Welcome to

TLE (ICT) 7
SKILLS TEST
Direction: Listed below are some of the most important
skills that you must gain in order to render quality
service when you enter the real world of Computer
Hardware Servicing. Read the skills carefully. Then write
“Not much”, if you are not really familiar, “A little” and
“A lot”, if you are familiar with the skill. Feel free to
answer each skill. Write your answers in your notebook.
Computers have become a useful part of our
everyday lives. The types of computers we
use at home or at work are referred to by
varied names such as PCs, microcomputers,
workstations, laptops and desktops. These
computers are most popularly referred to as
“personal computers” or PCs, the most
common type of computer in the world.
Lesson 1: Understanding
the Computer System
Different components of a computer
system.

• Hardware
• Software
• Peopleware
Hardware
the physical,
touchable, electronic
and mechanical parts
of a computer system.
A. Major hardware components
of a computer system

1. System Unit- The main part of

a microcomputer, sometimes
called the chassis. It includes the
following parts: Motherboard,
Microprocessor, Memory Chips,
Buses, Ports, Expansion Slots and
Cards.
2. Motherboard /
Mainboard / System
Board- The main circuit
board of a computer. It
contains all the circuits
and components that
run the computer.
3. CPU (Central Processing
Unit) - The processor is the
main “brain” or “heart” of a
computer system. It performs
all of the instructions and
calculations that are needed
and manages the flow of
information through a
computer.
4. Primary storage- (internal storage,
main memory or memory) is the
computer's working storage space that
holds data, instructions for processing
and processed data (information) waiting
to be sent to secondary storage.
Physically, primary storage is a collection
of RAM chips
 Two (2) Types of Memory
a.ROM – (Read Only Memory) ROM
is non-volatile, meaning it holds
data even when the power is ON
or OFF.
b.RAM – (Random Access Memory)
RAM is volatile, meaning it holds
data only when the power is on.
When the power is off, RAM's
contents are lost.
5. Expansion Bus - A bus is a
data pathway between
several hardware
components inside or
outside a computer. It does
not only connect the parts
of the CPU to each other,
but also links the CPU with
other important hardware.
6. Adapters- Printed-circuit
boards (also called interface
cards) that enable the computer
to use a peripheral device for
which it does not have the
necessary connections or circuit
boards. They are often used to
permit upgrading to a new
different hardware.
7. Power Supply Unit
(PSU) - Installed in the
back corner of the PC
case, next to the
motherboard. It converts
120vac (standard house
power) into DC voltages
that are used by other
components in the PC.
8. Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - Also
known as hard drive, is a
magnetic storage device that is
installed inside the computer. The
hard drive is used as permanent
storage for data. In a Windows
computer, the hard drive is
usually configured as the C: drive
and contains the operating
system and applications.
9. Optical Drive- An optical
drive is a storage device
that uses lasers to read
data on the optical media.
There are three types of
optical drives: Compact
Disc (CD), Digital Versatile
Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc
(BD).
10. Digital Versatile Disc
(DVD) - Designed to
optically access data
stored on a DVD. A laser
moves back and forth
near the disk surface
and accesses data at a
very fast rate.
1.COMPACT DISK DRIVE
2.KEYBOARD
3.SYSTEMCASE
4.CPU
5.MONITORS
6.POWERSUPPLY
7.BIOS
8.MOUSE
9.MEMORY
10.HARD DISK DRIVE
The physical, touchable,
electronic and mechanical parts
of a computer system. HARDWARE

Volatile, meaning it holds

data only when the RAM
RANDOM ACCESS
power is on. MEMORY
Data pathway between several
hardware components inside or EXPANSION
outside a computer. BUS
Magnetic storage device that is
installed inside the computer
used as permanent storage for HARD DISK
data. DRIVE
The main “brain” or “heart” of
a computer system. CPU

Accepts data and instructions

from the user or from another INPUT
computer system. DEVICES
B. Input Devices - Accepts data and instructions from the user or from
another computer system.

