COMPUTER HARDWARE BASICS

MICROPROCESSOR:

The microprocessor is the brain of any laptop. It controls all activities on the computer. Basically, it performs 2 kinds of operations – mathematics & logical operation (internally), read & write (externally). Read /write operations are completed on 2 varieties of gadgets – I/O and reminiscence gadgets. It uses the “cope with a bus” to choose any “vicinity” on those gadgets, sends a study/writes signal over the “manage bus,” after which the records over the “information bus.”

MEMORY DEVICES:

The CPU stores all facts within the laptop’s memory.

The computer has two memory kinds – RAM & ROM

RAM (Random Access Memory):

This volatile kind is a study & write memory device. This loses its contents while electricity is close off.

The kinds of RAM are

· DRAM (Dynamic ram) – is similar to a capacitor because it has a tendency to lose its contents and consequently requires to be refreshed. This is the Computer RAM.

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· SRAM (Static ram) – This is faster than Dram and would not require being refreshed. This is expensive, and hence the handiest a confined quantity is used as CACHE reminiscence in the computer.

ROM (Read-only memory):

This tool is used because of the textbook for the CPU in the computer and is referred to as ROM BIOS. ROM may be programmed using a programmer, and then it acts as a “examine only” device. It shops all of the simple information of programming the gadgets gift inside the device and the POST (Power On Self Test) collection. AMI BIOS and AWARD BIOS are the maximum common ROM BIOS.

The varieties of ROM are

· PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory)

· EPROM (Erasable & Programmable Read-Only Memory)

· FLASH ROM

· EEPROM (Electrically EPROM)

· EEPROM (Electrically Alterable ROM)

I/O DEVICES:

Apart from passive reminiscence devices, there are sure controllers in the device, which assist the CPU in acting diverse operations. These are called I/O devices. These devices encompass Interrupt controller, Timer, Ports, DMA Controller, Floppy Drive Controller, CRT Controller, etc.

BUSES & EXPANSION SLOTS:

These are how verbal exchange between various gadgets of the pc takes place, and the kids are as noted under.

ISA (Industry Standard Architecture):

ISA bus consists of a 24-bit address bus and the sixteen-bit facts bus. ISA can help the 8MHZ clock pace.

MCA BUS (Micro Channel Architecture):

MCA bus is to be had either in sixteen-bit or 32-bit versions. It was developed in a brand new line of computer systems known as the PS/2 (private system 2). The clock velocity is barely faster (10MHZ rather than 8MHZ).

EISA BUS:

EISA has a 32-bit Address and Databus, and 10MHZ CLK speed.

VL BUS/VESA LOCAL BUS:

It is a 32-bit bus that becomes located neighborhood to the CPU and, as a result, its name. Therefore it may guide high bus speeds (that of the CPU).

PCI BUS:

PCI has many benefits over different bus kinds. First of all, it helps 64 bit and 32-bit records paths. So it can be used both for 486 and Pentium-based totally systems. PCI can run up to 33MHZ velocity and has the benefit of being removed from the CPU. INTEL evolved this bus.

PCMCIA: (PC Memory Card International Association):

The PCMCIA changed into first designed for increasing the reminiscence in small, handled computers. PCMCIA bus width is simplest sixteen bits, but a 32-bit model is on its way. There are 3 sorts of playing cards, particularly

· Type 1 (3.Three m thick)- used for the memory card.

· Type 2 (5 mm thick)- used for modem and LAN adapter.

· Type 3 (10.5 mm0 thick) – used for most common packages like PC hard disk Cards.

ADD-ON CARDS:

These are playing cards plugged onto the primary board, the mom board (The one that homes the CPU & RAM/ROM Bios). Each plays specific functions of interfacing the Motherboard to a peripheral device like the Mouse, Monitor, and so forth. Some Add-ons are discussed beneath.

DISPLAY ADAPTER:

These interface the motherboard with the display, and there are several forms of cards. The variations are in resolution, no hues supported, and velocity.

CGA (Color Graphics Adapter)

640 X two hundred pixels

MDA (Mono Display Adapter):

eighty characters extensive 25 lines lengthy

EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter):

640 X 350 mode

VGA (Video Graphics Adapter):

Advanced variations of SVGA/TVGA which start from a resolution of 640 X 480 pixel

AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port):

Introduced within the Celeron/P II primarily based structures, this caters to the annoying multimedia applications with excessive performance.

IDE I/O CARD:

Supports the subsequent functions.

SERIAL PORT:

Communication external to the computer is executed serially (bit after bit) thru this port. It is used to attach conversation gadgets like the mouse, modem, etc.

PARALLEL PORT:

eight Bit statistics switch takes area between the pc and an outside device. It is normally used to attach a printer.

GAME PORT:

It is used to attach a joystick to playing video games.

IDE (Integrated/Intelligent Drive Electronics) Interface: This interface talks with IDE Hard disks.

FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER:

The FDC can guide up to 2 floppy disk drives. The FDC is attached to the device bus and the DMA controller. It performs statistics switch in DMA mode.

SOUND CARD:

This is the cardboard that provides audio results to the laptop by offering the interface with microphone and speaker. This is used in Multimedia Computers.

PERIPHERAL DEVICES:

FLOPPY DRIVES:

1.44 MB & 1.2 MB are two sorts of popular Floppy Drives.

HARD DISK DRIVES:

ST 506 & ESDI are antique kinds. IDE hard disks are popular because their price to overall performance ratio is superb. SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) is the precise option for very excessive performance if the charge isn’t a criterion.

