Hardware ID Facilitator's Guide

Hardware Identification Facilitator’s Guide

Box A - Cards and Memory

Cards and Memory

• 1. Explain difference between cards and memory.

Cards, or "Expansion Cards", are used to add a function to the computer.

Memory is used for temporary storage and workspace.

• Cards vs Memory
• All about memory
• Memory Sizing
• RAM Sorting

• 2. Memory - RAM (or Random Access Memory) is an important part of the computer system which is used by actively running programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on.

OBJECTIVE: To enable the builder to recognize different types of memory sticks.

1. DDR

• 1. A stick of DDR is usually 5.25 inches long and has a single notch in it near the center of the stick.
• 2. The newer DDR2 has a single notch that is slightly nearer the center of the stick, so it will not fit into a regular DDR slot.
• 3. And the DDR3 stick also has a single notch on it that is slightly closer to the center.

2.RAMBUS

• 1. A stick of RAMBUS is usually 5.25 inches long and has two notches in it at the center of the stick.

3.SDRAM

• 1. A stick of SDRAM is usually 5.25 inches long and has two notches in it, one near the center of the stick, and one closer to the side.

4.72-Pin SIMM

• 1. 72 pin SIMMs are 4.25 inches long. The holes and notches need to match exactly since there are other objects that look like 72-pin SIMM but aren't, so see points A (side holes), B (center notch) and C (side notch) in the picture.

5.30-Pin SIMM

• 1. 30-pin SIMMs are 3.5 inches long. These are the oldest types of memory we still see on a regular basis in System Evaluation. Note that they do not have a center notch.

Wiki - All about memory

Exercise 1

Sort memory using flow chart. OBJECTIVE: To ensure volunteers can identify different sticks of memory.

Wiki - RAM Sorting

Exercise 2

Practice putting the memory sticks into their slots on the motherboard. 

OBJECTIVE: To identify what type of memory the motherboard takes and to practice properly installing the correct memory into their slots.

• 1. Card slots point towards the back of the motherboard (show them to identify the back of the motherboard by looking for the outside connectors.) You can then say that the memory slots do not point unobstructed towards the back.
• 2. Explain how the notches on the memory slots on the motherboard correlate with the notches on the sticks of memory.
• 3. Open the clips, match up the notches and install the stick into the grooves at either end.
• 4. Press down on the stick until the clips flip closed by themselves around the stick. This tells you that the memory is properly seated into the slot so it can function correctly. IMPORTANT - YOU CAN RUIN THE RAM AND FRY THE MOTHERBOARD IF YOU DON'T DO THIS!!!

Tips

• If people get confused about the function of memory explain that when you buffer a video online that is memory, but when you download it, it goes to the hard drive. Sometimes this helps clarify what memory is.

Box B - Cards

Description

A Card is a smallish circuit board that connects to the motherboard and adds a function to the computer system. It has a metal plate on the end that shows on the back of the computer. Usually the plate has one or more ports into which a cable can be plugged. On the bottom of the card are teeth that plug into the motherboard so that communication can occur between the computer and the outside world.

• First Step

Use the connectors on the metal plate to identify the cards according to the functions. OBJECTIVE: Be able to Identify card faces and their function. 1.Get a box of cards to be sorted, pour them into a pile in the center of the table, and rummage through them, looking for the following connector types: 1.HD15, DVI, RJ11, RJ45, Sound Ports, Antenna Connector

• All About Cards

Exercise 1

Sort cards using Card Sorting Flow Chart - Pick up each card and using the following chart, put each card in one of six piles (video, sound, modem, network, wireless, and miscellaneous.)

• Card sorting by function

• Description of slot pins on cards

1. AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) card has narrow pins that alternate thick end to thin end, sort of like bricks - squiggly lines 2. ISA (Industry Standard Architecture), the oldest slot type, has very wide teeth 3. PCIe cards have slender pins that have a picket fence appearance but have a small extra tab in front of the pins 4. PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) card has wider pins than either the AGP or PCIe that also look like a picket fence

• Card Slot Identification

Exercise 2

Next, turn your attention to the teeth or pins on the lower edge of the cards. You can determine what type card slot the card needs by identifying the characteristics of the pins themselves as described above. 1. Sort cards based on their pins 2. Good to have volunteers double check themselves by repeating the card function (face) and then sorting based on pins

• Card sorting by slot type

6. Exercise 3: Then you can install some cards into the motherboards to get a feel for the slots and the locks that are at the back of some cards. 1. Explaining the differences in the space from the pins to the metal face plate is helpful in installing the cards into the motherboard. 2. Emphasize that they are measuring the gap, not the length of the card. Explain this by showing them how the slots on the motherboard are situated nearer or further from the edge of the board, so the gaps have to vary to match.

• Card Slot Identification

• • Notes from Richard: I think we should change the slot type flow chart to ask about the little tab on PCIe (as compared to PCI).

Tips