Computer System and Maintenance 201

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Introduction

IC – Integrated Circuit

In electronics, an integrated circuit (also known as IC, microcircuit,

microchip, silicon chip, or chip) is a miniaturized electronic circuit (consisting
mainly of semiconductor devices, as well as passive components) that has been
manufactured in the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material.

Integrated circuits are used for a variety of devices, including microprocessors,

audio and video equipment, and automobiles

The system unit

What is the system unit?

Case that contains electronic components of the computer used to
process data. Sometimes we called it the chassis
What are common components inside the system unit?
I.
II. Processor
III. Memory
IV. Adapter cards
V. Sound card
VI. Modem card
VII.Video card
VIII.Network card
IX. Ports
X. Drive bays
XI. Power supply

What is motherboard?
➢ Main circuit board in system unit
➢ Contains adapter cards, processor chips,
and
memory chips
➢ Also called system board

What is a chip?
➢ Small piece of semi-conducting material on
which integrated circuits are etched
 Integrated circuits contain many microscopic pathways capable of
carrying electrical current
➢ Chips are packaged so they can be attached to a circuit board

Processor
What is the central processing unit (CPU)?
➢ Interprets and carries out basic instructions that operate a
computer
➢ Control unit directs and coordinates operations in computer

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➢ Arithmetic logic unit(ALU) performs arithmetic, comparison, and
logical operations
➢ Also called the processor

What are multi-core processors?

➢ A multi-core processor is a chip with two or more separate

processors
➢ A dual-core processor is a single chip that contains two separate
processors
➢ A quad-core processor is a single chip that contains four separate
processors
➢ Each processor on a multi-core chip generally runs at a slower
clock speed, but increases overall performance

What is the system clock?

➢ Controls timing of all computer operations
➢ Generates regular electronic pulses, or ticks, that set operating
pace of components of system unit

What is a zero-insertion force (ZIF) socket?

➢ Allows you to install and remove chips with no force

What are heat sinks, heat pipes, and liquid cooling?

 Heat sink—component with fins that cools

processor
 Heat pipe —smaller device for notebook
computers
 Liquid cooling—uses a continuous flow of fluids to
transfer heat away

Memory

➢ Electronic components that store instructions, data, and results

➢ Consists of one or more chips on motherboard or other circuit
board
➢ Each byte stored in unique location called an address, similar to
seats in a concert hall
How is memory measured?
➢ By number of bytes available for storage

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What is random access memory (RAM)?

 Memory chips that can be read from and written to by processor

 Also called main memory or primary storage
 Most RAM is volatile; it is lost when computer’s power is turned
off

Where does memory reside?

➢ Resides on small circuit board called memory module

➢ Memory slots on motherboard hold memory modules

What is cache?
➢ Helps speed computer processes by storing frequently used
instructions and data
➢ Also called memory cache
Expansion Slots and Adapter Cards

What is an adapter card?

➢ Enhances system unit or provides
connections to external devices called
peripherals
➢ Also called an expansion card

What is an expansion slot?

➢ An opening, or socket, on the
motherboard that can hold an adapter
card
➢ With Plug and Play, the computer
automatically configures cards and other devices as you install
them

What is PCI?

(Peripheral Component Interconnect) is an interconnection system between a

microprocessor and attached devices in which expansion slots are spaced closely
for high speed operation. Using PCI, a computer can support both new PCI cards
while continuing to support Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion
cards, an older standard. Designed by Intel, the original PCI was similar to the
VESA Local Bus. However, PCI 2.0 is no longer a local bus and is designed to be

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independent of microprocessor design. PCI is designed to be synchronized with
the clock speed of the microprocessor.

ATE - Advance Technology Extender

Ports and Connectors

What are ports and connectors?
➢ Port connects external devices to system unit
➢ Connector joins cable to peripheral

What are different types of connectors?

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What is a serial port?

➢ Transmits one bit of data at a time
➢ Connects slow-speed devices, such as mouse, keyboard, modem

What is a parallel port?

➢ Connects devices that can transfer more than one bit at a time,
such as a printer
What are special-purpose ports?

➢ Allow users to attach specialized peripherals (digital video

cameras, color printers, scanners, and disk drives) or transmit
data to wireless devices
IDE – Integrated Drive Electronics
A hardware interface widely used to connect hard disks, optical discs and tape
drives to a PC. Introduced in 1986 with 20MB of storage, capacities increased a
thousandfold in less than two decades. Compared to the SCSI interface, IDE has
been the more economical choice.

The Primary slot is Blue colour. The slot is for hard disk as a
primary storage.

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The Secondary is Black Colour. The slots are for cd/dvd driver and sometimes
floopy disk. However 34 wire floopy disk has its own slot.

What are Ribbon Cables/IDE cable?

A thin, flat, multiconductor cable that is widely used for internal peripheral
connections in electronic systems. In a PC, a 34-wire ribbon connects the floppy
drive (if present) to the motherboard. A 40-wire cable connects the IDE (ATA) CD
drive, and an 80-wire cable is used for the IDE (ATA) hard disks.

Red lining indicates of pin no.1

Buses

What is an expansion bus?

➢ Allows processor to communicate
with peripherals

What is chipset?

A group of chips designed to work as a unit

to perform a function. For example, a modem
chipset contains all the primary circuits for
transmitting and receiving. A PC chipset
provides the electronic interfaces between all
subsystems

Bays

What is a bay?

➢ Opening inside system unit

used to install additional
equipment

➢ Drive bays typically hold disk

drives

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Power Supply

A system that converts AC current from the wall outlet into the
DC currents required by electronic circuits. A computer power
supply converts AC into multiple DC voltages. For example, 12
volts is commonly used for drives, while 3.3v and 5v are used
by the chips and other motherboard components.

Old version New Version

Colour of peripherals cable and its power

Yellow and black – 12v

Red and black – 5v

Other colours -3.3v

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