A+ 2016: PC Components Fundamentals

Learn how storage media, a device for data and system files, evolved from ancient materials to solid-state storage devices, covering magnetic HDDs and optical discs like DVDs and blu-rays.

Explore how storage devices divide into direct-attached and networked storage, detailing hard disks, magnetic tape, optical drives, and offline media, plus the roles of storage area networks and NAS.

Direct-attached storage (DAS) is the most basic storage tied to the host or a single server, including hard disk drives, tertiary storage, and offline storage.

Explore hard disk drives and solid state drives, including platters, read/write heads, controllers, HBA, and interfaces such as PATA, SATA, eSATA, SCSI, and USB.

learn to install and configure a hard disk drive by wiring the sata data and power cables, mounting the drive in a case, and setting boot order in the bios.

Explore how solid state drives interface with memory chips and nand flash, compare form factors like 1.8, 2.5, 3.5 inches, and note connectors such as pata, sata, and esata.

Install a hard drive by connecting it via SCSI or ATA/IDE, learn master and slave on ATA cables, and trace ATA evolution from ATA-1 to ATA-8 with PIO, DMA.

Enter the bios during boot with F1, F2, or F8 to access settings. In startup, move SATA 1 to the first boot device and save with F10.

Explore hot-swappable devices and tertiary storage enabling 24/7 server operation and low-cost, high-capacity archiving. See how magnetic tapes, optical disks, and robotic arms mount media in a hierarchical storage system.

Assess knowledge with a question on which hard disk drives have moving parts, noting that traditional HDDs use platters and read-write heads with moving components.

Explore magnetic tape and optical disk storage, comparing sequential tape backups with optical formats like CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and M-disk, and how lasers read pits by reflection.

Explore formats from audio cds to cd-rom, cd-r and cd-rw, covering CD-DA audio data, 2353-byte sectors, iso-9660, speeds in multiples of 150 kbps, and multisession writing.

Explore the development and formats of dvds, including capacity, pits, mpeg-2 compression, and read/write variants (dvd-rom, dvd-r, dvd+r, dvd-rw, dvd-ram) and the lack of early industry standards.

Explore Blu-ray disk media as the next generation optical media, featuring high quality audio and video, up to 25 GB on single-layer and 50 GB on dual-layer discs.

Identify offline storage as disconnected or removable media that requires human reconnection and stores data on secondary or tertiary storage, enabling disaster recovery, integrity, and confidentiality with optical disks.

Toshiba introduced flash memory in 1984, combining EPROM and EEPROM technologies. USB drives and memory cards provide removable, rewritable storage built on flash memory.

Explore memory cards and their formats, including CompactFlash, Secure Digital, and xD-Picture Card, along with capacities and compatibility across devices.

Hybrid hard drives combine flash memory and spinning disks to create fast, reliable storage. Understand dual-drive and solid-state hybrid designs, where NAND flash stores frequently accessed data for improved performance.

Engage students with a quick knowledge check on optical disks, highlighting that data are read or written using lasers.

Explore how network attached storage enables file sharing over a network using NFS or CIFS, offering scalable, non-disruptive storage that can reside anywhere in the network.

Storage area network transfers data between servers and storage devices over Fibre Channel with a management layer that keeps data transfers secure and robust, enabling server-to-storage, server-to-server, and storage-to-storage transfers.

Discover how data protection and access are achieved with RAID, combining disks into hardware or software solutions, using striping, mirroring, and parity across levels 0, 1, 5, 10, and 01.

Assess raid level knowledge by identifying that RAID 0 causes total data loss and has no fault tolerance when a disk fails.

Explore direct-attached storage and networked storage, including HDDs, SSDs, optical media, and RAID. Identify interfaces such as PATA, SATA, SCSI, SAS, and FC, and compare DAS, NAS, and SAN.

Explore the central processing unit and its functions among computer components, including main memory, and learn how to install a cpu on a motherboard to increase speed.

Understand how the CPU acts as brain of the computer, processing data, using the ALU for arithmetic and logic and relational operators, and directing attached components via the memory controller.

Explore Intel and AMD processor naming and architecture, and speed and abilities, from 486/386 to Pentium, Athlon, Duron, Phenom 2, Opteron, plus Atom and Moblin for mobile devices.

Explore cpu features like speed in gigahertz and megahertz, turbo, cache, bus speed, and voltage, noting speeds may vary. Understand multicore and hyper-threading, throttling, 32/64-bit, mips, and hardware assisted virtualization.

Learn how cpu clock speed, measured in gigahertz, governs execution rate and how BIOS, power settings, and overclocking affect performance. Explore dual-core and quad-core architectures and how cores boost performance.

Run multiple threads to improve utilization, storing data in L1, L2, and L3 caches and static RAM, and fetch from main memory only when not cached.

