Week 2: Hardware

What is Computer Hardware?

Computer hardware is the physical part of a computer system. It includes all the components that you can touch and see, such as the CPU, RAM, hard drive, and monitor.

The Basic Components of Computer Hardware

The basic components of computer hardware are:

• Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is the brain of the computer. It is responsible for carrying out instructions and performing calculations.
• Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is the computer’s short-term memory. It stores data that the CPU is currently using.
• Hard Drive: The hard drive is the computer’s long-term memory. It stores all of the computer’s data, such as programs, files, and documents.
• Monitor: The monitor is the output device that displays the computer’s output.
• Keyboard: The keyboard is the input device that is used to enter text and data into the computer.
• Mouse: The mouse is the input device that is used to control the cursor on the screen.
• Motherboard: The motherboard is the main circuit board of the computer. It connects all of the other components together.
• Power Supply Unit: The power supply unit converts the power from the wall outlet into a format that the computer can use.

How Computer Hardware Works

Computer hardware works together to allow the computer to perform tasks. The CPU retrieves instructions from the hard drive and then executes them. The RAM stores the data that the CPU is currently using. The monitor displays the output of the computer. The keyboard and mouse are used to input data into the computer.

The Importance of Understanding Computer Hardware

Understanding computer hardware is important for a number of reasons. First, it can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer. Second, it can help you upgrade your computer to improve its performance. Third, it can help you build your own computer.

How to Learn More About Computer Hardware

There are many ways to learn more about computer hardware. You can read books and articles, watch online tutorials, or take a computer hardware course.

To extend the functionality of a computer, we can plug devices into connection points on it. What are these connection points known as?

Ports

Great job! Ports are used to plug devices into a computer.

Let’s face it, computers
are everywhere. You come into contact
with them at home, work, the airport,
the grocery store. You’re using some type of
computer to take this course. You know what? There’s probably one in your pocket right now. While computers are complex and can seem daunting to learn, they ultimately just calculate, process and store data. In this lesson,
we’re going to take a peek at what’s
inside of a computer. We’ll spend the next few lessons explaining how each of
these components work. But for now, let’s check out
a typical desktop setup. Desktops are just
computers that can fit on or under our desks. Here we have a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse,
and a desktop. Sometimes we might
even add a webcam, speakers or printer setup. We’ll call these physical
components hardware. Let’s take a look at the
back of the computer. You can see common
connectors here, the power outlet here, and the common ports here. Ports are connection
points that we can connect devices to that extend the
functionality of our computer. We’ll go into detail
about the ports you see here in a later lesson, but here’s a quick rundown. We have a port
here to connect to a monitor and a few ports here to plug your
keyboard and mouse. There’s another important one here for our network connection. With just these ports
we’re able to have the basic functionality to
browse the web and much more. Things look pretty
similar on a laptop. Here are some of the same ports, a built-in monitor,
and a keyboard. There are also physical
components inside the laptop case that are
hidden for portability. Once you figure out how
one computer works, you can figure out how
any other computer works. This is my favorite
part. Let’s open up this desktop and
take a deeper look. Let me first clean up my
desk. Get ready for it. It looks pretty complicated, but that’s okay. We’ll
take you through it. Let’s start with a quick tour. Then we’ll dive deeper into each of these parts
in the next lesson. Right here, this component is a CPU or central
processing unit, which is covered
by this heat sink. You can think of the CPU as
the brain of our computer. The CPU does all the calculations
and data processing. It communicates pretty heavily with this component right here, RAM or Random Access Memory. Ram is our computer’s
short-term memory. We use this component
when we want to store data temporarily. Let’s say you’re
typing something to a chat or a piece of text
in a word processor, this information is
stored in the RAM. Don’t worry, we’ll cram in more details on RAM
in a later lesson. When we want to store
anything in long-term memory, we use this component
here, the hard drive. The hard drive
holds all our data, which can include music,
pictures, applications. Let me show you something
else interesting. Have you noticed this
large slab here? This is our motherboard. It holds everything
in place and let’s our components communicate
with each other. It’s the foundation
of our computer. You can think of the
motherboard as the body or circulatory system of the computer that connects all
the pieces together. The last component we’ll talk
about is our power supply, which converts the
electricity from our wall outlet onto a format
that our computer can use. You know what’s interesting? All these components
make up most computers, even a mobile phone. While it might look
very different from your laptop,
a mobile phone, just uses a smaller
version of the hardware that we saw in the
desktop and laptop today. Understanding how computer
hardware works is a really helpful skill
set in IT support. Since an IT department maintains the hardware that
a company uses, a solid understanding of
these computer internals will come in handy when troubleshooting hardware
related problems and taking things apart
to see how they work, it’s just super fun.

