\My Documents\College\Courses\CMT113\Outline CMT113 Fall 2006.doc
NEW HAMPSHIRECOMMUNITYTECHNICALCOLLEGE
2020 Riverside Drive, Berlin, NH 03570
COURSE OUTLINE
CMT113 Microcomputer Hardware
Course Number Title
Fall 2006 Berlin
Semester Location
Prepared by
Jeff Schall
Instructor
August 23, 2006
Date
CMT113 Microcomputer Hardware
Course Description
PC Hardware and Software, Sponsored by Hewlett-Packard Company and Cisco, presents an in-depth exposure to computer hardware and operating systems. Students learn the functionality of hardware and software components, as well as suggested best practices in maintenance and safety issues. Through hands-on activities and labs, students learn how to assemble and configure a computer, install operating systems and software, and troubleshoot hardware and software problems. In addition, an introduction to networking is included. This course helps prepare for CompTIA’s A+ certification. Uses Cisco Networking Academy IT Essentials I
Student Responsibilities
Students will comprehend as much technical material from classroom lectures, reading assignments, CBTs, exam preparations, labs and projects that they can.
Students will complete all reading assignments and CBT unit exams by the scheduled date.
Students will be punctual for all scheduled classes.
Review the CompTIA A+ Certification on-line at:
Evaluation
Students will be evaluated using standard college grading procedures as defined in the student handbook. Students will be graded on their performance of the on-line exams administered by the Cisco Assessment Server for IT Essentials I and a semester ending practical laboratory competence of computer assembly/repair.
Students will take multiple choice question exams for the material covered in the on-line Cisco IT Essentials I CBTs. Each section will have an on-line exam to assess the student’s performance. Topic objectives and outcomes are described for each section in the Cisco IT Essentials I CBTs.
IT Essentials I Lesson Exams - 50% of final grade
IT Essentials IFinal Exams - 25% of final grade
Lab grade will be based on the student successfully accomplishing the performance lab.
Performance Lab - 25% of final grade
Computer Based Training – CBT
Class lectures will follow the CBT and will be delivered at appropriate times throughout the semester. Lectures usually will be delivered at the beginning of the class period however, they may be given at anytime during the scheduled class period depending on the need to re-enforce CBT material that the students find difficult.
Students will find the CBT lessons by pointing a browser to:
IT Essentials I 64.72.8.17/IT Essentials 1
Students will need an access code to gain access to the BerlinCiscoNetworkingAcademycurriculum web server. The above URL points to a web server located on Berlin’s campus. Students should be able to access the server from any computer connected to the Internet. Access for the server is authenticated by the student entering “ctstudent” when requested for username with a password of “ctpassword”.
Students can also access an alternate web server hosted by Cisco at: students.netacad.net Students will need to enter their CiscoNetworkingAcademyusername and password when requested for authentication. Access codes will be given out during the first week of class.
Assessment Server
Students are required to take on-line exams for each lesson. Students can only access the Cisco assessment server at: cisco-aas.netacad.net On-line exams will be available after the first week of September. Students will need to be authenticated when they attempt to login. Usernames and passwords will be distributed to the students by the instructor during the first week of classes.
Students will be able to review their progress by checking the Grade Book at: students.netacad.net Use the same username and password as the one for the assessment server.
Laboratory Work
Course component for lab is 2 hours. I expect the student to spend assigned lab time working on assignments. Assignments will be a combination of computer based training and hardware bench labs using personal computers. Students will assemble, configure, load operating system software and demonstrate the ability to build working desktop computer systems.
I encourage the student to spend as much time as possible working in the Computer Technology Lab beyond the required time. Additional time can be spent working on course assignments or
other campus computing projects. Other projects the student could get involved with: Internet, Lab Management, Computer Repair, R & D, Campus Network, or User Support.
A+ Core Hardware Service Technician Objectives
Domain 1.0 Installation, Configuration, and Upgrading
This domain requires the knowledge and skills to identify, install, configure, and upgrade microcomputer
modules and peripherals, following established basic procedures for system assembly and disassembly of
field replaceable modules. Elements included are listed below with each test objective.
1.1 Identify basic terms, concepts, and functions of system modules, including how each module should
work during normal operation and during the boot process.
Examples of concepts and modules are:
o System board
o Power supply
o Processor /CPU
o Memory
o Storage devices
o Monitor
o Modem
o Firmware
o BIOS
o CMOS
o LCD (portable systems)
o Ports
o PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
1.2 Identify basic procedures for adding and removing field replaceable modules for both desktop and
portable systems.
