Angela West
585 – Assignment 1
Dr. Devendra Potnis
1. System Unit
a. List specifications of the following parts of a computer of your choice: Make sure to support your
answers with appropriate screenshots.
For these questions, I used my UTK provided laptop (Dell Latitude E6430).
Power Supply:
From what I can tell, laptops generally do not use internal PSUs. I was able to find information on the
power supply cords/batteries:
AC Adapter (AC 100-240V) and Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery
Screenshot from the Device Manager:
Screenshot from “Dell Battery Information”:
Photo of the adapter:
Video card:
Intel® HD Graphics 4000
Screenshot from the DirectX Diagnostic Tool:
Sound card:
Intel® Display Audio
Screenshot from the Device Manager:
Processor:
Intel® Core™ i5-3230M
Screenshot from the Device Manager:
b. Identify various ports and connections on system unit of a computer of your choice. You would take
a snapshot of the system unit. Label at least six ports and connections with arrows on the snapshot.
(13)
This photo shows the back of one of my home PCs:
2. Explain the following terms with examples.
Motherboard (3)
The motherboard is a circuit board that contains the main electronic components of a computer,
including the memory and CPU. The motherboard also connects other parts of the computer to each
other (i.e. peripherals like the printer and mouse). An example of a motherboard would be the ASUS
SABERTOOTH Z77 (LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX).1
EBCDIC (3)
“Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code.” EBCDIC is a binary code developed by IBM. It uses
8-bit binary codes to represent 256 alphabetic/numerical characters. For example, the character “A” is
encoded as “11000001 (x'C1')” and “space” is represented as “01000000 (x'40')”2
Superconductor (3)
A superconductor is a material that, when cooled to very low temperatures, has zero resistance to the
flow of an electrical current. Niobium-titanium is a commonly used alloy in superconducting wires.3
Binary number system (3)
In this system, 2 symbols (0 and 1) are used in combination to represent numeric values. In some
computer electronics, the numbers 1 and 0 are interpreted as “on” and “off” (“on” indicating a
transistor with voltage and “off” indicating a transistor without voltage). In this way, a computer can
read and store information. For example, a computer may read the binary number “001” as the number
1, and binary code “010” as the number 2, and so on.
Port address (3)
A port address is the identifier for specific applications on a network computer. It helps computers on a
network communicate by identifying the source of transmitted data. It’s often used with TCP and IP
addresses. For example, HTTP applications use the port number 80.4
Compiler (3)
A compiler is a program that translates programming code (such as Pascal) into code that can be
understood by a computer. An example of this is the GNU Compiler Collection
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Compiler_Collection), which supports several programming
languages.
Expansion slot (3)
An expansion slot can be used to add more components to a computer. It allows another circuit board
to be attached to the motherboard. For example, a user wanting to install a new video card or sound
card may use an expansion slot to incorporate it into the computer.
1
"SABERTOOTH Z77." - Motherboards. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
"The EBCDIC Character Set." N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
3
"Niobium-titanium." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
4
"List of TCP and UDP Port Numbers." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
2
RAM & EPROM (4)
RAM (Random-access memory) is a type of volatile memory, meaning that it requires power to function.
RAM is stored randomly and can be accessed quickly, which makes it useful in running applications.
However, if the power supply is interrupted or lost, the data stored in RAM is also lost. An example of a
RAM chip would be Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (Model BLS2KIT4G3D1339DS1S00).5
EPROM (erasable programmable read only memory) is non-volatile, meaning that it will retain
information even when no power is supplied. Unlike ROM, EPROM can be re-programmed, but it
cannot be altered electronically and requires a UV light source. An example of EPROM would be the
Atmel AT27C512R-45PU.6
3. BIOS
a. Access BIOS menu on a computer of your choice and list all the items and subitems on the menu.
