HARDWARE
HARDWARE
CHAPTER INDEX
1) HARDWARE: THE CONCEPT
The word "Hardware" (opposite of "Software") makes reference to the
physical components of a computer. When you see a computer, you imagine
a monitor, a keyboard, a
mouse and a big metal structure. This mysterious
"box" it's something that most people only thinks about at the time of
turning the power on or off; we consider it the most important. The metal
box is correctly called "case" and, when you open it, you'll be able to see
all computer's components on the inside.
2) A COMPUTER'S BASIC HARDWARE ELEMENTS
2.1) Computer Case & Power Source: The computer case it's the metal structure
that we previously described. As we know, computers work with electrical
power, so the case comes with an implemented power source. There are two
power source models, 'AT' and 'ATX'. ATX are the most used models now with
all the new processors, AT is rather old and it was used with older
computers. A way to recognize which power source do you have in your computer
it's checking the cable that connects the power source to the mainboard.
If the cable it's splitted up in two separate parts that are connected
together, appearing to be a unit, then you have an AT model. The same cable
in ATX models isn't separated and it's bigger.
3) BUILDING A COMPUTER
You're probably wondering what do we mean by saying "building a computer".
We actually refer to assembling a computer by putting together (in the
right way) all computer's pieces. Now, if you choose to build a computer
by following our instructions, you should know that, once you've ended the
procedure, this tutorial DOESN'T cover the operative system configuration.
We didn't wanted to do it because there are too many operative systems and
the choice for installing one or another it's up to you.
1) Intel Celeron (for Socket 370) Box CPU, from about 400 to 550 Mhz (you
choose the Mhz).
Since our tutorial was written thinking about this configuration, we can't
assure you that it will work if you buy some other model or specification
for ANY of these devices.
That's right, please read all our instructions carefully to avoid any
problems, and if you're a minor, please do everything under your parental
supervision and consent. If that's already OK, then let's start!
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
SOME HANDY ADVICES
THE REAL THING
1) Connect your static wrist strap to any unpainted portion of the metal
in your computer's case (this will "ground" you). Unpack your mainboard and
place it with all the chips looking up. The mainboard should come with a
manual. Keep it, you're gonna need it.
What do you think about that? It's was easier than you expected? Harder?
Anyway, we here at the PC POLIS congratulate you for being so brave and
smart to build a computer. What about some comments to our e-mail or
GuestBook? Write some and then continue your learning.
1) Hardware: The Concept.
2) A Computer's Basic Hardware Elements.
3) Building A Computer: A Complete Tutorial.
2.2) Mainboard: Also called 'M/B' (don't confuse with MB of Megabyte!), the
mainboard is a squared shaped circuit that holds all the "important" computer components, such as the
CPU and the
RAM modules. The market is full of different mainboard brands, that's why
you can divide M/B in 'generic' (brands that aren't very known) and
'non-generic' which are known brands (like Intel). The mainboard has, also,
a very important chip, the BIOS.
2.3) CPU: This it's the "real" computer. CPUs (or 'processors') have their
unique set of instructions, which change according to their fabricant and
models. The CPU, combined with good RAM memory and hard drive, will give
you the speed for your computer. This speed is measured in Hertz (HZ).
The older CPUs worked at about 60-75 Hz or less, but newer CPUs can be found
at from 300 to 700 Hz or even more.
2.4) Ram Modules: These are small circuit plaques that are inserted on the
mainboard (which has special slots for it). when you install these modules,
your computer is equipped with RAM memory, according to the plaque's capacity.
There are plaques with 4 MB in RAM, 8 MB, 16 MB, 24 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, ...
RAM size it's accumulative, so, if you insert two 16 MB modules in the
mainboard, you'll have 16+16=32 MB of RAM. In that case, you could have also
inserted just one module with 32 MB RAM, which is a better option. The most
used RAM modules now are the DIMM SDRAM PC-100 type, which is a special size
of plaque and also a special type of RAM.
2.5) Cards: A computer card it's a device that gets connected into special
mainboard slots called PCI (they're the most common but there are also other
types such as ISA and AGP) and, by doing it, you add some kind of feature to
your computer's performance. For example, when you add a sound card to your
mainboard, you are adding the capacity to create and play sound in your
computer. Cards have, like every computer component, many brands. The most
used cards are sound cards, video cards (which give you the ability to work
with your computer's screen) and fax/modem cards (which allow you to get
connected to phone networks).
2.6) Data Storage Devices: These are solid units installed into your computer
and connected both to the mainboard and the power source. Into this category
we can include the hard disk drive, the CD unit and the floppy disk unit.
All these devices have different capacities: the hard drive as a specific
size determined in MB or GB; CD units have diferrent speeds marked as
'SPEEDX' such as 44X (1X = aprox 150 kb per second) and floppy disks have their
own size capability (1.44 MB and 3 1/2 inches are the floppy disks standards).
2.7) External devices: Here we can place all the external hardware such as
the monitor, keyboard and mouse. Monitors are measured in inches and just
like TV sets, the standard is 14". There are also 15", 17" and even bigger.
Keyboards are variant and the main differences between them don't go beyond
colors or sizes. Mouses are small units created to make the general computer
handling easy, by moving the mouse around a flat surface you can move a cursor
in the screen and by pressing the mouse buttons you can perform several
actions, according to your operative system.
I've setted up the following system configuration, mainly because it's an
easy-to-build system and it's also a very powerful computer, not cutting-edge
but certainly a good and reliable system:
2) 32 or 64 Mb of RAM memory, which have to be DIMM SDRAM PC100 modules.
3) Generic mainboard ATX with socket 370 and PC100 RAM support, with video,
sound and fax/modem cards inserted into it.
