HARDWARE

FUNDAMENTALS
Lesson 2: Computer physical structure
 Where can we find connectors on a computer?
 On the motherboard, inside the case
 On the motherboard, outside the case
 On cards that are installed in expansion slots
 What are they for?
 To connect peripherals that add functionality to the system

1. CONNECTORS
 USB
PS/2
keyboard Parallel port VGA Ethernet Sound jacks

PS/2
mouse

1. CONNECTORS (OLD MODELS)

 USB-C

PS/2 Display Port HDMI Ethernet Sound jacks

USB 3.0

1. CONNECTORS (NEW MODELS)

 USB (Universal Serial Bus) is the most widely used connector due to its
versatility
 Allows hot-plugging of all kinds of peripherals (Plug&Play)
 It is backward compatible, since it is regulated at the speed of the
device that is connected
 USB 1.0 → 48 Mbps
 USB 2.0 → 480 Mbps
 USB 3.0 → 5 Gbps
 USB 3.1 → 10 Gbps
 Depends on the device, there are several sizes:
USB-A USB-B mini-USB micro-USB USB-C

1. CONNECTORS (USB)
 Most common to see on Apple brand computers
 It uses the USB-C interface
 It can be used for any type of device, although it is the most
suitable for those that transfer data at high speed
 One of its advantages is that it allows daisy chain connection as
if it were a HUB
 It works with two simultaneous channels at 10Gbps

1. CONNECTORS (THUNDERBOLT)
 Three USB-C cables
 The first one: Implements USB 2.0 protocol
 Up to 480Mbps of data
 Up to 2.5 watts of power
 Second: Implements USB 3.0 protocol
 Up to 5-10 Gbps of data
 Power delivery: 7.5 watts
 Supports HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2
 Third: Implements Thunderbolt 3
 Up to 40 Gbps of data
 Power delivery: 100 watts
 Supports HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2

(WE HAVE A PROBLEM…)

 It houses all the internal components
 It is usually made of metal, aluminum or even methacrylate
 The standardized formats are always linked to motherboard sizes:
 Micro-ATX (first image), widely used
 Mini-ITX (second image), ideal for mounting small PCs (barebones)
 E-ATX (third image), used in servers

2. CHASSIS (COMPUTER CASE)

(DEPENDS ON YOUR NEEDS…)
 It is the most important component of a computer, since it’s the
infrastructure on which other components do all the work
 CPU, GPU, RAM…
 Like the case, have their standardized formats (ATX, mini-ATX ...)
 The location of each component is not at all random, but
responds to the needs of ventilation and to avoid cable tangles

3. MOTHERBOARD
 Socket: It is the place where the processor
(CPU) will be placed. The heat sink will be
placed on top
 Chipset: In the past, it was made up of two
different chips:
 North bridge (covered by a heatsink)
communicates RAM with processor and video
card
 South bridge, communicates expansion slots with
the processor
 BIOS: It is a small program module that controls
the startup of the computer

3. MOTHERBOARD
 RAM memory sockets: Here they can be
inserted
 Expansion buses: To expand the pc with
new components
 Connectors: They are used to connect the
components to the board or to give it
power
 Cell: Holds BIOS information

3. MOTHERBOARD
 Currently, the north and south bridges have
been merged
 Partly integrated directly into the CPU
 Partly combined, now called just “chipset”
 Many connectors have disappeared

making way for newer ones

(NOWADAYS…)
 It is where the processor is placed
 Normally, it has a notch in one corner to prevent it from a bad
installation
 They contain a lever that locks or releases the processor, for
when it needs to be changed
 There are two main types:
 PGA: Processor with pins, socket with holes
 LGA: Processor with contacts, socket with pins.

4. CPU SOCKET
 Are slots where the RAM memory
modules are inserted
 Thanks to some notches that
they have it is impossible to
mount the memory in the wrong
way

5. RAM SOCKETS
 Here, new components are inserted to
increase the performance of our
motherboard:
 Graphic card
 Surround sound card
 More USB ports
 Wi-Fi device
 There are different models, each with a
different speed, although currently the
most common to see are the PCI-Express
sockets, which have different sizes (see
lower image)

6. EXPANSION CARDS
 Max speed (MBps)
140000

Multi-device 128000

120000
GPU exclusive

100000

Coming soon…
80000

Multi-device 64000
60000 2-way bus
Several sizes: 1x to 16x

40000
32000

20000 16000
8000
2100 4000
8 133 266 533 1100
0
 Backwards compatibility
 Improved signal stability
 Communication uses PAM4 instead of binary signal
6.0
 Adaptive consumption according to workload
 High Volume Manufacturing (HVM) friendly

EXTRA: PCI-E 6.0 FEATURES

 To render images, the CPU must request them
from the GPU
 In an ideal scenario, both parties would work at
maximum performance in a synchronized
manner
 However, sometimes a configuration may leave
the CPU/GPU idle while the GPU/CPU is at full
performance 100% 70%
 This is when the so-called "bottleneck" appears,
preventing the user from making the most of the
potential of their hardware
70% 100%

EXTRA: CPU-GPU BOTTLENECK 100% 100%

 Magnetic storage (HDD)
 High capacity and low price
 Vulnerable to magnetic fields
 Types:
 HDD 2.5’’
 HDD 3.5’’
 Electronic storage (SSD)
 Uses integrated circuit assemblies to store data persistently
 Shock-resistant, silent and quicker than HDD
 Types:
 USB Drives
 SDD 2.5’’
 M.2

7. STORAGE DEVICES
 RAM
High density

ROM EEPROM
Non volatile Upgradeable

History of computer
storage
FLASH

7. STORAGE DEVICES
M.2 drives
 Input/Output
Input devices Output devices
devices

8. PERIPHERAL DEVICES
 Some examples of input devices:
 Keyboard: mechanical or membrane
 Mouse: mechanical, optical or tactile
 Image scanner: flatbed, roller or 3D
 Graphics Tablet
 Camera: webcam or netcam
 Microphone

8. PERIPHERAL DEVICES
 Some examples of output devices:
 Monitor: CRT, TFT, IPS, LED
 Printer: liquid inkjet, toner-based, thermal…
 Speakers: integrated or external

8. PERIPHERAL DEVICES
 Some examples of input/output devices:
 Modem
 Switch/HUB
 Router
 Hard Disk Drive
 Optical Disk Drive

8. PERIPHERAL DEVICES