Mr. Maxson

Last Update: November 2015

Computer Hardware

•Research!•Research!•Research!

• Using the Internet is a requirement

Step 1 for building a PC

• Speed• Core• Thermal Design Power (TDP)• Bit Rate

CPU

• Socket/CPU• Form Factor• RAM Slots• Max RAM

• Hardware such as Video and Sound Cards, Network Interfaces, etc.… could be built in to the Motherboard

Motherboard

• RAM• Speed• Type• Column Access Strobe (CAS)• Modules• Size

Memory

• Hard Drive(s)• Series• Form• Type• Capacity• Cache

Storage

• Series• Chipset• Memory (VRAM)• Core Clock

Video Card

• Type (Form)• Drive Bay• Ext. 5 ¼ “• Int. 3 ½ “

• Power Supply?

• Other Types of Forms (difficult to customize-upgrade)• Modular• Laptops• Tablets

Case

• Series• Form• Efficiency• Watts• Modular

Power Supply

• Blu-Ray (BD)• DVD• Read Speed• Write Speed• Used to be called CD ROM drive

• Old School Storage• Floppy Disk• Zip Drives• Tape Drives

Optical Drive

Software that runs the HardwareMost Popular• Windows• Linux (Unix)• OS X (Apple Proprietary Hardware Only- Unix Based)• Google Chrome• Java Based

Operating System

• Resolution• Size• Resp. Time (low in MS=Faster)• IPS (In-Plane Switching)• Interface- VGA HD15, HDMI, DVI

Monitor

• USB• Network, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth Connected (server-cloud)• Old School Devices

External Storage

• Chipset• Channels• Bits• SNR (signal-to-noise-ratio)• Sample Rate• Input/output Ports • PCI, USB

Soundcard

• Interface• PCI• USB• Ports• Mbps• Gbps

Wired Network Adapter

• Interface• Protocols

Wireless Network Adapter

• Keyboard• Mouse• Speakers/Headphones• Wireless-Wired

Peripherals

• Close Proximity Wireless• USB (dongle) or PCI Card

A Note About Bluetooth

• CPU Cooler• Case Fan- Case Fan Controller• Thermal Compound

Cooling

• Uninterruptable Power SupplyUPS

• Microphones• Printers• Scanners• Robotics• Radios• Telephone Systems• Sensors• Cameras• Payment Systems

• Usually USB or Wireless (expansion card on motherboard)

Other Input/output

• Software that tells the Operating System how to use a piece of Hardware

Drivers

• The more the better• The faster the better• Be sure everything fits together• Warranties and Returns

Final Tips

In Edmodo• Using the website:• https://pcpartpicker.com/• Fill out the Word Document “My PC Specs”• Copy & Paste, or type• Save As the Document with your name in the file name• Upload to Edmodo when you submit the assignment

Assignment