother board is made of several parts, and each one has a hardware that can be connected to it. A peripheral is a device attached to a host computer but not part of it, and is more or less dependent on the host. It expands the host's capabilities, but does not form part of the core computer architecture.

BASIC PARTS OF A MOTHERBOARD

Back Panel Connectors

PS/2 Ports A PS/2 port connects a keyboard or mouse to a computer. The PS/2 port is a six-pin miniDIN female connector.

Serial Port A serial communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time - used to connect external modems or an older computer mouse to the computer

Parallel Port Is a type of interface found on computers (personal and otherwise) for connecting various peripherals. It is also known as a printer port or Centronics port.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) Is a standard interface that connects peripheral devices to a computer. It was originally designed to replace serial and parallel connections. USB devices are hot-swappable, which means that users can connect and disconnect the devices while the computer is powered on.

Video Ports / Video Graphics Array (VGA) Ports A video port connects a monitor cable to a computer

Audio Ports An audio port connects audio devices to the computer. Line In connects to an external source, such as a stereo system. Microphone In connects to a microphone. Line Out connects to speakers or headphones. Network Ports A network port, also called an RJ-45 port, connects a computer to a network. The connection speed depends on the type of network port.

The Processor Socket Sockets are the home for your Central Processor Unit ( CPU).

Memory Slots Memory slots also call memory banks are for Random Access Memory modules (RAM). Main Power Connector The main power connector is uses to get the electric energy from the power supply which the motherboard require to function properly. Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), also called Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA), is an early drive controller interface that connects computers and hard-disk drives.

Serial Advance Technology Attachment (S-ATA). It is faster than the ATA and only 1 device can be attached to it.

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) are used to install sound cards, graphic cards, Ethernet cards and modems.

The Accelerated Graphics Port (often shortened to AGP) is a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a video card to a computer's motherboard,

PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), officially abbreviated as PCIe (or PCI-E, as it is commonly called), is a computer expansion card standard designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP standards.

A floppy disk controller (FDC) is a special-purpose chip and associated circuitry that directs and controls reading from and writing to a computer's floppy disk drive (FDD).

Main Memory / Random Access Memory (RAM) Random access memory or RAM most commonly refers to computer chips that temporarily store dynamic data when you are working with your computer to enhance the computer performance. In other words, it is the working place of your computer where active programs and data are loaded so that any time the processor requires them, it doesn't have to fetch them from the hard disk which will take a longer access time. BIOS- Basic Input Output System BIOS is a term that stands for basic input/output system, which consists of low-level software that controls the system hardware and acts as an interface between the operating system and the hardware. Most people know the term BIOS by another name device drivers, or just drivers. In other words, the BIOS is drivers, meaning all of them. BIOS is essentially the link between hardware and software in a system. All motherboards include a small block of Read Only Memory (ROM) which is separate from the main system memory used for loading and running software. On PCs, the BIOS contains all the code required to control the keyboard, display screen, disk drives, serial communications, and a number of miscellaneous functions. The system BIOS is a ROM chip on the motherboard used by the computer during the startup routine (boot process) to check out the system and prepare to run the hardware. The BIOS is stored on a ROM chip because ROM retains information even when no power is being supplied to the computer.

CMOS-Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Motherboards also include a small separate block of memory made from CMOS RAM chips which is kept alive by a battery (known as a CMOS battery) even when the PCs power is off. This prevents reconfiguration when the PC is powered on. CMOS devices require very little power to operate. The CMOS RAM is used to store basic Information about the PCs configuration e.g.

Floppy disk and hard disk drive types CPU RAM size Date and time Serial and parallel port information Plug and Play information Power Saving settings

The Other Important data kept in CMOS memory is the time and date, which is updated by a Real Time Clock (RTC).

Chipset A chipset is a group of small circuits that coordinate the flow of data to and from key components of a PC. This includes the CPU itself, the main memory, the secondary cache and any devices situated on the buses. The chipset also controls data flow to and from hard disks, and other devices connected to the IDE channels. A computer has got two main chipsets: The Northbridge (also called the memory controller) is in charge of controlling transfers between the processor and the RAM, which is way it is located physically near the processor. It is sometimes called the GMCH, for Graphic and Memory Controller Hub. The Southbridge (also called the input/output controller or expansion controller) handles communications between peripheral devices. It is also called the ICH (I/O Controller Hub). The Tem Bridge is generally used to designate a component which connects two buses. Jumpers

Jumper pins Jumpers are small pins on the board with plastic or metal devices that go over the pins. This device is called a bridge or a jumper cap. When the bridge is connected to any two pins via a shorting link, it completes the circuit and a certain configuration has been achieved. Jumper cap A metal bridge that closes an electrical circuit. Typically, a jumper consists of a plastic plug that fits over a pair of protruding pins. Jumpers are sometimes used to configure expansion boards. By placing a jumper plug over a different set of pins, you can change a board's parameters.

Computer Hardware Safety Percussions 1. Fully shut down and unplug the computer before you make any attempts to disassemble the tower. 2. Take off any metal objects on your arms or fingers such as bracelets, rings or watches. Even if your unit is unplugged, there may still be some remaining electric charge. 3. Make sure your hands are completely dry to avoid damaging any mechanical parts as well as to avoid electrocution. 4. Work in a cool area to avoid perspiration for the same reason as seen in the previous number. 5. Before touching any part within the tower, put your hands against another metal surface (such as the computer casing) to remove static charge, which may damage sensitive devices. 6. Prepare a place to keep any screws you may remove. A container or piece of paper with labels for each part (casing, motherboard, CD drive, etc.) is ideal to avoid confusion between the similar-looking screws. 7. Handle all parts with care. Place each piece you remove carefully down onto a stable surface. 8. If a component does not come out easily, do not forcefully remove it. Instead, check that you are removing it correctly and that no wires or other parts are in the way. 9. be careful when holding the motherboard, its underside actually quite pointy and able to hurt you. 10. Never attempt to remove the power source, a box attached to the side or bottom of the unit to which all cables are connected. 11. When removing any cables, wires or ribbons, make sure to grasp the wire at the base or head to keep it from breaking. 12. be careful not to drop any small parts (particularly screws) into unreachable areas such as into the computer fan or disk drive. 13. Take note that the three of the most damaging things to a computer are moisture (sweat, drinking water), shock (electric or from being dropped) and dust (any debris from household dust to bits of food).