Week 2 Assignment_Identifying Hardware Components_David Vega
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Week 2 Assignment: Identifying Hardware Components
David Vega
IT3280 – Hardware and Oper Syst Admin
Professor Timothy Gillin
July 23, 2023
In my current state of knowledge and the way I used to maintain computers, I am
horrified at the lack of knowledge I had. I can clearly say I was very inefficient. Exploring in
detail all the major components that make a computer, I can finally have a comprehensive grasp
of their functionalities. I now know how essential it is for a user to understand the purpose and
optimal interaction with select components to make the most of our devices. I will identify and
name some of the components demonstrated in this assignment’s diagram, describe their
purpose, and explain how we eventually interact with such components. From the diagram, if I
am not mistaken, number one is the Power Supply Unit, number seven is HDD or SSD (Solid-
State Drives), number nine is the RAM (Random Access Memory), and finally, number ten is the
CPU.
The more that I did my research, the more I saw how essential the PSU (Power Supply
Unit) was. While researching the PSU and its internal components, I became overwhelmed at all
the engineering it took to make this component efficient and serve its purpose. This critical piece
of hardware is responsible for providing electrical power to all the other components. Its purpose
is to convert AC power from an outlet into DC power which lessens the power and makes it
suitable for all the internal components. Depending on all the components that are added, albeit
high-performance components, ensuring you install an equally capable high-quality PSU will
allow for the operation of your components to be stable and reliable. As a consumer, our only
interaction with the power supply would be to simply plug in the power cord and sometimes hear
the fan helping cool the PSU. As a helpdesk technician, being able to understand the different
internal components can help make a better decision when fixing or building a PC. Most people
building PCs start with what they believe to be essential and eventually buy inefficient PSUs due
to running out of funds for the project.
The next component would be listed as number 7 in the diagram, which would be the
area for computer storage, either HDD (Hard Disk Drives) or SSD (Solid-State Drives). The
purpose behind an HDD or SSD is to store vast amounts of data, including the OS, software
applications, documents, media files, and other data for prolonged periods of time, even when
the device is not powered on. We usually see the beginning of its functionalities through the
operating system and the software applications that launch at startup. As a tech, we must
consider monitoring the available storage space and periodic maintenance like disk
defragmentation or disk cleanup to r disk cleanup to optimize storage space and improve
performance. When replacing HDD vs. SSD, the purpose of the PC will help determine the type
of storage needed. If the PC were given to a student who might use Word and the internet to draft
research papers, keeping it cost-effective would not be a bad idea, since HDDs are less expensive
and can still handle all the functions needed for the student. If you are a data analyst, running
complicated computations, an SSD would be the recommendation due to its higher performance,
resulting in faster startup of the OS, applications, and even file transfers.
RAM (Random Access Memory) was listed as number nine on the diagram, and
understanding this component, which purpose supports the operating system and other
applications, can help users know how to optimize their PC by having the correct amount of
RAM for the demanded tasks. Whenever you try to install a new application or even a new
component, under the required specs, there is always a required amount of RAM. A quick run-
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through of what RAM does can be explained as a temporary and high-speed storage location for
data, and it provides a type of instruction manual to the CPU to have easy access to the storage
devices instead of relying on the slower speeds of an HDD. Unlike the HDD or SSD, their
memory capacity is much less and is automatically gone whenever the PC is powered off or
restarted.
Finally, saving the best for last, the heart of a computer, the CPU (Central Processing
Unit), which is listed as number ten on the diagram. This component is what drives all the
computations, data processing, executes software application instructions, as well as the
operating system. In a much-simplified manner, the CPU consists of a Control Unit (CU) and an
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The CU coordinates data flow and retrieves instructions from
RAM, and the ALU processes the arithmetic and logical functions. Understanding this does not
really give us a full understanding of what it takes to pick the correct CPU. When selecting an
appropriate CPU, it entails thinking about clock speed and the number of cores. When a CPU has
a higher clock speed, you can see it in the speed it executes functions, and when you have more
cores, it just increases its multitasking capabilities.
Through this assignment, we can further understand and effectively interact with the main
components that make up a computer. Understanding the CPU, RAM, Storage devices (HDD or
SSD), and PSU allows us to unlock the full potential of our computers. This knowledge enables
us to make informed decisions about these components to increase performance, productivity,
and overall user interaction. As future IT specialists, it is our responsibility to keep up to date
with modern computing.
References
Burek, J., & Sexton, M. J. A. (2023, February 3). The best CPUs for 2023. PCMAG.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-cpus
Heddings, A. (2018, October 12). HTG explains: How does a CPU actually work? How.
https://www.howtogeek.com/367931/htg-explains-how-does-a-cpu-actually-work/
Mpitziopoulos, A. (2015, September 6). PSUs 101: A detailed look into power supplies. Tom’s
Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supplies-101,4193.html
Tyson, J., & Pollette, C. (2000, August 25). How ram works. HowStuffWorks.
https://computer.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm
What is a hard disk drive? Hard drives explained. Crucial. (n.d.).
https://www.crucial.com/articles/pc-builders/what-is-a-hard-drive
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