PCI Slot (x3)

CMOS Backup Battery

Connectors for integrated peripherals

Southbridge

AGP Slot IDE Connector (x2)

20-pin ATX Power Connector

DRAM Memory Slot

CPU Socket

CPU

Northbridge

What is a motherboard?A motherboard is the main printed circuit board which holds everything and all of its needs. The motherboard also holds links which enables data to travel amongst the various components on the board.

CPU (Central Processing Unit): The computers brain that tells the computer what to do and when to do it.CPU Socket: Where the CPU slots in.DRAM Memory Slot: Dynamic random access memory. 20-pin ATX Power Connector: It connects the computer power supply to an ATX style motherboard.IDE Connector: Standard interface for IBM compatible hard drives.AGP Slot: Accelerated graphics port.Southbridge: ½ of the chips in the core logic chipset – implements the slower capabilities of the motherboard. CMOS Backup Battery: The small amount of memory on the motherboard that stores the BIOS settings.PCI Slot: Used to add extension cards to a machine.Northbridge: Chips that connect a CPU to memory, the PCI bus, level 2 cache and AGP activities.Integrated peripherals: peripheral device that is housed within the main container of the computer e.g. USB slot.

What is a CPU?CPU stands for Central Processing Unit and is known for being the brain of a computer or also referred to as the processor. The CPU tells everything what to do for example if you told the computer to do something this process will go through the CPU to make sure it works properly.

What is a BIOS?BIOS stands for Basic Input/output System. BIOS is a type of firmware embedded on a chip on a computers motherboard that recognizes and controls various devices that make up the computer during the booting process on IBM PC compatible computers. BIOS is put in place to ensure a computer works fully and correctly. BIOS is the first software that PC’s run when powered on.

What are cooling systems?Within a computer system electronic components can generate a lot of heat which in-turn can damage the components. Therefore, cooling systems are put in place to prevent the components getting damaged. Different cooling systems:- Case Fan: A case fan makes the cooling process more efficient and

speeds up the process.- Heat Sink: A heat sink draws any heat away from the core of the

CPU; the heat sink may also have a fan on top which moves the heat away from the CPU completely.

- Fans: Fans can be dedicated to cool the GPU (Graphics-processing Unit)

Case Fan

CPU FanHeat Sink

ROM - Read-Only Memory:- ROM is memory containing

instructions that the computer uses when it boots up, before the system software loads.

- ROM is a memory system for example a CD which can only be read but cant be edited.

- ROM retains its contents when the computer is turned off – no files or memory is lost.

RAM - Random-Access Memory:- RAM is used for temporarily storing

data and programs that are being accessed by the CPU.

- RAM looses its content when a computer is turned off therefore everything is lost and it is known as Volatile Memory.

- The bigger the RAM the bigger the capacity which in turn can process larger programs and files; the smaller the RAM the smaller the capacity.

What is an adapter card?Adapter cards increase the computers functionality by adding specific controllers for the device or by replacing the malfunctioning ports.

Adapter Cards Example?- Sound & video adapter- USB Ports- Parallel and serial ports- NIC (Network Interface Card), Wireless NIC and

modern adapters.

Expansion Slots Example?- PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)- AGP (Advanced Graphics Port)- PCI-Express- Laptops (mini PCI)

What are storage devices?Storage Devices are drives that read or write information to magnetic storage media – allows you to read or write information onto a storage device.Hard Disk Drive (HDD):The Hard Disk Drive is a magnetic storage device *a magnetic storage device has drive motors designed to spin magnetic platters and move the drive heads when needed*. The storage within the HDD is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB).Solid State Drives (SSDs):Solid State Drives is the same as a HDD but it has no moving parts therefore it results in faster access to your data, making it more reliable and reduces the power usage.Floppy Disk Drive (FDD):A floppy disk drive is a storage device that uses 3.5inch removable floppy disks that can store up to 1.44MB of data.Optical Drive:An optical drive is a storage device which uses lasers in order to read the date on the optical media. Optical drives can come in 3 different types a CD, DVD or a BD (Blu-Ray)Flash Drive:A flash drive is a removable storage device that connects to a USB port. Flash drives also don’t use a type of memory that requires power.

- A video port connects a monitor cable to the computer. Examples: DVI, DisplayPort, RCS, DB-15, RJ-45, MiniHDMI, DIN-6.

- Display cables transfer video signals from the computer to display devices. Examples: HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface, DVI, VGA (Video Graphics Array), Component/RGB, Composite, S-Video, Coaxial, Ethernet.

- Serial Ports transmit bits of data one by one.- A telephone cable (RJ11) is used to connect a modem to a telephone outlet.- USB is a standard interface for connecting transferable devices to a computer. Some devices can also be

powered through the USB port for example a phone or camera.- FireWire is a high-speed, hot swappable interface that can support up to 63 devices. Some devices can

also be powered through the FireWire port.- Parallel cable is used to connect parallel devices such as a printer or scanner ect and can transmit 8

pieces of data at one time.- SCSI Port can transmit data at rates around 320 Mbps and can support up to 15 devices. SCSI devices

must be terminated at each endpoint of the SCSI chain.- Network Port (RJ-45 port) connects a computer to a network (Wifi). - PS/2 port connect a keyboard and mouse to a computer.- Audio port connects audio devices to the computer.- Video port connects a monitor cable to a computer.

- Scanner: A scanner is a device that capture images from photographs, posters, magazine pages, documents ect in order to view and edit the various sources on a computer.

- Keyboard: A keyboard is a piece of computer hardware which is used in order to input text, characters and other commands onto a computer or various other similar devices.

- Digital Camera: A digital camera is a device used to digitally capture images rather than recording them on a film. A digital camera also gives you the ability to transfer and download these images onto a computer to edit, share and carry out various other processes.

- Pointing Device (mice): A pointing device is a device in which you can control the movement of the pointer to select items on a display screen (eg computer screen) – it allows you to navigate around the computer system.

- Plotter: A plotter is a printer that interprets commands from a computer to make line drawings on paper with one or more automated pens. This is also used when using programs such as CSD and CAD. Plotter is used to print designs for things such as building plans, machines and boats ect.

- Printer: A printer is a device that accepts text and graphic output from a computer and transfers the information onto a paper in order to view physically as well as manually.

- Monitor: A monitor is a piece of computer hardware that displays video and graphics information that is generated by the computer through a video card. Monitors are similar to TV however they display information at higher resolutions.

- Projector: A projector is a device that can take images generated by a computer and reproduce them onto a large, flat surfaces.

- Optical Cable (Fibre optic): An optical fibre cable is a cable containing one or more optical fibres that are used to carry light and transmit data. Fibre optical cables carry more data than metal cables due to a much grater bandwidth, data can be transmitted digitally rather than analogically, and fibre cables also increase the speed of the computer and its internet connection.

- Coaxial Cable: A coaxial cable is the type of cable that is used by cable TV’s that is commonly used for data communications. Data is transmitted through the centre wire which runs parallel to the outer braided layer which serves as a line to ground.

- Twisted-Pair Cable: A twisted-pair cable consists of two independently insulated wires twisted around one another. Twisted-pair cables are used by telephone networks and helps to reduce crosstalk and electromagnetic induction.