Examples of modules:
o System board
o Storage device
o Power supply
o Processor /CPU
o Memory
o Input devices
o Hard drive
o Keyboard
o Video board
o Mouse
o Network Interface Card (NIC)
Portable system components
o AC adapter
o Digital Camera
o DC controller
o LCD panel
o PC Card
o Pointing Devices
1.3 Identify available IRQs, DMAs, and I/O addresses and procedures for device installation and
configuration.
Content may include the following:
o Standard IRQ settings
o Modems
o Floppy drive controllers
o Hard drive controllers
o USB ports
o Infrared ports
o Hexidecimal/Addresses
1.4 Identify common peripheral ports, associated cabling, and their connectors.
Content may include the following:
o Cable types
o Cable orientation
o Serial versus parallel
o Pin connections
Examples of types of connectors:
o DB-9
o DB-25
o RJ-11
o RJ-45
o BNC
o PS2/MINI-DIN
o USB
o IEEE 1394
1.5 Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring IDE/EIDE devices.
Content may include the following:
o Master/Slave
o Devices per channel
o Primary/Secondary
1.6 Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring SCSI devices.
Content may include the following:
o Address/Termination conflicts
o Cabling
o Types (example: regular, wide, ultra-wide)
o Internal versus external
o Expansion slots, EISA, ISA, PCI
o Jumper block settings (binary equivalents)
1.7 Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring peripheral devices.
Content may include the following:
o Monitor/Video Card
o Modem
o USB peripherals and hubs
o IEEE 1284
o IEEE 1394
o External storage
Portables
o Docking stations
o PC cards
o Port replicators
o Infrared devices
1.8 Identify hardware methods of upgrading system performance, procedures for replacing basic
subsystem components, unique components and when to use them.
Content may include the following:
o Memory
o Hard Drives
o CPU
o Upgrading BIOS
o When to upgrade BIOS
Portable Systems
o Battery
o Hard Drive
o Types I, II, III cards
o Memory
Domain 2.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting
This domain requires the ability to apply knowledge relating to diagnosing and troubleshooting common
module problems and system malfunctions. This includes knowledge of the symptoms relating to common
problems.
2.1 Identify common symptoms and problems associated with each module and how to troubleshoot and
isolate the problems.
Content may include the following:
o Processor/Memory symptoms
o Mouse
o Floppy drive
o Parallel ports
o Hard Drives
o CD-ROM
o DVD
o Sound Card/Audio
o Monitor/Video
o Motherboards
o Modems
o BIOS
o USB
o NIC
o CMOS
o Power supply
o Slot covers
o POST audible/visual error codes
o Troubleshooting tools, e.g., multimeter
o Large LBA, LBA
o Cables
o Keyboard
o Peripherals
2.2 Identify basic troubleshooting procedures and how to elicit problem symptoms from customers.
Content may include the following:
o Troubleshooting/isolation/problem determination procedures
o Determine whether hardware or software problem
o Gather information from user regarding, e.g.,
o Customer Environment
o Symptoms/Error Codes
o Situation when the problem occurred
Domain 3.0 Preventive Maintenance
This domain requires the knowledge of safety and preventive maintenance. With regard to safety, it
includes the potential hazards to personnel and equipment when working with lasers, high voltage
equipment, ESD, and items that require special disposal procedures that comply with environmental
guidelines. With regard to preventive maintenance, this includes knowledge of preventive maintenance
products, procedures, environmental hazards, and precautions when working on microcomputer systems.
Content Limits
3.1 Identify the purpose of various types of preventive maintenance products and procedures and when to
use them.
Content may include the following:
o Liquid cleaning compounds
o Types of materials to clean contacts and connections
o Non-static vacuums (chassis, power supplies, fans)
3.2 Identify issues, procedures and devices for protection within the computing environment, including
people, hardware and the surrounding workspace.
Content may include the following:
o UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and suppressors
o Determining the signs of power issues
o Proper methods of storage of components for future use
Potential hazards and proper safety procedures relating Lasers
o High-voltage equipment
o Power supply
o CRT
Special disposal procedures that comply with environmental guidelines.
o Batteries
o CRTs
o Toner kits/cartridges
o Chemical solvents and cans
o MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)
ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) precautions and procedures
o What ESD can do, how it may be apparent, or hidden
o Common ESD protection devices
o Situations that could present a danger or hazard
Domain 4.0 Motherboard/Processors/Memory
This domain requires knowledge of specific terminology, facts, ways and means of dealing with
classifications, categories and principles of motherboards, processors, and memory in microcomputer
systems.