Before we get our hands dirty with
learning how to build a computer, let’s talk theory first. In an earlier lesson,
we talked about binary and how computers perform calculations. Remember that our computer can only
communicate in binary using 1’s and 0’s. Our computers speak in machine language
but we of course speak in human languages like English, Spanish,
Mandarin, Hindi, you get the idea. If we want to communicate with our
machines we have to have some sort of translation dictionary, just like if I
wanted to say something in spanish I’d look it up in an English
to Spanish dictionary. Well our computers have
a built in translation book. In this lesson we’ll dive deeper into how
our computer translates the information we give it into instructions
that it understands. RIght now you’re probably using a web
browser, music player, text editor or something else on your computer. We interact with these
applications on a daily basis, they’re referred to as programs. Programs are basically instructions
that tell the computer what to do. We typically store programs on
durable media like hard drives, you can think of programs like cooking
recipes, we keep these recipes all stored together in a cookbook,
just like apps stored in a hard drive. Now we want to make a ton of food, so
we hire a chef to follow our recipes and whip up something good. The faster our chef works,
the more food she’ll prepare, the chef is our CPU she processes the
recipes, we send her and makes the food, our chef works super fast so fast that
she can cook faster than she can read. So we take copy of the recipes and
put them into RAM. Remember that RAM is our computers short
term memory, it stores information in a location our CPU can access it faster
than they could with our hard drive. Now we can give our chef one or two recipes at a time instead of
reciting the entire cookbook to her. Okay, now let’s say I want to make
a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I see a pretty good recipe and
send it to our chef to make, remember that our chef needs
these instructions quickly so I don’t send her the entire recipe,
I sent her one line at a time. One, get two slices of bread, two,
put peanut butter on one slice, three, put jelly on another slice,
four, combine the two slices of bread. Now let me throw one more thing at you. Our chef can only communicate
with us in 1’s and 0’s. So instead of sending something readable,
like the recipe for peanut butter and jelly sandwich,
we have to center something like this. In reality this process is
a little more complicated. Our CPU is constantly taking
instructions and executing them, these instructions are written in binary. But how do they travel
around the computer? In our computer, we have something
called the external data bus or EDB. It’s nothing like a bus at all, it’s a row
of wires that interconnect the parts of our computer,
kind of like the veins in our body. When you send a voltage
to one of the wires, we say the state of the wire
is on are represented by a 1, if there’s no voltage then we say that
the state is off represented by a 0. This is how we send around our 1’s and
0’s, sound familiar? In the last lesson, we talked about how
transistors help us to send voltages. Now we know how our bits physically
travel around the computer, the EDB comes in different sizes,
a bit, 16-bit, 32, even 64. Can you imagine if you had 64 wires going
you can move around a lot more data right now we’re just going to stick with using
an EDB with 8-bits in our examples, sending one byte at a time. Okay, so now our CPU is receiving
a byte and it needs to get to work. Inside the CPU,
there are components known as registers, they let us store the data
that our CPU works with. If for example our CPU wanted to add
two numbers, one number would be stored in a register A, another
number will be stored in register B, the result of those two numbers
will be stored in register C. Imagine the register is one
of our chefs work tables, since she has a place to work,
she can start to cook, to do so she uses a translation book to translate her
binary into tasks that she can perform. Let’s jump back for a second. Remember that our programs are copied
into RAM for the CPU to read, RAM is memory that’s randomly accessed
allowing our CPU to read from any part of RAM as quickly
as any other part. We don’t actually send data
from RAM over the EDB, there would be way too much stuff. RAM can hold millions even
billions of rows of data. Despite our sandwich example,
most of our recipes aren’t simple at all. There can be thousands of lines long,
we want to process them and we don’t actually go in
any particular order. Since we can only send one line of
data through the EDB at a time we need the help of another component,
the memory controller chip or MCC. The MCC is a bridge between the CPU and
the RAM. You can think of it like a nerve in
your brain connecting to your memories, the CPU talks to the MCC and
says hey I need the instructions for step number three of this recipe,
the MCC finds instructions for step number three in RAM, grabs
the data and sends it through the EDB. There’s another bus that’s
nothing like a bus involved in the process called the address bus,
it connects the CPU to the MCC and sends over the location of the data but
not the data itself, then the MCC takes the address and looks for the data and
then data is then sent over the EDB. Believe it or not, RAM isn’t the fastest
way we can get more data to our CPU for processing. The CPU also uses
something known as cache. Cache is smaller than RAM but it lets us store data that we use often
and let’s just quickly reference it. Think of RAM like a refrigerator full
of food, it’s easy to get into but it takes time to get something out, on the
flip side of that, cache is like the stuff we have in our pockets, it’s used to store
recently or frequently accessed data. There are three different cash
levels in a CPU, L1, L2 and L3. L1 is the smallest and fastest cache. So now we understand how our
RAM interacts with our CPU but how does our CPU know when a set of
instructions end and a new one begins? Our CPU has an internal clock that
keeps its operations in sync. It connects to a special
wire called a clock wire. When you send or receive data, it sends a
voltage to that clock wire to let the CPU know it can start doing calculations. Think of our clock wires as
the ticking of a clock, for every tick the CPU does
one cycle of operations. When you send a voltage to the clock
wire as referred to as a clock cycle, if you have lots of data you need to
process in the command you need to run lots of clock cycles. Have you ever seen a CPU in the store and
has something labeled 3.4 Ghz? This number refers to the clock speed
of the CPU, which is the maximum number of clock cycles that it can
handle in a certain time period. 3.40 GHz is 3.4 billion cycles per second,
that’s super fast. But just because it can run at
this speed doesn’t mean it does, it just means that it can’t
exceed this number, still, that number doesn’t stop
some people from trying. There’s a way you can exceed the number
of clock cycles on your CPU on almost any device, it’s referred
to as over clocking and it increases the rate of your CPU clock
cycles in order to perform more tasks. This is commonly used to increase
the performance in low end CPUs, let’s say you’re a gamer and you want to have better
graphics and less lag while playing, you might want to over clock
your CPU when you play the game. But there are cons to doing this like
potentially overheating your CPU.

What is a Program?

A program is a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do. Programs are written in a language that the computer can understand, such as binary or assembly language.

What is the CPU?

The CPU (central processing unit) is the brain of the computer. It is responsible for executing the instructions in a program. The CPU is made up of many different components, including registers, the ALU (arithmetic logic unit), and the control unit.

What is Memory?

Memory is where the computer stores data and programs. There are two main types of memory: RAM (random access memory) and ROM (read-only memory). RAM is where the computer stores data that it is currently using. ROM is where the computer stores data that it needs to access frequently, such as the BIOS (basic input/output system).

How Do Programs, the CPU, and Memory Work Together?

When you run a program, the CPU first loads the program into RAM. The CPU then begins to execute the instructions in the program, one at a time. The instructions in the program tell the CPU what to do with the data in RAM.The CPU uses registers to store data that it is currently working with. The ALU is used to perform arithmetic and logical operations on data. The control unit tells the CPU which instruction to execute next.

