Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
EXERCISE 1.4
(continued)
3.
Open the computer's case, and locate the RAM. Identify whether it's DIMM or SODIMM.
(Most notebook PCs use SODIMM, and most desktop PCs use DIMM.) To avoid
damaging it with static electricity, avoid touching it. If you need to touch it, touch the
metal frame of the PC's case fi rst. You'll learn more about preventing static electricity
damage in Chapter 4, “Setting Up a Computer.”
4.
Examine the numbers or codes, if any, on the DIMM or SODIMM, looking for model
numbers, speeds, or any other pertinent information.
5.
Look at the data you gathered online to see if you can determine anything about the
memory based on those numbers.
6.
If you can't determine the RAM type by any of these methods, fi nd the motherboard's
brand and model number (look for this information printed on the motherboard itself).
Then look up the motherboard online to see if information about its RAM requirements
is available.
Summary
In this chapter, you learned about computer processors and their function in a personal
computer. You learned how a processor's instruction set dictates the calculations it can perform
and how processing is done using a binary numbering system inside the processor. You learned
about Intel and AMD, the two major processor makers, and about PGA and LGA, two types
of processor sockets. We discussed processor performance speeds and operations per second,
and we looked at how caches and multicore processors improve system performance.
Next, we looked at memory. You learned the difference between static and dynamic
memory, and between RAM and ROM. You learned how data is stored inside a memory
chip, and how virtual memory swaps data into and out of physical memory. You learned
about memory bus speeds and high-performance memory such as DDR that is able to
perform multiple operations per clock tick. Finally, we compared the various physical types
of memory modules that PCs can accept, including DIMMs and SODIMMs.
Exam Essentials
Know the most popular model names of Intel and AMD processors.
Intel's CPUs include
the Pentium 4 and the Intel Core i3, i5, and i7. Within those lines, code names differentiate
subtypes, such as Arrandale, Gulftown, and Sandy Bridge. AMD's processors include the
Phenom II, Athlon II, and Turion II lines.
