Types of Computer Cables Explained
Types of Computer Cables Explained
1. HDMI cable
HDMI (High definition Media Interface) is a type of computer cable used to
transmit high definition video and audio signals. Using the HDMI cables, the
audio and video signal can be easily transmitted without compromising the
quality of images and can send crystal clear images using this cable. The HDMI
cables are used to connect cable boxes, TVs, DVD players, media streamers and
other electronic devices. All types of Av devices can be connected to one
standard cable, which is an HDMI cable. Also, one HDMI cable is capable of
transmitting both audio and video signals at the same time.
2. VGA cable
VGA (Video Graphics Ray) cable is another type of computer cable which is used
for sending video signals and is used to link the monitor and the CPU of a
computer. The VGA cable can also be used in HD televisions. All the information
displayed on the monitor is coming from the VGA cable. There is a total of 15
pins in the plugin the cable, which have three rows containing 5 pins each. And
the cable is easily fitted in the monitor and the other end is fixed in the CPU of a
computer system.
3. DVI cable
DVI cables are used to connect the LCD monitor and the video card. Using this
cable, the user can see high image quality without having any disturbance. The
DVI cable is mostly used in CRT monitors, which have a VGA connection. This
cable transmits the digital and analog signals to the computer system. The DVI
cable is capable enough of digital connections and analog connections. The DVI
cable can be easily distinguished, whether it is analog or digital, by looking if
there is any flat pin present on the cable. If the flat pin has four pins around,
then it is a DVI analog, and there is only a flat pin, then it is DVI digital.
4. Ethernet Cable
The Ethernet cable is a type of computer network cable which is used for a wired
network. The Ethernet cable is used to connect the switches, monitors, PCs to
the LAN (Local Area Network). The length and durability of the Ethernet cable
describe the quality of the connection. If the cable is too long and is not durable,
it will contain a poor quality of the signal. And due to this factor, there are
different types of Ethernet cables present in the market. The Ethernet cables are
plugged into the Ethernet port present on the motherboard. The Ethernet cable
looks like a phone cable but contains more wires than phone cables. There are
eight wires in the Ethernet cable, and they can be available in different colors in
the market.
5. PS/2 Cable
The PS/2 cable is a standard cable to connect the mouse and keyboard to the
computer system. The length of the PS/2 cable is long enough so that the user
can easily connect the mouse and keyboard to the system and use the system.
There are a total of 6 pins in PS/2 cables and have a round connector. There are
majorly two sizes of PS/2 cable. The smaller size is the most common cable, but
some adaptors can be used to convert it into a larger size. This cable is now
replaced with USB cables as they are universal cables and can be easily plugged
into any system.
The 3.5mm audio cables are a type of computer cables that are used in
computer audio applications. This cable can be used for connecting a mini-
stereo audio device, PC sound card or any portable CD player to any multimedia
speaker. This cable can also be used to connect earphones and headphones to
the system.
The green port is for headphones and computer speakers. Blue port is for DVD
player, MP3 player and pink port Is used for connecting microphones.
7. USB cables
The USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable is a standard cable used to connect
universal devices or personal computers. It is mainly used for short-distance
digital communication. The digital data can be transferred using a USB cable.
Nowadays, the USB cable is used to charge devices like smartphones, Bluetooth
speakers, trimmers and many more. The USB cables can be used to connect two
devices directly. The USB cable is connected to the USB port present in the
computer system. The mouse and keyboard are also connected to a USB port as
they have USB cables. As the device is connected through the USB cable, the
unplugging of the USB cable when a device is running can cause damage to a
device, so whenever there is a need of removing the USB cable, first it should be
eject safely and then it should be removed from the system.
The computer cables can be used to connect various devices to the system and
perform several operations. The computer cables can easily transmit the digital
and analog signal through it. Some of the computer cables are capable enough
to transmit electric power through it like a USB cable. Using a computer cable,
one can see movies, play games, listen to music, and do many more things.
Ethernet cables can be used to connect the computer system to the internet
world.
2). Identify the cables and list the devices that can be
connected to computer using these cables.