The Role of the CPU in Memory Management

The CPU is responsible for managing the memory in the computer. This includes allocating memory to programs, freeing memory when programs are finished, and preventing programs from accessing each other’s memory.The CPU uses a variety of techniques to manage memory, such as paging and segmentation. Paging divides memory into fixed-size blocks called pages. When a program needs to access a page that is not currently in RAM, the CPU swaps the page out of RAM and into a paging file on the hard drive. When the program needs to access the page again, the CPU swaps the page back into RAM.Segmentation divides memory into logical blocks called segments. Each segment can be of any size, and the segments can overlap. The CPU uses segmentation to allow different programs to access different parts of memory without interfering with each other.

Conclusion

Programs, the CPU, and memory are all essential parts of a computer. The CPU executes the instructions in a program, and the memory stores the data that the CPU is currently using. The CPU uses a variety of techniques to manage the memory in the computer, such as paging and segmentation.

Changes in diversity with regards to IT support
specialist is something I noticed for
the last several years. There is a lot of
stereotypes in the industry. But I think what was unexpected was how many people
actually break that mold? The people I’ve met
in the course of my IT support career have clearly shown that it’s
not just all male, it’s people from
all walks of life. That’s one thing
about IT support in general is that it’s just so
approachable for everyone. Diversity within the
role has exploded. It’s a much more
diverse team now, both from the gender, the race, background as well as just
educational background. I work closely with people from all different
experiences all over the world, very
different perspectives. It’s great for the role,
it’s great for the company, but is also great to just
work with different people. It’s an incredible
experience to share my experiences with
team mate from Romania, team mate from Kenya, it’s
refreshing, it’s fun. We’re starting to finally lose those stereotypes
associated with IT. We’re starting to understand that technology is ubiquitous, everyone uses it, why can’t
everyone support it as well?

What is RAM?

RAM stands for random access memory. It is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly. This means that any byte of memory can be accessed without having to read all the bytes before it. RAM is used to store data that the computer is currently using. This includes the operating system, programs, and data that is being processed.

Why is RAM important?

RAM is important because it allows the computer to access data quickly. This is essential for running programs and processing data. Without enough RAM, the computer will slow down or even crash.

How much RAM do I need?

The amount of RAM that you need depends on the type of work that you do. If you only use your computer for basic tasks like browsing the web and checking email, then you can get away with 4GB of RAM. However, if you do more demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, then you will need more RAM. A good rule of thumb is to get at least 8GB of RAM if you are a gamer or video editor.

What are the different types of RAM?

There are two main types of RAM: dynamic RAM (DRAM) and static RAM (SRAM). DRAM is the most common type of RAM. It is less expensive than SRAM and has a larger capacity. However, DRAM is also slower than SRAM. SRAM is faster than DRAM, but it is also more expensive and has a smaller capacity.

How do I upgrade my RAM?

If you need to upgrade your RAM, you will need to check your motherboard to see what type of RAM it supports and how much RAM it can accommodate. Once you know this information, you can purchase the appropriate RAM and install it yourself or take your computer to a professional.

Here are some additional tips for choosing and installing RAM:

• Make sure that the RAM you purchase is compatible with your motherboard.
• Install the RAM in the correct slots on your motherboard.
• Be careful not to overtighten the screws that secure the RAM in place.

Let’s talk about RAM,
our computers short-term memory. We use RAM to store data that
we want to access quickly. This data changes all the time so
it isn’t permanent. Almost all RAM is volatile, which means
that once we power off our machines, the data stored in RAM is cleared. Remember that our computer
is comprised of programs. To run a program, we need to make a copy
of it in RAM so our CPU can process it. When you see a new phone or
laptop that says it has 16 gigs of RAM, that means it can run up to 16 gigs of
programs, meaning you can run lots of programs at the same time, when you
type the document, you’re using RAM. if you’ve ever had the misfortune of
working on an important presentation or paper and losing power, you know the feeling you get when
all of the work you’ve done is lost. It’s a total bummer, this happens to
anything with RAM, even video games. Have you ever gone on a long
campaign without saving, then right as you get to a safe point,
the power goes off on the console and all the progress you’ve
made is lost forever? It’s not fun at all. You spend the next hour or
so deciding whether or not just to rage quit the game completely
and start all over from scratch. Not that this happened to me or
anything that was just a friend. Anyway, all of this happens because RAM
clear is its data when powered off. There are lots of types of RAM, and the one that’s commonly found in computers
is DRAM or dynamic random-access memory. When 1 or 0 is sent to DRAM, it stores
each bit in a microscopic capacitor, this is either charged or
discharged, represented by 1 or a 0. These semiconductors are put into chips
that are on the RAM and store our data. They’re also different types of memory
sticks that DRAM chips can be put on. The more modern DIMM sticks
which usually stands for Dual Inline Memory Module have
different sizes of pins on them. I should call out, we don’t really buy RAM based on
the number of DRAM chips they have, they’re labeled by the capacity of RAM on
a stick, like an eight-gig stick of RAM. After DRAM was created, RAM manufacturers built something called
SD RAM which stands for synchronous dram. This type of RAM is synchronized
to our system’s clock speed, allowing quicker processing of data. In today’s system, we use another type of RAM called double data rate SDRAM or
DDR SDRAM for short. Most people refer to this RAM as DDR,
even shorter. There are lots of iterations of DDR,
from DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, and now, DDR4. DDR is faster, takes up less power, and has a large capacity than
earlier SD RAM versions. The latest version DDR4 is the fastest
type of short-term memory currently available for your computer, and
faster RAM means that programs can be run faster and that more programs
can run at the same time. Keep in mind that any RAM sticks you
use need a compatible motherboard with a different number of pins aligned
with the motherboard RAM slots. Just like with the CPU,
make sure that your motherboard is compatible with any RAM
sticks that you buy. Up Next,
we’ll take a deep dive into motherboards.

A motherboard is the main circuit board in a computer. It connects all of the other components of the computer, such as the CPU, RAM, and hard drive. It also provides expansion slots for adding additional components, such as graphics cards and sound cards.

