Chapter 2 - Computer Parts and How Computers Work
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completing this chapter you will be able to perform tasks relating to:
- Identify the parts of computers.
- How hardware parts (components) work with software.
- Define and understand the steps involved in booting a computer and testing the hardware.
- Distiniguish the features and functions of the hardware parts (components) that make the computer work.
- Understand system resources, include IRQs (interrupts), DMA (Direct Memory Address), and I/O (Input/Output).
- About basic SCSI technology and their parts.
- How to create a startup disk
INTRODUCTION
When working with computer systems a technician must understand both hardware and software. They must know how the hardware and software work together. The physical ardware as any part of the computer that you can touch or feel. The software instructions of the system and it enable the hardware parts to work. Upon completing this chapter you will have a better understanding of how hardware and software work together, system resources, and the steps involved in booting a computer.
Parts of a Computer System
System Case
The system case is a metal (sometimes plastic) box that stores the internal parts of a computer system. The case is designed to shield the electrical noise generated by the internal parts from interfering with external parts as well as keeping external noise from interfering with internal parts. The rear of the cases generally have the same parts including a power switch, power supply air vents, power cord connector, video connector, USB (universal serial bus) connectors, input and output ports, keyboard and mouse connectors, air vents, and expansion slots. The front of the case generally include LED hard disk drive power and reset buttons, internal speakers, USB (universal serial bus) connectors, and drive bay slots for floppies, hard drives, zip drives, CD-ROM/DVD drives and other mass storage devices.
Case Form Factors
The form factor is an industry standard which defines the physical layout of a system case. It includes the type of power supply it uses, the number of and types of ports, the type of system board, and how many expansion slots it has. Some of the common form factors are the PC/XT, AT, Baby AT, ATX, Mini ATX, FlexATX, LPX, Mini LPX and NLX
