SYSTEM UNIT, PORTS AND SLOTS

WHAT IS A SYSTEM UNIT?

A standard desktop setup consists of a computer system unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and a monitor. The
computer system unit, also known as a computer case or tower, serves as the outer shell for the internal
components. Typically crafted from steel, aluminum, or plastics, its primary role is to securely house and
shield sensitive electronic components from external elements, effectively bringing together and
safeguarding the integral parts of the computer.

INSIDE THE SYSTEM UNIT

COMPONENTS OF SYSTEM UNIT

1. POWER SUPPLY (PSU) - a component that

converts electrical energy into direct current
required by the computer. The computer's power
supply unit transforms the electricity from the wall
outlet into the specific type required by the
computer. It then distributes this power through
cables to the motherboard and other connected
components.

2. MOTHERBOARD - The main circuit board of a

computer is known as the motherboard. This slim
plate serves as a foundation for the CPU, memory,
connectors for storage and optical drives,
expansion cards for video and audio control, and
links to various ports like USB. The motherboard
establishes direct or indirect connections with
every component of the computer.
3. HARD DRIVE - Your software, documents, and
various files find their home in the hard drive,
serving as long-term storage. This implies that
data persists even when the computer is powered
off or unplugged.
As you launch a program or access a file, the
computer transfers certain data from the hard
drive to the RAM. When saving a file, the data is
then returned to the hard drive. A speedier hard
drive translates to a quicker computer startup and
faster program loading.

4. CD ROM - A CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only

Memory) is a type of compact disc that can only
be read, not written to. It is a digital storage
medium that can hold large amounts of data,
including text, images, and audio.
The data on a CD-ROM is encoded in a spiral track
that begins at the center of the disc and extends
to the edge. This track is read by a laser, which is
reflected to a sensor in the CD drive.

5. FAN - A computer fan is any fan inside, or

attached to, a computer case used for active
cooling. Fans are used to draw cooler air into the
case from the outside, expel warm air from inside
and move air across a heat sink to cool a particular
component.

6. CPU - The central processing unit (CPU), also

called a processor, is located inside the computer
case on the motherboard. It is sometimes called
the brain of the computer, and its job is to carry
out commands. Whenever you press a key, click
the mouse, or start an application, you're sending
instructions to the CPU.
The CPU is usually a two-inch ceramic square with
a silicon chip located inside. The chip is usually
about the size of a thumbnail. The CPU fits into
the motherboard's CPU socket, which is covered
by the heat sink, an object that absorbs heat from
the CPU.
 7. MAIN MEMORY (RAM) - RAM is the main
memory of a computer system, and its main
function is to temporarily store data. Since the
data is accessed randomly (in no particular order),
it allows the CPU to easily access the data. It can
also speed up the operation of the computer
because it allows random access to data.
The larger the RAM, the faster the CPU can access
data. RAM is volatile, which means it works or
stores data while the computer is still running and
loses all data when the computer is shut down.
RAM, CPU, and hard disk are the main sources of
computer speed. A computer can use multiple
RAMs, depending on the user’s preference, but
limited by the number of memory slots on the
motherboard.

COMPUTER PORTS
WHAT ARE COMPUTER PORTS

A port is a virtual point where network connections start and end. Ports are software-based and managed
by a computer's operating system. Each port is associated with a specific process or service. Ports allow
computers to easily differentiate between different kinds of traffic: emails go to a different port than
webpages, for instance, even though both reach a computer over the same Internet connection.

A port serves as a tangible connection point allowing external devices to link up with the computer.
Additionally, it can function as a programmatic docking point facilitating the flow of information from a
program to the computer or the internet.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PORTS
1. Physical Connectivity - ports provide tangible docking points on a computer where external devices
can be physically connected. This allows for the transfer of data and signals between the computer
and these peripherals.
2. Versatility - Ports come in various types to accommodate different types of connections. Common
examples include USB ports, HDMI ports, Ethernet ports, etc., each designed for specific purposes.
3. Bidirectional Communication: Ports enable bidirectional communication, allowing data to be
transmitted to and from connected devices. This facilitates interaction and information exchange
between the computer and external peripherals.
4. Programmatic Interface: In addition to physical connections, ports can also serve as programmatic
interfaces. They enable communication between software programs, the computer, and the internet,
allowing for the transfer of data and information.
5. Specialized Functionality: Different types of ports have specialized functions. For instance, USB ports
are versatile for connecting a variety of devices, while HDMI ports are commonly used for audio and
video transmission.
6. Scalability: Many computers have multiple ports of various types, providing scalability and flexibility
for connecting multiple devices simultaneously.

