Saturday, 21 July 2012
Internal Computer Hardware
Introduction
Computer Hardware is the physical part of a computer, as distinguished from the computer software that executes or runs on the hardware. The hardware of a computer is infrequently changed, while software and data are modified frequently. The term soft refers to readily created, modified, or erased. These are unlike the physical components within the computer which are hard.When you think of the term computer hardware you probably think of the guts inside your personal computer at home or the one in your classroom. However, computer hardware does not specifically refer to personal computers. Instead, it is all types of computer systems. Computer hardware is in embedded systems in automobiles, microwave ovens, CD players, DVD players, and many more devices. In 2003, only 0.2% of all microprocessors sold were for personal computers. How many other things in your house or your classroom use computer hardware?
Inside Computer
Motherboard
The motherboard is the body or mainframe of the computer, through which all other components interface. It is the central circuit board making up a complex electronic system. A motherboard provides the electrical connections by which the other components of the system communicate. The mother board includes many components such as: central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), firmware, and internal and external buses.
Motherboard
Central Processing Unit
The Central Processing Unit (CPU; sometimes just called processor) is a machine that can execute computer programs. It is sometimes referred to as the brain of the computer.
CPU Diagram
Random Access Memory
Random access memory (RAM) is fast-access memory that is cleared when the computer is power-down. RAM attaches directly to the motherboard, and is used to store programs that are currently running. RAM is a set of integrated circuits that allow the stored data to be accessed in any order (why it is called random). There are many different types of RAM. Distinctions between these different types include: writable vs. read-only, static vs. dynamic, volatile vs. non-volatile, etc.
RAM
Firmware
Firmware is loaded from the Read only memory (ROM) run from the Basic Input-Output System (BIOS). It is a computer program that is embedded in a hardware device, for example a microcontroller. As it name suggests, firmware is somewhere between hardware and software. Like software, it is a computer program which is executed by a microprocessor or a microcontroller. But it is also tightly linked to a piece of hardware, and has little meaning outside of it. Most devices attached to modern systems are special-purpose computers in their own right, running their own software. Some of these devices store that software (“firmware”) in a ROM within the device itselfPower Supply
The power supply as its name might suggest is the device that supplies power to all the components in the computer. Its case holds a transformer, voltage control, and (usually) a cooling fan. The power supply converts about 100-120 volts of AC power to low-voltage DC power for the internal components to use. The most common computer power supplies are built to conform with the ATX form factor. This enables different power supplies to be interchangable with different components inside the computer. ATX power supplies also are designed to turn on and off using a signal from the motherboard, and provide support for modern functions such as standby mode.Removable Media Devices
If your putting something in your computer and taking it out is most likely a form of removable media. There are many different removable media devices. The most popular are probably CD and DVD drives which almost every computer these days has at least one of. There are some new disc drives such as Blu-ray which can hold a much larger amount of information then normal CDs or DVDs. One type of removable media which is becoming less popular is floppy disk.CD
CDs are the most common type of removable media. They are inexpensive but also have short life-span. There are a few different kinds of CDs. CD-ROM which stands for Compact Disc read-only memory are popularly used to distribute computer software although any type of data can be stored on them. CD-R is another variation which can only be written to once but can be read many times. CD-RW (rewritable) can be written to more than once as well as read more than once. Some other types of CDs which are not as popular include Super Audio CD (SACD), Video Compact Discs (VCD), Super Video Compact Discs (SVCD), PhotoCD, PictureCD, CD-i, and Enhanced CD.
CD-ROM Drive
DVD
DVDs (digital versatile discs) are another popular optical disc storage media format. The main uses for DVDs are video and data storage. Most DVDs are of the same dimensions as compact discs. Just like CDs there are many different variations. DVD-ROM has data which can only be read and not written. DVD-R and DVD+R can be written once and then function as a DVD-ROM. DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, or DVD+RW hold data that can be erased and re-written multiple times. DVD-Video and DVD-Audio discs respectively refer to properly formatted and structured video and audio content. The devices that use DVDs are very similar to the devices that use CDs. There is a DVD-ROM drive as well as a DVD writer that work the same way as a CD-ROM drive and CD writer. There is also a DVD-RAM drive that reads and writes to the DVD-RAM variation of DVD.
