Download What is COMPTia A+ • Computing Technology Industry Association

What is COMPTia A+
 Computing Technology Industry Association
 Certification Program
 A+ Certification was developed by COMPTia
 Vendor neutral
 Industry-wide
 Foundation of career in IT
Why COMPTia Certification?
 Wide recognition in IT industry
 Basic PC support competencies
Prerequisites for COMPTia A+ Certification
 Understand basic computer technology
 Configure and install PC, laptops and hardware
 Basic network
 Installing & configuring PC operating systems
 Understanding and configuring basic networks
 Understanding and configuring email for mobile operating system like Apple iOS and Android
 Tests
 A+ 220-801 Test
 A+ 220-802 Test
 6-12 months experience in lab or field
OBJECTIVES
1. Identify components of standard PCs
2. Describe PC operating system
3. Configure and install computer components
4. Maintain and troubleshoot hardware and software
5. Install and configure OS
6. ID network technologies and hardware
7. Manage laptops and portable computing devices
8. Manage laptops and portable computing devices
9. Install and manage printers and other peripheral devices
10. Describe PC security concepts
11. List and implement mobile device configurations
LESSON 1 – PC HARDWARE
OBJECTIVES
1. Describe computing
2. Describe BIOS
3. Differentiate between motherboard types and components
4. Differentiate between CPU types and technologies
5. Explain RAM types, speeds and sizes
DESCRIBE COMPUTING
 4 functions accomplished by computing
 Input (data)
 Process
 Output (information)
 Storage
Input (data)
Storage
Process
Output (Information)
COMPONENTS OF PC
1. Input devices
a. Keyboard, mouse
2. Storage devices
a. USB, DVD, etc.
3. Processor
4. Output devices
a. Printer, monitor
PC HARDWARE
 Computers use binary for counting
 Binary system has 2 digits: 0 and 1
 Bit = single digit
 Can have value of 1 or 0
 1 = on/true
 0 = off/false
 Various units of data
 Bit = smallest unit of computing data
 Nibble = 4 bits
 Byte = 8 bits
 1 kilobyte = 1024 bytes
 1 megabyte = 1024 KB
 1 gigabyte = 1024 MB
 1 terabyte = 1024 GB
 Functional PC request the software processes to be running on top of PC hardware
Application
Windows Manager (Desk top)
Operating System
Bios
Hardware
BIOS
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Basic Input/Output System
Provides computer necessary information to start
BIOS holds software code that allows computer to boot
When powered on computer runs software code in the BIOS and does basic system checks
Primary Master is device where computer is to load from
POST Test
 Power-On Self-Test
 Basic test run during bootup
 Checks the following:
 CPU functioning
 RAM and graphics are accessible
 Keyboard is working
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BIOS is not corrupt
If computer continues to boot
 If computer fails the PC displays an error or gives beep error codes
 POST cannot rely on display screen along so the beeps are documented
by motherboard manufacture
 Beeps code
o No Beep = No power/Problems with power
o One Short Beep = System Passed POST
o Continuous/Repeating Beeps = problem with power supply,
motherboard or keyboard
CMOS
 Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
 Holds user configurable BIOS data such as time, date, system set up parameters
 Users can change settings by accessing BIOS application
 Computer chip that holds user-configurable BIOS data
 User configurable BIOS data is lost when system is switched off
 Motherboards include CMOS battery to retain CMOS data
 Requires battery replacement every 5+ years
 Newer PCs come with flash memory instead of CMOS but may still require battery to retain data
ACCESSING BIOS
 To access BIOS read the messages on screen when PC is booting up
 First message on screen includes info on accessing BIOS
 BIOS access key different for different for different PC makes
USING BIOS
 Check installed component on a system
 Enable/disable different devices
 Change boot sequence
 Most boots first from the hard drive
 Used to enable/disable virtualization
 Virtualization allows to run one or more operating system in virtual machines instead of physical
systems
 Requires CPU
INSTALLING BIOS UPDATES
 BIOS can be upgraded through process known as “flashing the BIOS”
 To “flash the BIOS” the flash program is downloaded from the manufacture’s website

The downloaded BIOS update is used to flash the BIOS from USB drive
WHAT IS A MOTHERBOARD
 Primary Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in a computer that holds major PC components such as
 RAM (Random Access Memory)
 CPU/Microprocessor
 Videocard
 HDD/DVD connectors
 Hard Drive Connectors
 Power Connectors
 BIOS
 Processor Fan
 Other components
MOTHERBOARD FORM FACTOR
 Shape and layout of motherboard is the form factor
 Defines the following specs
 Case dimensions
 Power supply type
 Location of mounting holes
 Number of ports on back panel
 Having standard form factors ensure that parts are interchangeable
 Common motherboard for factors in use today
 ATX: standard used in in many systems since 1995 and still used today
 Micro-ATX: smaller version of ATX
 Designed to be backward compatible w/ the ATX form factor
 ITX: different small form factor designs; mini-ITX, nano-ITX, pico-ITX
 Consume very little power compared to ATX-based boards
EXPANSION SLOTS AND CARDS
 Expansion cards are used to add extra hardware capabilities to PC
 Expansion slots in motherboard allows expansion cards to be connected to it
 Types of expansion slots
 Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)
 PCI Extended (PCI-X)