TYPES OF PORTS

SERIAL PORT - An asynchronous port on the

computer is used to connect a serial device to the
computer that transmits one bit at a time. Serial ports
are usually identified on IBM-compatible computers as
COM (communications) ports.
With many computers, the serial port is labeled as
"10101" which are ones and zeros to represent binary.
A user may also interpret the number "1" as the letter
"I" and the zeros as the letter "O" and call it the
"IOIOI" port.
PARALLEL PORT - Less commonly called the
Centronics interface, Centronics connector, or
Centronics port after the company that originally
designed it, the port was later developed by Epson.
The parallel port is found on the back of IBM
compatible computers and is a 25-pin (type DB-25)
computer interface commonly used to connect
printers to the computer. The parallel port is found on
the back of the computer and is part of the
motherboard.
PS/2 PORT - The PS/2 port is a 6-pin mini-DIN
connector used for connecting keyboards and mice to
a PC compatible computer system. Its name comes
from the IBM Personal System/2 series of personal
computers, with which it was introduced in 1987.

UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (OR USB) PORT - USB, or

universal serial bus, is a protocol and hardware
standard for digital communications. That means that
the USB standard specifies both the actual form of
cabling and connectors and the structure of the data
that passes through them. The original standard was
released in 1996.
USB TYPE A - USB-A is the most known USB type.
The odds are you have plenty of USB-A connectors
at home and you’re quite familiar with the way they
look. It’s the cable with that one wider end. Only
one, as the connector is not rotationally
symmetrical and both ends are different,
corresponding to a different type of port.
USB TYPE B - Just like USB-A, it’s the original
designation for the two ends of a non-symmetrical
cable. The differing form of USB-A and USB-B helps
to enforce the mono-directional aspect of these
iterations of USB. Data flow is bi-directional, but
power may only flow from the host to the
peripheral or receptor end and, therefore, the
cable can only be connected in one way.
USB MINI - The mini-USB was used for a variety of
devices including mp3 players, digital cameras, and
mobile phones. Although it wasn’t quite as
powerful as the original Type A connector, the mini-
USB was lauded for its conveniently small size at
around 3 x 7 mm. It also has 5,000 connect-
disconnect cycles, meaning it can be plugged in and
removed 5,000 times before wearing down.
USB MICRO - The micro USB is also smaller at
around 6.85 x 1.8 mm and is shaped differently
with a rounded top and a flat bottom. It is more
durable with 10,000 connect-disconnect cycles and
provides faster transfer rates at around 480
megabits per second. Micro USB ports are
frequently seen on Android mobile phones and
tablets and numerous other devices.
 USB TYPE C - it’s fully reversible, so no matter what
side you grab to plug, it’s all the same. Then, its bi-
directional power capabilities allow for the power
flow in both directions, having devices charge each
other and power larger displays. Also, USB-C has
better data rates which can drive high-resolution
monitors.

VIDEO PORTS - Alternatively referred to as a grafport

(graphics port), a video port is a port that can be used
to connect a monitor or other display, such as a TV, to
a computer. Video ports for desktop computers are
located on the back, while laptop computers have
them on the back or side.
VGA PORT - Short for video graphics adapter or
video graphics array, VGA is a popular display
standard developed by IBM and introduced in
1987. VGA provides 640 x 480 resolution color
display screens with a refresh rate of 60 Hz and 16
colors displayed at a time.

DVI PORT - Short for digital visual interface, DVI is a

video display interface. It was developed as an
industry standard for transmitting digital video
content to display devices at resolutions as high as
2560 x 1600. Common devices that utilize the DVI
connection are computer monitors and projectors.
DVI can even be used with some TVs. The DVI
connector may have one of three names depending
on the signals it supports: DVI-A (analog only), DVI-
D (digital only), or DVI-I (digital and analog).