DVD
Blu-ray
Blu-ray is a newer optical disc storage media format. Its main uses are high-definition video and data storage. The disc has the same dimensions as a CD or DVD. The term “Blu-ray” comes from the blue laser used to read and write to the disc. The Blu-ray discs can store much more data then CDs or DVDs. A dual layer Blu-ray disc can store up to 50GB, almost six times thecapacity of a dual layer DVD (WOW!). Blu-ray discs have similar devices used to read them and write to them as CDs have. A BD-ROM drive can only read a Blu-ray disc and a BD writer can read and write a Blu-ray disc.Floppy Disk
A floppy disk is a type of data storage that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible(“floppy”) magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive. Floppy disks are a dying and being replaced by the optical and flash drives. Many new computers do not come with floppy drives anymore but there are a lot of older ones with floppy drives lying around. While floppy disks are very cheap the amount of storage on them compared to the amount of storage for the price of flash drives makes floppy disks unreasonable to use.
Floppy Disk
Internal Storage
Internal storage is hardware that keeps data inside the computer for later use and remains persistent even when the computer has no power. There are a few different types of internal storage. Hard disks are the most popular type of internal storage. Solid-state drives have grown in popularity slowly. A disk array controller is popular when you need more storage then a single har disk can hold.Hard Disk Drive
A hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile storage device which stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces. Just about every new computer comes with a hard disk these days unless it comes with a new solid-state drive. Typical desktop hard disk drives store between 120 and 400GB, rotate at 7,200 rpm, and have a madia transfer rate of 1 Gbit/s or higher. Hard disk drives are accessed over one of a number of bus types, including parallel ATA(also called IDE), Serial ATA (SATA), SCSI, Serial Attached SCSI, and Fibre Channel.
Hard Drive
Solid-State Drive
A solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data. An SSD emulates a hard disk drive, thus easily replacing it in any application. SSDs have begun to appear in laptops because they can be smaller than HDDs. SSDs are currently more expensive per unit of capacity than HDDs which is why they have not caught on so quickly.Disk Array Controller
A disk array controller is a device which manage the physical disk drives and presents them to the computer as logical units. It almost always implements hardware RAID. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Drives) is a technology that employs the simultaneous use of two or more hard disk drives to achieve greater levels of performance, reliability, and/or larger data volume sizes. A disk array controller also provides additional disk cache.About computer hardware
Computer Hardware Peripherals
Introduction
A peripheral is a piece of computer hardware that is added to a computer in order to expand its abilities. The term peripheral is used to describe those devices that are optional in nature, as opposed to hardware that is either demanded or always required in principle. There are all different kinds of peripherals you can add your computer. The main disctinction among peripherals is the way they are connected to your computer. They can be connected internally or externally.Buses
A bus is a subsystem that transfers data between computer components inside a computer or between computers. Unlike a point-to-point connection, a bus can logically connect several peripherals over the same set of wires. Each bus defines its set of connectors to physically plug devices, cards or cables together. There are two types of buses: internal and external. Internal buses are connections to various internal components. External buses are connections to various external components. There are different kinds of slots that internal and external devices can connect to.Internal
Types of Slots
There are many different kinds of internal buses, but only a handful of popular ones. Different computers come with different kinds and number of slots. It is important to know what kind and number of slots you have on your computer before you go out and by a card that matches up to a slot you don’t have.PCI
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) is common in modern PCs. This kind of bus is being succeeded by PCI Express. Typical PCI cards used in PCs include: network cards, sound cards, modems, extra ports such as USB or serial, TV tuner cards and disk controllers. Video cards have outgrown the capabilities of PCI because of their higher bandwidth requirements.