Explain virtualization fundamentals by contrasting multitasking, hyper-threading, and virtualization, showing how simultaneous multithreading creates virtual processors and enables multiple operating systems on one machine, with network, storage, and memory virtualization.

Explore how graphics processing units integrate with cpus, including Intel hd graphics and AMD accelerated processing units, when to choose integrated versus dedicated gpus, and compatibility of sockets and motherboards.

choose a compatible cpu by matching socket type and motherboard specs, considering use case and budget; follow proper installation steps, grounding, thermal paste, and possible operating system reinstall.

Complete a knowledge check on CPUs, identify the correct statement, and note that latest processors are Intel core i7 and AMD Phenom II X4, while earlier versions are also good.

Install a cpu in four steps: open the socket, place the processor aligned by the gold triangles, close the socket, then attach the heat sink, fan, and power connection.

Explore how airflow and fans move heat away from the CPU, using front intake and rear exhaust, with heat sinks, thermal paste, and regular dust removal to prevent overheating.

Learn safe overclocking of CPUs by adjusting clock speeds and voltages, with stress tests. Understand motherboard capabilities, unlocked multipliers, and CMOS tools.

Access BIOS to view CPU type, speed, cores, and memory, then tune settings such as IIST support, core multiprocessing, virtualization, C-state, and turbo mode for optimized performance.

Demonstrate viewing CPU properties with Windows system properties and CPU-Z. Explore the Intel Core i5-6400 with cores, threads, turbo mode, caches, and export a CPU report as HTML.

Explore how to use Windows task manager to monitor cpu and memory usage, view processes, sort by cpu utilization, check performance history, and end tasks to free resources.

Discover cpu virtualization by running multiple operating systems on one computer, using a separate hard disk partition or a virtual machine, with fewer restarts.

Overheating a cpu due to temperature problems can destroy the processor and cause hardware failure. Monitor temps via BIOS or CoreTemp and improve cooling with airflow, dust removal, and fans.

Explore catastrophic failure and BSOD errors, their causes from disk or memory faults to malware, and how to diagnose them using motherboard beeps and a problem log.

Close the course with a knowledge check on thermal paste before installing a CPU cooler, noting the statement is false and improper paste can cause an overheated CPU.

Explore how multi-core cpus boost performance, enable virtualization and multi-threading, and learn overclocking, cpu cooling with thermal compound and fans while choosing a cpu and motherboard based on processing needs.

Explore display devices for office and home, learn display settings and video technologies, and understand how a display device converts text and graphics into on screen images you can refresh.

Explore how modern display devices combine monitors in a unit, compare CRT monitors, LCDs, LEDs, and OLED technologies, and review resolutions such as XGA, SXGA, UXGA and refresh rates.

Explore the evolution from CRT to LCD and LED displays, including backlight, analog signals and digital-to-analog conversion, native resolutions, 60 Hz refresh, and efficiency advantages.

Explore plasma display technology, where charged gas excites phosphors in cells to produce over 16 million colors on thin, bright panels that support analog and digital signals with edge-distortion-free viewing.

Explore organic LED (OLED) technology, using organic thin films between conductors to emit light under voltage, enabling thin, backlight-free displays and flexible FOLED options.

Explore touch screens across game consoles, burger places, and coffee shops, emphasizing ease of use with fingers or a stylus, and display technology enabling multi-point touch on smartphones and tablets.

Discover how to select and position projection systems by understanding lumens for brightness and the throw ratio to achieve the desired display size.

Take a knowledge check to review LCD monitor basics, including that liquid crystals require a backlight and do not emit light themselves, with CCFL backlights shining from the back.

explain how refresh rate, resolution, and native resolution affect display quality, flicker-free performance, and eye comfort, with 60 hz to 75 hz or higher as benchmarks.

Explore how resolution defines the maximum points per centimeter and why CRT and LCD differ in native resolution. Ensure LCDs use native resolution to avoid image distortion.

Configure multiple displays by plugging in two monitors and using identify and detect. Choose duplicate or extend modes to control how windows and the taskbar appear on each screen.

Connect multiple monitors via HDMI, then use the Windows key + P to select display modes—PC screen only, duplicate, extend, or second screen only—and extend to move apps across screens.

Analyze analog versus digital display devices and how PCs send digital data to the video card, with digital adapters enabling direct digital transmission to LCD monitors.

Explore privacy and anti-glare filters that reduce eyestrain and deter shoulder surfers, with attachment methods and glare reduction, and learn key aspect ratios like 16:9, 16:10, and 4:3.

Navigate a knowledge check on how monitor resolution affects horizontal lines. The claim that lines do not depend on resolution is false; a 1024x768 display has 768 horizontal lines.

Trace the evolution of video standards from monochrome MDA to VGA and digital interfaces like DVI and HDMI, noting memory, resolutions, and the shift from analog to all-digital signals.

