COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

COC1: INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING COMPUTER SYSTEMS (ICCS)

QUARTER 1: WEEKS 1-2

Background Information for Learner

LO1 Assemble Computer Hardware

Basic Hardware Components of Computer
System
A computer is an electronic machine, operating
under the control of instructions stored in its own
memory, that can be programmed to accept data
(input), process it into useful information (output),
and store it away in a secondary storage device
(store) for safekeeping or later reuse. The processing
of input into output is directed by the software but
performed by the hardware. Figure below shows
some common computer hardware components.
Output devices. Output devices show people the
Common Computer Hardware Components processed data--information -
-in understandable and useful form. Four
commonly used output devices are a printer, a
monitor, speakers, and a portable media player.
Input/output devices are playing an increasingly
significant role in our lives. The number and variety
of input/output devices are expanding.

Commons.wikimed
ia.org

Computer system hardware components include

devices that perform the functions of input,
processing, data storage; output and Processing devices. Processing devices are the
communication. The devices responsible for these computer electronic circuitry housed in the system
five areas are as follows: unit. The processor, formally known as the central
processing unit (CPU), has electronic circuitry that
Input devices. Input devices allow you to enter data manipulates input data into the information people
or commands in a form that the computer can use; want. Computer instructions are actually are
they send the data or commands to the processing executed in the central processing unit. Memory is
unit. Commonly used input devices include a series of electronic elements that temporarily
keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, digital holds data and program instructions while they are
camera, and PC camera. being processed by the CPU. Both the processor
and memory consist of chips. A chip is an electronic
device that contains many microscopic pathways
designed to carry electrical current.
Storage devices. Storage usually means secondary storage that can store data and programs outside the computer
itself. Storage devices hold data, information, and programs permanently. Common storage devices include a
hard disk, USB flash drives, CDs, DVDs, and memory cards.

Communications devices. Communications devices provide connections between the computer and
communications networks, and enable computer users to communicate and to exchange data, information, and
programs with other computers. Communications devices transmit these items over transmission media such
as cables, telephone lines, satellites, and cellular radio. A widely used communications device is a modem.

THE SYSTEM UNIT AND ITS COMPONENTS

Hardware Components Image Description

1. System Unit The main part of a microcomputer,
sometimes called the chassis. It
includes the following parts:
Motherboard, Microprocessor,
Memory Chips, Buses, Ports,
Expansion Slots and Cards.

2. Motherboard It is the main circuit board of a

/Mainboard/System board computer. It contains all the
circuits and components that run
the computer.

It is the main “brain” or “heart” of

3. CPU (Central Processing Unit) / a computer system. It performs all
Microprocessor of the instructions and calculations
that are needed and manages the
flow of information through a
computer.
4. Main memory or memory It is the computer's working
storage space that holds data,
instructions for processing and
processed data (information)
waiting to be sent to secondary
storage.
Physically, primary storage is a
collection of RAM chips.
5. Expansion Bus A bus is a data pathway between
several hardware components
inside or outside a computer. It
connects the parts of the CPU to
each other and links the CPU with
other important hardware.

6. Adapters Printed-circuit board (also called

a. LAN card interface cards) enables the
b. sound card computer to use a peripheral device
c. video card for which it does not have the
a b necessary connections or circuit
boards. They are often used to
permit upgrading to a new different
hardware.

7. Power Supply Unit (PSU)

It converts 120vac (standard house
power) into DC voltages that are
used by other components in the
PC. It is installed in the back
corner of the PC tower case, next
to the motherboard.

8. Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Also known as hard drive, it is a

magnetic storage device that is
installed inside the computer. The
hard drive is used as permanent
storage for data. In a Windows
computer, the hard drive is usually
configured as the C: drive and
contains the operating system and
applications.
9. Optical Drive It is a type of computer disk drive
that reads and writes data from
optical disks through laser beaming
technology.
It allows a user to retrieve, edit and
delete the content from optical
disks such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-
ray disks.

10. CPU Fan and Heat sink These components help in reducing
the heat from the processor so it will
not shutdown automatically.

11. EIDE (Enhanced Integrated It is used to connect EIDE type

Drive Electronics) data cable Hard Disk Drive to the
motherboard.

12. S-ATA data cable It is used to connect S-ATA type

Hard Disk Drive to motherboard.

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