Lesson 2 Chapter 4 - Inside the System Unit Flashcards
What are the 3 interchangeable terms used to describe a system unit?
- system unit
- case
- enclosure
Describe what a system unit case is?
A system unit case houses the internal components of a PC and is the shell that protects those components from external factors
Typically what’s found on the front of a PC? (3)
- Lights to show the status of the PC when turned on
- Doors for accessibility to removal media drives (if installed, like DVD)
- Power button
What are 5 things typically found on the back of a PC?
- Vast majority of system unit connections
- Onboard port connections
- Area for added-on ports via expansion cards
- Power plug
- Cooling fan
Is there a standard way to open a PC case?
No, every case is different. You will have to make sure you remove the screws in the back and remember where they were installed.
What type of electrical charge does the body carry?
static electricity
What increases the charge of static electricity?
- Wearing polyester or wool
- Walking on carpet (while the heater is on)
How does electrostatic discharge (ESD) happen?
ESD happens when you touch something that has a different electrical charge than your body’s
What can a tech wear to prevent ESD from damaging computer components?
A tech can wear an antistatic wrist strap
How does an antistatic wrist strap prevent static discharge? Where does it clip to?
an antistatic wrist strap prevent ESD by keeping you on the same electrical charge as the PC
it clips onto the metal sides of the PC case
What do you do if you want to prevent ESD but you don’t have an antistatic wrist strap? (2)
- Touch the power supply to give off ESD to the PSU before touching anything inside, this will make you equal charge with the PC
- Touch the metal part of the case occasionally before and during repairs
What are 3 additional ways to reduce ESD?
- Be barefoot or wear rubber-soled shoes
- Don’t work on carpeted areas
- Add a humidifier to the work area as dry air increases static charge
What’s another name for a CPU?
microprocessor
What do CPUs generally look like?
CPUs generally are a square circuit board with a big chip mounted on it, and a metal protective plate on top
What are 2 arrays that are located on the back of a CPU?
Land Grid Array (flat metal contact points)
Pin Grid Array (tiny metal pins)
Since CPUs generate a lot of heat, what are 2 things they require to avoid overheating?
- Cooling Fan
- Heat Sink Assembly
What is a heat sink? What is it made of?
A heat sink is a big slab of copper or aluminum and it is placed on top of the CPU to draw away the heat generated by it
What happens to the heat that’s drawn away from the processor by the heat sink?
It’s pulled out by the cooling fan and pushed out through the case
Who are the 2 most common ‘makes’ of CPUs?
- AMD
- Intel
What does RAM stand for and what does it do?
Random Access Memory
RAM stores the programs and data that are currently in use by the CPU
Each piece of RAM is called a ____
stick
What does it mean if a RAM stick has 8GB of RAM?
It means that the RAM can store 8 total gigabytes of programs and data
What does DIMM stand for? What is it?
Dual Inline Memory Module
It’s a common type of physical form factor for a RAM stick
How do DIMMs that can look alike differ? (3)
- capacity
- speed
- error correction capability