(12)
General
-System Information
-Battery Information
-Boot Sequence
-Advanced Boot Options
-Date/Time
System Configuration
-Integrated NIC
-Parallel Port
-Serial Port
-SATA Operation
-Drives
-SMART Reporting
-USB Configuration
-USB PowerShare
-Unobtrusive Mode
-Miscellaneous Devices
Video
-LCD Brightness
Security
-Admin Password
-System Password
-Internal HDD-0 Password
-Strong Password
-Password Configuration
-Password Bypass
5
"Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 X 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model
BLS2KIT4G3D1339DS1S00." - Newegg.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
6
"AT27C512R-45PU." Mouser Electronics. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
-Password Change
-Non-Admin Setup Changes
-TPM Security
-Computrace
-CPU XD Support
-OROM Keyboard Access
-Admin Setup Lockout
Secure Boot
-Secure Boot Enable
-Expert Key Management
Performance
-Multi Core Support
-Intel SpeedStep
-C-States Control
-Intel Turbo Boost
-Hyper Thread Control
-Rapid Start Technology
Power Management
-AC Behavior
-Auto On Time
-USB Wake Support
-Wireless Radio Control
-Wake on LAN/WAN
-Block Sleep
-Primary Battery Charge Configuration
-Battery Slice Charge Configuration
-Module Bay Battery Charge Configuration
-Intel Smart Connect Technology
POST Behavior
-Adapter Warnings
-Keypad Embedded
-Mouse/Touchpad
-Numlock Enable
-Fn Key Emulation
-Fastboot
Virtualization Support
-Virtualization
Wireless
-Wireless Switch
-Wireless Device Enable
Maintenance
-Service Tag
-Asset Tag
System Logs
-BIOS Events
-Thermal Events
-Power Events
b. Give specifications of the items and sub-items on the menu. Support your answers with appropriate
pictures. (13)
-System Information and Battery Information give information on the system components and battery
health:
-Boot Sequence specifies the order that BIOS searches devices when trying to find an operation system
to boot:
-Advanced Boot Options and Date/Time allow deeper configuration of the Boot order and date and time
settings.
System Configuration
-Integrated NIC controls the on-board LAN controller:
-Parallel Port determines how the parallel port on the docking station operates:
-Serial Port determines how the serial port on the docking station operates:
-SATA Operation configures the operating mode of the integrated SATA hard drive controller:
-Drives enables or disables various drives on the board:
-SMART Reporting controls whether drive errors for integrated drives are reported during system
startup:
-USB Configuration configures integrated USB controller:
-USB PowerShare configures the USB PowerShare features:
-Unobtrusive Mode turns off light and sound emissions:
-Miscellaneous Devices enables or disables various on board devices:
Video
-LCD Brightness sets the panel brightness when the ambient light sensor is off:
Security
-Admin Password, System Password, and Internal HDD-0 Password let you set the passwords on the
Admin, System, and Internal Hard Drive passwords:
-Strong Password, Password Configuration, Password Bypass, Password Change, and Non-Admin Setup
Changes offer changes to the admin and system password settings, such as requiring strong passwords
(or no passwords), and whether or not changes are permitted:
-TPM Security lets you control whether the TPM in the system is enabled and visible to the operating
system:
-Computrace enables or disables the optional Computrace service:
-CPU XD Support enables or disables the Execute Disable mode of the Processor:
-OROM Keyboard Access determines whether users are able to enter Option ROM Configuration screens
during boot:
-Admin Setup Lockout prevents users from entering Setup when an Admin Password is set:
Secure Boot
-Secure Boot Enable enables or disables the Secure Boot feature:
-Expert Key Management allows the PK, KEK, db, and dbx security key databases to be manipulated:
Performance
-Multi Core Support specifies whether the processor will have one or more cores enabled:
-Intel SpeedStep, C-States, TurboBoost, and HyperThread Controls enable or disable various processor
modes:
-Rapid Start Technology puts the system into a low power state during sleep after a user specified
amount of time:
Power Management
-AC Behavior allows the system to power-on automatically if it is in Off or Hibernate:
-Auto On Time allows a user to tell the system when to power-on automatically:
-USB Wake Support allows you to enable USB devices to wake the system from Standby:
-Wireless Radio Control disables selected wireless radios when a wired network is detected:
-Wake on LAN/WAN lets a special LAN signal wake up a computer from an Off or Hibernate state:
-Block Sleep blocks the system from entering sleep:
-Primary Battery Charge Configuration, Battery Slice Charge Configuration, and Module Bay Battery
Charge Configuration allow you to change settings on the battery:
-Intel Smart Connect Technology periodically senses nearby wireless connections while the system is
asleep:
POST Behavior
-Adapter Warnings lets you choose whether the system displays warning messages when you use
certain power adapters:
-Keypad Embedded, Mouse/Touchpad, Numlock Enable, and Fn Key Emulation all allow you to change
the settings of the keyboard, keyboard keys, and mouse/touchpad functions:
-Fastboot can speed up the boot process by bypassing some compatibility steps:
Virtualization Support
-Virtualization enables Intel’s Virtualization Technology:
Wireless
-Wireless Switch and Wireless Device Enable allow you to control certain settings on wireless devices:
Maintenance
-Service Tag and Asset Tag allows you to view and set the Service and Asset tags:
System Logs
-BIOS Events, Thermal Events, and Power Events track the date, time, and details of events on the
system:
4. Miscellaneous
a. Explain the following terms with examples
VGA (2)
VGA (Video Graphics Array) is an analog display interface that is found on many PCs. It was first
introduced in the 1980s, with modern versions capable of transmitting high definition video up to
1080p. The VGA connector and port typically look like this:
(http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/v/vga.jpg)
DVI (2)
DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is a type of digital interface that connects video sources with a display
screen, typically an LCD monitor.7 DVI transmits uncompressed, high definition video using a connector
containing a series of up to 24 pins. An example of a DVI connector can be seen in the following photo:
(How-To Geek." HowTo Geek RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2013.)