Connect one end to: computer monitor, television (PC input port)
Connect other end to: VGA port on computer (see image below)
2. DVI Cable
Connect other end to: DVI port on computer (see image below)
3. HDMI Cable
Connect other end to: HDMI port on computer (see image below)
Connect other end to: PS/2 ports on computer (see image below)
5. Ethernet Cable
Also known as RJ-45 cable
Connect other end to: Ethernet port on computer (see image below)
Connect other end to: audio ports on computer (see image below use Green socket)
7. USB Cable
For USB computer cable connections, there are two popular formats: USB 2.0 and the
newer USB 3.0
How to tell USB 2.0 and 3.0 cables apart: USB 3.0 cables have a blue tip, and sometimes
you can find a SS "Super Speed" label on it.
Since USB was intended to be the one computer cable connection to replace them all,
it's no surprise that the possible uses for a USB port are quite mind-blowing. For this
computer cable guide, we have listed its more common uses below:
• Storage devices: USB flash drive, external hard drive, external optical drive
• Input devices: USB keyboard (wired and wireless), USB mouse (wired and wireless),
webcam, scanner, gamepad
• Output devices: printer, all-in-one office machine, USB speaker
• Wireless adapters: network (Wi-Fi) adapter, bluetooth adapter, 3G adapter
• Data (and charging) cable for mobile devices such as mobile phone, tablet, MP3 player
Connect other end to: USB ports on computer (see image below)
How to tell USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports apart: USB 2.0 ports have black tips while USB 3.0
ports come with blue tips. See image below:
USB 3.0 is backwards-compatible... meaning that you can connect a USB 2.0 device to a
USB 3.0 port and vice versa (but the USB 3.0 devices hooked up to a USB 2.0 port will
perform at lowered rates)
There are also USB cables which connect new external backup drives (see below), these
are described as USB-A to Micro-B
Connect other end to: power supply unit (see image below), computer monitor
Note: Always turn off your power supply unit (with the 1-0 switch at the back) before
connecting a power cord to it.
9. ThunderBolt/USB-C
Mostly seen on laptops and Apple Macs these cables are high speed and are capable of
carrying Data, video and other information.
There are 2 current types of Thunderbolt, the older version Thunderbolt 2 is seen below
but this can also be confused with Mini Display ports as they look identical and only
visual difference is the picture beside the port. Thunderbolt 2 (left) has a lightning
symbol and carries Data and video.
1. Multimedia Keyboard
The keyboard that has all multimedia buttons is called multimedia keyboard. The
buttons include play, pause, previous, next, volume up, volume down, mute and
special button to launch media. Also, a button to launch a browser, my computer,
calculator is available.
2. Mechanical Keyboard
The primitive keyboard which uses physical buttons for each key is called a
mechanical keyboard. It makes noise when each key is pressed. A button is pushed
down and an electrical signal is sent to the computer device which then shows the
characters.
3. Wireless Keyboard
Bluetooth, IR technology or Radio Frequency is used to connect the keyboard with the
computer device. We can port the keyboard and the parent system is not needed
near the keyboard. These keyboards are lightweight and smaller in size. These
keyboards should have a transmitter and trans-receiver. Transmitter sends the
strokes from the keyboard as radio waves which are received by trans-receiver kept
near parent device.
4. Virtual Keyboard
The keyboard used in smartphones is called a virtual keyboard. This keyboard
appears when needed and disappears when typing is completed. This can be
automatically set as per need. Also in the windows system, we can use a virtual
keyboard that appears on the screen. There is no physical object to carry for a virtual
keyboard.
5. USB Keyboard
Universal Serial Bus Keyboard has a USB stick with a wire which has to be inserted
into the USB port of the system. And then the keyboard works well. While rebooting
the system, the keyboard is not supported and hence the users may face an issue.
Installation of suitable drivers helps to resolve this issue.
6. Ergonomic Keyboard
This keyboard is mainly designed for users who use both hands for typing. The
advantage of this keyboard is less muscle strain and carpal tunnel syndrome for
users. The keyboard is built with the view of ergonomics. This keyboard is expensive
and not affordable for common people.
7. QWERTY Keyboard
The earlier typewriters had keys in the range QWERTY due to the arrangement of
strings. Early computer keyboards were also built in the same manner for the ease of
use for typewriter users. This keyboard is the most common one used by all of us and
hence needs no introduction.
8. Gaming Keyboard
The keyboard that has very few keys specific for gamers is called gaming keyboard.