Motherboard Components

The main components of a motherboard are:

• Chipset: The chipset is a set of integrated circuits that control the flow of data between the CPU, RAM, and other components on the motherboard. The chipset also determines the types of expansion slots that are available on the motherboard.
• CPU socket: The CPU socket is where the CPU is installed. The CPU socket is determined by the type of CPU that the motherboard supports.
• RAM slots: The RAM slots are where the RAM modules are installed. The number of RAM slots and the type of RAM that the motherboard supports will vary depending on the motherboard.
• Expansion slots: Expansion slots allow you to add additional components to the motherboard, such as graphics cards, sound cards, and network adapters. The most common type of expansion slot is the PCI Express slot.
• Storage connectors: The storage connectors are where the hard drives, SSDs, and other storage devices are connected to the motherboard.
• Power connectors: The power connectors are where the power supply connects to the motherboard.
• BIOS chip: The BIOS chip is a small chip that stores the BIOS, which is a set of instructions that the computer uses to start up.

Motherboard Form Factors

Motherboards come in a variety of form factors, which are the physical sizes of the motherboards. The most common form factor is ATX, which stands for Advanced Technology Extended. ATX motherboards are available in a variety of sizes, including full-size ATX, microATX, and mini-ITX.

How to Choose a Motherboard

When choosing a motherboard, you need to consider the following factors:

• The type of CPU that you want to use.
• The amount of RAM that you want to install.
• The types of expansion cards that you want to add.
• The form factor of the case that you are using.
• Your budget.

Installing a Motherboard

To install a motherboard, you need to follow these steps:

1. Install the CPU and RAM.
2. Install the motherboard in the case.
3. Connect the power connectors to the motherboard.
4. Connect the storage connectors to the motherboard.
5. Install the expansion cards.
6. Install the operating system.

Troubleshooting Motherboard Problems

If you are having problems with your motherboard, you can try the following troubleshooting steps:

• Make sure that the motherboard is properly seated in the case.
• Make sure that the power connectors are properly connected to the motherboard.
• Check the BIOS settings to make sure that they are correct.
• Try reseating the CPU and RAM.
• Replace the motherboard if the problem persists.

The motherboard, the foundation that holds our
computer together. It lets us expand our computers functionality by adding
expansion cards. It routes power from
the power supply, and it allows the
different parts of the computer to communicate
with each other. In short, it’s a total boss. Every motherboard has a
few key characteristics. First is the chipset, which decides how components talk to each other
on our machine. The chipset on motherboards
is made up of two chips. One is called the
Northbridge that interconnects stuff like
RAM and video cards. The other chip is
the Southbridge, which maintains our IO or
input-output controllers, like hard drives
and USB devices, that input and output data. In some modern CPUs, the Northbridge has been
directly integrated into the CPU so there isn’t a
separate Northbridge chip set. The chipset is a
key component of our motherboard that allows us to manage data
between our CPU, RAM, and peripherals. Peripherals are the
external devices we connect to our computer, like a mouse, keyboard,
and the monitor. In addition to the chipsets, motherboards have another
key characteristic which allows the use
of expansion slots. Expansion slots also
give us the ability to increase the functionality
of our computer. If you wanted to upgrade
your graphics card, you could purchase one
and just install it on your motherboard through
the expansion slot. The standard for an
expansion bus today is the PCI Express or Peripheral Component
Interconnect express. A PCIe bus looks like a
slot on the motherboard and a PCIe base expansion card looks like a smallest
circuit board. The last component
of motherboards that we’ll discuss is form factor. There are different size of motherboards that
are available today. These sizes of form
factors determine the amount of stuff
we can put in it and the amount of
space we’ll have. The most common form factor
for motherboards is ATX, which stands for Advanced
Technology Extended. ATX actually comes in
different sizes too. In desktops, you’ll commonly
see full-sized ATXs. If you don’t want to
use an ATX form factor, you could use an IT or information technology
extended form factor. These are much smaller
than ATX boards. For example, the Intel NUC uses a variation of the ATX board, which comes in
three board sizes; mini ITX, nano
ITX, and pico ITX. When building your computer, you will need to keep in mind what type of form
factor you want. Do you want to build
something small that can’t handle as much workload, or do you want a powerhouse
workstation that you can add lots of
functionality to? The form factor will
also play a role into what expansion slots
you might want to use. Understanding motherboards and their characteristics can be a big plus one fixing
hardware issues since things like the type of RAM
module or processes socket are dependent on the kind of motherboard they
need to fit into. Let’s say you’re
responding to a ticket for a user who’s having
video problems, you don’t want to
make it all the way to their desk
only to realize the graphics card you
bought as a replacement doesn’t fit the motherboard
their computer uses.

A hard drive is a storage device that uses magnetic storage to store data. It is the most common type of storage device used in computers. Hard drives are made up of one or more platters, which are circular disks coated with a magnetic material. The platters are stacked on top of each other and rotate at a high speed. A read/write head floats above the platters and uses a magnetic field to read and write data.

Hard drives are available in a variety of sizes, from a few gigabytes to several terabytes. They are also available in a variety of form factors, such as 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches. 2.5-inch hard drives are typically used in laptops, while 3.5-inch hard drives are typically used in desktops.

Hard drives are measured in terms of their capacity, which is the amount of data they can store. The capacity of a hard drive is measured in bytes. A byte is a unit of data that can store one character.

The speed of a hard drive is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). The higher the RPM, the faster the hard drive can read and write data.

Hard drives are available in two main types: traditional hard drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). HDDs use a spinning platter and a mechanical arm to read and write data. SSDs do not have any moving parts and store data on microchips.

HDDs are more affordable than SSDs, but they are also slower and less reliable. SSDs are more expensive than HDDs, but they are also faster and more reliable.

Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing a hard drive:

• Capacity: The amount of data you need to store.
• Speed: How fast you need to access your data.
• Reliability: How important it is to you that your data is not lost.
• Price: How much you are willing to spend.

