MODULE

WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.

A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester 7-8

Installing and Configuring Computer Systems

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

 Assemble a computer system

 Install Input/Output devices

https://turbofuture.com/computers/Dissassembling-and-Assembling-the-computer-system

SYSTEM UNIT ASSEMBLY

Open the Case

Computer cases are produced in a variety of form factors. Form factors refer to the size and
shape of the case.

Prepare the workspace before opening the computer case. There should be adequate lighting,
good ventilation, and a comfortable room temperature. The workbench or table should be
accessible from all sides. Avoid cluttering the surface of the workbench or table with tools and
computer components. An antistatic mat on the table will help prevent physical and
electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to equipment. Small containers can be used to hold
small screws and other parts as they are being removed`

Install the Power Supply

Most power supplies can fit into the computer case in only one way. There are usually three or
four screws that attach the power supply to the case. Power supplies have fans that can vibrate
and loosen screws that are not secured. When installing a power supply, make sure that all of
the screws are used and that they are properly tightened.

These are the power supply installation steps:

Step 1.Insert the power supply into the case.

Step 2.Align the holes in the power supply with the holes in the case.
Step 3.Secure the power supply to the case using the proper screws.

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 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

Attach the Components to the Motherboard

and Install the Motherboard

This section details the steps to install components on the motherboard and then install the
motherboard into the computer case.

After completing this section, you will meet these objectives:

 Install a CPU and a heat sink/fan assembly.
 Install the RAM.
 Install the motherboard.

Install a CPU and a Heat Sink/Fan Assembly

The central processing unit (CPU) and the heat sink/fan assembly may be installed on the
motherboard before the motherboard is placed in the computer case. CPU
The CPU and motherboard are sensitive to electrostatic discharge. When handling a CPU and
motherboard, make sure that you place them on a grounded antistatic mat. You should wear an
antistatic wrist strap while working with these components. Key electrostatic-sensitive
components include the following:

 CPUs
 Motherboards
 RAM
 Expansion cards

Caution!

When handling a CPU, do not touch the CPU contacts at any

time. The CPU is secured to the socket on the motherboard
with a locking assembly. The CPU sockets today are zero
insertion force (ZIF) sockets. You should be familiar with
the locking assembly before attempting to install a CPU into
the socket on the motherboard. Orient the missing pin in the
corner of the CPU to the missing hole on the socket.
Thermal compound helps to conduct heat away from the
CPU.

Caution!

Silver-oxide thermal compound is toxic. Use rubber gloves and wash

your hands thoroughly afterward. It does not take very much
compound to fill the space between the CPU and heat sink. If you
use too much it will leak onto the motherboard. When you are
installing a used CPU, clean the CPU and the base of the heat sink
with isopropyl alcohol. Doing this removes all traces of old thermal
compound. The surfaces are now ready for a new layer of thermal
compound.

It is a two-part cooling device. The heat sink draws heat away from
the CPU. The fan moves the heat away from the heat sink. The heat
sink/fan assembly usually has a 3-pin power connector.

Follow these instructions for CPU and heat sink/fan assembly installation:

Step 1. Align the CPU so that the Connection 1 indicator is lined up with Pin 1 on the CPU
socket.

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 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

Doing this ensures that the orientation notches on the CPU are aligned with the
orientation keys on the CPU socket.

Step 2. Place the CPU gently into the socket.

Step 3. Close the CPU load plate and secure it in place by closing the load lever and moving it
under the load lever retention tab.

Step 4. Apply a small amount of thermal compound to the CPU and spread it evenly. Follow the
application instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Step 5. Align the heat sink/fan assembly retainers with the holes on the motherboard.

Step 6. Place the heat sink/fan assembly onto the CPU socket, being careful not to pinch
the CPU fan wires.

Step 7. Tighten the heat sink/fan assembly retainers to secure the assembly in place.

Step 8. Connect the heat sink/fan assembly power cable to the header on the motherboard.

Install the RAM

Like the CPU and the heat sink/fan assembly, random-access memory (RAM) is installed in
the motherboard before the motherboard is secured in the computer case.

RAM provides temporary data storage for the CPU while the computer is operating. RAM
Is volatile memory, which means that its contents are lost when the computer is shutdown.
Typically, more RAM will enhance the performance of your computer. Follow these steps for
RAM installation:

Step 1: Align the notches on the RAM module with the keys in the slot and press down
until the side tabs click into place.
Step 2: Make sure that the side tabs have locked the RAM module. Visually check for exposed
contacts.

Repeat these steps for additional RAM modules

Install the Motherboard

The motherboard is now ready to install in the computer case. Plastic and metal standoffs are
used to mount the motherboard and to prevent it from touching the metal portions of the case.
You should install only the standoffs that align with the holes in the motherboard. Installing any
additional standoffs may prevent the motherboard from being seated properly in the computer
case. Follow these steps for motherboard installation:

Step 1. Install standoffs in the computer case.

