Section 3.4 Flashcards
- You checked the documentation first, right?
- Check the web for the latest version
- Uninstall previous drivers through Windows Device Manager
- Manufacturer provided setup program
- Manual installation through Windows Device Manager
- Check the Device Manager for the status - Does it work?
Driver installation
- Check the motherboard documentation
– Number and type of slots - Check the adapter card documentation
– Minimum requirements - Hardware, software
– Knowledge base - Any “gotchas?”
– Support forums - What are other people saying? - You may need to perform a driver installation before installing hardware
Documentation
- Ethernet connection
– Motherboard may not include a NIC
– Onboard NIC may not be working - Additional connections
– Servers, routers, security devices
Network Interface Card (NIC)
- Video as an input
– Video capture, live streaming, external cameras - High performance
– Video bandwidths can be quite high
– PCI Express connection
Capture card
- Many CPUs include an integrated GPU
– Video functionality is built into the CPU package - Discrete graphics
– The GPU is not part of the CPU - Separate interface card - High performance
Video card
Onboard (or integrated) cards are built into the motherboard .
The upside to an integrated card is that it frees up an expansion slot.
One downside is that if the video card fails, you need a new motherboard, or you can install an add-on card.
A second downside is that the onboard video cards aren’t typically high-end. Onboard cards generally share system memory with the processor, which limits the quality of graphics one can produce.
Dedicated / integrated / built in Video card(graphic card)
For example,
serious gamers will always insist on a separate video card.
Add on Video card(graphic card)
software that will allow the hardware to properly talk to your operating system
Device Driver
- Extend the functionality of your computer
– You may need more than the motherboard provides - Relatively simple process
– Designed for end-user installation - Install hardware - Add a card
- Install a driver - Software for the operating system
Expansion cards
- Output
– High-end audio
– Advanced headphone amp
– Home theater, Dolby decoding - Multiple inputs
– Music capture
– Podcasting
– Microphone
Sound card
One interfaces that you might find on a ___is headphone jack
sound card
- Cool air is pulled through a personal computer
– Always check for good airflow - Motherboard layout becomes important
- Component location is key
– Devices, wiring, power - Many different sizes and styles
– And volume levels
Case fans
- Dissipate heat through thermal conduction
– Copper or aluminum alloy - Fins/grid increase surface area
– Heat is then transferred to the cooler air - They get HOT – don’t touch them!
- Thermal paste creates a good contact between the chip and the heat sin
Heat sink
- Standard sizes
– 80 mm, 120 mm, 200 mm, etc. - Different speeds
– Variable speed - Different noise levels
– Not all fans sound the same
Fan specifications
- Designed to cool an entire adapter card
- Can be bulky
– May take additional adapter card space - Usually seen on high-end graphics cards
On-board fans
- No fans, no noise - Silent operation
- Specialized functions
– Video servers, TV set top box,
satellite receiver, media server - Functions are very controlled
– Carefully measured thermal tests - Low-power components - Heat sinks
Fanless / passive cooling
- Coolant is circulated through a computer
– Not a new concept
– Automobiles, mainframe computers - High-end systems
- Gaming, graphics
- Overclocking
Liquid cooling
- Conduct heat without the mess - Cut to size and install
- Easy to use - Won’t leak and damage components
- Almost as effective as thermal paste
– But still very good - Not reusable - Remove and replace
Thermal pad
- Thermal grease, conductive grease
– Thermally conductive adhesive - Place between the heat sink and the component
– Improves thermal conductivity
– Moves the heat away from the component - A little bit goes a long way
– Pea-sized application
Thermal paste