If you need to store a large amount of data and you do not need the fastest performance, then an HDD is a good option. If you need fast performance and you are willing to pay more, then an SSD is a good option.

Here are some of the benefits of using hard drives:

• Large capacity: Hard drives can store a large amount of data.
• Affordable: Hard drives are relatively affordable.
• Available in a variety of sizes and form factors: Hard drives are available in a variety of sizes and form factors, so you can find one that fits your needs.

Here are some of the drawbacks of using hard drives:

• Slow performance: Hard drives are slower than other types of storage devices, such as SSDs.
• Mechanical parts: Hard drives have mechanical parts, which can be damaged if the drive is dropped or jostled.
• Data loss: If a hard drive fails, you can lose all of the data stored on it.

It is important to back up your data regularly to prevent data loss in case of a hard drive failure. You can back up your data to an external hard drive, a cloud storage service, or another device.

Before we get into
computer storage, we need to fill in some gaps. I’m referring to things
like gigabytes, bits, etc. But we actually
haven’t talked at all about what
those metrics mean. Sorry, I got a gigabit
ahead of myself. As you might have
guessed, these terms refer to data sizes. The smallest unit of a
data storage is a bit. A bit can store
one binary digit, so it can store a one or a zero. The next largest unit of
storage is called a byte, which is comprised
of eight bits. A single byte can hold a
letter, number or symbol. The next largest unit is
referred to as a KB bite. But we typically use
the term kilobyte. A kilobyte is made
up of 1,024 bytes. Here’s a quick data
conversion chart. How much does 500
gigabyte even mean? Let’s take a look at the size
of an average music file, which is about three megabytes. On a 500 gigabyte machine, that’s approximately
165,000 music files. That’s a lot of music. We saw all of our computers
data on our hard drive, which allows us to
store our programs, music, pictures, etc. Have you ever had an issue
with your computer and lost all the data that
was on your hard drive? Yeah, me too. It was the worst. This actually happens a
lot and you’ll probably encounter it as an IT
support specialist. Make sure you backup
your data to be safe. This means you should copy
or save your data somewhere else just in case something goes wrong and your
hard drive crashes. That way, you won’t
lose all your data. There are two basic hard
drive types used today. Hard describes or HDDs uses a spinning platter and a mechanical arm to read
and write information. The speed that the
platter rotate allows you to read and
write data faster. This is commonly referred to as RPM or revolution per minute. A hard drive with a
higher RPM is faster. So if you go out and
buy a hard drive today, you might see something like a 500 gigabyte, with 5,400 rpm. HDDs are prone to a lot more damage because there are a lot of moving parts. This susceptibility to damage went away with a new type of storage called solid
state drive or SSD. SSDs have no moving parts. Are you familiar
with a USB stick? SSDs operate in a similar way. The information is stored on microchips and data travels
a lot faster than HDDs. The form factor for SSDs is also slimmer compared to
their HDD cousins. Sounds great, doesn’t it? So why doesn’t
everyone use SSDs? Well, both have
their pros and cons. HDDs are more affordable, but they’re more
prone to damage. SSDs are less risky when
it comes to losing data, but they’re also more expensive. So you may not buy as
much memory storage in SSDs than what you
can get in HDDs. Believe it or not,
there are even hybrid SSD and HDD drives out there. They offer SSD performance where you need it for things
like system performance, such as putting your computer along with hard disk drives, but less important stuff
like basic file storage. There are a few interfaces that hard drives use to
connect our system. ATA interfaces are
the most common ones. The most popular ATA drive
is a Serial ATA or SATA, which uses one cable
for data transfers. SATA drives are hot swappable, great term, don’t you think? It means you don’t
have to turn off your machine to plug
in a SATA drive. SATA drives move
data faster and use a more efficient cable like this one than its predecessors. SATA has been the de facto
interface for HDDs today. But people quickly found that
using the SATA cable wasn’t good enough for
some of the blazing fast SSDs that were
coming on the market. The interface
couldn’t keep up with the speeds of the newest SSDs. So another interface
standard was created called NVM express, or NVMe. Instead of using a cable to connect your drive
to your machine, the drive was added
as an expansion slot, which allows for
greater throughput of data and increased
efficiency.

What is a power supply?

A power supply is a device that converts alternating current (AC) from the wall outlet to direct current (DC) that can be used by electronic devices. Computers, laptops, and other devices all have power supplies.

How does a power supply work?

The power supply takes the AC power from the wall outlet and converts it to DC power. This is done through a process called rectification, which uses capacitors and diodes to convert the AC power to pulsating DC power. The pulsating DC power is then smoothed out by a capacitor to create a steady DC output.

What are the different types of power supplies?

There are two main types of power supplies:

• Linear power supplies: These power supplies use a transformer to convert the AC power to DC power. They are less efficient than switching power supplies, but they are also more reliable.
• Switching power supplies: These power supplies use a switching circuit to convert the AC power to DC power. They are more efficient than linear power supplies, but they are also more complex and can be more prone to failure.

What are the factors to consider when choosing a power supply?

The following factors should be considered when choosing a power supply:

• The wattage of the power supply: This is the amount of power that the power supply can provide. The wattage should be at least equal to the power requirements of the computer or device.
• The efficiency of the power supply: This is the percentage of power that is converted to DC power. A more efficient power supply will waste less power.
• The noise level of the power supply: Power supplies can be noisy, so it is important to choose one that is quiet enough for your needs.
• The warranty: Power supplies should come with a warranty, so be sure to choose one that has a good warranty.

How to install a power supply?

To install a power supply, you will need to:

1. Disconnect the power from the computer.
2. Remove the old power supply.
3. Install the new power supply.
4. Connect the power cables to the motherboard and other components.
5. Connect the power cord to the wall outlet.

How to troubleshoot power supply problems?

If you are having problems with your computer, one of the first things to check is the power supply. Here are some things you can do to troubleshoot power supply problems:

1. Check the power cables to make sure they are properly connected.
2. Test the power supply with a multimeter to make sure it is providing the correct voltage.
3. Replace the power supply if it is not working properly.