Two (2) Types of Input Devices

1. Keyboard Entry – Data is inputted to the computer through a keyboard.

Keyboard - The first input device developed for the PC. Data is transferred to
the PC over a short cable with a circular 6-pin Mini-din connector that plugs
into the back of the motherboard.
2. Direct Entry – A form of input that does not require
data to be keyed by someone sitting at a keyboard.
Direct-entry devices create machine-readable data on
paper, or magnetic media, or feed it directly into the
computer’s CPU.

Three Categories of Direct Entry Devices

1. Pointing Devices - An input device used to move the

pointer (cursor) on screen.

 Mouse - The most common 'pointing device' used in

PCs. Every mouse has two buttons and most have one
or two scroll wheels.
 Touch screen- A display screen that is
sensitive to the touch of a finger or stylus.
Used in myriad applications, including ATM
machines, retail point-of-sale terminals, car
navigation and industrial controls. The touch
screen became wildly popular for smart
phones and tablets.
 Light Pen - A light-sensitive stylus wired
to a video terminal used to draw pictures
or select menu options. The user brings
the pen to the desired point on screen
and presses the pen button to make
contact.
 Digitizer Tablet - A graphics drawing tablet
used for sketching new images or tracing old
ones. Also called a "graphics tablet," the user
contacts the surface of the device with a wired
or wireless pen or puck. Often mistakenly called
a mouse, the puck is officially the "tablet
cursor."
2. Scanning Devices- A
device that can read
text or illustrations
printed on paper and
translates the
information into a form
the computer can use.
3. Voice- Input Devices - Audio input devices also
known as speech or voice recognition systems that
allow a user to send audio signals to a computer for
processing, recording, or carrying out commands.
Audio input devices such as microphones allow users
to speak to the computer in order to record a voice
message or navigate software.
C. Output Devices - Any piece of
computer hardware that displays
results after the computer has
processed the input data that
has been entered.
1. Computer Display Monitor- It
displays information in visual form,
using text and graphics. The portion
of the monitor that displays the
information is called the screen or
video display terminal.
Types of Monitor
a. CRT Monitors - Cathode
Ray Tubes (CRT) were the only
type of displays for use with
desktop PCs. They are
relatively big (14" to 16" deep)
and heavy (over 15 lbs).
b. LCD Monitors - Liquid
Crystal Display (LCD)
technology has been used
in laptops for some time. It
has recently been made
commercially available as
monitors for desktop PCs.
c. LED Monitors (Light
Emitting Diode) - A display
and lighting technology used
in almost every electrical and
electronic product on the
market, from a tiny on/off
light to digital readouts,
flashlights, traffic lights and
perimeter lighting.
2. LCD Projectors- utilize two sheets of
polarizing material with a liquid crystal
solution between them. An electric
current passed through the liquid
causes the crystals to align so that light
cannot pass through them. Each crystal,
therefore, is like a shutter, either
allowing light to pass through or
blocking the light.
3. Smart Board - A type of display
screen that has a touch sensitive
transparent panel covering the
screen, which is similar to a touch
screen.
4. Printer - A device
that prints text or
illustrations on paper .
Types of printer
Ink-Jet or Bubble-Jet
Printer - sprays ink at a
sheet of paper. Ink-jet
printers produce high-
quality text and
graphics.
Laser Printer - Uses
the same technology
as copy machines.
Laser printers produce
very high quality text
and graphics.
 LCD and LED Printer-
Similar to a laser printer,
but uses liquid crystals
or light-emitting diodes
rather than a laser to
produce an image on
the drum.
 Line Printer - Contains
a chain of characters or
pins that print an entire
line at one time. Line
printers are very fast,
but produce low-quality
print.
 Thermal Printer- An
inexpensive printer that works
by pushing heated pins against
heat-sensitive paper. Thermal
printers are widely used in
calculators and fax machines.
5. Speakers - Used to play
sound. They may be built
into the system unit or
connected with cables.
Speakers allow you to listen
to music and hear sound
effects from your computer.
D. Ports - External connecting
sockets on the outside of the
computer. This is a pathway into
and out of the computer. A port
lets users plug in outside
peripherals, such as monitors,
scanners and printers.