103b ao 2012f

Introduction

The Demolition lab took place in Ford Hall foyer. The purpose of the lab was to take apart a computer and locate or name the visible parts, take them out, and take notes about their different functions in the computer. The computer which my partner and I took apart was a Dell Windows XP Professional GX620.

Before 'demolition' our computer looked like this

On opening the compter some parts were visible which include

• Motherboard
• RAM
• DVD Player
• Fan
• Cables

Motherboard

The Motherboard is the central part of the computer. It provides a platform in which different parts can be connected to each other. These parts include the Processor, RAM, Crystal, Battery and Circuits

Processor

• An INTEL PENTIUM processor
• Is found on the motherboard under the fan
• Has more than a million logic gates which work very fast and therefore the Processor heats up
• The processor carries out instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetical and logical operations of the computer system | Wikipedia page on Central Processing Unit

RAM

• Random Access Memory is a form of compter storage
• Samsung make
• 512MB memory
• Was next to the power supply and DVD Player
• This is where programs are stored when the computer is switched off
  

Crystal

• Is the metronome for the computer
• According to Wikipedia, the frequency of the crystal determines the clockrate of the processor. | Wikipedia page on Clockrate

Hard Disk

• Is magnetic
• Is where programs are stored when computer is switched off
• Found below the DVD
• 40GB
• Inside the hard disk is a shinny disk and the head which writes programs on the disk
  

DVD Player

• Adjacent to the power supply
• Phillips DVD R/RW Drive
  
• According to Wikipedia, a DVD player reads DVD discs, optionally decrypts data and obeys the DVD's Regional lockout | Wikipedia page on DVD Player

Power-supply

• Adjacent to the DVD Player
• 280W output of power
• The power supply changes alternating current from a wall socket to low voltage direct current to operate the processor and other devices | Wikipedia page on Power supply unit
• The cables are for transfer of power between various parts of the computer

References

1. Wikipedia page on Central processing unit Accessed October 7, 2012
2. Wikipedia page on Clockrate Accessed October 7, 2012
3. Wikipedia page on DVD Player Accessed October 10, 2012
4. Wikipedia page on Power supply unit Accessed October 10, 2012