Conclusion

Power supplies are an important part of any computer or electronic device. By understanding how power supplies work and what factors to consider when choosing one, you can ensure that you choose the right power supply for your needs.

In order to get our computer to work,
let’s give it some power. Computers have a power supply that
converts electricity from your wall to something usable. There are two types of electricity DC or
direct current which flows in one direction and AC or alternating current
which changes directions constantly. Our computers use DC voltage so
we have to have a way to convert the AC voltage from our power
company to something we can use. That’s what our power supply does. It converts the A C we get from the wall
into low voltage DC power that we can use and transmit throughout our computer. So let’s talk about power supplies,
I actually have one right here. Lemme show you how one looks like,
take it out right here. So, most power supply units have a fan
which is right in here, they also have voltage information which is normally
listed underneath or on the side. And cables like this one to power your motherboard and a power cable. Have you ever plugged one of your
devices into the wall outlet and fried your device? If you haven’t, you’re really lucky,
after completing this lesson, hopefully you’ll know how
to avoid that situation. To understand electricity,
let’s use the example of water pipes. Our tanks have a faucet that’s
connected to a pressurized water tank. When we turn on the faucet,
water comes out. This is sort of how electricity works,
when we plug in appliance into a wall outlet and turn it on,
a flow electricity comes out. If we added more pressure to our water
tank, would more water come out of it? The higher the pressure,
the more water there will be. When it comes to electricity,
we refer to the pressure as voltage. So, when I was on vacation to my surprise,
when I plugged in the 120 volt appliance into a 220 volt outlet, the power came
bursting through and fried my charger. If it was the other way around and
a 220 volt appliance was plugged into 120 volt outlet,
I wouldn’t have seen the same outcome. I’ll still be able to get electricity,
but slowly. This would be similar to if a water tank
was only half pressurized it will draw water but slowly,
in some cases though, this can deteriorate the performance of the device
and cause damage in the long-term. As a general rule, be sure to use
the proper voltage for your electronics. We refer to the amount of
electricity coming out as current or amperage and it’s measured in amps. We can think of amps as pulling
electricity as opposed to voltage, which pushes electricity. Amps will pull as much electricity needed,
but voltage will just give you everything. Look on the back of one
of your device charges. You might see something like1 or 2.1 A, charging a device with 2.1 amps will
actually charge a device faster because it’s able to put more current
from a 2.1 amp than a 1 amp charger. Finally, the other important part of the
electricity that you’ll need to know is the wattage. Wattage is the amount of volts and
amps that the device needs. If your power supply has
too low the wattage, you won’t be able to power your computer,
so make sure you have enough. This doesn’t mean that if you have a large
power supply you will overpower your computer. Power supplies just give you
the amount that your system needs. It’s best to err on the side
of large power supplies, you can power most basic desktops
with a 500 watt power supply. But if you’re doing something more
demanding on your computer like playing a high resolution video game or doing
a lot of video production and rendering, you will likely need a bigger
power supply for your computer. On the other hand, if all you’re
doing is just browsing the web, the power supply that comes with
your computer should be fine. All kinds of issues are caused
by a bad power supply. Sometimes the computer doesn’t even
turn on at all, since power supplies can fail for lots of reasons like burnouts,
power surges or even lightning strikes. Knowing how to diagnose power issues and
replace a failed power supply is a skill every IT support specialist
should have in their toolbox.

Introduction

Mobile devices are becoming increasingly popular, and as an IT support specialist, you will need to be familiar with them. Mobile devices can be used for a variety of tasks, including work, school, and personal use. They can also be a valuable tool for IT support specialists, as they can be used to access and troubleshoot devices remotely.

Types of Mobile Devices

There are many different types of mobile devices, including:

• Smartphones
• Tablets
• Laptops
• Wearables (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers)
• Internet of Things (IoT) devices (e.g., smart speakers, smart thermostats)

Each type of mobile device has its own unique features and capabilities. For example, smartphones are typically used for making calls, sending text messages, and accessing the internet. Tablets are larger than smartphones and can be used for tasks such as watching videos, reading e-books, and playing games. Laptops are portable computers that can be used for a variety of tasks, including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Wearables are devices that can be worn on the body and track fitness data, monitor heart rate, and send notifications. IoT devices are connected to the internet and can be used to control devices in the home or office.

Mobile Device Operating Systems

Mobile devices run operating systems that are specifically designed for them. Some of the most popular mobile operating systems include:

• Android
• iOS
• Windows Phone
• BlackBerry OS
• Tizen

Each operating system has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, Android is known for its customization options, while iOS is known for its stability and security.

Mobile Device Troubleshooting

As an IT support specialist, you may be called upon to troubleshoot mobile devices. Some common mobile device problems include:

• Device not turning on
• Device not connecting to the internet
• Device not responding to touch
• Device running slow
• Device battery draining quickly

To troubleshoot mobile device problems, you will need to be familiar with the device’s operating system and hardware. You may also need to use specialized tools and software.

Mobile Device Security

Mobile devices can be a target for cyberattacks. It is important to take steps to protect your mobile devices from malware, viruses, and other threats. Some of the best practices for mobile device security include:

• Keep your mobile device’s operating system and applications up to date.
• Use a strong password or passcode to protect your device.
• Enable two-factor authentication.
• Be careful about what apps you install on your device.
• Only download apps from trusted sources.
• Be careful about what information you share on your mobile device.

Conclusion

Mobile devices are an essential part of our lives, and as an IT support specialist, you will need to be familiar with them. By understanding the different types of mobile devices, their operating systems, and common problems, you will be well-prepared to support your users.

