Read Me First (IST Specific)



Read Me First

Introduction

TECHNOLOGY CHANGES AT A RATE THAT MAKES IT A CHALLENGE TO STAY CURRENT AND INFORMED. YOU WILL DISCOVER AS NEW COMPUTERS AND COMPONENTS HIT THE MARKET, EXISTING COMPUTERS BECOME RAPIDLY OUTDATED AND OBSOLETE. DESPITE THESE CHANGES, THE BASIC ARCHITECTURE OF A COMPUTER REMAINS THE SAME. GAINING A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF A COMPUTER, ITS SUB-SYSTEMS, AND COMPONENTS WILL HELP YOU ADAPT TO THE RAPIDLY CHANGING COMPUTER INDUSTRY. EXAMINING EACH HARDWARE COMPONENT OF THE COMPUTER WILL ALLOW YOU TO UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE COMPONENTS INTERACT TO PROVIDE A FUNCTIONAL MACHINE. BUILDING A LIBRARY OF TRUSTED INFORMATION RESOURCES THAT INCLUDES WEBSITES AND PERIODICALS WILL HELP YOU STAY INFORMED.

This course is an introduction to computer support fundamentals of personal computer (PC) hardware architecture, components, configuration, upgrading, repair, and maintenance.

Course Overview

Week One of this course begins with an overview of the personal computer, its components, maintenance, and introduces mobile devices. You will use Practice Labs to perform essential PC system maintenance, will begin identifying components, and will start building your library of information sources.

This week’s readings and activities cover the following topics:

• The history and evolution of the Personal Computer

• Components of personal computers

• Components of mobile devices

• Best practices of personal computer preventive maintenance

In Week Two, you explore and learn about motherboards, form factors, and types of power supplies. The motherboard is the primary circuit board in the computer that helps direct and maintain information and applications. Form factors categorize the size and shape of the motherboard, which will determine expansion capabilities. The power supply can be easily overlooked as a performance component. By choosing the wrong power supply, it can reduce the lifespan of the computer and reduce the stability of the system. You will also begin to use Pluralsight tutorials which will be used throughout the course to help demonstrate topics from course readings.

Topics covered this week include:

• Motherboards and Form Factors

• PC Connection Interfaces and Connector Types

• Powers Supplies

• Motherboard and Power Supply Installation

Week Three explores processors, chipsets, memory systems, and storage systems. During the week, you will be researching these components, identifying and comparing various processors, memory types, and examining expansion cards, laptop assembly, and hardware security methods.

Topics covered this week include:

• Types of processors, chipsets, memory systems, and storage systems

• Processor, memory system, and storage system installation and configuration

• Expansion cards

• Hardware security

In Week Four, you look at different input/output (I/O) devices and peripheral devices. Typical input/output devices may include a mouse, keyboards, monitors, printers, and cameras. Before you can attach any of these to a computer system, however, you must first research which I/O devices and expansion cards are best suited for your computer’s configuration; for example, it is common to find more than one video or graphic card in high-end PCs for different applications such as dual monitor. This week will help you gain a better understanding of different input/output devices, peripherals, and printers.

Topics covered this week include:

➢ Types of Input/Output (I/O) devices

➢ Types of peripheral devices

➢ Steps for peripheral device installation and configuration

➢ Print technologies and associated maintenance tasks

Finally in Week Five, you will investigate various troubleshooting tools and techniques, Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) configuration, and desktop imaging. You will also use Practice Labs to explore desktop virtualization and install a virtual machine. In the IT field it is important to be able to properly size a PC and its components to fit the demands of the business scenario. You will develop specifications for a custom built computer to meet a specific business need.

Topics covered this week include:

• Appropriate PC components for a business scenario specification

• Desktop virtualization, imaging, and deployment

• Hardware troubleshooting and monitoring resources for troubleshooting common hardware issues

• Updating and configuring BIOS

Main Concepts

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the fundamental aspects of computer hardware. By course completion, students should be able to recognize basic components, how those components are interrelated, and how integration of all the pieces is a critical element. The course provides a vehicle for understanding preventive maintenance, repair, and upgrade of personal computers.

This Course in relationship to the program

THIS COURSE IS AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SUPPORT FUNDAMENTALS WITH A FOCUS ON PC HARDWARE. UNDERSTANDING THE COMPONENTS OF THE PC IS A FOUNDATION FOR MANY OTHER IT TOPICS AND TECHNOLOGIES. THIS COURSE WILL ALSO FURTHER PREPARE YOU FOR COMPTIA A+ 220-901 EXAM WHICH IS A REQUIRED EXAM TO EARN THE COMPTIA A+ CERTIFICATION.

Career Connections

THE SKILLS YOU LEARN IN THIS COURSE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ENTERING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) FIELD. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO WORK AS A COMPUTER TECHNICIAN, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE YOU WILL WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT RELIES ON THE BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE TO DEVELOP, ENHANCE, AND HELP THE ORGANIZATION GROW. IF YOU ARE A MANAGER, A PROJECT LEADER, OR WORK ON AN IT PROJECT TEAM, UNDERSTANDING COMPUTERS AND COMPONENTS ENABLES YOU TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.

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