4) IDE Hard disk drive, IDE CD unit and floppy disk (you choose their capacities).
5) Computer ATX case.
6) Monitor, keyboard, mouse and PC Speakers.
To assemble a computer you will need:
1) Computer Pieces: These are
COMPUTER CASE (ATX POWER SOURCE) - MAINBOARD - CPU - RAM MODULES - CARDS - DATA
STORAGE DEVICES - EXTERNAL DEVICES. If you have doubts about what is
all of this, see the detailed information above.
2) A static wrist strap. This must be used while handling any integrated
circuit, because the static that you naturally carry in your body can
damage the electric components. This devices are cheap and can be found in
any electronical supplies store.
3) A good set of screw-drivers.
4) A nice place to work (good lightning and a big table).
1) Golden rule: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE COMPUTER'S
POWER CABLE WHILE TOUCHING THE COMPUTER'S INTERNAL COMPONENTS. Don't be fool
and act safely.
2) Computer components' fabricants aren't stupid. All the internal devices have
they're small techniques to be easier and safer at the time of installing, so
every internal component that has to be inserted in a slot, for example, can
be inserted in one and just one way ONLY! So if you just can't seem to insert
that CPU or that RAM Module, be smart! Check for small holes, special shapes
or hints like that.
3) If you seem to be stuck with some problem, read the documentation! Mainboard
manuals and installation guides, CD installation, everything must have some
kind of instruction. If you still can get any help, you must also know when
to stop and get specialized help.
If you have read all the instructions above, then we are ready to start!
2) Now that you have a clear view at the mainboard, it's time to make the
first jumper configuration. Open your mainboard's manual and check the
"Setting jumpers" (or like that) chapter. There should be a special jumper
under the title of "CMOS RAM". Set this jumper to "Normal" position (defined
in the manual). What you've just done it's to get the mainboard's battery
working properly.
3) Now you can insert the CPU and the RAM modules. The CPU has to be inserted
(in our case) in the Socket 370, a squared shaped slot, which has a small
stick by the side. Pull this stick up, insert the CPU (GENTLY!) into the
socket and pull the small stick down until it gets locked. The CPU has a
small fan which goes connected to a special jumper (see your manual for it).
You MUST connect the fan, or your CPU will burn! The RAM modules
must be inserted into their special DIMM slots, which have small plastic
locks on each side. Pull (GENTLY!) this plastic locks back (unlocking) and
insert the RAM modules (now with strenght!). They have small holes in the
inferior so you CAN'T put them in the wrong way. We also have to connect
the power source main cable to the mainboard. We are on a ATX system so we
can easily recognize the main cable; it comes out from the power source and
it has a plastic cover around lots of small cables. Insert this cable in the
ATX slot on the mainboard.
4) Since our system has the video, sound and modem cards inserted on the
mainboard, read your mainboard manual and set all the cards to
"Enabled" mode. The first one we are gonna need it's the video, because we
want to see our monitor, don't we? :-) Connect the output video cable (that
has to come with your mainboard package, just like all the other output
ones) to the mainboard and then connect the monitor's input cable to it.
Turn on the power and your computer child has been born!
5) Believe it or not, you've done all the hard part of our journey. Now all you have to
do it's to connect the data storage devices and put everything inside the
computer's case and we're done! Connect the hard disk, the CD unit and the
floppy disk unit. The procedure for all of them it's the same. They go
connected both to the mainboard and to the power source. For the mainboard,
you have to use a flat cable that comes with the mainboard package. Here
we have a small complication. The cable that goes from the hard disk to
the mainboard is the same one as the cable that goes from the CD unit and
the mainboard. When you think of it, the ideal thing would be to have
two of these cables (called IDE cables) and connect each one from their
respective units to the mainboard (mainboards have two IDE slots!). But
unfortunately, most mainboard fabricants give you only 1 IDE cable with
the package. In that case, you must "share" it with the hard disk and the CD
unit. To do it, you must set the hard disk jumper settings to "MASTER" and
the CD unit to "SLAVE" (these jumpers are in the back face of the units,
see their documentation for the "MASTER" & "SLAVE" respective settings).
6) Now, connect everything that has been left over. Plug the mouse and the
keyboard. It's time for BIOS configuration. Turn the computer power on and,
when you get prompted to press the key to enter the BIOS (usually "DEL").
In the BIOS, you must enter the previous jumper settings (the "MASTER" &
"SLAVE" stuff) on the respective BIOS options (which are described in detail
in your mainboard's manual).
7) The last step: getting everything inside the computer's case. The case
must come with a set of plastic supports and screws. The only hard-to-do thing
here is to place the mainboard where it belongs, which is a large metal plaque,
usually tighten with screws at one side of the case. Unscrew it and remove
it. As you can see, it has several holes. You're mainboard also has holes
(for the metal screws and the plastic supports). Now, all you must do it's
to make the mainboard and the metal plaque holes to be congruent. Put some
plastic supports in those places in which the metal plaque has no holes, and
attach (with the screws) the mainboard to the metal plaque. When you're ready,
attach all the other internal devices (hard disk, CD unit, floppy disk unit)
to the small metal boxes right aside the power source. Obviously, be smart,
put them in logical positions (the CD and the floppy unit facing outside in
the RIGHT way).
8) We are ready. This last step it's a general checking of all. Did you connect
the IDE cables to all units? Is the power source main cable connected properly
to the mainboard? The cards output connectors are properly connected? Think
about everything you did and try to check it out. The final test: Turn on
the computer. Everything seems to be right? Splendid! You have done it.
Close the case. Your computer is now ready to have an operative system
installed.