CDROM DRIVES:

CDROM pressure is utilized in a multimedia gadget as it could aid all sorts of CD ROMs – be it records CD, Audio CD, Video CD. It has a terrific advantage of storing about 650 MB of information in a single CD.

KEYBOARD:

The keyboard interprets the keystrokes into letters or numbers. These letters are interpreted, and the laptop CPU, depending executes commands on what changed into sent. Variations in terms of XT/AT, no. Of keys, the kind of keys used may be determined.

MOUSE:

To interact with the pics (ICONS), a special pointer device became added to the computer global. This tool is referred to as a mouse and is attached to the serial port.

The mouse carries a spherical ball that makes touch with rollers-one for X-axis (the horizontal) and one for Y-axis (the vertical). Moving the mouse causes the ball to roll, and the ball, which is in contact with the two rollers, reasons them to turn. This is used for shifting clicking the mouse buttons makes a pointer head at the display screen and selection.

SCANNERS:

In addition to keyboards and pointing gadgets, there is no other very commonplace approach to getting information into the laptop. A Scanner is used to scan a picture (say from a photo), and editing can be accomplished using appropriate software.

MONITORS:

The display gets video indicators from the computer video adapter card and presents the video information as pixels (picture elements). A type of video display unit starting from CGA mono to SVGA shade is to be had for users to choose from (though the former is absolutely obsolete).

CONFIGURATION SETUP:

This is where we define the gadget configuration. This is done only while the system is assembled and configured for the first time or upgraded. (One might also input the SETUP using an urgent “Del” key because the device is powered up). Different BIOS’ guides distinct alternatives, but the maximum critical ones, which might be located on all systems, are listed below.

DATE & TIME: It displays an appropriate Date & Time. It must be set whilst the gadget is first hooked up.

FLOPPY TYPE:

To outline the Floppy drives related (1.2MB or 1.44MB).

HARD DISK TYPE: To pick the Hard disk type (Primary or secondary)

DISPLAY TYPE: It chooses the forms of video adapter used for the system screen.

CACHE ENABLE/DISABLE:

This class hastens the Memory get entry to. (Default fee: Enable) and defines the presence or absence of cache reminiscence.

QUICK POWER OF SELF TEST: It accelerates the Power On Self Test after electricity up the pc.

PASSWORD SETTING: This lets you set the System password.

POWER MANAGEMENT: This category allows you to pick the kind (or diploma) of energy saving.

LOADING DEFAULT VALUES:

There are many parameters, which want to be described in the CMOS setup, and one won’t want to accomplish that manually. This choice loads default values, saved in the BIOS ROM, described using the producer for the foremost device’s overall performance.

ENABLE/DISABLE ONBOARD FUNCTIONS:

To allow/disable sure onboard functions like Floppy Disk Control etc. (This applies best to integrated Motherboards wherein the ADD-ON features are included on the Motherboard itself).

PNP FEATURES: This category is used to configure the PCI Bus slots.

IDE AUTO DETECTION: This lets you discover the IDE Hard drives routinely.

SAVING & EXITING:

This permits you to keep the new setting fee within the CMOS memory and maintain the booting technique.

POST (POWER ON SELF TEST):

This POST firmware is saved in ROM on the motherboard. This POST is a chain of simple programs to check and catch faults in different additives and circuits. It exams the microprocessor, interrupt controller, PPI, DMA controller, ROM, RAM, peripheral controllers, etc.

SYMPTOMS:

In case of mistakes detection at some stage in a POST, symptoms like mistakes beeps/errors messages facilitate troubleshoot issues.

SPEAKER:

With the help of speaker blunders beeps, we can troubleshoot faults. Each fault reasons the speaker to emit exclusive patterns of beeps.

DISPLAYED ERROR MESSAGES:

When a device is powered on, the error message may be displayed (Floppy disk fail) if the Video Adapter is purposeful.

DIAGNOSTIC CARDS:

The superior diagnostic upload on the card captures info of the POST series and shows a hex code that can be used for in-depth & accurate diagnosis of POST trouble.

CDROM DRIVES:

A laptop CD-ROM drive uses small, interchangeable, plastic-encased discs from which facts are retrieved using a laser beam, similar to a song compact disc. And like a song CD, a computer CD-ROM shops giant amounts of information. This is performed by using mild to report records in a form that is extra tightly packed than the distinctly clumsy magnetic study/write heads a traditional drive must manage.

The drive is managed by way of software for your PC that sends commands to controller circuitry. It’s both a part of the computer’s motherboard or hooked up to an expansion slot on a separate board.

How did a CD_ROM drive work?

· A motor continuously varies the rate at which the CD-ROM disc spins. Regardless of wherein a factor, referred to as DETECTOR, is positioned with regards to the radius of the disc, the part of the disc straight away above the detector is always at an equal pace.

· The laser tasks a focused beam of light. This is in addition targeted using a focusing coil.

· The laser beam penetrates a defensive layer of plastic and strikes a reflective layer that looks like aluminum foil on the lowest of a disc.

· The surface of the reflective layer alternates between lands and pits. Lands are flat surface areas; pits are tiny depressions inside the reflective layer. These surfaces are a document of the 1s and 0s used to shop records.