A+ Guide to Managing
and Maintaining Your PC
Fifth Edition
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
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Hardware Needs Software to
Work


Hardware

Physical components of a computer

Visible part of a system
Software

Set of instructions that directs hardware to
accomplish a task

The intelligence
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Functions of a Computer
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PC Hardware Components

Outside computer case: input/output devices

Inside the case: processing and storage


CPU – most important component
Requirements of a hardware device

Method for CPU to communicate with it

Software to instruct and control it

Electricity to power it
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Hardware Used for Input and
Output

Connects to computer case by ports (eg, serial,
parallel, USB, game, keyboard, mouse)

Popular input devices:


Keyboard

Mouse
Popular output devices:

Monitor

Printer
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Ports
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Input Devices
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Output Devices
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Hardware Inside the Case
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Motherboard Components

Processing



CPU (most important)
Chip set
Communication with
other devices

Temporary storage

RAM
Cache memory






Programming/setup data
Electrical system

Power supply
connections


Traces
Expansion slots
System clock
A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition
Flash ROM
CMOS setup chip
11
The Motherboard
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The Motherboard (continued)
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The CPU
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14
The Chip Set

Controls most activities on the motherboard

Includes several device controllers

USB controller

Memory controller

IDE controller
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The Chip Set (continued)
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Storage Devices


Temporary (primary storage, or memory)

Temporarily holds data and instructions while
processing them

Faster to access than permanent storage
Permanent (secondary storage)

Data and instructions must be copied into primary
storage (RAM) for processing
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Primary and Secondary Storage
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Primary Storage Devices

Memory, or RAM, located on motherboard
and other circuit boards


Volatile versus nonvolatile (or ROM) memory
Types of boards that hold memory chips

SIMMs

DIMMs

RIMMs
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Secondary Storage Devices

Hard drives

CD-ROM drives

DVD drives

Zip drives

Floppy drives
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Hard Drive
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IDE Connectors on a
Motherboard
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IDE Connectors on a
Motherboard (continued)
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Hard Drive’s Power Supply
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Floppy Drive Connection
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Floppy Drive Connection
(continued)
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CD-ROM Drive Connection
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Motherboard Components Used for
Communication Among Devices

The data bus

System of pathways used for communication and
the protocol and methods used for transmission
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The Bus and Bus Lines
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Expansion Slots
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Types of Expansion Slots
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Interface (Expansion) Cards
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The Electrical System

Power supply

Most important component of computer’s
electrical system

Converts/reduces electricity to voltage the
computer can handle

Runs a fan directly from electrical output voltage
to cool inside of computer case
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The Electrical System (continued)
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The Electrical System (continued)
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Summary

Introduction to hardware components of a
computer system

Initial insight into how hardware works
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