Hardware of Personal Computers

Topic 4

Hardwares of Personal Computers

Part 1: Introduction

Hardwares of Personal Computers

What are Basic Hardware of a Personal Computer?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Monitor Motherboard CPU (Microprocessor) Primary storage (RAM) Expansion cards Power supply Optical disc drive Secondary storage (Hard disk) 9. Keyboard 10. Mouse
Hardwares of Personal Computers

Figure 1. Basic hardware of a PC. (Wikipedia, 2007a)

What is a Hardware?
Hardware is the general term that is used to describe physical artifacts of a technology.

Hardwares of Personal Computers

Classification of Hardware
1 2 4

Input Devices

Processing Unit

Output Devices

Storage Devices

Key:

Data flow

Figure 2. Classification of Hardware.

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Part 2: Input Devices

Hardwares of Personal Computers

What is an Input Device?

A hardware mechanism that transforms information in the external world for consumption by a computer. (Wikipedia 2007b)

Hardwares of Personal Computers

Input Devices
Keyboard
for the input of text and characters and also to control the operation of a computer (Wikipedia 2007c)

Mouse

a pointing device by detecting twodimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. (Wikipedia 2007d)

Scanner

a device that analyzes images, printed text, or handwriting, or an object and converts it to a digital image (Wikipedia 2007e)
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Hardwares of Personal Computers

Input Devices
Microphone
an acoustic to electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. (Wikipedia, 2007f)

WebCam

a real-time camera (usually, though not always, a video camera) whose images can be accessed using the World Wide Web (Wikipedia, 2007g)

Digital Camera
Hardwares of Personal Computers

an electronic device used to capture and store photographs electronically in a digital format (Wikipedia, 2007h)

Part 3: Processing Unit

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What is a Processing Unit?

A central processing unit (CPU), is the component in a digital computer that interprets computer program instructions and processes data. (Wikipedia, 2007i) There are 2 major CPU manufacturers for personal computers. Intel http://www.intel.com/ AMD http://www.amd.com
Figure 4. Intel Celern 2.66GHz CPU (Back) Hardwares of Personal Computers 11

Figure 3. Intel Celern 2.66GHz CPU (Front)

How fast is a CPU?

When you choose a CPU, you should consider its speed. The speed of a CPU is determined by 2 main factors. Clock frequency Amount of cache memory The higher the value, the faster the CPU will be.
Hardwares of Personal Computers

The clock frequency of a CPU

Figure 5. The clock frequency of a CPU.

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What are Intel CPU Families for Desktop Computers?

There are 3 Intel CPU families for desktop computers: 1. Core Processor
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/processors/index.htm

2. Pentium Processor
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/processors/pentium.htm

3. Celeron
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/processors/celeron.htm

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What are AMD CPU Families for Desktop Computers?

There are 3 AMD CPU Families for Desktop Computers: 1. Athlon 64 FX
http://www.amd.com/usen/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_9485_9488,00.html

2. Athlon 64 x 2 Dual Core

http://www.amd.com/usen/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_9485_13041,00.html

3. Athlon 64
http://www.amd.com/usen/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_9485_9487,00.html
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TASK 1 (Individual work)

You have learnt some searching skills for search engines, now you need to search the basic configurations and prices of the following CPUs. Please complete TABLE 1 and post it in the forum.

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TASK 1 (TABLE 1)
Intel CPU AMD CPU

CPU Model

Core 2 Due E6700

Celeron D356

Athlon 64 FX 51/940

Athlon 64 ADA 3200CN

Clock Frequency (GHz) Cache Memory L2 (MB) Price (HK$)

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TASK 2 (Group Work)

You are divided into groups of 4. Discuss the above CPU models, which are suitable for home PC or office PC used. Give brief reasons. Please post your group discussion results in the forum.
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What is a motherboard?
A motherboard is the central circuit board making up a personal computer. (Wikipedia, 2007j)
RAM slot

Figure 6. A motherboard.
Hardwares of Personal Computers

CPU

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Motherboard
A personal computer is built with the CPU, main memory, and other essential components on the motherboard. Other components such as external storage, controllers for video display and sound, and peripheral devices are typically attached to the motherboard via edge connectors and cables. In modern computers it is increasingly common to integrate these "peripherals" into the motherboard.
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What is a Video Card?

A video card is to generate and output images to a display. (Wikipedia, 2007k)

Figure 7. A video card.