PCI Slots
PCI Express
PCI Express was introduced by Intel in 2004. It was designed to replace the general-purpose PCI expansion bus and the AGP graphics card interface. PCI express is not a bus but instead a point-to-point conection of serial links called lanes. PCI Express cards have faster bandwidth then PCI cards which make them more ideal for high-end video cards.PCMCIA
PCMCIA (also referred to as PC Card) is the type of bus used for laptop computers. The name PCMCIA comes from the group who developed the standard: Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. PCMCIA was originally designed for computer memory expansion, but the existence of a usable general standard for notbeook peripherals led to many kinds of devices being made available in this form. Typical devices include network cards, modems, and hard disks.AGP
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) is a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a graphics card to a computer’s motherboard, primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D computer graphics. AGP has been replaced over the past couple years by PCI Express. AGP cards and motherboards are still available to buy, but they are becoming less common.
AGP Slot
Types Of Cards
Video Card
A video card (also known as graphics card) is an expansion card whose function is to generate and output images to a display. Some video cards offer added functions, such as video capture, TV tuner adapter, ability to connect multiple monitors, and others. Most video cards all share similar components. They include a graphics processing unit (GPU) which is a dedicated microprocessor optimized for 3D graphics rendering. It also includes a video BIOS that contains the basic program that governs the video card’s operations and provides the instructions that allow the computer and software to interface with the card. If the video card is integrated in the motherboard, it may use the computer RAM memory. If it is not it will have its own video memory called Video RAM. This kind of memory can range from 128MB to 2GB. A video card also has a RAMDAC (Random Access Memory Digital-to-Analog Converter) which takes responsibility for turning the digital signals produced by the computer processor into an analog signal which can be understood by the computer display. Lastly, they all have outputs such as an HD-15 connector (standard monitor cable), DVI connector, S-Video, composite video or component video.
Graphics Card
Sound Card
A sound card is an expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to/from a computer under control of computer programs. Typical uses for sound cards include providing the audio component for multimedia applications such as music composition, editing video or audio, presentation/education, and entertainment. Many computers have sound capabilities built in,, while others require additional expansion cards to provide for audio capability.Network Card
A network card is an expansion card that allows computers to communicate over a computer network. It allows users to connect to each other either by using cables or wirelessly. Although other network technologies exist, Ethernet has achieved near-ubiquity for a while now. Every Ethernet network card has a unique 48-bit serial number called a MAC address, which is stored in ROM carried on the card. You can learn more about networking in the introduction to networking lesson.
Network Card
External
Types of Connections
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a serial bus standard to interface devices. USB was designed to allow many peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket and to improve the plug-and-play capabilities by allowing devices to be connected and disconnected without rebooting the computer. Other convient features include providing power to low-consumption devices without the need for an external power supply and allowing many devices to be used without requiring manufacturer specific, individual device drivers to be installed. USB is by far the dominating bus for connecting external devices to your computer.
USB Connectors
Firewire
Firewire (technically known as IEEE 1394 and also known as i.LINK for Sony) is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer, frequently used in a personal computer. Firewire has replaced Parallel ports in many applications. It has been adopted as the High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) standard connection interface for A/V (audio/visual) component communication and control. Almost all modern digital camcorders have included this connection.
Firewire Cable
PS/2
The PS/2 connector is used for connecting some keyboards and mice to a PC compatible computer system. The keyboard and mouse interfaces are electrically similar with the main difference being that open collector outputs are required on both ends of the keyboard interface to allow bidirectional communication. If a PS/2 mouse is connected to a PS/2 keyboard port, the mouse may not be recognized by the computer depending on configuration.