Explore the full range of AV connectors, including RCA, VGA, S-Video, DVI, RGB component video, and HDMI, with notes on video and audio use and higher data transfer.

Learn to troubleshoot monitors by diagnosing common problems, external and internal adjustments, and when replacement is necessary. Address ghosting, color errors, bad pixels, degaussing, and resolution issues.

Engage in a final knowledge check on aspect ratio, focusing on the idea that aspect ratio represents the width and height of an image and examining typical choices.

Explore display technologies from crt to lcd and led, comparing weight, power, color, and resolution, and trace analog and digital signals from mono, cgs, vga, and ega, with troubleshooting tips.

Discover the most common home, SOHO, and office printers, their types and connection technologies, setup, sharing, and maintenance, plus how printers convert text and graphics into hard copy.

Compare impact and non-impact printers, including dot-matrix, daisy-wheel, and pos printers, and learn how pin counts and tractor-feed paper affect print quality.

Explore how inkjet printers eject ink through tiny tubes using heat or mechanical methods, and how the print head, carriage, belt, motor, roller, paper tray, and cartridges work together.

Explore how thermal printers operate, including wax thermal and direct thermal types used in ATMs, stores, and fax machines, with direct thermal using ribbons and wax ink for affordable printing.

Learn how virtual printers convert documents to pdf or xps files, previewing output to preserve layout, and decide when to use pdf versus xps for sharing.

Discover how laser printers use electrophotographic imaging to deliver high-quality text and graphics, and explore the seven-step printing process along with toner cartridge and other critical components.

Take a quick knowledge check to recall the six broad printer types: impact, inkjet, dye-sublimation, thermal, laser, and solid ink, and reinforce what you learned.

Learn how computers use interface software to talk to printers and receive status updates, and compare ASCII, PostScript, PCL, and GDI/XPS page description languages.

Install and configure a printer via USB or Ethernet, install drivers, and share the printer on a Windows 10 network, with testing and clear device naming.

Install the drivers, ensure the device communicates with the computer, then configure inkjet printer options from the user manual; explore wired, wireless, network, remote, and cloud printing options.

Set default printing preferences in the printer driver, including paper source, media type, color or monochrome, paper size, copy count, and orientation, to apply to all documents.

Learn wired and wireless printer connections, from serial and parallel to USB and ethernet, and explore ad hoc and infrastructure networks for sharing.

Learn to manage a networked printer server to route print jobs across offices and share printers via network, VPN, Google Cloud Print, or cloud printing apps.

Explore how a small office home office multifunction printer handles print, scan, copy, and fax with document storage, network connectivity, toner, and finishing options.

Explore how to share printers over a PC or network, enabling multiple devices to print from USB-connected, Wi‑Fi, or Ethernet printers using AirPrint or Bonjour.

Learn to share a locally connected printer in Windows through the devices and printers settings, configure sharing and security permissions, and test access across users and machines.

Learn how wireless network printers use wifi, store documents on drives or RAM, and secure data with WPA2, direct RAM printing, permissions, and AES encryption.

Explore the physical parts of the HP LaserJet 1536 multifunction printer, from the control panel and input trays to troubleshooting paper jams and replacing the toner cartridge.

Test your understanding of wired printer connections in Windows and distinguish firewire—which is for Macs—from Ethernet, USB, and DB 25 and DB 9 before moving on to printer maintenance.

Maintain impact printers by cleaning the platen and printhead with denatured alcohol, replacing ink ribbons, and following manufacturer guidance for adjustments when image quality fails.

Explore common inkjet printer problems and how to use built-in maintenance software to keep prints crisp. Learn to set up the printer, run alignment, and diagnose faded prints or misalignment.

Maintain and troubleshoot thermal printers by focusing on the heating element, rollers, paper, and wax ribbon; clean the heat element with denatured alcohol and feed new paper.

Laser printers are more complex, so monthly maintenance fixes streaking, printing gaps, and toner smears while extending life; unplug to cool, remove toner, and clean corona wires and rollers.

Learn how to upgrade printer facilities to meet growing office needs, covering memory, network interface cards, firmware upgrades, fonts and hard drives, and features like trays, feeders, and finishers.

Explore 3D printing and additive manufacturing, where a digital CAD file guides printers to print three-dimensional objects layer by layer from CAD models or scanned designs.

Learn effective troubleshooting of thermal printers by cleaning the rollers with a cloth or compressed air to keep them free of waste and ensure the rollers grip the paper.

Wraps up by covering impression printers, thermal printers, inkjet printers, and laser printers. Explains setup, laser printing, sharing, common problems and fixes, and an intro to 3d printing.

Navigate course orientation and overview, access offline resources, participate in the discussion board, and use the view resources menu with crossword puzzles, flashcards, and PDFs for PC components fundamentals learning.