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A Video Card
If the video card is integrated in the motherboard, it will use the computer RAM memory (lower throughput). If it is not integrated, the video card will have its own video memory which is called Video RAM or VRAM. The VRAM capacity of most modern video cards range from 128 to 2048 MB (workstation graphics cards). In 2006, the VRAM was based on DDR technology, standing out DDR2, GDDR3 and GDDR4. The memory clock rate is between 400 MHz and 1.6 GHz. A very important element of the video memory is the Zbuffer, which manages the depth coordinates in 3D graphics. (Wikipedia, 2007k)
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What is a Sound Card?

A sound card is a computer expansion card that can input and output sound under control of computer programs. Many computers have sound capabilities built in on the motherboard, while others require these expansion cards if audio capability is desired. (Wikipedia, 2007l)
Hardwares of Personal Computers

Figure 8. A sound card.

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Part 4: Storage Devices

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What are Types of Storage Devices?

Storage Devices
Primary Storage
ReadRead-Only Memory (ROM) RandomRandom-Access Memory (RAM)

Secondary Storage

Figure 9. Classification of storage devices.

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What is Primary Storage?

Primary storage is computer memory that is directly accessible to the CPU of a computer without the use of computer's input/output channels. Primary storage is used to store data that is likely to be in active use. (Wikipedia, 2007m)

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What is ROM?
Read-only memory (ROM) is a class of storage media used in computers. Data stored in ROM cannot be modified. ROM is a non-volatile storage. Data remains unchanged even after switching off the computer. (Wikipedia, 2007n) E.g. EPROM, EEPROM
Hardwares of Personal Computers

Figure 10. An EPROM. (Wikipedia, 2007n)

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What is RAM?
Random access memory (RAM) is a type of data storage used in computers. It takes the form of integrated circuits that allow the stored data to be accessed in any order (random). Data stored in RAM can be modified. RAM is a volatile storage. Data will lose after switching off the computer. (Wikipedia, 2007o) E.g. DDRam, DDR-2 Ram

Figure 11. Two 512 MB DDRam.

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What is Secondary Storage?

Secondary storage is computer memory that is not directly accessible to the CPU of a computer, requiring the use of computer's input/output channels. It is used to store data that is NOT in active use. It is usually slower than primary storage but it always has higher storage capacity. It is non-volatile. Data remains unchanged even after switching off the computer. (Wikipedia, 2007p)
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Secondary Storage
3.5 Floppy Disk Data can be read or write Data capacity: 1.44 MB (Wikipedia, 2007q)

Figure 12. A floppy disk.

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Secondary Storage
Hard Disk Data can be read or write Speed of disk rotation usually 7200 rpm Data capacity : 80GB, 160GB, 250GB, 300GB etc (Wikipedia, 2007r)
Hardwares of Personal Computers

Figure 13. A Hard disk.

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Secondary Storage
CD-Rom Data can be Data capacity (MB) Read only 650 CD-R Read but write once 650 CD-RW Read & write 650

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Secondary Storage
DVD Data can be Data capacity (GB) Read only DVD-R /DVD+R Read but write once DVD-RW /DVD+RW Read & write

Single layer: Single layer: Single layer: 4.7 4.7 4.7 Double layer: Double layer: Double layer: 8.5 8.5 8.5

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What are the Different Between DVD-R and DVD+R?

The DVD-R format was developed by Pioneer in the autumn of 1997. It is supported by most DVD players, and is approved by the DVD Forum. (Wikipedia, 2007s) DVD+R was developed in 2002. This format is a competing format to the DVD-R format, which is developed by the DVD Forum, it has not been approved by the DVD Forum, which claims that the DVD+R format is not an official DVD format. (Wikipedia, 2007t)
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Secondary Storage

Figure 14. A C-R disk.

Hardwares of Personal Computers

Figure 15. A CD-RW disk.

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Secondary Storage

Figure 16. A DVD-R disk.

Figure 17. A DVD+RW disk.

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Secondary Storage
USB flash drives They are flash memory data storage devices integrated with a USB interface. They are typically small, lightweight, removable and rewritable. (Wikipedia, 2007u) Data capacity: 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, etc
Figure 18. An USB flash drive.
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Secondary Storage
Memory Cards e.g. SD card, CF card, xD card, Microdrive, Memory Stick Data can be read or write Data capacity: 512 MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB etc
Figure 19. A SD card.
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Various Types of Memory Cards

SM Card

SD Card

CF Card

xD card

Memory Stick

Microdrive
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Hardwares of Personal Computers Figure

20. Various types of memory cards.