| Computer Hardware |
| My Complete Computer Knowledge
(In Hardware) The Motherboard: Contains slots for RAM (Random Access Memory), the CPU (Central Processing Unit) also known as the processor or microprocessor, IDE slots, SATA slots, PCI busses, AGP busses, PCIexpress busses, PCIexpress (x1,x2,x4,x8,x16) busses, and then there�s all those onboard interfaces (like: USB, eSATA, LAN, PS/2, Parallel, onboard sound plug-ins, and Fire-wire. You can buy motherboards in different sizes like: ITX, MATX, ATX and it's equally important to know if these sized motherboards can fit your computer case. Serial ATA (SATA I, SATA II): This port is found on the motherboard and is and pretty much has replaced the IDE connection that has been used for Hard Drives and Disc-Rom Drives. Serial ATA version I runs at the speed of 1.5 Gbps, this was a bottleneck for Hard drives at some points, especially the ones that had faster RPM speeds. Serial ATA version II runs at the speed of 3.0 Gbps, this version has basically taken over the marketplace and you won't see the SATA I versions as easily anymore. PCI EXPRESS: This slot/port is found on the motherboard and is mainly used for the x16 versions which is for video cards. There are other types called: x1, x2, x4, and x8. The higher the number the bigger the slot it is. The most common slot is the x1 slot, since it saves alot of room on the motherboard over the old PCI-32 bit slots. PCI Express runs at 64-bits making the expasion cards (if they utililze the speed) faster than normal PCI slots. AGP: This is an older bus that is used for video card upgrades. The AGP slot is hardly used anymore with PCI-E being the most popular choice. PCI: This slot is actually still in use and still quite popular today. It's 32-bit over the old and out-dated 16-bit ISA slot which this replaced. RAM: The most popular form of RAM today is called: SDRAM-DDR (Double Data Rate) and SDRAM-DDR2. A stick of RAM is referred to as a �module�, and there are many different types of these modules, but it�s better to just know what the de-facto is which are DDR and DDR2. A newer version called SDRAM-DDR3 is out on the marketplace, this RAM while having higher CAS latency, also has faster speeds (measured in Mhz). The DDR-3s are mainly found on the newer Intel Core i7 motherboards. CPU: Is found on the motherboard underneath what is called a heatsink. About the Heatsink: The Heatsink keeps the CPU cool with its fans that are constantly on, and can be controlled through newer BIOS and Software. When installing a heatsink you need to apply what is called thermal adhesive in between the bottom of the heatsink and the top of the CPU, so that the Heatsink can absorb the heat the CPU gives off much better than without. The CPU is central to all processing done on the computer, which means nothing can be done on the computer without the CPU doing something first. CPU�s are mainly measured by their speeds: on the market today you�ll mostly see speeds surpassing the 1GHz (unless it�s a portable device) and some with multiple �cores� which adds complete separate processors under the same CPU housing. There are other things to take note of as well like Separate Brands (AMD, Intel) L1/L2/L3 caches, Bus speeds, the amount of pins the CPU takes (478, 775, etc). Hard Drives: (AKA Hard Disk Drives, HDD) The Hard Drive is mainly connected to these types of cables (going from most popular to least) Serial ATA, IDE, and SCSI, more on these types of cables later. The Hard Drive stores everything that you save on your computer. Hard drives never last forever, they have moving parts and move at really fast speeds, so it's all a matter of time before a hard drive fails. Tips on finding out if the Hard Dives about to fail: If you can look up your make and model number and search the MTBF (Mean-time before failure) this is rated in hours and you'll have to calculate it to something else. Most hard drives last on average 5-7 years, depending on alot of factors. Hard Drives also have features to them much like the CPU and other computer Hardware has like, RPM speed (5400, 7200, 10K, 15K; 7200 is the most common). Disc Drives: (ROM Drives) The First disc drive for computers was the CD-ROM. Disc drives can read a disc faster than a standalone player and are cheaper because they use the computer�s CPU and Graphics card for all the processing, as well as it�s memory. Disc drives also have built in caches, so things can load faster after something has already been read. Then there were technical advancements made to the disc drives, the first was the CD burner, then a DVD drive, and then the Combo DVD drive (burns CD�s and reads DVDs), the DVD burner was next (the first generation players had bookmark rivalries with the plus and minus), after the DVD burner there was the Blu-ray Drives (HD-DVD is now a dead format). Like a Hard Drive, a Disc Drive has the interface of choice between SATA and EIDE. Then can also be put in external enclosures and hooked up through the USB ports. The sizes of a Disc drive although is bigger than an internal Hard Dive, Disc drives are 5-� inch, and HDD�s are 3-� inch. Advancements: CD-ROM>CD Burner> DVD Drive>DVD combo (burns CD's too)>DVD Burners>DL DVD Burners>Blu-Ray Drives>Blu-Ray Combos (Burns DVD's and Reads Blu-Rays)>Blu-Ray Burners USB: (Universal Serial Bus): There are three standards in USB currently (1.1, 2.0, and wireless) The most common standard right now is USB 2.0 (High-Speed). This standard came out in 2001, and was fully integrated into Windows XP service pack 1. The USB port is the most commonly used port on the computer today which connects a plethora of hardware devices such as USB thumb drives, digital cameras, MP3 players, Printers, keyboard, mice, scanners, gaming controllers, PDAs, and web cameras. The USB standard is so popular that these ports are also �hosts� on other devices