Graphics are also included in the keyboard. W, S, D, A and arrow keys are the only
keys you could find in this keyboard. The design is so good that anyone could fall in
love with the keyboard.
9. Chiclet Keyboard
The keys are square-shaped with rounded edges in this keyboard. The technology
varies for devices which makes this special. Buttons are attached with membranes of
the switches in the keyboard and this is used in almost all the devices now.
Uses of Keyboard
Here we have pointed out the uses of the keyboard.
• Users can type the letters and numbers using the keyboard. Also, some special
commands can be done using the keyboard. Only with the keyboard, we can
input data.
• Most of the functions can be performed by a keyboard without the help of the
mouse. Function keys and control keys are used for special functions done by
mouse.
• Shortcut keys are used to access any files from the system so that mouse use
can be avoided.
• Control key and escape key can be used in most of the functions for various
purposes.
Touch screen keyboards are mostly in use nowadays and in the future, these may be
replaced by Augmented Reality keyboards. New keyboards are flexible and more
customized than traditional ones. Maybe in the future, the data can be inputted by
other means than the keyboard. The mindset to welcome all changes is needed for
the generation.
ACTIVITY-02
1). Identify preventive measures that help to eliminate or
reduce electrostatic discharge.
CAUTION:
Parts can be damaged by electrostatic discharge. Follow these
precautions:
Not all power strips are surge protectors. A power strip may or may not have
surge protection. A surge protector, however, functions like a power strip with
multiple outlets while also protecting your electronics from sudden power loss
due to voltage spikes. This is particularly helpful with lightning strikes or surges
from a power company issue. When it comes to using a surge protector vs power
strip for your PC and devices, you shouldn’t have to choose. To safeguard your
equipment, you should make sure any power strip you buy is also a surge
protector.
Installation Options
Instead of plugging a surge protector directly into a wall socket, you can also
mount your surge protection device to your circuit breaker panel. Or, choose a
single-outlet surge protector for one device or appliance. You may also find
surge protectors designed specifically for telephone lines, cable and more.
The solution is not always long-term, but it does allow you some time to find an
alternate power source without losing your work or risking damage to your
machine. Most UPS devices allow just three to five minutes of battery backup
power while others may keep your devices running for a bit longer. Give some
thought to your needs prior to choosing which UPS is right for your system.
It's typically a good idea to use a surge protector most if not all the time, as you
likely will not be able to anticipate when a power surge will occur. Use surge
protectors to safeguard expensive and valuable electronics like your laptop,
entertainment center devices, iPads and tablets, Kindle, and any chargers for
these and other expensive electronics. The microprocessors present in computers
and other electronics are very sensitive and become damaged if not protected
from power surges. For best results, ensure that the surge protector you choose
features an indicator light to show that the protection is truly in effect.
When to Use a UPS
Uninterruptible power sources give peace of mind that your work and your
devices are protected in the event of a brownout or total loss of power. Many
UPS devices allow multiple outlets for connecting your entire system or a
number of important appliances or accessories. Consider using a UPS all the
time for your desktop computer to ensure you never suffer data loss.
Understanding that a UPS will not provide a long-term power supply to finish
working is important to your satisfaction level as an end user. In the event of
power loss, use the UPS to give yourself enough time to save your work and find
an alternate power source.
If you are trying to decide between a UPS vs surge protector, remember that you
may not need both at the same time. That said, you can certainly use these
devices independently to prepare your equipment for possible voltage spikes,
brownouts and power outages. Plug your valuable or complex electronics into
the power strip and use the UPS for your computer and other devices where you
may lose work if the power goes out. Plug printers and other accessories into
power strips with surge protection. Divide and conquer to ensure all your
devices are safely protected from excess voltage during unexpected power
surges.
Tips for Using UPS and Surge Protectors
When using UPS and surge protectors for PCs and devices, especially when using
them both at the same time, there are some important safety tips to keep in
mind:
• Don’t plug a surge protector into a UPS outlet. Always use a wall socket
instead to avoid drawing too much power from your UPS, resulting in an
inefficient user experience and possibly triggering an overload.
