Intermediate Hardware Workshop

1. Intermediate Hardware Workshop Celine Latulipe August 15th, 2002 University of Waterloo

2. Overview • Introduction (Ministry specs…) • Motherboards • Communications • Input Devices • Graphics Cards • Shopping Activity • Wrap-up

3. Ministry Specs (ICE4M) • Describe mechanisms for information movement and storage • Explain the operation of sophisticated systems that interact with real-world devices • Analyse information storage mechanisms • Construct systems and interfaces that use computer programs to interact with real-world devices • Analyse existing systems designs that use computers and interfaces to send and receive information

4. Ministry Specs (ICE4E) • Explain current hardware and software trends • Use relevant technical terminology to describe hardware and software • Describe current storage devices • Describe current input and output devices; • Demonstrate an awareness of current trends in hardware development • Recommend solutions to fulfil user computing requirements • Properly install and configure expansion components

5. Motherboards • Things to be familiar with: • Microprocessor (CPU) • Memory (RAM) • BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) • Chipsets (support circuitry: clocks, converters) • Expansion Slots (PCI, ISA) • Video Slot (AGP) or circuitry • Ports (USB, parallel, serial, etc.) • Using manual to set CPU jumpers

6. Ancient Communications • Serial, parallel, PS/2 • IDE (Integrated Device Electronics) • Direct memory access up to 33 MBps • ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) • 8 or 16 bit, fast disappearing • PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) • 32 bit, still widely in use

7. Modern Communications • SCSI 3 (Small Computer Systems Interface) • Fast, daisy-chaining, platform independent • Firewire • Used mostly for video applications, usually requires expansion card, faster than USB 1.1 • USB (Universal Serial Bus) • Used for everything now, relatively fast 12 MB/s • Most motherboards come with 2-4 USB ports • 1.1 Spec in current use, 2.0 spec set, but not used yet

8. Input Devices • Classification of input devices • Two-handed vs. one-handed • Relative vs. Absolute • Number of actuators • Mechanical vs. Electronic • Force/tactile Feedback • Ergonomic features • Ruggedness

9. Graphics Cards • Old cards are ISA or PCI • Now: AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) • Connects directly to CPU and RAM • Fast: 66 MHz on a 32-bit bus • No other devices sharing same bus • Sideband addressing (8 additional lines for doing address requests, 32-bit path is data only) • Texture maps can be stored in RAM

10. Wrap-up • Make it fun! • Make contacts with a computer store to get dead stuff donated to you… • There will always be someone in class who knows more about some new hardware gadget than you – let them tell the class • Don’t take apart monitors – very dangerous!

11. Resources • “The Hardware Bible, 3rd Edition” by Winn L. Rosch • www.howstuffworks.com • Local computer supplier: Group4 Technologies

12. Shopping Activity • Collect current newspapers and computer magazines (use Canadian ones), also have Internet access • Shop for three different users, each with a defined budget • Expand on descriptions to decide what components are going to be most needed • Find a computer system that fits needs and budgets

13. Shopping Activity • Small business owner who needs financial software and wants to set up a web site and eventually allow online shopping • Grandparents who are computer illiterate but want email access and whatever else to connect with family • Teenager who wants to play video games, use computer for programming assignments and other homework, second computer in the home, with high-speed Internet

14. Motherboards Activity • PC Disassembly, part II • Unplug all wires from motherboard, making list and a diagram as you go • Unscrew motherboard and remove it from case • Remove CPU from socket, noting polarity • Do it in reverse… • This should be done only after a more basic lesson in PC assembly/disassembly

15. Communications Activity • SCSI vs. IDE Performance Testing • Use old Pentium running Win NT Workstation 4.0 • Install IDE hard drive, SCSI card and SCSI hard drive (format both drives as NTFS) • Run Adaptec SCSI Benchmark software to see the differences between IDE and SCSI data transfer, SCSI will excel with larger sector sizes (designed for transferring lots of data)

16. Input Devices Activity • Take apart mice and keyboards to see how they work • Optical mice, a light and a camera and a really fast processor • Ball mice, mechanical rollers spinning a wheel with holes and a light sensor detecting speed of spinning wheel • Keyboards, show the way the electricity will flow through switch when button pressed

17. Graphics Card Activity • Use a couple of computers with good amounts of memory. • Install old PCI/ISA video card on one • Install newer PCI video card with some 3-D acceleration • Install good AGP with good 3-D acceleration on it • Run video game like TuxRacer on all 3 to see the difference

18. The Latest and Greatest… • Get someone from a local computer store to come in and show off the latest and greatest PC hardware • This allows them to do a bit of a sales pitch while educating you on what’s coming down the pipeline • May get him/her to donate some old or dead hardare (these contacts are invaluable!)