Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
Inside a PC
Exploring the Major Components
Inside a PC: Objectives
Students will identify and explain the
function of the major components inside a
personal computer (PC).
Students will work in teams to remove and
replace elements attached to a motherboard.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
I. Safety First – General Guidelines:
A. Wear a static discharge wristband while
working on computer components.
B. BEWARE – some electronic devices will
store energy and discharge at unexpected
times. This will hurt the computer more
than it will hurt you.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
I. Safety First – General Guidelines:
C.
D.
Disconnect the power cord before
removing the case.
Disconnect the peripheral devices,
including the keyboard and mouse.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
II. Major Components:
Courtesy of Howstuffworks.com
A. Motherboard
1.
2.
3.
4.
Referred to as the heart of the
computer.
The Main circuit board of the
computer.
Contains the CPU chip, PCI
slots, AGP slots, RAM slots.
Allows all components to
communicate with each other
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
II. Major Components:
Courtesy of Howstuffworks.com
B. CPU:
Central Processing Unit
1. Runs software processes
2. Location: under the heat
sink
3. Remove with chip pulling
tool
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
II. Major Components:
C. RAM
Random Access Memory
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is a board made up of
memory chips.
Volatile Memory
Data lost with power
down
The board fits into the
RAM slots on the
motherboard
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II. Major Components:
D. Expansion Cards
1.
2.
3.
A small circuit board that
fits into slots on the
motherboard.
Common types of expansion
slots are: PCI and AGP.
Types of Cards

NIC, Video, Audio, USB
ports, FireWire ports.
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II. Major Components:
D. Expansion Cards
1.
2.
3.
Have ports located on the
vertical edge of the card.
Once the cover or case is put
back in place, the ports can be
seen on the back side of the
computer (also called the
backplane).
Peripheral devices (such as
speakers) can be plugged into
these ports.
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II. Major Components:
E.
Hard Disk (Drive)

F.
An input/output device that
stores hard disk
program/data files used by a
PC.
IDE Cable


Cable that looks like a
ribbon.
It connects the hard drive to
the motherboard.
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II. Major Components:
F.
Optical Drive (CD Drive)
Uses a light reader to
record/store information.
2. DVD or CD-ROM R/W Drive
1.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
III. Major Components:
G.
Power Supply
1.
2.
Converts external power
Regulates and distributes appropriate power
throughout the PC.
Power supply
optical drive
hard drive
Video card
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
Lab Assignment
You will explore the major components
inside a PC!

Follow lab assignment instructions.
You
will be divided into teams and assigned a
work station.
Take
turns removing & replacing elements
attached to the motherboard.
Complete
and turn in Lab Report.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.