• Don’t plug a UPS into a surge protector. Likewise, it is not generally
advisable to plug your uninterrupted power source into a surge protector
either. Plugging the UPS directly into the wall helps to ensure the most
consistent power goes directly to the UPS and limits the times it will go to
battery when it should remain online. This helps the UPS to remain
charged for immediate response and built-in surge protection adds that
layer of defense that also comes standard with a surge protector.
• Get the right number of outlets. When purchasing either a UPS, surge
protector, or power strip, one important consideration is the number of
outlets. Of course, you want to buy a device with enough outlets to support
the number of devices that you want to plug in. It can be a good idea to
purchase a device with more outlets than you need now so you’ll have
some extra room to plug in any new devices you add to your setup.
• For surge protectors, check absorption ratings and clamping voltage.
When purchasing a surge protector, two important specs are the
absorption rating and clamping voltage. The absorption rating is how
much power the surge protector can withstand in a surge. Look for surge
protectors with an absorption rating of at least 600 joules. The clamping
voltage is the voltage at which the surge protector will be activated to
protect your equipment. Look for devices with a clamping voltage of 400V
or lower.
UPS battery backup products safeguard your work and typically protect your
electronic devices against damage from power surges as well. Surge protectors
protect your sensitive electronics from power surges. Power strips (which may
or may not offer surge protection) provide a convenient way to plug in all of
your devices in one location.
4). Identify the components that are powered by the PSU.
Transformer
The transformer is a static device that transfers electrical energy from the
primary winding to the secondary winding without affecting the frequency. It is
used to step-up or step-down the AC voltage level and isolates the remainder of
the electronic system from the AC power.
Rectifier
The rectifier is a device used to change the AC power into pulsating DC. The basic rectifier is
the diode. This diode is a unidirectional device that operates as rectifier in the forward
direction. The three basic rectifier circuits using diodes are the half-wave, full-wave center-
tapped and full-wave bridge type.
Filter
The filter of the power supply is used to keep the ripple component from appearing in the
output. It is designed to convert pulsating DC from rectifier circuits into a suitably smooth DC
level. The two basic types of power supply filters are the capacitance filter (.
Ripple is the unwanted AC component of the signal after rectification. It is unwanted because
it can destroy or damage the load. This is the main reason why filters are installed in power
supply - to prevent high ripples. The job of the filter is to smoothen the signal and suppress the
AC component or variations. Ripple factor is the ratio of the root mean square of the ripple
voltage to the value of DC component at the output voltage. It is sometimes expressed in
percentage or in peak-to-peak value. The ripple factor determines the effectivity of a filter
being used in the circuit.
Voltage Regulators
The series element controls the amount of the unregulated input voltage that goes to the
output as a regulated output. The regulated output voltage is sampled by a circuit that
provides a feedback to the comparator circuit and is compared to a reference voltage.
The shunt voltage regulator provides regulation by shunting current away from the load to
regulate the output voltage.
IC Voltage Regulators
A regulator Integrated Circuit (IC) unit contains the circuitry - the reference source,
comparator, amplifier, control device, and the overload protector - inside a single IC. There
are also adjustable voltage regulators which allow the user to set the desired output level.
Other IC regulators have fixed output values. It is said that IC regulators are superior
compared to transistor voltage regulators when it comes to linearity of the output voltage.
ACTIVITY-03
1). Calculate the value of resistors onboard using the color code.
The chart below shows how to determine the resistance and tolerance for
resistors. The table can also be used to specify the color of the bands when
the values are known. An automatic resistor calculator can be used to
quickly find the resistor values.
2). Identify the terminals of a BJT and MOSFET.
(MOSFET)
• MOSFET is Metal Oxide Semi conductor Field Effect Transistor, a very
efficient type of switching transistor used in power devices like
Inverters, UPS, Power amplifier etc. Its high current capability and
fast switching makes it as an ideal choice for these applications.
MOSFET is a four terminal device. The terminals are Drain, Source,
Gate and the Substrate or Body terminal. The Drain and Source
terminals are connected to the heavily doped regions. The Gate
terminal is connected top on the oxide layer while the Substrate
terminal is connected to the intrinsic semi conductor.
• When buying or building a new PC. Use benchmark scores to gauge a system’s
ability to run games and applications before making a purchase. Lists of
scores can be found on review sites like Tom’s Hardware.