such as the Xbox (360), Playstation 2 and 3, Wii, and on DVR�s. Firewire (standard 1394) There are two standards for firewire, but the most common one used is type B. Firewire ports are usually located next to USB ports on your computer, and there are far less of them than USB ports. The only devices that seem to use these ports are ones that deals with video editing and digital camcorders. eSATA (external serial ATA) You now know how fast Serial ATA can handle data inside the computer, but the thing is the first standard wasn�t as fast as USB 2.0, that all changed when SATA II came out with a speed of 3 Gbps (gigabits per second). USB 2.0 does 480 Mbps. With eSATA, you can use the speed of SATA II, provided your computer is super new, these ports aren't that common right now,, but with the extra speed potential, this could be the next USB with several ports coming on every computer, it�s just that this is such a new technology. Also as of right now, only external hard drives and disc drives have the option of using eSATA. LAN (100Mb, 1 Gb, 10Gb) [Local Area Network] This port is found mainly on the back of your computer, and allows you to connect to your �wired� network. The main types of cable you use to interconnect your network is called CAT5e, and CAT6. CAT-6 is capable of handling higher speeds than CAT5e. These also connect you to the Internet, provided you have a working Cable/DSL modem and ISP. You can also �share� your Internet connection with other computers if you have a �router.� A router is basically a port replicator for Network connections to your LAN. Some routers come as �Wireless� (see wireless network below for more) letting you connect extra computers to your network without using up the limited amount of ports you get or the need of running long amounts of wire. All routers will come with a special type of cable, called a �cross-over cable�. This cable is supposed to be connected between your computer and the router (to the LAN port on the router). Some routers make it easier and just let them connect it with a USB cable, but both work the same. Wireless Networking: There are many, many standards in Wireless networking (108.11 a/b/g/n/l) I�m not too familiar with N and L, but am with B and G, which are the most common. The �b� standard, which people refer to as �bad� is slower than the �g� standard referred to as �good�. The b standard is maxxed out at 11 mbps, and normal G can go to 54 Mbps and up to 108 Mbps. The G standard also has what is called MIMO, which can make the range of the wireless network expand from 2x to 5x the normal size. Remember the closer you are to the �wireless router� the stronger the signal and the faster your data will transfer. Since you can practically get on your network anywhere within the allowed range of your wireless router, this may also let intruders into your own network, without your regards. Which is why there is �Security� built into your router, blocking these intruders from reading and hacking your network. Basically what you do is make an encryption key of Hexadecimal digits. (0-9, A-F). If you are using this in a business refrain from guessed passwords like your phone number which seems to be most popular in a home wireless network. Also if you use a 128-bit encryption, make sure your wireless N.I.C. is compatible with the 128-bit WEPA standard. If you�re not sure, it�s best to just use the 64-bit encryption. WARNING: If you do assign a 128-bit key to your network and your NIC isn�t compatible, then that computer can�t logon to the network until you rest the key back to a 64-bit type. A 128-bit or even the newer 256-bit encryption is perfect for business wireless networks. (Untried: you could see if you could update your NIC to make it 128 or 256-bit compatible) The Power Supply Unit (PSU): This thing is mainly attached to the top of the inside of your computer, towards the back. The PSU contains all the cables for powering everything inside your computer including the motherboad. In fact a very large connector in placed on the motherboard to receive this power. The most common connectors are the P1, 20-pin and the 24 pin ATA. A lot of PSUs only come with a 20-pin main connection; sometimes an extra 4-pin connection will be placed. You need to make sure that if your motherboard has either a 20 or 24 pin before buying the PSU to connect to it. (You could also buy for real cheap a 20 to 24-pin adapter, but this may put extra stress onto the motherboard and PSU, I�m actually unsure about that). Also you may have noticed that those new SATA drives use a new power connection, if the PSU you have doesn�t have those, and you need them, then this can be remedied by getting a molex to SATA power adapter. Video Cards: These are the way your computer can show an image(s) on your monitor (screen). There are several connections you can use to connect from the video card to your monitor: VGA, SVGA, DVI, HDMI, Component. Video cards are now most popularly installed on the PCI-Express X16 slot, but older ones can be installed on either regular PCI-32bit and the AGP slot. Video cards have built in processing called GPU and Memory RAM. The faster the GPU the better the performance and less bottlenecking from your computer's CPU. The built in memory isn't on 100% of all video cards because some cards have something called: "Shared Memory". Shared Memory is where the video card uses your own installed SD-RAM up to a rated amount listed on the manufacturer's website. When the memory is built on it's called: Dedicated memory meaning no memory is stolen from your own installed RAM. The bit-processing is higher in the GPU than the CPU on your motherboard. You can find Video cards with bit processing all the way up to 512-bits. |
| Motherboard / RAM / CPU / Hard Drives / Disc Drives / USB / Firewire / eSATA / LAN / WIFI / Power Supply / Video Cards |