Chapter 1
Introducing Hardware
You Will Learn…
 That a computer requires both hardware and
software to work
 About the many different hardware
components inside and connected to a
computer
 How the CPU works and how it communicates
with other devices
Hardware Needs Software
Primary Functions of Hardware
Communication Between Hardware and
Software
 Binary number system
 ASCII (American Standard Code for
Information Interchange)
 Hexadecimal notation (hex)
Binary Code
ASCII
PC Hardware Components
 Input/output
 Processing
 Storage
 Electrical supply
 Communication
Elements Required for Hardware
Devices to Operate
 Method for the CPU to communicate with the
device
 Software to instruct and control the device
 Electricity to power the device
Hardware Used for
Input and Output
 Most resides outside computer case
 Communicates through a port or a wireless
connection
Port Connections for I/O Devices
Most Popular Input Devices
Most Popular Output Devices
Hardware Inside
the Computer Case
 Motherboard (CPU, memory)
 Permanent storage (floppy, hard, CD-ROM
drives)
 Power supply
 Circuit boards
 Cables
Inside the Computer Case
The Motherboard
 Largest and most important circuit board
 Contains the CPU, with which all devices must
communicate
The Motherboard
Ports Provided by Motherboard to
Outside of Case
 Serial
 Parallel
 USB
 Game
 Keyboard
 Mouse
Ports Provided by Motherboard to
Outside of Case
Major Components of Motherboards
 For processing
• CPU (performs most actual data processing)
• Chip set (supports CPU by controlling system
board activities)
 For temporary storage
• RAM
continued…
Major Components of Motherboards



To allow CPU to communicate with other devices
• Traces or wires
• Expansion slots
• System clock
Electrical system
• Power supply connections
Programming and setup data
• Flash ROM
• CMOS setup chip
The CPU
The Chip Set
Storage Devices
 Primary storage (temporary)
• Temporarily holds data and instructions as CPU
processes them
Also called memory or RAM
•
 Secondary storage (permanent)
Primary and Secondary Storage
Primary Storage
 RAM storage
• SIMMs (single inline memory modules)
• DIMMs (dual inline memory modules)
• RIMMs (manufactured by Rambus)
RAM Chips
Types of RAM Modules
How Much Memory Is Installed
Secondary Storage Devices
 Hard disks
 Floppy disks
 Zip drives
 CD-ROMs
 DVDs
Hard Drives
Hard Drive
 Most use EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive
Electronics) technology, which can
accommodate up to four IEDE devices on one
system
Hard Drive
Hard Drive
Hard Drive
Hard Drive
Floppy Drive
Floppy Drive
CD-ROM Drive
Motherboard Components Used for
Communication Among Devices
 Bus
 System clock
 Expansion slots
• PCI: High-speed input/output devices
• AGP: Video card
• ISA: Older and/or slower devices
Bus Lines
Data Bus
System Clock
 Synchronizes activity on the motherboard
 Controls pace of activity by sending
continuous pulses over the bus that different
components use
System Clock
Expansion Slots
Expansion Slots
Interface (Expansion) Cards
 Enable CPU to connect to external devices or
to a network
 Determine function by looking at the end of
the card that fits against back of computer case
Expansion Cards
Expansion Cards
Identifying Expansion Cards
The Electrical System
 Power supply (most important component)
• Provides power for the computer
•
Receives 110-120 volts AC and converts it to lower DC
voltage that the computer can handle
• Runs a fan to help cool inside of computer case
Power Supply
Power Supply
Power Supply
Instructions and Data Stored on the
Motherboard
 Provide rudimentary information about setup
of computer
 Start computer
 Search for an OS
 Stored on special ROM chips:
• By setting physical switches on the board (jumpers
•
and DIP switches)
Using CMOS configuration chips
ROM BIOS Chips
 Hybrid of hardware and software with
embedded programming
 Called firmware
ROM BIOS Chips
ROM BIOS Chips
CMOS Configuration Chips
Jumpers
DIP Switches
Chapter Summary
 Hardware used for input and output
 Hardware inside the computer case
 The motherboard, CPU, and chip set
 Storage devices
 Motherboard components used for
communication among devices
continued…
Chapter Summary
 Interface (expansion) cards
 The electrical system
 Instructions and data stored on the
motherboard