PS/2 Ports
Devices
Removable Storage
The same kinds of CD and DVD drives that could come built-in on your computer can also be attached externally. You might only have a CD-ROM drive built-in to your computer but you need a CD writer to burn CDs. You can buy an external CD writer that connects to your USB port and acts the same way as if it was built-in to your computer. The same is true for DVD writers, Blu-ray drives, and floppy drives. Flash drives have become very popular forms of removable storage especially as the price of flash drives decreases and the possible size for them increases. Flash drives are usually USB ones either in the form USB sticks or very small, portable devices. USB flash drives are small, fast, removable, rewritable, and long-lasting. Storage capacities range from 64MB to 32GB or more. A flash drive does not have any mechanically driven parts so as opposed to a hard drive which makes it more durable and smaller usually.
USB Flash Drive
Non-removable Storage
Non-removable storage can be a hard drive that is connected externally. External hard drives have become very popular for backups, shared drives among many computers, and simply expaning the amount of hard drive space you have from your internal hard drive. External hard drives come in many shapes and sizes like flash drives do. An external hard drive is usually connected by USB but you can also have a networked hardrive which will connect to your network which allows all computers on that network to access that hard drive.Input
Input devices are absolutely crucial to computers. The most common input devices are mice and keyboards which barely every computer has. A new popular pointing device that may eventually replace the mouse is touch screen which you can get on some tablet notebooks. Other popular input devices include microphones, webcams, and fingerprint readers which can also be built in to modern laptops and desktops. A scanner is another popular input device that might be built-in to your printer.
Webcam
Output
There are lots of different kinds of output devices that you can get for your computer. The absolute most common external output device is a monitor. Other very popular output devices are printers and speakers. There are lots of different kinds of printers and different sizes of speakers for your computer. Monitors are connected usually through the HD-15 connector on your video card. Printers are usually connected through a USB port. Speakers have their own audio out port built-in to the sound card.
Monitor
PC Hardware articles
one of the core values of Puget Systems is transparency
We detest hype in the midst
of an industry that is full of it. Our mission is to provide the highest
quality hardware and consultation services to our customers, and to
back up our decisions by freely sharing what we've learned along the
way. To earn a place in our product line, a computer component undergoes
rigorous testing. We apply the results of our testing, along with our
years of experience in learning reliability trends and manufacturer
characteristics, to make prudent decisions about what we can put our
name behind, whether that's an individual part or an entire computer.
With the following articles, we are writing up the results of these
internal processes and discussions, and taking them public. We feel we
can take this on with a unique perspective as we evaluate each topic
with the experience, resources, and objectivity of a system builder. If
there is a topic you'd like us to write about, email us at info@pugetsystems.com!
Introduction to PC Wireless Networking
Wireless networking (also known
as WiFi) has greatly evolved over the last few years and as a result has
become increasing complex. This article is intended to give the reader
the information necessary to make informed decisions when purchasing and
configuring a wireless network in order to maximize the performance,
speed, and reliability of the network.
Technology Primer: Low Voltage RAM
Voltage is not typically thought
of as a key specification for RAM, but can have a significant impact on
system stability as it runs much cooler than standard RAM. In this
article, we will be looking at Kingston Lovo and G.Skill Sniper RAM to
see how well low voltage RAM performs compared to standard RAM and if it
has a measurable impact on power draw and system temperatures.
How it Works: Intel SSD Caching
SSD caching is not new, but is
something we have not inspected closely since its introduction with the
Z68 chipset. In this article, we will be answering the questions: What
is SSD caching? How do you set up and configure SSD caching? And what
kind of performance improvements you should expect by using it.
Introducing the New Puget Traverse Laptops
With the recent launch of
Intel's new Ivy Bridge line of CPUs, Puget Systems has completely
revamped our laptop product line to take advantage of the new
improvements in technology. In this article, we will be going over the
features found on this units as well as battery life estimates and
thermal performance measurements.
Product Review: Intel DH77DF
With the launch of the new
7-series chipsets, we spent the last few weeks looking at numerous
Mini-ITX motherboards in order to update our Echo line of systems. There
are many boards available from various manufactures, but the
motherboard that immediately caught our attention was the Intel DH77DF.
