COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES AND MULTIMEDIA ARTS

CCS0001L
(INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING)

EXERCISE

3
Identification of Different Computer System Components

Student Name / Group Christian R. Mendoza

Name:
Name Role
Members (if Group):

Section:
TS01
Professor:
Ms. Beau
I. PROGRAM OUTCOME/S (PO) ADDRESSED BY THE LABORATORY EXERCISE
• Apply knowledge through the use of current techniques and tools necessary for the IT profession [PO: I]
• Understand best practices and standards and their applications. [PO: M]

II. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME/S (CLO) ADDRESSED BY THE LABORATORY EXERCISE

• To identify computing resources and technologies and understand their capabilities and limitations. [CLO: 2]
• To select and use appropriate techniques and modern computing tools for computing activities. [CLO: 3]

III. INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME/S (ILO) OF THE LABORATORY EXERCISE

The student will learn how to:

• Describe a computer system
• Identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of the following:
o Cases and Power Supply
o Internal Components
o Ports and Cable
o Input and Output Devices

IV. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Basic Personal Computer System

A computer system consists of hardware and software components. Hardware is the physical equipment
such as the case, storage drives, keyboards, monitors, cables, speakers, and printers. Software is the
operating system and programs. The operating system instructs the computer how to operate. Programs
or applications perform different functions.

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 Figure 1. Complete PC

Computer Case

Computer Cases contain the framework to support and

enclose internal components of the computer system. It
provides protection and support for internal components which
typically made of plastic, steel, and aluminum. Computer
cases should be durable, easy to service, and have enough
room for expansion. The size and layout of a case is called a
form factor. Figure 2 shows some computer cases available
today.

Figure 2. Computer Case

Power Supplies

The power supply (Figure 3) converts alternating-current (AC) power coming from a wall outlet into direct-
current (DC) power, which is a lower voltage. DC power is required for all of the components inside the
computer. Cables, connectors, and components are designed to fit together snugly. Never force any
connector or component.

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 Figure 3. Power Supply

Motherboard

The motherboard is the main printed circuit board that contains the buses, or electrical pathways found
in a computer. Buses allow data to travel among the various components. Also known as the system
board, the backplane, or the main board which accommodates CPU, RAM, expansion slots, heat sink/fan
assembly, BIOS chip, chip set, sockets, internal and external connectors, various ports, and the
embedded wires that interconnect the motherboard components. The form factor of motherboards
pertains to the size and shape of the board. It also describes the physical layout of the different
components and devices on the motherboard. Various form factors exist for motherboards.

AT – Advanced Technology
ATX – Advanced Technology Extended
Mini-ATX – Smaller footprint of ATX
Micro-ATX – Smaller footprint of ATX
LPX – Low-profile Extended
NLX – New Low-profile Extended
BTX – Balanced Technology Extended

Figure 4. Motherboard

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 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

CPU is the brain of the computer. It is also referred to as the processor the most important element of a
computer system and executes a program, which is a sequence of stored instructions. Two major CPU
architectures related to instruction sets:
• Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)
• Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC)
To an operating system, a single CPU with hyperthreading appears to be two CPUs. The wider the
processor data bus width, the more powerful the processor. Current processors have a 32-bit or a 64-bit
processor data bus.

Figure 5. CPU
Cooling System

Electronic components generate heat. Too much heat can damage components. A case fan makes the
cooling process more efficient. A heat sink draws heat away from the core of the CPU. A fan on top of
the heat sink moves the heat away from the CPU. Fans are dedicated to cool the Graphics-processing
unit (GPU).

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 Figure 6. CPU Fan
Main Memory

Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM is a temporary storage for data and programs that are being accessed by the CPU. It is a
volatile memory, which means that the contents are erased when the computer is powered off.
More RAM means more capacity to hold and process large programs and files, as well as
enhance system performance.

Types of RAM:
• Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)
• Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)
• Fast Page Mode DRAM (FPM Memory)
• Extended Data Out RAM (EDO Memory)
• Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)
• Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM)
• Double Data Rate 2 SDRAM (DDR2 SDRAM)
• RAMBus DRAM (RDRAM)

Memory Module
• Dual Inline Package (DIP) is an individual memory chip. A DIP had
dual rows of pins used to attach it to the motherboard.
• Single Inline Memory Module (SIMM) is a small circuit board that
holds several memory chips. SIMMs has 30-pin and 72-pin
configurations.
• Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) is a circuit board that holds
SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, and DDR2 SDRAM chips. There are 168-pin
SDRAM DIMMs, 184-pin DDR DIMMs, and 240-pin DDR2 DIMMs.
• RAM Bus Inline Memory Module (RIMM) is a circuit board that holds
RDRAM chips. A typical RIMM has a 184-pin configuration.

Cache and Error Checking

Cache

SRAM is used as cache memory to store the most frequently used data. It provides the processor with
faster access to the data than retrieving it from the slower DRAM, or main memory.

Error Checking

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 Memory errors occur when the data is not stored correctly in the RAM chips. The computer uses different
methods to detect and correct data errors in memory.
Adapter Cards
Increase the functionality of a computer by adding controllers for specific devices or by replacing
malfunctioning ports.

