anti static wrist band

Firstly i need to wear the anti static wrist band.This can be seen in my other photos with me wearing it.It is done so that you do not have any electricity or static on you causing you to break a component on the computer

Installing a dvd drive

Firstly i needed to put the disk drive in through the front of the computer and then connect it.





Installing to the motherboard and power supply

I then connect the disk drive at the back to the motherboard so the computer recognises it and so it can work. Secondly i connect it to the power supply so when the disk drive is turned on it will work.

When the computer is then turned on it will load up and give you instructions to install it through the operating system.

Graphics Card

A Graphics Card also known as a Video Card is an internal device which controls and produces the display on your screen. Graphic cards come with various specifications, and unless they are built-in to the motherboard (mainboard) they have their own RAM onboard.The term is usually used to refer to a separate, dedicated expansion card that is plugged into a slot on the computer's motherboard, as opposed to a graphics controller integrated into the motherboard chipset. An integrated graphics controller may be referred to as an "integrated graphics processor" (IGP).

A Graphics Card also known as a Video Card is an internal device which controls and produces the display on your screen. Graphic cards come with various specifications, and unless they are built-in to the motherboard (mainboard) they have their own RAM onboard.

Internal memory

Internal memory is used for two main purposes:
· To store programmes that are being run
· To store data that the program works on.
Although programs (ie software) may seem different from data, they are treated in exactly the same way- the computer excutes a program, instruction by instruction.
Within the computer there are two types of memory:
Internal cache- this is located inside the CPU chip also called a primary cache or on- die cache.
External cache- is also on the motherboard but not within the CPU chip- also called secondary cache.

Peripherals

A peripheral is a piece of computer hardware that is added to a host computer ,i.e. any hardware except the computer, in order to expand its abilities. More specifically, the term is used to describe those devices that are optional in nature, as opposed to hardware that is either demanded or always required in principle. Printers, scanners, USB keys, and DVD players are the essential extensions to the basic PC.

Ports

Ports are names or "handles" given to various network connections your computer uses to communicate with other computers. For example, your connection to the Internet is through a port protocol called TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) using well-known ports such as HTTP or "port 80."

HARD DRIVE CONFIGURATION AND CONTROLLERS

In computer hardware, a 'port' serves as an interface between the computer and other computers or peripheral devices. Physically, a port is a specialized outlet on a piece of equipment to which a plug or cable connects. Electronically, the several conductors making up the outlet provide a signal transfer between devices. Hardware ports may be physically male (unusual, since protruding pins easily break, a fate best left to inexpensive matching cable ends) or female (usual on equipment).

Fan and heat sink

Fan and heat sinks are used on the computer so that it stops it from over heating. It does this by spinning round and sending cool air around it., Heat sinks are used in a wide range of applications wherever efficient heat dissipation is required; major examples include refrigeration, heat engines, cooling electronic devices and lasers.

Power Supply

In order to run a computer and electrical current and supply is needed this is done by when the computers are made by adding power supply units. Computer power supplies are rated based on their maximum output power. Typical power ranges are from 300 W to 500 W (lower than 300 W for Small form factor systems). Power supplies used by gamers and enthusiasts sometimes range from 500 W to 1000 W, with the highest end units going up to 2 kW for servers and extreme performance computers with multiple processors, several hard disks and multiple graphics cards.

Bios

Every computer with a motherboard includes a special chip referred to as the BIOS or ROM BIOS (Read Only Memory Basic Input/Output System). The BIOS includes instructions on how to load basic computer hardware. The BIOS also includes a test referred to as a POST (Power On Self Test) which will ensure that the computer meets requirements to boot up properly. If the computer does not pass the POST, you will receive a combination of beeps indicating what is malfunctioning within the computer.

ROM

The RO in ROM stands for “READ ONLY” but, depending on the type of ROM, you may or may not be able to write to it ROM is non- volatile memory. This means when the power is lost or turned off it does not lose its memory. So it can be used to store data or instructions “FIRMWARE”

RAM

Within the processor box, RAM memory chips provide form of memory that offers the same access time for allocations within it.It is violate memory which means when you want to write to it you can but when it turns off you lose all the data. RAM, like other memory is measured in bytes or, more likely GB (gigabytes).

RAM stands for random access memory

MOTHERBOARDS

The motherboard is the most important component within a PC system. It is a PCB (PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD) that houses many of the essential parts of the PC and all connections between the PC and peripheral go though it. The motherboard of a typical desktop consists of a large printed circuit board. It holds electronic components and interconnects, as well as physical connectors (sockets, slots, and headers) into which other computer components may be inserted or attached.

CPU (central processing unit)

The processor is a chip housed on the motherboard and is the heard of a computer system as it controls everything. It contains a circuitry system which processes the instructions in the computer programs by interpreting them into actual movements of bits of data within the computer memory.

First day back

First day back from easter holidays and we got a new teacher Mr Dodsworth, who has took over as our new ICT teacher.