Product Review: Intel S2600COE
The Intel S2600COE is a part of
the recently launched Romley platform and is intended exclusively for
use in server systems. This motherboard includes onboard video and four
integrated Intel Gigabit LAN ports, but is very limited in the number of
USB ports available. Because of the strong server focus of this board,
however, there are many desktop features (namely S3 sleep and fan
throttling) that are not supported.
Technology Primer: Intel Ivy Bridge
Intel's new 22nm CPUs -
codenamed Ivy Bridge - has finally launched. When combined with one of
the recently released 7-series chipsets, this new CPU/Chipset
combination provides support for PCIe 3.0 and USB 3.0 as well as
allowing RAM up to speeds of 1600MHz to be used natively. The onboard
graphics has also received a nice upgrade allowing for the use of
onboard graphics in a much wider variety of applications.
Qualification: Asus Z77 Motherboards
At Puget Systems, we are always
on the lookout for new products to keep our product at the forefront of
technology. In this article, we will be looking at the Asus P8Z77-V Pro,
P8Z77-V Deluxe, and P8Z77-M Pro motherboards to determine if they are
worthy of a position on our product line.
Breaking the Hype of High Frequency RAM
High Frequency RAM is often
touted as being essential for high-performance computing, but in our
experience has little to offer in actual performance gains. In this
article, we will be using a large set of benchmarks across both Intel
and AMD platforms to show that RAM running at higher frequency at the
cost of increased timings gives little to no real-world performance
improvements.
Performance Comparison: E5-2690 vs E5-2687W
When comparing two CPUs within a
product line, it is usually very easy to tell which CPU has the better
relative performance by comparing the specifications for each. The
E5-2690 and the E5-2687W are a bit of an oddity in that they both have
the same maximum Turbo Boost frequency even though the E5-2687W has a
higher base clock speed. In this article, we will the question of
whether or not the E5-2687W is actually any faster than the E5-2690
since both can technically turbo to the exact same frequency.
Product Review: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 CPU Cooler
The Cooler Master Hyper TX3 CPU
cooler is a medium-sized cooler designed for mid to low range CPUs. This
cooler is very similar to the Scythe Kantana 3 CPU cooler currently in
our product line, so the main question is: which CPU cooler is better?
Product Review: Asus Z9PE-D8 WS
The Z9PE-D8 WS is the first
motherboard we have had a chance to qualify with the new Romley chipset.
This board is geared towards workstation-class systems, but does it
have what it takes to earn a place on our product line?
Tech Primer: Intel E5 Xeon CPUs (Sandy Bridge-EP)
The launch of Intel's new Xeon
line has finally arrived with the arrival of the Intel Xeon E5
processors. With the move to the Sandy Bridge-E architecture, the E5
series should give higher CPU performance with the same or better
thermal limits as the previous generation of Xeon processors.
How to Set Up Multiple Monitors
When it comes to setting up a
new computer, something we get asked about here at Puget Systems on a
regular basis is the use of multiple monitors. The use of dual monitors
seems to be the most common goal customers have, but many want three or
even more - and so we are often asked if that requires two video cards,
how easy it is to set up, and even how to use multiple screens
effectively. This article aims to answer some of those basic questions
and act as a central resource for folks who are considering a new
computer or want to upgrade their existing system.
Specs Explained: CPU
With the advancement of computer
technology, the number of specifications for each component in a
computer has become overwhelming for those not deeply involved in the
computer industry. In this article, we will explain all of the different
specifications we list for CPUs and what they mean for you, the end
user.
Product Review: Intel 520 SSDs (Cherryville)
In this article, we will be
reviewing the speeds of each of the new Intel SSDs (60GB, 120GB, 180GB,
240GB and 480GB) codenamed Cherryville. Intel boasts speeds greater than
500MB/s for read and write, but it is common in the industry for the
advertised speeds to be idealized. Because of this, we will be
performing our own benchmark testing to find that real world speed of
these new drives.