 Accelerated Graphics Ports (AGP)
 PCI-Express (PCIe)
Motherboard RAM & CPU Sockets
 RAM slots
 Allows RAM to be inserted into the computer
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 Most computers have 2-4 RAM slots depending on motherboard
 RAM type selected based on number of RAM slots on motherboard’s
CPU Socket
 The connector on a motherboard that allows CPU/microprocessor to be inserted
 Sockets us a Pin Grid Array (PGA) where pins on underside of processor connect to holes
in socket
CHIPSETS
 Set of chips on motherboard that provides main interface between CPU and other parts of the
system
 Mainly includes the northbridge and southbridge
 Supports features on motherboard and are called onboard or built-in features
 2 main makers of CPU chipsets are Intel & AMD
BUSSES AND BUS SPEED
 On a motherboard a bus transfers data between two components
 Several busses work independently on a motherboard
 Bus speed usually refers to speed of front side bus (FSB) which connects CPU on the
motherboard
 Memory bus connects northbridge to the RAM
 AGP bus connects video card to the memory and CPU
 ATA bus connects southbridge to hard disk drives
 PCI bus connects PCI slots to southbridge
 The more data a bus can handle the faster it is
 Speed of bus is measured in megahertz (MHz) and refers to the amount of data that can move
across a buss
 When talking about bus speed it’s usually referring to FSB range from 66 MHz to 800+ MHz
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
 Brain of computer
 Processes tasks for computer
 Key factor in overall performance of computer
 Perform all calculations required for computer
 Receives input data, processes info and presents output
 2 primary manufactures – Intel and AMD
CPU CORES
 CPUs have multiple cores
 Cores allow CPU to divide tasks and make a faster computer
 Operating system uses multiple cores as individual CPUs
 Even with multiple cores it’s still only one chip
CPU Bits
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Identified as either 32-bit or 64-bit
32-bit
 Only a 32-bit OS
 Only 32-bit applications
 232 memory locations or 4 GB of RAM
64-bit
 Both 32-bit and 64-bit OS
 Both 32-bit and 64-bit applications
 264 memory locations or 17 GB RAM
HYPER-THREADING TECHNOLOGY (HTT)
 Used to double the number of instruction-sets the CPU can process at a time
 Has to be enabled in BIOS
Multiprocessor
AS
Processor
Execution
Resources
Hyperthreading
AS
Processor
Execution
Resources
AS
AS
Processor
Execution
Resources
AS = Architecture state
HTT looks like two processors to software
CPU Cache
 Cache is area where data is stored for short time for easy retrieval
 3 primary types of cache used by CPUs
 L1 Cache
 Fastest cache
 Located closest to CPU
 L2 Cache
 Slower than L1 cache
 Shared by all the cores of CPU
 L3 Cache
 Slowest cache
 Shared by all CPUs
CPU Clock Speed
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Max speed at which CPU operates
1 Hertz (Hz) = 1 cycle per second
1 MHz = 1 million cycles per second
1 GHz = 1 billion cycles per second
CPU SOCKET TYPES
 Provides mechanical and electrical link between microprocessors and a PCB
 Most common manufactures are Intel and AMD sockets
CPU COOLING
 CPU’s heat up quickly and need to be cooled
 Components for cooling
 Fan
 Heat sink
 Thermal paste
 Combo of above
RAM
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DRAM
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Random Access Memory
Enables short term memory storage of data CPU requires
Most common
 DRAM: Dynamic RAM
 SDRAM: Synchronous DRAM
 SRAM: Static RAM
 DDR 1/2/3
 Double Data Rate SDRAM 1/2/3
 RDDRAM
 Rambus DRAM
Bits are stored in electrical component called a capacitator
Uses a very few components per bit
Costs are low
Constant data refresh means lower speeds
SDRAM
 Most common today
 Often listed as DRAM to differentiate from SRAM
SRAM
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Can hold charge without constant refresh
Requires more components per bit
More expensive
Faster than DRAM
DDR SDRAM
 Using double pumping for increased speed
RDDRAM
 “Rambus”
 Not compatible
 Rarely used
RAM FORM FACTORS
 Comes on cards plugged into the slots in the motherboard
 Smaller than expansion cards and come in 2 most common types
1. DIMM (Dual In-Line Memory Module)
a. 133 mm in length
b. Used in desktops and servers
2. SO-DIMM (Small Outline DIMM)
a. 67mm size sticks
b. Used in smaller devices such as laptops
RAM TERMINOLOGIES
 Single/Dual/Triple Channel RAM: motherboard and CPUs support single/dual/triple channel
memory architecture
 Single Sided vs Double Sided RAM: chips on one or both sides of RAM stick
 RAM Speed: megabytes per second (MB/s)
 Bank Compatibility: RAM bank has 2 slots
 Parity & ECC (Error Correction Code): parity and error checking
 Latency: RAM Response Time
QUIZ 1
1. What must be done if notice BIOS of PC does not support virtualization feature?
A: Flash the BIOS. If the BIOS doesn’t’ support an option you can upgrade it by flashing BOTIO
to add new features
2. Which of following is fastest
A: L1 cache is fastest between L1, L2, l3 and DDR3
3. Bus speed is measured in MHz
A: True. Refers to how fast data can move across bus
SUMMARY
 Computing based on binary system
 BIOS enables computer to boot and user to ID and configure hardware devices
 Motherboard refers to primary PCB in computer and holds major PC components like CPU and
RAM
 RAM slots on motherboard hold RAM cards which enable short-term memory storage required
by CPU/Microprocessor
 CPU is brain of computers and is key factor in overall performance