COM121 COMPUTER SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE
COURSE OUTLINE
SEMESTER: SPRING 2015
Faculty Member’s Details:
Name:
Office Hours:
Email:
Web Site:
Christophides Theodoros
By Appointment
theo_christopher@hotmail.com
http://www.cdacollege.ac.cy/
Course Description:
Computer architecture is concerned with the structure and behavior of the various functional
modules of the computer; and how they interact to provide the processing needs of the user.
An in-depth study of personal computer hardware and operating systems, this course prepares
students for the A+ Certification exams. Focus is on identification, installation, configuration,
and troubleshooting field replaceable components. Topics include microprocessors, memory,
BIOS and CMOS, expansion bus, motherboards, power supplies, floppy drives, hard drives,
SCSI devices, CD and DVD media, video, sound, portable PCs, printers, networks, the
Internet, and Windows operating systems.
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of readings, exercises, labs, and assignments, the student will
be able to:
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Be familiar with the format of and procedures for taking the A+ Certification exams
and understand the advantages of becoming an A+ Certified Hardware Technician.
Analyze and use appropriate power protection, safety procedures, and protective
devices within the computing environment to prevent injury to oneself or the
computer.
Identify all field replaceable units found in a personal computer and describe the
functionality of each component
Identify basic terms, concepts, and functions of computing system components,
including how each component should work during normal operation and during the
boot process.
Understanding and identify various architectures and buses and their advantages or
disadvantages
Be aware of common peripheral ports, associated cabling, and their connectors.
Install and configure motherboards, memory modules, storage devices,
microprocessors, power supplies, and multimedia devices.
Discuss the feasibility of upgrading an older computer in comparison with the cost of
replacing it with a newer model.
Identify various types of preventive maintenance products and procedures.
Analyze common symptoms and problems associated with each component and
provide solutions to troubleshoot and isolate the problems and perform appropriate
repair or replacement.
Have a rudimentary understanding of SCSI devices and how to install and configure
them.
Identify different printer technologies and how they work, diagnose basic printer
problems, and install printers in a Windows PC.
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Understand video cards, CRT and LCD monitors and how to select and install them.
Understand the special configuration needs of portable computers and be aware of the
difficulties of upgrading/repairing them.
Be familiar with basics of networking and the Internet, including terminology,
cabling, topologies, protocols, configuration, and services.
Be familiar with basic files, commands, and utilities for Windows and be able to use
the command line interface.
Keep informed of new and emerging computer hardware technology and be able to
talk knowledgeably with computer sales and repair people.
Learning Outcomes:
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Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
investigate tools, issues, and skills that form the basis of best practices for IT
technical professionals
install, configure, optimize, and upgrade personal computer components
maintain and troubleshoot personal computer components
install and troubleshoot laptops and portable devices
install, manage, and optimize operating systems
maintain and troubleshoot operating systems
install, maintain, and troubleshoot printers and scanners
identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of basic network protocols and
terminologies
install and manage network components
maintain and troubleshoot computer security.
Prerequisites: None
Type of Course: Compulsory for Information & Communication Technology
Teaching Methods: Face-to-face lectures, presentations, problem and case studies
discussion, independent and private study, preparation of projects and group work.
Course Teaching Hours: 42 hours a semester. The course is delivered during a 14-week
semester.
Assessment method and weight: 30% coursework and 70% final examination. Student
performance can be one or more of the following: student attendance and participation during
the semester, mid-term examination, tests, assignments and projects. Passing mark: 40%
ASSESSMENT
Assignments:
Mid-term examination:
Final examination:
10%
20%
70%
Assignments: The students will be assigned to carry out a theoretical research and practical
work in the existing literature over the topics covered in the course outline, or to carry out an
exercise using the Internet and/or other applications. The faculty member will determine the
character of the assignment. The students are requested to deliver their assignments on an
individual or group basis and on time. Although collaboration among the students for the
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preparation of the assignments is encouraged, students should avoid copying. Presentations
and discussions over the assignments will follow.
Mid-term examination: The mid-term examination will be of one and a half hours. It may be
essay questions, practical exercises and/or multiple-choice questions.
Final Examination: The final examination will be of two hours. It will be comprehensive
and it will test the students on the material covered during the semester.