Example of Adapter Cards

• Sound adapter and video adapter
• Modem card
• USB, parallel, and serial ports
• RAID adapter and SCSI adapter
• Network Interface Card (NIC)

Types of Expansion Slot

• Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)
• Extended Industry Standard
Architecture (EISA)
• Microchannel Architecture (MCA)
• Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Figure 7. Adapter Cards
• Advanced Graphics Port (AGP)
• PCI – Express

Hard Drive and Floppy Drive

Reads or writes information to magnetic or optical storage media. It may be fixed or removable type. The
hard disk drive (HDD) as depicted in figure 8 is a magnetic storage device installed inside the computer.
The storage capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB). A floppy disk drive (FDD) shown in Figure 9 is
storage device that uses removable 3.5 inch floppy disks that can store 1.44 MB of data.

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 Figure 8. Hard Disk Figure 9. Floppy Drive

Optical Drives and Flash Drives

An optical drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read

data on the optical media. The two types are CD and DVD.
A flash drive is a removable storage device that connects to
a USB port. A flash drive (Figure 11) uses a type of memory
that requires no power to maintain the data.

Figure 10. Optical Drive

Some common drive interface:

• Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)

• Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics
(EIDE)
• Parallel ATA (PATA)
• Serial ATA (SATA)
• Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

Figure 11. Flash Drive

Internal Cables

Data cables connect drives to the drive controller, which is located on an adapter card or on the
motherboard.

• Floppy disk drive (FDD) data cable

• PATA (IDE) data cable

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 • PATA (EIDE) data cable
• SATA data cable
• SCSI data cable

Figure 12. PATA and SATA Cable

Serial Ports and Cables

A serial port can be either a DB-9, or a DB-25 male connector as shown in figure 13 that transmit
one bit of data at a time. To connect a serial device, such as a modem or printer, a serial cable
must be used. A serial cable has a maximum length of 50 feet or 15.2 m.

Figure 13. Serial Port and Cable Figure 14. Parallel Port and Cable

Parallel Ports and Cables

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 Parallel ports can transmit 8 bits of data at one time and use the IEEE 1284 standard. To connect
a parallel device, such as a printer, a parallel cable must be used. It has a maximum length of
15 feet or 4.5 m.

USB Ports and Cables

Figure 15. USB Port and Cable

USB is a standard interface for connecting peripheral devices

to a computer. USB devices are hot-swappable. USB ports
are found on computers, cameras, printers, scanners, storage
devices, and many other electronic devices. Some devices
can also be powered through the USB port, eliminating the
need for an external power source.
I

FireWire Ports and Cables

FireWire is a high-speed, hot-swappable interface that can support up to 63 devices. Some devices
can also be powered through the FireWire port, eliminating the need for an external power source. The
figure below is an example of this port and cable.

SCSI Ports and Cables

A SCSI port (Figure 17) can transmit data at rates in
excess of 320 Mbps and can support up to 15 devices.

Types:
▪ DB-25 female connector
▪ High-density 50-pin female
connector
▪ High-density 68-pin female
connector

Figure 16. FireWire Port and Cable

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 Network Ports and Cable
A network port also known as an RJ 45 port that
connects a computer to a network. The maximum
length of a network cable is 100 m.

PS/2 and Ports

A PS/2 port depicted in Figure 19 connects a keyboard
or a mouse to a computer. The PS/2 port is a 6-pin
mini-DIN female connector.

Video Ports
A video port connects a monitor cable to a computer.

▪ Video Graphics Array (VGA)

Figure 17. SCSI Port and Cable ▪ Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
▪ High-Definition Multimedia
Interface (HDMi)
▪ S-Video
▪ Component/RGB

Figure 18. Network Port

Figure 19. PS/2 Port

Figure 20. PS/2 Port

Input and Output Devices

Input devices used to enter data or instructions into a computer while Output devices send the results to
the outside world.

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 Some input devices
▪ Keyboard
▪ Mouse
▪ Digital Video/Camera
▪ Biometrics Authentication device
▪ Touch screen
▪ Scanner

Some output devices

▪ Monitor and Projector
o Cathode-ray tube (CRT)
o Liquid crystal display
o Digital light processing (DLP)
▪ Printers
o Impact Printer
o Non Impact Printer
▪ Fax Machine
▪ Speaker and headphones

V. LABORATORY ACTIVITY
1. Identify the following computer system components in the given figure below by
searching their names form the crossword puzzle. Write the numbers of every item on
the green circles of every image shown a computer system component.

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 16

13
1

14

11

15
2

12

10
4

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VI. QUESTION AND ANSWER

1. Motherboard allows data to travel among the various components of the

computer system.

2. Heat Sink is a metal component that draws heat away from the core of
the CPU.

3. DIMM MEMORY is a small circuit board that holds SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, and
DDR2 SDRAM chips.

4. Hard Disk is a circular magnetic storage device enclosed in a hard case

that is installed inside the computer. The storage capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB)
and sometimes terabytes (TB).

5. Computer System consists of hardware and software components which works

together so that its users can accomplish their tasks.

6. Bit is the smallest unit measurement of data in computer systems.

7. Fans makes the cooling process of the whole system unit more
efficient by providing air flow inside the system case.

8. Optical Disk Drive is a storage device that uses laser to read data on the optical
media.

9. USB is now the standard port for connecting wired keyboard,

mouse, and other plug-and-play devices such as removable drives and printers.

10. Computer Technician are IT Professionals with specialized skills to install, maintain,
and repair computers.

VII. REFERENCES
• Docter, Q., Dulaney, E., & Skandier, T. (2016). CompTIA + Complete Study Guide (3rd Edition)
• Meyers, M. (2016). All In One CompTIA A+ Certification. Mc Graw Hill.
• Pearson. (2016). Introduction to Computers and Information Technology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
• Tavani, H. T. (2016). Ethics and Technology. Wiley.
• White, R. (2015). How Computer Work: The Evolution of Technology. IN: Que.

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