Hi there, it’s me again. You might remember me
from the previous module, and no worries if not, what’s important is
that I’m here now. We’ve made some updates to this program to make sure you’ve got the latest info
on mobile devices. You’ll see me again throughout
the rest of this program. So keep your eyes peeled for me. Let’s talk about mobile devices. Mobile devices are computers
too, they have CPUs, RAM, storage, power
systems and peripherals. How are they different
from a server, a desktop computer or a laptop? There are special
because they’re mobile. They’re portable and usually
powered by batteries. Some mobile devices are general purpose
computing devices, like tablets or smartphones. Other mobile devices
are optimized to perform a specific set of tasks, like fitness monitors,
e-readers, and smartwatches. Mobile devices are
usually very integrated. Remember the systems that
we showed you earlier, the components can be taken
out and held in your hand. Mobile devices build
some or all of these components together in a way that you can’t take apart. The smaller device, the more integrated the
components usually are. The CPU, RAM, and storage might be soldered directly to
the devices motherboard. Very small mobile devices use
a system on a chip or SOC. A system on a chip
packs the CPU, RAM and sometimes even the
storage onto a single chip. Not only our SOC is small, they use less battery power than if those components
were separated. Even though they’re small some mobile devices
use peripherals. Smartphones connect to Bluetooth
headphones, for example. Mobile devices can
also be a peripheral. A fitness tracker is
a standalone device, but it can also be a
peripheral to your smartphone. That same fitness tracker might use a heart rate monitor
as a peripheral. It’s peripherals
all the way down. Mobile devices may use standard or proprietary
ports and connectors. You might need to
have a specific adapter or connector for charging a device or connecting your mobile
device to a computer. Sometimes the physical shape
or the intended use of the mobile device makes a standard connection
like USB, a bad choice. For example, say you have a
waterproof fitness tracker. If it had a micro-USB for, that port will be damaged
if exposed to water. So instead, it’s
designed with a custom charging interface that can
be submerged underwater. Here are some of the
standard power data and display connector types you’ll find used in mobile devices. This is a USB-C, next we have a
lightening adapter, then a mini USB, and a micro-USB, a micro HDMI, and the mini HDMI, and this is a mini display port. Because of mobile
devices are generally small and have limited
access to power, they run operating systems
and application software that specifically designed to
maximize their performance. Will dive into mobile
operating systems and applications
in future videos. As an IT support specialist, you might be
responsible for helping end-users with their
mobile devices. This might include setup, troubleshooting, repairing,
and replacing mobile devices. Don’t worry, we’re going to
break all this down for you. One super important thing, mobile devices can contain
a lot of personal data. Some organizations
allow people to use their own personal
devices for work. We call this bring your
own device or BYOD. You should be careful to respect people’s privacy when they bring their own devices
to you for help. To know how to handle
these devices is always best to refer to
your organization’s policy.

Sometimes instead of being plugged into a power
outlet all the time, we want to take our
technology with us. Mobile technology uses
rechargeable batteries to carry power with the device
wherever we take it. Rechargeable devices might have an external charger for
removable batteries, or might have a cradle
stand or wireless charger. Look at this phone, we can
top up the battery just by laying it on this wireless
inductive charging pad. Isn’t that cool? It’s also
pretty clever technology. Rechargeable batteries
have a limited lifespan, which is measured
in charge cycles. A charge cycle is one full charge and
discharge of a battery. When a battery is reaching
the end of its lifespan, it may take longer to charge and might not hold as much
charge as when it was new. For some devices, you compare
the current cycle count of your battery with the rate at cycle count of
that battery type, to see how much more life
to expect out of it. You need an external
power source to add power to a battery. This could come
from a wall outlet, another battery, or
even a solar panel. You also need a charging
circuit that manages the power transfer from the external power source to
the rechargeable battery. This circuit works a lot like a power supply unit or PSU
that we looked at earlier. It makes sure the input power is converted to the
correct output power. Instead of using a large PSU, rechargeable devices use more
portable power adapters, power supplies or chargers. A portable power supply powers the device while also
charging the battery. This might sound obvious, but you need to make
sure that you use the right charger for
the right device. Mismatching chargers to devices
can damage the battery, the device and the charger. A lot of chargers and power
supplies use USB connectors, but you’ll see a wide variety
of charging connectors. Rechargeable batteries
can be damaged by very cold or very
hot environments. Don’t charge or discharge
rechargeable batteries unless they’re within their safe
operating temperature range. Its not just that a damaged
rechargeable battery might not perform well, it can also be very dangerous. Batteries can swell, rupture, and sometimes even catch fire. Before working with
a damaged battery, you should know how
to safely handle it. When a battery reaches
the end of its life, you’ll need to replace it. Some devices will slow
themselves down when a battery is getting old to
make the battery last longer. If your device is
running much slower than usual or shutting
down unexpectedly, one thing to check
is the battery life. Some devices have
batteries that are designed to be replaced
by the end-user. Other devices have batteries that are very
difficult to replace, like small laptops
and mobile devices. As an IT support specialist, you might receive special
training on how to replace batteries and
devices that you support. Or you might be the person
sending the device out for battery replacement and then returning the device
to the end-user. IT support specialist
often have to troubleshoot battery life
and device charging. The first step is to
make sure the charger, the battery and the device are all designed to work
with each other. We’ll talk about sending
out devices for repair and troubleshooting skills in
future videos, so stay tuned. For iOS and Android, there are also some things
that you could do to make the battery last as
long as possible. It’s a good idea for you to be familiar with these things
so that you can help educate end-users
on the best ways to get the most out of
their mobile devices.

Introduction

Batteries and charging systems are essential components of many IT devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets. They provide the power that these devices need to operate.

In this tutorial, we will discuss the basics of batteries and charging systems. We will cover topics such as:

• Types of batteries
• Charging principles
• Charging safety
• Tips for extending battery life

Types of Batteries

There are many different types of batteries, but the most common ones used in IT devices are lithium-ion batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries.

• Lithium-ion batteries are the most common type of battery used in IT devices. They are lightweight, have a high energy density, and can be recharged many times.
• Nickel-metal hydride batteries are also a popular choice for IT devices. They are less expensive than lithium-ion batteries, but they have a lower energy density and do not last as long.

