Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Completing a System Inventory
Using the features described in this chapter, create a description of your system's motherboard,
as completely as you can describe it. If you can find its model number (usually stamped on the
board itself), look it up online to see if its specs are available. If not, do your best to deduce its
characteristics by looking at what ports are built in and by using the System Information utility in
Windows.
Exploring Power Voltages
To do this exploration, you will need a desktop PC and a voltmeter (or a multimeter that measures
DC volts). Your instructor may need to guide you through the process.
1
Turn on your meter and set it to DC volts. You should have a red probe and a black probe.
2
Open the system unit case, and locate the large connector that joins the power supply to the
motherboard.
3
Turn on the PC.
4
Insert the black probe down into one of the sockets where a black wire connects, so that the
probe touches the bare metal wire.
5
Insert the red probe down into one of the sockets where a red wire connects, so that the
probe touches the bare metal wire.
6
Read the display on the meter. It should be approximately +5v.
7
Repeat Steps 4-6 with several other wire colors, and record the readings you get.
8
Turn off the meter and put it away.
9
Turn off the computer, and close the system unit case.
Think It Over
Is Faster Always Desirable?
Is it important to you, when buying a new computer, to have the fastest and best CPU available,
even if it costs more? Does it make more financial sense to pay more now for a CPU that will
become obsolete less quickly a few years in the future? Or is it better to buy a lesser CPU, even if
you have to replace the computer sooner because it will no longer be powerful enough to run the
latest programs in a few years?
Shopping with Expandability in Mind
If you were buying a computer today, what expansion slots and ports would be important for your
new computer to have, and why? That is, what device would you plan to install later that might
need those slots or ports?