• Before upgrading the CPU. Compare benchmarks for various CPUs on a
review site — or better yet, on a benchmarking software company’s website
— whenever you’re planning a CPU upgrade.
• After upgrading the CPU. Run your own benchmarks to get a preview of the
user experience after a major component upgrade.
• Overclocking the CPU. Benchmark your CPU using a program to evaluate
performance gains after an overclock.
The main difference between CPU and GPU architecture is that a CPU is designed
to handle a wide-range of tasks quickly (as measured by CPU clock speed), but are
limited in the concurrency of tasks that can be running. A GPU is designed to
quickly render high-resolution images and video concurrently.
Because GPUs can perform parallel operations on multiple sets of data, they are
also commonly used for non-graphical tasks such as machine learning and
scientific computation. Designed with thousands of processor cores running
simultaneously, GPUs enable massive parallelism where each core is focused on
making efficient calculations.
CPU vs GPU Processing
While GPUs can process data several orders of magnitude faster than a CPU due
to massive parallelism, GPUs are not as versatile as CPUs. CPUs have large and
broad instruction sets, managing every input and output of a computer, which a
GPU cannot do. In a server environment, there might be 24 to 48 very fast CPU
cores. Adding 4 to 8 GPUs to this same server can provide as many as 40,000
additional cores. While individual CPU cores are faster (as measured by CPU clock
speed) and smarter than individual GPU cores (as measured by available
instruction sets), the sheer number of GPU cores and the massive amount of
parallelism that they offer more than make up the single-core clock speed
difference and limited instruction suited for repetitive and highly-parallel
computing tasks. Beyond video rendering, GPUs excel in machine learning,
financial simulations and risk modeling, and many other types of scientific
computations. While in years past, GPUs were used for mining cryptocurrencies
such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, GPUs are generally no longer utilized at scale, giving
way to specialized hardware such as Field-Programmable Grid Arrays (FPGA) and
then Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC).
ACTIVITY-05
These are some of the common expansion bus types that have been used in
computers:
ISA Bus
This is the most common type of early expansion bus, which was designed
for use in the original IBM PC. The IBM PC-XT used an 8-bit bus design.
This means that the data transfers take place in 8-bit chunks (i.e., one byte
at a time) across the bus. The ISA bus ran at a clock speed of 4.77 MHz.
For the 80286-based IBM PC-AT, an improved bus design, which could
transfer 16-bits of data at a time, was announced. The 16-bit version of the
ISA bus is sometimes known as the AT bus (AT-Advanced Technology).
When it first appeared, the 8-bit ISA bus ran at a speed of 4.77MHZ – the
same speed as the processor. Improvements done over the years
eventually made the AT bus ran at a clock speed of 8MHz.
PCI supports both 32-bit and 64-bit data width; it is compatible with 486s
and Pentiums. The bus data width is equal to the processor, such as a 32-
bit processor would have a 32 bit PCI bus, and operates at 33MHz.
PCI was used in developing Plug and Play (PnP) and all PCI cards support
PnP. This means a user can plug a new card into the computer, power it on
and it will “self-identify” and “self-specify” and start working without
manual configuration using jumpers.
Unlike VESA, PCI supports bus mastering. That means the bus has some
processing capability and thus the CPU spends less time processing data.
Most PCI cards are designed for 5v, but there are also 3v and dual-voltage
cards. Keying slots used help to differentiate 3v and 5v cards and also to
make sure that a 3v card is not slotted into a 5v socket and vice versa.
Accelerated Graphics Port
The need for high quality and very fast performance of video on computers
led to the development of the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP). The AGP
port connects to the CPU and operates at the speed of the processor bus.
This means that video information is sent more quickly to the card for
processing.
The AGP uses the main PC memory to hold 3D images. In effect, this gives
the AGP video card an unlimited amount of video memory. To speed up the
data transfer, Intel designed the port as a direct path to the PC’s main
memory.
Data transfer rate ranges from 264 Mbps to 528mbps, 800 Mbps up to 1.5
Gbps. AGP connector is identified by its brown colour.
There are three types of passwords that can be set up in the BIOS of a
computer.
Cause
Resolution
SATA SSD
Speaking of types of SSD, SATA SSD is the most common type. As a type of connection
interface, SATA (Serial ATA) is used by SSD to communicate data with the system. If you
own a SATA SSD, you can almost guarantee that it can be used with any desktop or
laptop computer you own now - even if that computer is ten years old.
