Intermediate Hardware Workshop

1
Intermediate Hardware Workshop

• Celine Latulipe
• August 15th, 2002
• University of Waterloo

2
Overview

• Introduction (Ministry specs)
• Motherboards
• Communications
• Input Devices
• Graphics Cards
• Shopping Activity
• Wrap-up

3
Ministry Specs (ICE4M)

• Describe mechanisms for information movement and
  storage
• Explain the operation of sophisticated systems
  that interact with real-world devices
• Analyse information storage mechanisms
• Construct systems and interfaces that use
  computer programs to interact with real-world
  devices
• Analyse existing systems designs that use
  computers and interfaces to send and receive
  information

4
Ministry Specs (ICE4E)

• Explain current hardware and software trends
• Use relevant technical terminology to describe
  hardware and software
• Describe current storage devices
• Describe current input and output devices
• Demonstrate an awareness of current trends in
  hardware development
• Recommend solutions to fulfil user computing
  requirements
• Properly install and configure expansion
  components

5
Motherboards

• Things to be familiar with
• Microprocessor (CPU)
• Memory (RAM)
• BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
• Chipsets (support circuitry clocks, converters)
• Expansion Slots (PCI, ISA)
• Video Slot (AGP) or circuitry
• Ports (USB, parallel, serial, etc.)
• Using manual to set CPU jumpers

6
Ancient Communications

• Serial, parallel, PS/2
• IDE (Integrated Device Electronics)
• Direct memory access up to 33 MBps
• ISA (Industry Standard Architecture)
• 8 or 16 bit, fast disappearing
• PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
• 32 bit, still widely in use

7
Modern Communications

• SCSI 3 (Small Computer Systems Interface)
• Fast, daisy-chaining, platform independent
• Firewire
• Used mostly for video applications, usually
  requires expansion card, faster than USB 1.1
• USB (Universal Serial Bus)
• Used for everything now, relatively fast 12 MB/s
• Most motherboards come with 2-4 USB ports
• 1.1 Spec in current use, 2.0 spec set, but not
  used yet

8
Input Devices

• Classification of input devices
• Two-handed vs. one-handed
• Relative vs. Absolute
• Number of actuators
• Mechanical vs. Electronic
• Force/tactile Feedback
• Ergonomic features
• Ruggedness

9
Graphics Cards

• Old cards are ISA or PCI
• Now AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)
• Connects directly to CPU and RAM
• Fast 66 MHz on a 32-bit bus
• No other devices sharing same bus
• Sideband addressing (8 additional lines for doing
  address requests, 32-bit path is data only)
• Texture maps can be stored in RAM

10
Wrap-up

• Make it fun!
• Make contacts with a computer store to get dead
  stuff donated to you
• There will always be someone in class who knows
  more about some new hardware gadget than you
  let them tell the class
• Dont take apart monitors very dangerous!

11
Resources

• The Hardware Bible, 3rd Edition by Winn L.
  Rosch
• www.howstuffworks.com
• Local computer supplier Group4 Technologies

12
Shopping Activity

• Collect current newspapers and computer magazines
  (use Canadian ones), also have Internet access
• Shop for three different users, each with a
  defined budget
• Expand on descriptions to decide what components
  are going to be most needed
• Find a computer system that fits needs and
  budgets

13
Shopping Activity

• Small business owner who needs financial software
  and wants to set up a web site and eventually
  allow online shopping
• Grandparents who are computer illiterate but want
  email access and whatever else to connect with
  family
• Teenager who wants to play video games, use
  computer for programming assignments and other
  homework, second computer in the home, with
  high-speed Internet

14
Motherboards Activity

• PC Disassembly, part II
• Unplug all wires from motherboard, making list
  and a diagram as you go
• Unscrew motherboard and remove it from case
• Remove CPU from socket, noting polarity
• Do it in reverse
• This should be done only after a more basic
  lesson in PC assembly/disassembly

15
Communications Activity

• SCSI vs. IDE Performance Testing
• Use old Pentium running Win NT Workstation 4.0
• Install IDE hard drive, SCSI card and SCSI hard
  drive (format both drives as NTFS)
• Run Adaptec SCSI Benchmark software to see the
  differences between IDE and SCSI data transfer,
  SCSI will excel with larger sector sizes
  (designed for transferring lots of data)

16
Input Devices Activity

• Take apart mice and keyboards to see how they
  work
• Optical mice, a light and a camera and a really
  fast processor
• Ball mice, mechanical rollers spinning a wheel
  with holes and a light sensor detecting speed of
  spinning wheel
• Keyboards, show the way the electricity will flow
  through switch when button pressed

17
Graphics Card Activity

• Use a couple of computers with good amounts of
  memory.
• Install old PCI/ISA video card on one
• Install newer PCI video card with some 3-D
  acceleration
• Install good AGP with good 3-D acceleration on it
• Run video game like TuxRacer on all 3 to see the
  difference

18
The Latest and Greatest

• Get someone from a local computer store to come
  in and show off the latest and greatest PC
  hardware
• This allows them to do a bit of a sales pitch
  while educating you on whats coming down the
  pipeline
• May get him/her to donate some old or dead
  hardare (these contacts are invaluable!)