HDMI (2)
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a type of interface that is able to transmit audio as well
as high definition video through one cable. Although they have in the past been used mostly with
HDTVs and Blu-ray players, newer computers/video cards will often support HDMI. An example of an
HDMI connector can be seen in this photo:
(How-To Geek." HowTo Geek RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2013.)
Surge protector (2)
A surge protector is a piece of equipment that allows multiple power plugs to be used on one outlet.
Surge protectors also help shield any connected devices from power surges, although they usually
cannot handle the extremely powerful surge associated with a lightning strike.8 An example of a
commonly seen surge protector is Belkin’s Home/Office Series Surge Protector, which offers 6 outlets
and a maximum spike voltage of 6000V. 9
UPS (2)
UPS (“uninterruptible power supply” or “uninterruptible power source”) provides backup power without
interruption, meaning there is a constant supply of power even when the main power source is lost. An
example of a UPS would be the APC Back-UPS ES 550VA 230V.10
7
"All About DVI." All About DVI. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2013.
"How Surge Protectors Work." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2013.
9
"6 Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector 4' Cord." Belkin. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
10
"APC Back-UPS ES 550VA 230V French/English Technical Specifications." Buy APC Back-UPS ES 550VA 230V
French/English. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2013.
8
Warm boot (2)
A warm boot reboots the computer without turning the power completely off. This can be achieved by
selecting “restart” or, on some systems, using the ctrl-alt-delete command.
b. How many colors could be displayed by a monitor storing 32 bits per pixel? (2)
32 bpp can display true color: 16.7 million+ colors.i
c. Explain three differences between “Sleep mode” and “Hibernate mode.” (3)
-- Sleep puts the computer into power save mode, while hibernate shuts down the computer (saving
even more power).
-- Sleep will put active documents into volatile memory, while hibernate saves documents on the hard
disk.
-- A computer will “wake up from” sleep within a matter of seconds, while waking up from hibernation is
a slower process.
d. List any four utility software installed on your computer. (4)
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (anti-virus and anti-spyware)
Windows Explorer (file manager)
Disk Cleanup
Disk Defragmenter
e. Describe any four operations performed by robots employed by libraries. (4)
-Book retrieval – Books are stored compactly in a warehouse and automatically retrieved by a
computerized forklift system.
-Book scanning – The robot flips through the pages of a book and scans each page individually. The BFSAuto (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03ccxwNssmo) is a great example of this kind of technology.
-Book sorting – Books are sorted via conveyor belts, much like those used in postal services. An example
is the sorting belts found at the Seattle Public Library.
-Book returns and Inventory – Robots can use RFID tags to automatically detect not only a book’s
content, but its location. This can be used to take inventory of books on shelves, finding missing
materials, or, in the case of a robotic check-in system, automatically detect item and patron information.
i
"Intel® 82865G Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) — Screen Resolutions, Color Depth and Refresh
Rates for Windows*." Intel® 82865G Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) — Screen Resolutions, Color
Depth and Refresh Rates for Windows*. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.