SATA itself has a speed grade, and you will see SATA 2 and SATA 3 in any SSD
considered for use, called “SATA II”/“SATA 3Gbps” or “SATA III”/“SATA 6Gbps”
respectively. These indicate the maximum possible data transfer rate of the drive,
provided that the drive is installed in a PC with a SATA interface that supports the same
standard.
Nowadays, SATA 3.0 is the most versatile form of SSD, with a theoretical transfer speed
of 6Gb/s (750MB/s). But since some physical overhead will occur when encoding the data
to be transferred, its actual transfer speed is 4.8Gb/s (600MB/s).
PCIe SSD
PCIe SSD is one of the types of SSD hard drives. PCIe SSD refers to a solid-state drive
connected to a computer system using a PCIe interface. PCIe SSD has become a new
way to increase the speed of solid-state drives (SSD) to servers and storage devices.
PCI Express, formally abbreviated as PCIe or PCI-e, is short for Peripheral Component
Interconnect Express. As a high-speed computer expansion bus standard, PCIe can
replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP bus standards. In addition, PCIe is a common
motherboard interface for computer graphics cards, hard drive, SSD, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet
hardware connection.
.
M.2 SSD
M.2 SSD also belongs to one of the types of SSD. It was formerly known as NGFF (Next
Generation Form Factor). M.2 SSDs are small circuit boards containing flash memory and
controller chips, rather than slab-shaped devices containing these chips.
The shape of M.2 SSD is similar to that of RAM, but it is much smaller and has become a
standard configuration in ultra-thin notebook computers, but you will also find them on
many desktop motherboards. Many high-end motherboards even have two or more M.2
slots, so you can run the M.2 SSD in RAID.
The size of M.2 SSD is various, usually 80mm, 60mm, or 42mm long, 22mm wide, with
NAND chips on one or both sides. You can distinguish it by the four or five digits in the
name. The first two digits represent the width and the remaining two digits represent the
length.
The most common size is marked as M.2 Type-2280. Although laptops are usually only
available in one size, many desktop motherboards have fixing points that can be used for
longer or shorter drives.
Related post: 5 Best 1TB M.2 SSDs of 2020: Which One Should You Choose
U.2 SSD
In terms of SSD types, U.2 SSD needs to be mentioned. A U.2 SSD is an SSD with a U.2
interface. U.2 (previously known as SFF-8639) is an interface standard defined by
the SSD Form Factor Working Group (SFFWG). U.2 is developed for the enterprise
market and aims to be compatible with PCI-E, SATA, SATA-E, and SAS interface
standards.
U.2 SSDs look like traditional SATA hard drives. but they utilize a different connector and
send data via the speedy PCIe interface, and they're typically thicker than 2.5-inch hard
drives and SSDs.
NVMe SSD
Different types of SSD possess different interfaces. NVMe SSD is an SSD with an NVMe
interface. NVM Express (NVMe) is short for Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller
Interface Specification (NVMHCIS). It is an open logical device interface specification for
accessing non-volatile storage media connected via PCI Express (PCIe) bus.
NVM Express enables host hardware and software to take full advantage of the
parallelism possible in modern SSDs. As a result, compared to the previous logical
device interface, NVM Express reduces I/O overhead and brings various performance
improvements, including multiple long command queues, and reduced latency.
ACTIVITY-08
Hard drive
16 GB for 32-bit OS 32 GB for 64-bit OS
space:
Display: 800x600
Internet connectivity is necessary to perform updates and to download and take advantage
Internet 10 Pro Education in S mode, Windows 10 Education in S mode and Windows 10 Enterpri
Connection: initial device setup (Out of Box Experience or OOBE), as well as either a Microsoft accou
Switching a device out of Windows 10 in S mode also requires internet connectivity. Lea
Click or tap the “Add a drive” option under Back up using File History to
add an external drive that File History will back up to. It’ll list external
drives and give you the option to back up to them.
You could also use the Control Panel for this, but we’ll be covering the new
Settings interface here. If you’d like to use the Control Panel instead (for
example, if you’re still on Windows 8), open the Control Panel and
navigate to System and Security > File History.