Review: Cooler Master SickleFlow 120mm Green LED Fan
Puget Systems has used many
variations of the Antec TriCool 120mm fan over the years - including the
red, blue and green LED versions in our colored case fan kits - due to
their excellent noise to airflow ratio. However, Antec has recently
discontinued the green LED version of the Antec Tricool, so we needed to
find a good replacement fan for our green LED kits. In our search for a
replacement, we found that the Cooler Master SickleFlow fan fits all of
our requirements as a replacement fan to the long-lived green Antec
TriCool.
Product Qualification: Asus P8Z68-M Pro
This motherboard is very nearly
the ideal micro ATX motherboard for Intel 1155 CPUs; the chipset is well
established to be a great performer with excellent reliability and all
of the features present on this board have been well tested on other
models. The main issue with this motherboard is the lack of an internal
USB 3.0 header, although at the moment that is only a concern for a
limited number of chassis.
Product Qualification: Asus Rampage IV Gene
The Asus Rampage IV Gene
motherboard is a micro-ATX motherboard based on the Intel X79 chipset.
Sandy Bridge-E has proven to be a powerhouse, but until not has been
limited to full size computer systems. With this motherboard, Puget
Systems will be able to offer smaller, micro-ATX computers with all the
power of Sandy Bridge-E.
Product Qualification: Asus P8H61-I
Our Echo line of systems has
always strived to balance size, cost and performance. The Asus P8H61-I
has just the right balance of features and cost and comes in the small
mini-ITX form factor. There are a few features missing on this
motherboard (SATA 6Gb/s notably), but overall this is a great
motherboard at a great price point.
Dual Boot vs Virtual Machines on the Desktop
We often talk to people who are
interested in running multiple operating systems on the same machine.
Sometimes that's Windows 7 + XP, sometimes it's Windows 7 + Ubuntu
Linux, or various other combinations.
One of the most common ways to achieve multiple usable operating systems
on a single computer is known as 'dual boot'. Desktop virtualization
is a newer way of running multiple operating systems on one desktop
system.
Card Reader Comparison: USB 2.0 vs USB 3.0
Anyone who has used a digital
camera or smart phone has probably seen flash memory cards - small,
removable devices on which a variety of data can be stored. Card readers
in computers allow easy access to read those memory cards, or write new
data to them, but the process can be slow for folks like photographers,
who often work with multiple cards each full of image files. Can the
move to a faster interface for card readers, like USB 3.0, improve
performance substantially?
Product Qualification: Antec P280 Chassis
IN this article, we will be
reviewing the Antec P280 which is a great chassis for a wide range of
system configurations, but really shines in keeping high-end
configurations both cool and quiet. Lower power configurations may run
quieter in other chassis such as the Antec P183 V3, but since Antec is
advertising this chassis as a high-performance option this is not much
of a surprise. This chassis is close to ideal, but for a few small
issues that will keep us from carrying this chassis.
Product Qualification: Intel S1200BTS Motherboard
The Intel S1200BTS (based on the
C202 chipset) is a micro ATX server motherboard designed for small to
medium-sized business applications. Puget Systems is already offering
another micro ATX server motherboard - the Asus P8B-M based on the C204
chipset - but Intel motherboards are often better choices for a server
platform than other brands. In this article we will be examining the
Intel S1200BTS to determine if there is enough of a reason to replace
the Asus P8B-M.
Product Qualification: Asus P9X79 Deluxe Motherboard
With the launch of Sandy
Bridge-E and its corresponding Socket 2011, a new line of motherboards
has been developed based on the new Intel X79 chipset. What this means
for Puget Systems is that we have to look at all the available options
to determine which motherboards we want to offer for our customers.
We've looked at several different motherboards over the weeks leading up
to the launch of Sandy Bridge-E and the P9X79 Deluxe jumped out at us
as having just the right mix of features and connectivity.
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