Charging Principles

When a battery is charged, the chemical energy stored in the battery is converted into electrical energy. The charging process is controlled by a charging circuit, which ensures that the battery is charged safely and efficiently.

There are two main types of charging methods: constant current charging and constant voltage charging.

• Constant current charging is the most common type of charging method. In constant current charging, the charger provides a constant current to the battery until it is fully charged.
• Constant voltage charging is a slower charging method, but it is more gentle on the battery. In constant voltage charging, the charger provides a constant voltage to the battery until it is fully charged.

Charging Safety

There are a few things to keep in mind when charging batteries to ensure safety:

• Always use the correct charger for your battery. Using the wrong charger can damage the battery or even start a fire.
• Do not overcharge the battery. Overcharging can damage the battery and shorten its lifespan.
• Do not leave the battery charging unattended. If the battery overheats, it could start a fire.
• Do not expose the battery to extreme temperatures. High or low temperatures can damage the battery.

Tips for Extending Battery Life

Here are a few tips for extending the life of your battery:

• Avoid letting the battery fully discharge. Fully discharging the battery can damage it.
• Do not leave the battery in a hot car or other extreme environment. High or low temperatures can damage the battery.
• Do not store the battery in a discharged state for long periods of time. Storing a battery in a discharged state can shorten its lifespan.
• Use the correct charger for your battery. Using the wrong charger can damage the battery.
• Do not mix different types of batteries together. Mixing different types of batteries can cause a fire.

Conclusion

Batteries and charging systems are essential components of many IT devices. By understanding the basics of batteries and charging systems, you can help to ensure that your IT devices are properly powered and that your batteries last as long as possible.

Introduction

Peripherals are external devices that are connected to a computer to add functionality. They can include input devices, such as keyboards and mice, output devices, such as monitors and printers, and storage devices, such as hard drives and flash drives.

Ports are the connectors on a computer that allow peripherals to be connected. There are many different types of ports, each with its own purpose.

Types of Peripherals

Some common types of peripherals include:

• Input devices: Keyboards, mice, touchpads, trackballs, webcams, microphones, scanners, and joysticks.
• Output devices: Monitors, printers, speakers, headphones, and projectors.
• Storage devices: Hard drives, solid-state drives, flash drives, and optical drives (CD, DVD, and Blu-ray).

Types of Ports

Some common types of ports include:

• USB: The most common type of port. Used for connecting a wide variety of devices, including keyboards, mice, printers, external hard drives, and flash drives.
• HDMI: Used for connecting a monitor or projector to a computer. Supports both video and audio.
• DisplayPort: Similar to HDMI, but with some advantages, such as support for higher resolutions and refresh rates.
• DVI: Used for connecting a monitor to a computer. Supports only video.
• VGA: An older type of port that is still sometimes used. Supports only video.
• Ethernet: Used for connecting a computer to a network.
• Thunderbolt: A newer type of port that supports high-speed data transfer and can also be used to connect displays.

Connecting Peripherals

To connect a peripheral to a computer, you need to find the correct port and use the correct cable. The cable will usually be included with the peripheral.

Once you have connected the peripheral, you may need to install drivers for the peripheral. Drivers are software that allows the computer to communicate with the peripheral. Drivers can usually be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

Troubleshooting

If you are having problems connecting a peripheral, there are a few things you can check:

• Make sure that the peripheral is compatible with the computer.
• Make sure that you are using the correct cable.
• Make sure that the port is enabled.
• Try restarting the computer.
• If the problem persists, contact the manufacturer of the peripheral for support.

Conclusion

Peripherals and ports are essential components of any computer system. By understanding the different types of peripherals and ports, you can help to ensure that your computer is properly equipped to meet your needs.

Let’s take a look at the
back of our computer again. Here you see lots
of connectors or ports we can plug in
different objects, like a mouse, keyboard,
and a monitor. These are known as peripherals. A peripheral is basically
anything that you connect your computer externally
that adds functionality. You’ve probably used
USB devices before. USB, also known as universal
serial bus devices, are the most popular
connections for our gadgets. USB has gone through lots
of changes since inception. Your most commonly
encounter USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and 3.1
in today’s system. In the chart let’s pay
attention to the details using Mb/s instead of using MB to reference
transfer speed, these are actually
different units. MB is megabyte or
unit of data storage while capital Mb/s is
a megabit per second, which is a unit of
data transfer rate. People often mistake speeds
of 40 megabit a second to mean that you can transfer 40 megabytes of data per second. Remember that one
byte is eight bits, so to transfer a one
megabyte file in a second, you need an eight megabits
per second connection speed. You will also need
compatible USB ports to go with your devices. If you connect a USB 2.0
device into a USB 3.0 port, you won’t get 3.0 transfer speed but you can still use the port since it’s
backward compatible, meaning older hardware will
work with newer hardware. The ports are easy to
differentiate, let me show you. In general, USB 2.0
are black and USB 3.0 are blue and
3.1 ports are teal. This may change depending
on manufacturers. There are lots of types of USB connectors and you can read about all of them in the supplemental reading right after this video, check it out. Back to USB connectors. The most recent one is
a Type C connector, which is meant to replace
many peripheral connections. It’s quickly becoming
a universal standard for display and data transfer. In addition to USB peripherals, you should also be aware
of display peripherals. There are some common
impulse standards to know. Most computer monitors will have one or more of
these connections, but you might encounter some
older standards too, DVI. DVI cables are generally
just output video, if you need to hook
up a monitor or projector for a
slide presentation, and you want audio too, you may be out of luck, instead, you want to look at one of
the following cables, HDMI. This has become a
standard in lots of televisions and
computers nowadays, and outputs both
video and audio. Another standard that’s become popular among manufacturers
is a display port, which also outputs
audio and video. In addition to audio and video, USB Type C can also do
data transfer and power. As an IT support specialist, you’ll work with
peripherals like USB devices and
display devices a lot. Now, you’ll be able
to distinguish between the major types.