ACTIVITY-09
It was only after Microsoft had finished its Windows 11 unveil earlier this
summer that the company released system requirements for its software update.
And buried underneath RAM recommendations and recommended gigahertz
(GHz), was a curious acronym: TPM.
Trusted Platform Module, or TPM, is a secure cryptoprocessor that secures a
computer via an integrated cryptographic key. But in more basic terms, it's like
a security alarm for your computer to prevent hackers or malware from
accessing data. And it will be necessary for Windows 11, which arrives this week.
(Check our our Windows 11 review for our impressions of this software update.)
Unfortunately, it seems that some older hardware will be excluded from the
Windows 11 update. Microsoft confirmed as much, saying that while the
situation "sucks," it's to ensure a more secure Windows experience moving
forward.
There are a few ways to check if your current machine has a TPM. The easiest
way is to go to the Start menu, search for Windows Security, and click on Device
Security on the left-hand column. There, another window will appear that shows
if your device has a TPM installed. It should say Security processor, with a little
green checkmark next to the icon. If that Security processor icon isn't there, then
you do not have a TPM installed.
A final way to check is to download the PC Health Check app from Microsoft.
After installation, the program will tell you if your computer is ready for
Windows 11.
What to do if you don't have TPM 2.0
For desktop users that may not have TPM 2.0, one way to add the functionality is
to buy a compatible module for your motherboard. This will require you to
search for your motherboard model and see if the manufacturer ever released a
compatible TPM.
Also, it seems that prices for TPMs have increased since the Windows 11
unveiling. An Asus TPM, which sold for $14 on Amazon, has, as of this publishing,
sold out and is selling for more than $40 on the used market. Some
manufacturers have also stopped production of TPMs, but it's likely that
production may start up again given the recent surge in demand.
If you are able to procure a compatible module, all you have to do is find the
TPM pins on your motherboard and stick it in. Remember to go into the BIOS
menu and enable it as well.
Now, if you have a more modern CPU, one built after 2014, there's a chance that
TPM already exists. Modern CPUs contain TPM via firmware. Intel uses Platform
Trust Technology (PTT) while AMD Ryzen chips utilize fTPM.
Steps to enable this in BIOS will vary based on manufacturer. But it generally
will require users to restart their PC and press the Delete key repeatedly until
the BIOS menu appears. From there, users might need to go into more advanced
menus to find the TPM selector. From there, firmware TPM can be enabled.
ACTIVITY-10
1). Compare relative merits and demerits of the two command shells.
This type of interface needs much less Commands have to be typed precisely.
memory (RAM) in order to use compared If there is a spelling error the command
to other types of user interfaces will fail
This type of interface does not use as If you mis-type an instruction, it is often
much CPU processing time as others necessary to start from scratch again
First off: Let's discuss warranties before diving into upgrades. To cut to the
chase, engaging in the process of upgrading or replacing parts in your
laptop will not void its warranty in and of itself. The FTC has plainly stated
that you can't void a warranty by breaking a seal, and more recently, the
agency announced plans to crack down on companies that try to prevent
their customers from repairing products.
This is a general guide for laptops produced from the early 2010s
onward—that is, in the last decade. It won't cover every configuration, but
it should get pretty close. You will definitely run across exceptions, though.
The bottom cover off, how it looks inside an older gaming laptop.
Each component above has its own section in this guide, in which we'll
explain how to identify whether it's upgradable in your laptop.
This guide doesn't discuss laptop components that are often proprietary
or too specific for us to offer general advice about, such as the display, the
keyboard, and the touchpad. Replacing those is sometimes possible,
depending on the model and availability of parts. But in almost all cases,
they would fall under the category of a repair rather than an upgrade.
(You'll typically be swapping a broken component for an identical working
one.)
Many laptops can be upgraded without tools other than a few Philips
screwdrivers (having several on hand, with larger or smaller heads, is a
good idea), or in some cases various sizes of star-head or Torx
screwdriver. In the absence of a service manual to tell you the size(s) or
types you need, flip your laptop over and see what fits. Most laptops will
use same-size screws inside and out for simpler servicing, but not always.
ACTIVITY-12
Motherboard Troubleshooting
Common symptoms of motherboard issues are similar to CPU problems: The system
does not display anything; an error code appears; one or more beeps occur; the system
locks; the system reboots; a Windows BSOD (blue screen of death) appears; or one or
more of the ports, expansion slots, or memory modules fails.