HDMI - Short for High-Definition Multimedia

Interface, HDMI is a connector and cable capable of
transmitting high-quality and high-bandwidth audio
and video streams between devices. The HDMI
technology is used with devices such as an HDTV
(high-definition television), Projector, DVD (digital
versatile disc) player, or Blu-ray player. The picture
shows an HDMI cable from Mediabridge.
POWER PORT - On the computer or other electronic
device, a power port is a port that charge the device's
battery if necessary and allows the device to draw
power from a wall outlet. Without a power cord
attached to the power port, devices that do not
include batteries, such as desktop computers, cannot
be turned on. Devices with batteries, such as laptops,
can operate with or without anything connected to
the power connection if the battery is charged.
The power port is part of the power supply, which is
coupled to the computer's motherboard and is
located inside the computer on most of the computer
systems. This port is located at the top or bottom side
of the computer's chassis.
 FIREWIRE PORT - IEEE 1394, commonly known as
FireWire, is a standard connection type for many
electronic devices such as digital video cameras,
printers and scanners, external hard drives, and other
peripherals.
FireWire supports plug-and-play, meaning that an
operating system automatically finds the device when
it's plugged in and asks to install a driver if needed to
make it work.

ETHERNET PORT - Ethernet ports can also be

referred to as sockets or jacks. The main function of an
ethernet port is to create an ethernet connection.
Ethernet connections can be create between
computers, servers, switches, hubs, routers, modems,
gaming consoles, printers and much more. When
multiple devices are connected it is called a LAN (Local
Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network) or MAN
(Metropolitan Area Networks). These types of
networks range in different sizes. For most networks in
your home, it will be a LAN (Local Area Network). One
of the vital parts to these networks is an ethernet
port.
AUDIO PORTS - Motherboard audio ports are
physical connection points on the motherboard rear
I/O panel used to connect audio devices. You can use
these ports to connect external speakers,
microphones, or other audio devices.
There are three main audio ports commonly found on
motherboards: line in, line out, and microphone. Each
port serves a different purpose and is used to connect
different types of audio devices. Their sizes are the
3.5mm (1/8″) mini-jack and the 6.3mm (1/4″) stereo
jacks and can be used for either audio input or audio
output.

COMPUTER SLOT
WHAT IS A COMPUTER SLOT

An expansion slot is a socket on a computer motherboard that allows you to add additional components
to your system. These slots are used to expand the capabilities of your computer and can be used to add
new functionality to your system.

Alternatively known as a bus slot or expansion port, an expansion slot is a connection or port inside a
computer on the motherboard or riser card. It provides an installation point for a hardware expansion
card to be connected.

PURPOSE OF EXPANSION SLOTS

Various categories of computer users possess distinct requirements for their computer setups. Computers
are initially constructed with only fundamental components, but additional elements can be incorporated
to meet the needs of advanced users.
The primary purpose of the slot is to facilitate the interaction and communication between the card and
essential computer components such as the motherboard, CPU, and RAM.
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE FUNCTIONALITIES THAT CAN BE ADDED THROUGH THE SLOTS.

1. Enhanced graphics display capabilities can be incorporated for users engaging in multimedia and
gaming applications.
2. Television functionalities were attainable through the purchase of a TV card, allowing users to watch
TV on their computers before the advent of digital TV.
3. For wireless connectivity, the desktop computer is initially furnished with an Ethernet port for wired
network connections. To introduce Wi-Fi capabilities, one can acquire a network card that supports
Wi-Fi.
4. Boosting the computer's speed and capabilities can be achieved by incorporating a CPU that aligns
with the motherboard's compatibility.
5. Elevating the main memory (RAM) capacity is possible by adding more if the motherboard supports
larger memory, thereby enhancing the capability to handle a greater number of processes
concurrently in the main memory.
6. Sound capabilities can be enhanced by incorporating a sound card, which serves to improve both
sound input and output for users.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPANSION SLOTS

PERIPHERAL COMPONENT INTERCONNECT (PCI) -
A PCI slot is a built-in slot on a device that allows for
the attachment of various hardware components such
as network cards, modems, sound cards, disk
controllers and other peripherals.