4.1 Distinguish between the popular CPU chips in terms of their basic characteristics.
Content may include the following:
o Popular CPU chips (Intel, AMD, Cyrix)
o Characteristics
o Physical size
o Voltage
o Speeds
o On board cache or not
o Sockets
o SEC (Single Edge Contact)
4.2 Identify the categories of RAM (Random Access Memory) terminology, their locations, and physical
characteristics.
Content may include the following:
o Terminology:
o EDO RAM (Extended Data Output RAM)
o DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)
o SRAM (Static RAM)
o RIMM (Rambus Inline Memory Module 184 Pin)
o VRAM (Video RAM)
o SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM)
o WRAM (Windows Accelerator Card RAM)
o Locations and physical characteristics:
o Memory bank
o Memory chips (8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit)
o SIMMS (Single In-line Memory Module)
o DIMMS (Dual In-line Memory Module)
o Parity chips versus non-parity chips
4.3 Identify the most popular type of motherboards, their components, and their architecture (bus
structures and power supplies).
Content may include the following:
o Types of motherboards:
o AT (Full and Baby)
o ATX
o Components:
o Communication ports
o SIMM and DIMM
o Processor sockets
o External cache memory (Level 2)
o Bus Architecture
o ISA
o PCI
o AGP
o USB (Universal Serial Bus)
o VESA local bus (VL-Bus)
o Basic compatibility guidelines
o IDE (ATA, ATAPI, ULTRA-DMA, EIDE)
o SCSI (Wide, Fast, Ultra, LVD(Low Voltage Differential))
4.4 Identify the purpose of CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), what it contains and how
to change its basic parameters.
Example Basic CMOS Settings:
o Printer parallel port—Uni., bi-directional, disable/enable, ECP, EPP
o COM/serial port—memory address, interrupt request, disable
o Floppy drive—enable/disable drive or boot, speed, density
o Hard drive—size and drive type
o Memory—parity, non-parity
o Boot sequence
o Date/Time
o Passwords
o Plug & Play BIOS
Domain 5.0 Printers
This domain requires knowledge of basic types of printers, basic concepts, and printer components, how
they work, how they print onto a page, paper path, care and service techniques, and common problems.
5.1 Identify basic concepts, printer operations and printer components.
Content may include the following:
Paper feeder mechanisms
Types of Printers
o Laser
o Inkjet
o Dot Matrix
Types of printer connections and configurations
o Parallel
o Network
o USB
o Infrared
o Serial
5.2 Identify care and service techniques and common problems with primary printer types.
Content may include the following:
o Feed and output
o Errors (printed or displayed)
o Paper jam
o Print quality
o Safety precautions
o Preventive maintenance
Domain 6.0 Basic Networking
This domain requires knowledge of basic network concepts and terminology, ability to determine whether a
computer is networked, knowledge of procedures for swapping and configuring network interface cards, and
knowledge of the ramifications of repairs when a computer is networked. The scope of this topic is specific
to hardware issues on the desktop and connecting it to a network.
6.1 Identify basic networking concepts, including how a network works and the ramifications of repairs
on the network.
Content may include the following:
o Installing and configuring network cards
o Network access
o Full-duplex, half-duplex
o Cabling—Twisted Pair, Coaxial, Fiber Optic, RS-232
o Ways to network a PC
o Physical Network topographies
o Increasing bandwidth
o Loss of data
o Network slowdown
o Infrared
o Hardware protocols
Evaluation Methods
Final grade will consist of the following:
50% Quizzes –Unit CBT Tests
25% Lab Assignments
25% Final Exam
Credits
Credits: 4Classroom Hours:3.75 Hours
Lecture Hours: 2.5 HoursLab Hours:1.25 Hours
ProfessorMr. Jeff SchallWork 752-1113
Text
Title:CiscoNetworkingAcademy Program IT Essentials 1: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide
Author:Cisco Systems
Publisher:Cisco Press
Edition:Second
ISBN:1587131366