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL LIVELIHOOD TRACK COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II

 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

Step 2. Align the I/O connectors on the back of the motherboard with the openings in
the back of the case.

Step 3. Align the screw holes of the motherboard with the standoffs.

Step 4. Insert all of the motherboard screws.

Step 5. Tighten all of the motherboard screws.

Install Internal Drives

Drives that are installed in internal bays are called internal drives. A hard disk drive (HDD) is
an example of an internal drive. Follow these steps for HDD installation:

Step 1. Position the HDD so that it aligns with the 3.5-inch drive bay.
Step 2. Insert the HDD into the drive bay so that the screw holes in the drive line up with the
screw holes in the case.
Step 3: Secure the HDD to the case using the proper screws.

Connect All Internal Cables

Power cables are used to distribute electricity from the power supply to the motherboard and
other components. Data cables transmit data between the motherboard and storage devices,
such as hard drives. Additional cables connect the buttons and link lights on the front of the
computer case to the motherboard.

Connect the Power Cables

Power cables are brightly colored bundles of wires that branch out from the power supply. As
the name suggests, they provide internal devices with electricity. There are several kinds of
power connectors. Motherboard Power Connections Just like other components, motherboards
require power to operate. The Advanced Technology Extended (ATX) main power connector
will have either 20 or 24 pins. The power supply may also have a 4-pin or 6-pin Auxiliary (AUX)

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL LIVELIHOOD TRACK COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II

 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

power connector that connects to the motherboard. A 20-pin connector will work in a
motherboard with a 24-pin socket.

Follow these steps for motherboard power cable installation:

Step 1. Align the 20-pin + 4-pin ATX power connector with the socket on the motherboard.

Step 2. Gently press down on the connector until the clip clicks into place.
Step 3. Align the 4-pin AUX power connector with the socket on the motherboard.

Step 4. Gently press down on the connector until the clip clicks into place.
Step 5. Align the SATA power connectors with the socket on the hard disk drive.

Connect the Data Cables

Step 6. Gently press down on the connector until the clip clicks
into place.

Drives connect to the motherboard using data cables.

Step 1. Align the SATA cable with the socket on the hard disk drive and motherboard.
Step 2. Gently press down on the connector until the clip clicks into place.

Connect the Front Panel Connections

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 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

The front panel header is where the connectors of hard disk drive activity lights, audio input,
reset button, power on/off button, computer power on light, and usb port, are connected to make
them function smoothly.

Step 1. Connect the front panel to motherboard.

Step 2. Connect the USB connection to motherboard.

Step 3. Connect Audio connection to motherboard.

Note:
Plug in the power cable after you have connected all other cables.

Follow these steps for external cable installation:

Step 1. Attach the monitor cable to the video port.

Step 2. Secure the cable by tightening the screws on the connector.
Step 3. Plug the keyboard cable.
Step 4. Plug the mouse cable.
Step 5. Plug the power cable into the power supply.

The computer is now ready to be turned on and to have software loaded on it. If the
computer has problems starting up, check all component connections and mounting to
make sure that you have hooked everything up correctly.

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL LIVELIHOOD TRACK COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II

 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

Installing and Configuring Computer Systems

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

 Document specifications and information on hardware

https://turbofuture.com/computers/Dissassembling-and-Assembling-the-computer-system

COMPUTER SPECIFICATIONS

What is Specification?

The specification or ‘spec’ is a list of the key components that make up the computer. It is
provided by retailers to help buyers decide which PC, and which combination of features, they
need. When buying a PC you start by deciding what you want your PC to do. This tells the
specification you actually need.

When reviewing a computer specification, the most important component to take are the
processor, the size of RAM and the size of the hard drive as these are central to the overall
capability of the system. If it is planned to use specialized programs for students with special
needs, it is advisable to purchase a suitable specification computer to meet the system
requirements for these programs.

Understanding a Specification

Sample specification for a certain desktop computers:

Processors

Two companies - Intel Inc. and AMD Inc. – are the manufacturers of most of today’s PC
processors and both offer a range that balances price and performance. Processors are
generally defined by their speed, in megahertz (MHz) or in gigahertz (GHz), and this relates to
the number of operations they can perform per second. The higher the value, the faster the PC
will perform and the more expensive it is. More recent and more powerful processors use a 64
Bit architecture, rather than the previous 32 Bit models.

Memory (RAM)

The main working memory in a computer is called random access memory or RAM. The
processor uses this memory to run programs. RAM is measured in megabytes (MB).

A minimum of 2024 MB (2GB) of RAM is recommended for general purpose PCs. 2048 MB
(2GB) of RAM is also sufficient for PCs running multimedia applications, i.e., those on which
digital music, digital video or high-end graphics are being created/edited.

