Hardware

Before you start Objectives: learn about optimal air temperature and humidity, how to protect from EMI, RFI, magnetic fiels, and what to keep in mind when cleaning computer components. Prerequisites: no prerequisites. Key terms: protection, cleaning, temperature, humidity, EMI, RFI, interference, cabling, alcohol, vacuum Temperature and Humidity We should keep the air temperature between 70 and 74 degrees … Read moreProper Physical Environment For Computers

Before you start Objectives: learn which computer components represent the greatest concern in caring for the environment. Prerequisites: no prerequisites. Key terms: protection, batteries, CRT monitor, PC system, cartridges, solutions, solvents, environment Batteries There are some general rules that we should consider. For example, the batteries that we find in most notebook PC systems are an issue. Those … Read moreDisposal of Waste Materials

Before you start Objectives: learn about sources of hazard in electronic devices. Prerequisites: no prerequisites Key terms: current, voltage, laser, heat, fire, protection Current We should never work on any device until we have powered it down and unplugged it from the wall. If we are working on a portable computer, we have to make sure the battery … Read moreProtection and Safety Measures

Before you start Objectives: learn how to protect sensitive components from electrostatic discharge by using anti static mat, anti static wrist strap and how to behave around computer components in general. Prerequisites: no prerequisites. Key terms: static charge, discharge, components, static mat, static wrist strap, esd, damage, humidity, protection Discharge If we have one object that has a … Read moreElectrostatic Discharge (ESD)

Before you start Objectives: learn to visually identify each basic computer component. Prerequisites: no prerequisites Key terms: power supply, motherboard, cpu, ram, video card, expansion slot, long-term storage Power Supply The first component is power supply. It converts AC power from the wall into DC power that can be used by the components in the PC system. Image … Read moreInternal Components of a Desktop PC

Before you start Objectives: learn how common connectors look like, what do we call them and what are they used for. We have another article in which we discuss video ports and connectors in detail. Prerequisites: no prerequisites Key terms: connector, port, mouse, keyboard, serial, parallel, spdif, network, rj-45, rj-11, network, phone line, audio, vga, db-15, s-video, dvi, analog, … Read moreCommon Ports and Connectors

Before you start Objectives: learn about the common types of computer cases, names and sizes of usual motherboard form factors and which motherboard fits which computer case. Prerequisites: no prerequisites. Key terms: types of computer cases, case size, full tower, mid tower, mini tower, slim line, small form factor, motherboard form factors, atx, micro atx, mini atx, mini itx, btx, … Read moreTypes of Computer Cases and Motherboard Factors

Before you start Objectives: learn which devices are used to input data, to process data and to output processed data so we can use it. Learn what makes computers modular, how computers can communicate and what is the part of software. Prerequisites: no prerequisites. Key terms: hardware devices, internal hardware, internal components, software, internal components, processing, data … Read moreOverview of Computer Hardware and Software