Motherboard problems and power problems are probably the most difficult issues to
troubleshoot. Because various components are located on the motherboard, many
things can cause errors. POST (power-on self-test) is one of the most beneficial aids for
troubleshooting a motherboard. The meaning of any codes that appear on the screen
should be researched. If multiple POST error codes appear, you should troubleshoot
them in the order they are presented. The following list helps with motherboard
troubleshooting:
• Is the motherboard receiving power? Check the power supply to see if the fan is
turning. If the CPU or motherboard has a fan, see if it is turning. Check voltages
going from the power supply to the motherboard. See Chapter 5 for directions.
• Check for overheating. Power down the computer and allow the computer to cool.
Power on the computer with the cover off.
• Check the motherboard for distended capacitors. These are small components that
might appear to be bulging. If sighted, replace the motherboard as soon as
possible.
• Plug the computer into a different power outlet and circuit, if possible.
• Check to determine whether the motherboard is shorting out on the frame.
• Check the CMOS battery (see Chapter 5 for how to take voltage readings).
• With a motherboard that has diagnostic LEDs, check the output for any error code.
Refer to the motherboard documentation or online documentation for the problem
and possible solution
ACTIVITY-13
1). Study the e-waste rules 2016 and their amendments there-off as
prescribed by the Karnataka state pollution control board and explain
the process for the polytechnic to follow safe disposal of e-waste.
[Link] is a new open source portal that visualises e-waste data and
statistics globally, by region and by country. By providing a one-stop source of
comparable national data on e-waste, the site can help policymakers, industry,
academia, and the general public track global progress towards enacting e-waste
legislation and achieving recycling goals.
E-waste — discarded equipment such as smart phones, laptops and desktop
computers, refrigerators, sensors, and TVs — contains substances that pose
substantial environmental and health risks, especially if inadequately treated or
improperly disposed of. If properly handled through appropriate recycling chains and
methods, however, e-waste presents a resource opportunity that is worth over US$62.5
billion per year, with the potential of creating millions of decent new jobs worldwide.
The [Link] web portal was officially launched today by the Global E-waste
Statistics Partnership. Founded in 2017 by the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU), United Nations University (represented by the UNU Vice-Rectorate in
Europe Sustainable Cycles Programme), and International Solid Waste
Association (ISWA), the Partnership monitors developments of e-waste over time and
helps countries to produce better e-waste statistics.
The portal provides e-waste data for most countries, including:
• the amount of e-waste generated (in total and per capita) and discarded prior to
collection, reuse, treatment, or export
• the amount of e-waste formally collected (in total and per capita) and regulated by
environmental protection laws specifically designed for e-waste
• e-waste legislation by country
Latest estimates (see The Global E-waste Monitor 2017) show that the world now
discards approximately 50 million tonnes of e-waste per year — an amount greater in
weight than all of the commercial airliners ever made — of which only about 20% is
formally recycled.
As an example of the kind of comparative data available via the portal’s interactive
map: In 2016, Japan generated 2,139 kilotonnes of e-waste, only 26% of which was
formally collected. On a per capita average basis, each Japanese resident discarded
16.9 kilograms of e-waste – less than the the average levels of the USA and Germany
(19.4 kg and 22.8 kg per person, respectively), but far above the Asian per capita
average of 4.2 kg.
The portal also details how countries can be supported through capacity building
activities of the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership to enhance e-waste data
collection.
3). Sketch the e-waste policies and regulations, you think, must be
regulated at each stakeholder’s level.
India’s e-waste regulations, employing the EPR approach, came into effect in May
2012, with further amendments in 2016. The seven years of implementation has had
limited impact on the larger e-waste management system in the country. On the
positive side, the regulations may have led to establishment of hundreds of new
recycling and dismantling units, formally registered with regulatory authorities.
The 2016 amendments, which sets collection rate targets for producers of electronic
products, appears to have generated greater seriousness among the producers to
comply with the regulations. More generally, the regulations could be credited with
bringing greater attention to the e-waste problem among the various stakeholders.
Clearly, we are a long way from developing a policy framework that could facilitate
a robust e-waste management system in the country.