COMPUTER BASICS

    Page 4 - Hardware: A More in Depth Look

    All PC Hardware revolves around the motherboard in some way. All motherboards allow extra devices to be plugged into them, or come with the devices already built in to them. At one time, nearly everything besides the memory and processor had to be plugged into the motherboard, through expansion slots. Nowadays, most of the necessary devices are built in, included on the motherboard. Below is a brief look at the most common ones.

    Video card
    Your monitor must have something to connect to on the back of the PC. The video card is responsible for turning your operating systems output into something you can see on the screen of your monitor. Usually built in to the motherboard, but high-end (meaning expensive) ones are often plugged in as extras, usually by video game enthusiasts. The built in types are usually more than sufficient for most people. Most older systems required an extra card to be plugged in. Any video, whether built in or not, requires software known as a device driver, to make it work with your OS and function correctly.

    Sound card.
    Basically the same as video, sound cards are usually built in, but older systems required the add-in card, and newer higher end cards are done as add-ins. It will have plugs for your speakers, a microphone, a line input, possibly for rear speakers also. Sometimes a game controller input as well. Again, a software device driver is required.

    Network Interface Card (NIC)
    A NIC is your connection to the outside world, at least the one you should use. If you are connecting to an office network you must have one, or if you are using a high-speed internet connection like Telus ADSL or Shaw Cable, you must have one. These were one of the last devices to be made into built in, so the plug-in boards are still common. The connector hole looks like a telephone plug, but a little larger. Again, a device driver is required, and some configuration may be required. See our Networking Services page for better info.

    Modem
    A Modem is similar to a Network Interface Card, in that it is used for communication, but it is designed only to connect to a telephone line. At one time, this was the most common method of connecting to the Internet, and is still popular in many parts of the world, but here in Canada, modems are mostly used for sending or receiving faxes with a PC. Most people now use High-Speed Internet connections, that communicate through the network card (NIC)

    A Typical Computer Expansion Card.
    Sound, video, modem and network cards all look similar to this. The metal plate at the back end will have one or more more plugs for the external devices to plug into    .


    USB Connectors.
    At one time, just about every external device you could connect required you to open up your computer, and plug a expansion card of some kind into the motherboard. When you needed expansion cards for video, sound, network, a scanner, a webcam, your digital camera, and others, you would often run out of expansion slots on the motherboard. Plus they would usually only work with that one device, you could not plug one device into the plug intended for something else. So a new standard was developed, called Universal Serial Bus, or just USB for short. Today, almost all external devices will connect to a USB port. Most PC's come with at least 2 USB ports, often more, on the back and front of the PC, plus if you get a USB Hub, you can connect as many as you want, all at once. Usually, you just plug the device in, Windows will automatically detect it, and install any device driver it needs, and your device will work.

    One very popular device these days is the USB Key, or USB Drive (they go by a few names). About the size of a cigarette lighter, they plug into a USB post, and function like a temporary extra hard drive on your PC. In sizes of up to 64 gig (equal to about 45 thousand floppy disks), they are very handy devices to keep in your pocket.



    The Back Panel of a common computer,
    showing the USB and other ports.     		        

    A typical USB Memory Key.


    Memory
    There is no single better improvement you can make to your PC than to add more RAM (Random Access Memory) memory. Here's why: Your PC's operating system will occupy a lot of space in memory. Windows itself will use over 400 megabytes of the memory just to function normally. If your system has 512 megabytes of RAM memory, you have only 100 Meg left in which to run your application programs. Your PC will run, but slowly. Put in more memory, 2 gig (2000 meg) or 4 gig and you will be a lot happier with it.

    Memory comes on small circuit boards, about 5" by 1", purchased in 1 gig, 2 gig or 4 gig pieces. Your PC will have two, three or four slots on the motherboard for the memory boards. Very easy to replace or add more, just snap it in. There are no configuration changes you need to make. But be careful: the RAW in older machines and newer ones may nolder systems used SDRAM (Static Dynamic RAM) while newer ones use DDR (Double Data Rate) Ram. In addition, there is a speed number, like PC2100, PC 2700 and so on. Try to get them the same or two pieces may not be compatible to each other. Best idea is to take out one o fht existing pieces and take it to the store with you to compare.

    Please visit our Hardware Upgrading page for prices on some of these items.

             A common RAM Memory Chip