PERIPHERAL COMPONENT INTERCONNECT

EXPRESS (PCIE) – PCIE slot is a newer type of slot that
allows for faster data transfer rates than the older PCI
slots. PCIe slots are typically used to add graphics
cards and other high-performance cards to a
computer system.

ACCELERATED GRAPHICS PORT (AGP) – is a type of

slot that is specifically designed for graphics cards.
These slots offer faster data transfer rates than
standard peripheral component interconnect (PCI)
slots and are typically used to add high- performance
graphics cards to a computer system.
AUDIO MODEM RISER (AMR) - AMR (Audio Modem
Riser) is a brief riser expansion slot situated on the
motherboard of specific Intel PCs, including the
Pentium III and IV. It is also present in AMD Athlon and
AMD Duron PCs. The purpose of the Audio Modem
Riser is to provide a straightforward and cost-effective
means of integrating specialized sound cards and
modems into a system. Introduced by Intel in 1998,
the AMR slot allows motherboard manufacturers to
adopt an analog input/output (I/O) system for audio
and modem functions on an expansion board.

COMMUNICATION AND NETWORK RISER (CNR) -

CNR is a specification that supports Audio, Modem,
USB (universal serial bus), and LAN (local area
network) interfaces of core logic chipsets. CNR slot
technology was introduced by Intel on February 7,
2000. It was mainly developed by leading hardware
and software developers who helped release the AMR
(audio/modem riser) slot.

INDUSTRY STANDARD ARCHITECTURE (ISA) –

expansion slot is an older type of slot that was
commonly used in early personal computer system.
These slots are no longer commonly used in modern
PC’s as newer types of slots offer faster data transfer
rates and more functionality.

CPU SOCKETS/SLOTS - A CPU socket uses a series of

pins to connect a CPU’s processor to the
PC’s motherboard. If a CPU is connected via a CPU
socket, it is not soldered and can therefore be
replaced.
Motherboards in desktop and server computers
employ CPU sockets. These sockets facilitate
convenient component swapping, making them
valuable for prototyping new circuits. In contrast,
laptops commonly utilize surface-mount CPUs, which
occupy less space on the motherboard compared to
socketed counterparts.

MEMORY SLOTS - A memory slot refers to a physical

connection point on a computer's motherboard
specifically crafted to house a memory module. These
memory modules, available in diverse shapes and
sizes like DIMM or SO-DIMM, encompass an array of
memory chips, facilitating the temporary storage and
access of data in the computer's RAM. Typically,
motherboards boast two to four memory slots, with
high-end models potentially accommodating even
more. The permissible type, speed, and capacity of
the memory module for each slot are contingent upon
the precise specifications of the slot.

TYPES OF MEMORY SLOTS

 1. DDR (Double Data Rate): DDR is the original
memory slot type, and it is now considered
obsolete. DDR memory slots have a maximum
transfer rate of 400MHz.
2. DDR2: DDR2 is the next generation of memory
slots, offering faster data transfer rates than DDR.
DDR2 memory slots have a maximum transfer rate
of 800MHz.
3. DDR3: DDR3 is the third generation of memory
slots, providing even faster data transfer rates
than DDR2. DDR3 memory slots have a maximum
transfer rate of 1600MHz.
4. DDR4: DDR4 is the most recent generation of
memory slots, and it offers the fastest data
transfer rates available. DDR4 memory slots have
a maximum transfer rate of 3200MHz.

EXPANSION CARDS

WHAT ARE EXPANSION CARDS?

An expansion card, also known as an expansion board, add-on card, adapter card, daughter board or
accessory card. It is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an electrical connector, or expansion
slot on a computer motherboard, backplane, or riser card to add functionality to a computer system via
the expansion bus.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF ADDING AN EXPANSION CARD TO THE MOTHERBOARD?

The addition of an expansion card or board to a computer's motherboard serves the purpose of
enhancing or adding functionality to the computer that was previously absent. Utilizing expansion cards is
a method of upgrading a computer. Among different case types, tower case desktop computers
particularly embrace the concept of expansion cards. "On-the-desk" case desktops typically feature a
limited number of expansion slots, while all-in-one systems may offer restricted or no support for
expansion slots. As of June 2013, contemporary production computers are equipped with PCI Express and
PCI expansion slots.