Storage – The Hard Drive

The hard drive is the computer’s primary storage area. It stores the applications and programs
that run on the PC, as well as any work created by users. From a school’s perspective, the
capacity of the hard drive, measured in gigabytes (GB), is a key criterion and should be given
due consideration when reviewing PC specifications.

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 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

A hard drive capacity of at least 80GB is recommended for general purpose PCs. A hard drive
capacity of 200GB or more is recommended if working with multimedia applications where large
graphics and digital audio/video files are being created and stored.

Power Supply

The primary function of a power supply is to convert electric current from a source to the correct
voltage, current, and frequency to power the load. As a result, power supplies are sometimes
referred to as electric power converters. Some power supplies are separate standalone pieces
of equipment, while others are built into the load appliances that they power. Examples of the
latter include power supplies found in desktop computers and consumer electronics devices.

DC power supplies use AC mains electricity as an energy source. Such power supplies
will employ a transformer to convert the input voltage to a higher or lower AC voltage. A
rectifier is used to convert the transformer output voltage to a varying DC voltage, which
in turn is passed through an electronic filter to convert it to an unregulated DC voltage.

Optical Drives

CD R/W drives are standard on PCs and allow the information on a compact disc (either data or
audio) to be read and written to by the PC. It is defined by its speed (i.e., 48x or 48 speed).

DVD drives can read both CDs and DVDs. Standard on entry level computers are 48x DVD-
ROM/CD_RW drives and allows you to copy blank CDs. High performance computer use 52x
DVD-RWs. Educational software is being developed in both DVD and CD formats, but a DVD
can hold over 25 times more data than a CD.

Graphics and Sound Cards

These cards are installed inside a PC and are responsible for determining the quality of
the audio and visuals (graphics and video) output by the computer. They hold their own
memory (in MB), which is why they add to a computer’s capability.

An integrated graphics card with 256MB of memory is recommended for general

purpose PCs.

Computers running high-end applications generally require a separate 256MB graphics

card.

A sound card generally comes as standard in most PCs purchased today. If students
intend to work extensively with digital music, the school should consider getting a high-
end sound card as this will create greater depth, complexity and realism of sound.

PERFORM HARDWARE INVENTORY

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL LIVELIHOOD TRACK COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II

 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

1. Motherboard

 Socket type: LGA 775

 Brand : GIGABYTE
 Model: GA-31M-S2L

2. RAM

 Brand: SIMMTRONICS
 Size/Capacity: 4GB
 Type: DDR3

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL LIVELIHOOD TRACK COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II

 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

3. Central Processing Unit / Processor

 Brand: INTEL
 Model: PENTIUM
 Speed: 3.50GHZ

4. Power Supply

 Type: ATX
 Brand: AKYGA
 Voltage: 230 volts
 Wattage: 420 watts
 Model: AK-B1-420

5. Hard Disk Drive

 Type: SATA
 Brand: WESTERN DIGITAL
 Model: WD5000AAKX
 Size/Capacity: 500GB

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL LIVELIHOOD TRACK COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II

 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

Name: ____________________________________ Section: __________

Task 1: Rearrange the Procedures

Direction: Rearrange the following procedures in their proper order. Use numbers to indicate
their order of precedence. The first number is done for you.
____1. Install the Power Supply
____2. Apply Thermal Compound to the CPU
____3. Install Internal Drives
____4. Install Memory (RAM Modules)
____5. Connect all power and data cables
____6. Install the CPU
____7. Install the CPU Heat Sink
____8. Place the motherboard into the case
____9. Prepare the Motherboard
____10. Prepare your workplace

TASK 2: Answer the following base on your own understanding.

Answer
must be expressed in Filipino.

1. What is the essence of following the correct procedures in connecting the PC parts?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

2. What do you think is the main reason why we should never exert too much force when
attaching the cables of PC parts? Explain your answer.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

3. What is your perspective why the power cable should always be the last on the procedure of
attaching parts?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
TASK: PERFORM HARDWARE INVENTORY

INVENTORY FORM

1 .MOTHERBOARD 4. Power Supply

 Socket type: _____________________  Type: ________________________
 Brand : _________________________  Brand: _______________________
 Model: __________________________  Model: _______________________
2. RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY / RAM  Voltage: ______________________
 Wattage: _____________________
 Brand: _________________________
 Size/Capacity: ___________________
 Type: __________________________ 5. Hard Disk Drive:

3. 3. Central Processing Unit / Processor  Type: ________________________

 Brand: _______________________
 Brand: _________________________
 Model: _______________________
 Size/Capacity: _________________

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL LIVELIHOOD TRACK COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II

 WESTERN AKLAN ACADEMY, INC.
A.Y. 2021-2022, First Semester

 Model: _________________________
 Speed: _________________________

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL LIVELIHOOD TRACK COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II