Computer Engineer Flashcards
BIOS
BIOS is the motherboard’s FIRMWARE
It is used to perform hardware initialization during the boot process when the computer is turned on
This is called the Power On Self Test (POST)
It also provides runtime services for operating systems and programs
Allows the configuration of several computer hardware options and settings
BIOS may have diagnostic options to troubleshoot hardware issues
Motherboard
Also known as the mainboard, system board, logic board, or circuit board
It is the main printed circuit board in a computer
It interfaces with and allows communication between many of the components
It interconnects all of the main components of a computer via buses
Make and model
Form factor (ATX)
Socket (CPU Compatibility)
Chipset
How many PCI slots and speed
How many RAM slots, max RAM, speed, and compatibility
How many other ports (USB, SATA)
Overclocking support
Input/Output
Buses
Every bus has a clock speed measured in MHz
A fast bus allows data to be transferred faster, which makes applications run faster
Many communication buses on the motherboard have improved their speeds over time
SSD
An SSD is a new generation of storage divide used in computers
SSDs use flash-based memory, which is much faster than a traditional mechanical hard disk
Upgrading to an SSD is one of the best ways to speed up your computer
I/O Panel
The back panel of the computer’s tower where you plug peripherals
It is a thin, removable plate that protects the back of the computer and gives access to I/O devices like USB
It helps keep all of the connectors in one spot
CPU
An electronic circuit within a computer that executes instructions
Often referred to as the “brains” of the computer
It provides the instructions and processing power the computer needs to do its work
The more powerful and updated your processor, the faster your computer can complete its tasks
Back in the day
Computers used vacuum tubes to complete calculations
This took up a lot of space!
With the invention of transistors, computers got much smaller, but still took up quite a lot of space
Modern Trend
Eventually, they invented the CPU, which had many microscopic transistors
CPUs are still used today, and they continue to improve
In fact, there is a law to prove this
Power Supply
A power Supply (PS) or Power Supply Unit (PSU) is a hardware component that supplies all other components with power
The PS concerts a 110-115 or 220- 230 volt AC (alternative current) into a steady low-voltage DC (direct current) usable by the computer and rated by the number of watts it generates
The cables can get messy; thus, they invented
Modular power supplies, which have removable cables
Form Factor (ATX)
Power Rating (Watts)
Efficiency (80 plus or higher)
Modular or Standard
Case
Also known as “tower”
Refers to an enclosure that contains the computer components
Form factor
Shape
Cooling
Tool-less
Front IO ports
GPU
specialized processor originally designed to accelerate graphics rendering
GPUs can process many pieces of data simultaneously, making them useful for machine learning, video editing, and gaming applications
Sound card
A sound card, often known as an audio card, is an add-on component that plugs into an ISA or PCI slot on a motherboard to allow a computer to receive, process, and output sound
CMOS
An operating system (OS) is software that manages computer hardware, and software resources, and provides common services for computer programs
Without an operating system, the computer is just a bunch of hardware that cannot be used. An OS allows the user to use the PC!
Firmware
Firmware is special software that is pre-installed onto an integrated circuit that resides inside a particular device
Firmware controls the operation of the device and is specifically written for the device
Firmware can be upgraded to improve a device’s performance
Careful when upgrading firmware because if the process is not done correctly, it can ruin your device
Drivers
A device driver is a set of files/a computer program that tells a piece of hardware how to function by communicating with a computer’s operating system
All pieces of hardware require a driver, from your internal computer components (ex. GPU) to your external peripherals (ex: printer)
Drivers vs Firmware
Whereas a driver is part of the operating system, firmware is actually physically part of the device
Test Questions: Which Component has changed throughout the years?
Wifi card has changed throughout the year as it’s now wireless and integrated into a laptop, which gets rid of the hassle of wires.
