XP Practical PC, 3e Chapter 17 1 Upgrading and Expanding your PC.

Practical PC, 3eChapter 17

1

XP

Chapter 17

Upgrading and Expanding your PC


2

XPUpgrading and expanding your PC

• In this Chapter, you will learn:– How to upgrade the processor in your PC

– What affect adding RAM can have on the PCs performance

– How to add more hard disk capacity

– What other devices can be added or upgraded

– What can be upgraded on a notebook PC

– How to get technical support

– About expansion devices, ports, cards and slots


3

XPUpgrading the processor in your PC

• When expanding a PC, you add components to increase functionality, but when upgrading, you replace a component with a new or better version.

• The motherboard provides only one specific slot for the microprocessor.

• Sometimes upgrading the processor is not cost effective and should be checked out carefully. You often do not gain enough performance to make it a good decision.


4

XPUpgrading the processor in your PC

Two processor upgrades, a slot (left) and a Socket Connector


5

XPAdding RAM to improve performance

• Adding RAM can improve performance by providing faster data access and storage space for programs while they are running.

• There is less data transfer from disk if there is RAM space to hold it while it is being worked on.

• You can add RAM up to the limit of your microprocessor.


6


• Specifications to be considered when buying RAM are:– Speed – access time measured in nanoseconds (ns)

– Capacity – The amount of data each module can hold measured in megabytes (MB)

– Package – RAM chips come packaged onto memory modules which are either SIMMs, DIMMs or RIMMS

– Type – today's memory modules are usually a type of DRAM (dynamic RAM) chips.


7


Installing RAM

SIMM

DIMM


8

XPAdding more hard drive capacity

• Today’s software operates more efficiently with at least 300 MB of free space.

• If you want to supplement what your computer currently has, you can add a second hard drive.

• The new drive would connect to the enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) slot on the motherboard.


9


• You can also connect to a small computer system interface (SCSI) connection if there are no available EIDE channels.

• You will also need a drive bay (shelf or compartment) to attach the new drive to.

• If no other options are available, you have the option of connecting an external hard drive unit using a parallel or SCSI connection.


10


EIDE connections


11

XPAdding or upgrading other devices

• Your PC contains a variety of ports that allow for the connection of various external devices by cable connections.

• New devices can be added to these ports by simply plugging them in.

• The motherboard includes several expansion slots.• Expansion cards such as modems or graphics

cards can be plugged into these slots.


12


• The PC motherboard contains several types of slots:– AGP (accelerated graphics port) – accommodates

special graphics cards for 3-D and accelerated graphics

– PCI (peripheral component interconnect) – high speed data transfer for special sound, video or graphics cards.

– ISA (industry standard architecture) – older technology, used for modems or other slower devices


13


Expansion slots in the PC

AGP slot

PCI slot

ISA slot


14

XPUpgrading a notebook PC

• Notebooks provide few upgrade options and virtually no access to the motherboard.

• Notebooks typically have multifunctional ports, slots or docking capabilities to add devices.

• The ports allow for such things as a mouse, full-sized keyboard, scanner, external monitor, etc.

• An infrared port also allows sending data to a printer without a cable connection.


15


• Notebooks usually have PCMIA slots that allow adding second hard drives, modems, CD-ROM drives, cameras, more memory, etc.

• Docking stations contain ports and expansion slots just like a PC.

• Docking the notebook gives you this increased capability.


16


The array of ports on a notebook computer


17

XPHardware – Expansion devices, ports, cards and slots

• Peripheral devices are the input, output and storage devices connected to your computer.

• Internal devices, like CDR drives or modems are inside the PCs case and use its power supply.

• External devices like printers or scanners have their own case and power supply.

• Some devices have both internal and external options.


18


Today's PC connectors

4 DIMM slotsSlot connector for processor

AGP slot

4 PCI slots4 ISA slots

2 EIDE connectors

2 Serial ports

Keyboard port

Mouse port

1 Parallel port USB connector


19


• Your PC has many types of ports, some device specific, many used for a variety of different devices.

• If you don’t have the needed external port, you can often add ports on an expansion card.

• You should always make sure you have the correct internal slot or external port available before you buy a new device.


20


• Once a device is installed, Window’s plug and play software should automatically recognize it and help you install it.

• Some devices are hot pluggable, capable of being plugged in or unplugged while the system is running.

• Internal devices are never hot pluggable.


21


Expansion device chart


22

XPGetting technical support

Getting help on the Internet


23

XPWhat do you think?

Upgrade, reuse, recycle, or landfill?

1. If you did not have a computer, would you accept any free computer as long as it ran some basic software?

2. Do you think that your current school or business would accept a donation of 100 five-year old computers?

3. Do you believe that computer companies should take more responsibility for recycling the products they make?


24

XPChapter Summary

• You should now be able to:– Upgrade the processor in your PC

– Add RAM to improve your PCs performance

– Add another hard disk

– Add or upgrade other devices as needed

– Understand what is upgradeable on your notebook

– Get technical support

– About the basic types of expansion devices, ports, cards, and slots

XP Practical PC, 3e Chapter 17 1 Upgrading and Expanding your PC.

Documents

Transcript of XP Practical PC, 3e Chapter 17 1 Upgrading and Expanding your PC.