Grading System
% Grade
90-100
80-89
75-79
65-74
60-64
55-59
40-54
Below 40
Grade
Grade Meaning
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
W
I
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Above Average
Average
Below Average
Poor
Failure
Withdrawal
Incomplete
COURSE BOOK
Required Textbook
Title
Author(s)
Publisher /Year
Edition
ISBN
Website
A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC
Jean Andrews
Course Technology; (January 1, 2013)
8 edition
1133135080
http://www.cengage.com/cgiwadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20bI&product_isbn_issn=9781435497
788
Textbooks, References, Other Bibliography
The A+ Certification and PC Repair Handbook
Title
Author(s)
Christopher A. Crayton, Joel Z. Rosenthal and Kevin J. Irwin
Publisher /Year Laxmi Publications (December 1, 2007)
1st
Edition
8131800768
ISBN
Title
Author(s)
Publisher /Year
Edition
ISBN
Computer Organization and Design Balanced
David A. Patterson and John L. Hennessy
Morgan Kaufmann, 2010
4th Edition
0123744938
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Learning Outcome Table
Week
1
02/02
2
09/02
3
16/02
4
24/02
Learning Outcomes and Content of the Course
Activities
Introducing Hardware and Operating Systems
Learn that a computer requires both hardware and
software to work
Learn about the many different hardware components
inside of and connected to a computer
Learn about the various operating systems and the
differences between them
Learn about the components of Windows operating
systems
Learn how operating systems interface with users, files
and folders, applications, and hardware
Working with People in a Technical World
Learn about some job roles and responsibilities of those
who sell, fix, or support personal computers
Learn what customers want and expect beyond your
technical abilities
Learn how to interact with customers when selling,
servicing, and supporting personal computers
Form Factors, Power Supplies, and Working Inside a
Computer
Learn about different form factors used for computer
cases, motherboards, and power supplies
Learn how electricity is measured and about electrical
components
Learn how to select a power supply
Learn how to protect yourself and your equipment against
the dangers of electricity
Learn how to work inside a computer case
Learn how to troubleshoot electrical problems
All About Motherboards
Learn about the different types and features of
motherboards
Learn how firmware on the motherboard controls what
happens when you first turn on a PC before the OS is
loaded
Learn how to install, configure, and maintain a
motherboard
Supporting Processors and Upgrading Memory
Learn about the characteristics and purposes of Intel and
AMD processors used for personal computers
Learn about the methods and devices for keeping a system
cool
Learn how to install and upgrade a processor
Learn how to solve problems with the processor, the
motherboard, overheating, and booting the PC
Learn about the different kinds of physical memory and
how they work
Learn how to upgrade memory
Learn how to troubleshoot problems with memory
Discussion Questions
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Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
5
02/03
6
09/03
7
16/03
8
23/03
9
30/03
10
20/04
Supporting Hard Drive, Installing and Supporting I/O
Devices
Learn about the technologies used inside a hard drive and
how data is organized on the drive
Learn how a computer communicates with a hard drive
Learn how hard drives can work together in a RAID array
Learn about floppy drives
Learn how to select and install a hard drive
Learn how to solve hard drive problems
Learn about the general approaches you need to take when
installing and supporting I/O devices
Learn about the types of I/O devices and their
characteristics
Learn how to install input devices, including the mouse,
keyboard, barcode reader, fingerprint reader, and touch
screen
Multimedia Devices and Mass Storage
Learn about multimedia adapter cards, including sound
cards, TV tuner cards, and video capture cards
Learn about optical storage technologies, including CD,
DVD, and Blu-ray
Learn about removable storage, including solid-state
devices, external hard drives, and tape drives
PC Maintenance and Troubleshooting Strategies
Learn about operational procedures to keep you, other
people, the equipment, and the environment safe
Learn how to develop a preventive maintenance plan and
what to include in it
Learn how to approach and solve a PC problem
How to plan a Windows installation
Revision
Mid-term Examination
Maintaining and Optimizing Windows
Learn how to set up and perform scheduled preventive
maintenance tasks to keep Windows healthy
Learn how to prepare for disaster by keeping good
backups of use data and Windows system files
Learn about the directory structures used by Windows and
how to manage files and folders
Learn how to use Windows utilities to manage hard drives
Learn about Windows utilities and tools you can use to
solve problems with Windows
Learn how to optimize Windows to improve performance
Tools for Solving and Fixing Windows Problems
Learn about Windows tools useful to solve problems
caused by hardware, applications, and failed Windows
components
Learn about Windows tools that can help when Windows
gives problems when starting
Learn what to do when a hardware device, application, or
Windows component gives a problem
Learn what to do when Windows Vista won’t boot or
boots with errors
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Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
Midterm
Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
11
27/04
12
04/05
13
Networking Essentials and Practices
Learn about hardware devices used for networking
Learn about the different types of networks
Learn about the protocols and standards Windows uses for
networking
Learn how to connect a computer to a network
Learn about troubleshooting tools and tips for network
connections
Learn about tools and utilities used to troubleshoot
problems with network and Internet connections
Learn how to troubleshoot connectivity problems with
networks and client applications
Security Essentials and Practices
Learn why it is important to comply with established
security policies
Learn ways to authenticate and classify users so that you
can control who has access to your resources and what
users can do with them
Learn about additional methods you can use to protect
resources
Learn how to monitor and maintain the security measures
you have implemented
Learn how to protect against and remove malicious
software
Learn how to implement security using Windows
Learn how to use BIOS security features
Revision
Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
Discussion Questions
Lectures, Presentation
and class discussion
Revision
11/05
OTHER INFORMATION:
Class attendance: Students are expected to attend the classes regularly and be punctual.
Office hours: Students are encouraged and advised to visit regularly their instructor during
the office hours and discuss promptly any issue that seems to be important for the student and
his/her success.
Humane matters: Inform your faculty member for any un-expectancies that may occur, thus
not allowing you to carry out your responsibilities.
Library: You are advised to visit regularly the library of our College and read articles
published in academic journals. I recommend you studying regularly among others, articles of
your interest, published in international journals.
Web Site: You are advised to visit the College’s web site in order to find class
notes, information on assignments or important notes and announcements.
NOTES:
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Class attendance and participation in class discussion is expected and absences will
affect your final grade.
The due dates for assignments are non-negotiable and late work will be penalized.
All assignments are to be professional in appearance and type.
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