Required Tools or Equipment
Tool Kit
#1 Philips Screwdriver #2 Philips Screwdriver
Small Straight Blade Screwdriver Medium Straight Blade Screwdriver
Large Straight Blade Screwdriver Small Needle Nose Pliers
Medium Needle Nose Pliers Small Diagonal Pliers
Medium Diagonal Pliers Utility Knife or X-acto Blade Knife
Anti-Static Wrist Strap Tool Box or Other Container
10 - 3.5 Diskettes Linesmen Pliers
Electrical Tape Sharpie Black Marker
Small Flashlight Multi-Meter, Ohms, DC/AC Volts, DC/AC Current
Instructional Schedule
Week 1
1. Information Technology Basic
1.1 Getting Started in IT
1.1.1 Computer systems and programs
1.1.2 Computer types
1.1.3 Connecting computer systems
1.1.4 Birth of the Internet
1.1.5 The cost of technology: more and more for less and less
1.2 Desktop Environment
1.2.1 Starting, shutting down, and restarting Microsoft Windows
1.2.2 Windows Explorer
1.2.3 The desktop
1.2.4 Working with icons
1.2.5 Recognizing an application window
1.2.6 Resizing a desktop window
1.2.7 Switching between windows
1.3 Basic Features of Windows
1.3.1 Viewing a computer’s basic system information
1.3.2 Setting the clock and date
1.3.3 Minimizing, maximizing, and exiting
1.3.4 Adjusting the screen display
1.3.5 Desktop settings
1.3.6 Adjusting audio volume
1.3.7 Start menu options
1.3.8 Recycle Bin
Lab: Getting to know Windows
Worksheet: Windows Navigation and Settings
1.4 Overview of Software Applications
1.4.1 Word processors
1.4.2 Spreadsheets
1.4.3 Databases
1.4.4 Graphics applications
1.4.5 Presentation applications
1.4.6 Web browser and e-mail
1.5 Math for a Digital Age
1.5.1 Measurement-related terminology
1.5.2 Analog and digital systems
1.5.3 Boolean logic gates
Lab: Boolean Operation
1.5.4 Decimal and binary number systems
1.5.5 Decimal to binary conversion
Interactivity Lab: Decimal to Binary Conversion
Interactivity Lab: Binary to Decimal Conversion
1.5.6 The hexadecimal number system
1.5.7 Binary to hexadecimal conversion
Interactivity Lab: Binary to Hexadecimal Conversion
1.5.8 Hexadecimal to binary conversion
1.5.9 Converting to any base
Lab: Converting Numbers Overview
Worksheet: Number Systems Exercise
1.5.10 Introduction to algorithms
1.6 Laboratory Safety and Tools
1.6.1 Basic lab safety principles
1.6.2 Workspace practices that help reduce ESD potential
1.6.3 Tools of the trade
1.6.4 Workspace cleaning supplies
1.6.5 Workplace testing equipment
1.6.6 Lab safety agreement
Worksheet: Lab Safety Checklist
Week 2
2. How Computers Work
2.1 System Overview
2.1.1 Input, process, output, and storage
Add pointer devices and touch screen
2.2 Boot Process
2.2.1 Initializing and testing the system hardware
2.2.2 Loading the operating system
2.2.3 The boot sequence
2.3 Hardware Components
2.3.1 Computer cases
2.3.2 Power supplies
Worksheet: Power Supply
2.3.3 Cooling Systems
2.3.4 The motherboard
2.3.5 Motherboard Form factors
2.3.6 Motherboard Components
Lab: Motherboard Identification
2.3.7 The CPU
2.3.8 BIOS
Lab: Identify the ROM and BIOS Chips
Worksheet: BIOS/ROM
2.3.9 Expansion slots
Lab: Identifying Computer Expansion Slots (R)
Worksheet: Expansion Slots (R)
2.3.10 Riser Card
2.3.11 Bus types
2.4 Memory Components
2.4.1 RAM
Lab: Identifying RAM and RAM Sockets (R)
Worksheet: RAM and RAM Sockets (R)
2.4.2 Identifying SIMMs and DIMMs
2.4.3 Cache/COASt memory
2.5 Display Components
2.5.1 Monitors / Display Devices
2.5.2 Video cards
Lab: Video Card Identification
Worksheet: Video Card
2.6 Connector Components
2.6.1 Serial and Paralle l Ports
2.6.2 PS/2 Ports/ 6-pin Mini Din, 5-pin DIN
2.6.3 Universal Serial Bus (USB) and FireWire
2.6.4 IDE, EIDE, ULTRA, and SCSI controllers
2.6.5 SCSI Disk Types
2.7 Storage Components
2.7.1 Floppy Drive
Worksheet: Floppy Drive
2.7.2 The hard drive
Worksheet: Hard Drive Identification
2.7.3 CD-ROMs
Worksheet: CD-ROM Identification
2.7.4 DVD-DVDRW
2.7.5 Backup Hardware
2.8 Network Components
2.8.1 Modems
2.8.2 Network interface cards (NICs)
2.9 System Resources
2.9.1 What are system resources?
2.9.2 Interrupt requests (IRQs)