Hardware & Diagnostics - Components Lesson

Hardware & Diagnostics

Components Lesson

Motherboard/

Mainboard

What does it do?

A motherboard is the main circuit board in a computer.

It links all of the components together, creating an electrical circuit providing power and allowing information to go between the CPU and the other components.

In simple terms, the motherboard is the backbone of the computer. It is what allows all of the other components to work together and function as a single unit.

Multiple Choice

What does POST stand for?

• Pre-Operating System Test

• PC Original System Terminal

• Power on Self Test

• Peripheral Operation Support Tool

• No Power

• No POST

• Components that are plugged in not being detected

• CMOS Battery Dead - BIOS keeps losing settings

​

What faults can occur?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following slots would NOT be found on a modern motherboard? (Use Google if unsure)

• PCI-Express Slot

• RAM Slot

• M2 Slot

• AGP Slot

• ATX Reset

• Reset the BIOS

• Swap Test Peripherals

​

What diagnostics can be performed?

Multiple Choice

True or False - We should never get a customer to open a PC to diagnose the internal components...

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best resource to find out about how to do an ATX Reset?

• Signpost

• TK Wiki

• How2

• nVision

​Not many.

Some manufacturers include testing software (HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo etc.), but usually a faulty motherboard would prevent boot, so can’t run software tests.

Are there any software diagnostic tools?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the best analogy that would help explain the function of a motherboard to a non-technical person?

• It's like the central nervous system of the PC

• It's like the brain of the PC

• It's like the eyes of the PC

• It's like the memory of the PC

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

What does it do?

The CPU controls all the parts of a computer

It is responsible for carrying out the instructions of a computer program. This includes tasks such as:

• Arithmetic and Logic Operations

• Data Movement

• Input/Output

• Control of Other Components in the Computer

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a CPU manufacturer for modern PCs? (Use Google if unsure)

• Intel

• AMD

• Snapdragon

• Cyrix

Multiple Choice

What is the main function of the CPU?

• To store data

• To execute instructions

• Runs the BIOS on Startup

• To provide power to the computer

• Overheating

• Frequent System Crashes and Freezing

• No POST

• Slow Performance

​

What faults can occur?

• POST Error Messages

• POST Error Beeps

• Check CPU Temperature in BIOS​

What diagnostics can be performed?

When a PC overheats it goes through these stages:

1. Fans go to full speed to try and remove the heat

2. System slows down as CPU lowers performance to deal with the heat

3. Immediate shutdown to prevent the heat damaging the PC

The 3 stages of Overheating

Overheating can be common in laptops.

They key thing to remember is that with most laptops, the air vents are on the underside.​

Laptops overheating

Check with the customer whether they have it on a flat surface or on something soft like a pillow, cushion or duvet.

Laptops overheating

Multiple Choice

Which surface type would be better to prevent a laptop overheating?

• Soft surface such as a cushion

• Hard surface like a desk

Soft surfaces can block the vents and prevent the CPU from being cooled properly.

Always recommend to use a laptop on a hard surface like a computer desk, table or dedicated stand.

Laptops overheating

Multiple Choice

If we have established the customer is using their laptop on a desk, but they advise it is randomly shutting down, which of the following questions will allow us to identify if the issue is caused by overheating?

• Touch the laptop, does it feel hot?

• Does the laptop turn back on again straight after a shutdown?

• Is the laptop on a hard surface?

• Download Core Temp, what does that show?

• Task Manager - Performance

• Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool

• AMD OverDrive Utility

• Some manufacturers have built in tools (HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo etc.)

Are there any software diagnostic tools?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the best analogy that would help explain the function of a CPU to a non-technical person?

• It's like the central nervous system of the PC

• It's like the brain of the PC

• It's like the eyes of the PC

• It's like the memory of the PC

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

What does it do?

Outputs the graphics information to the screen.

• Render images: GPUs are very good at rendering images, which is why they are used in video games and other graphics-intensive applications.

• Process video: GPUs can also be used to process video, which is why they are used in video editing software.

• Compute: GPUs can also be used to compute, which is why they are used in machine learning and artificial intelligence applications.

Most lower end PCs will include the GPU in the CPU and this is what is known as Integrated graphics.

Higher end more powerful PCs will have a separate GPU, this is called dedicated graphics and is better for games and other graphical apps.

Dedicated vs Integrated

The benefits of a dedicated GPU are:

• Better performance

• Dedicated memory

• Better cooling

• Upgradable

Dedicated vs Integrated

Multiple Choice

True or False - GPUs can be used to accelerate machine learning applications...

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a dedicated GPU?

• Increased performance in graphics-intensive applications

• Improved cooling

• Increased performance in photo & video editing applications

• Increased battery life in laptops

• Overheating

• Artefacts on the Screen (see image)

• Crashing Under Load

• Stop Error Screens

• No Display

​

What faults can occur?

• Check when the fault occurs (GPU faults are usually on a heavy load)

• Check BIOS

• ​If using a monitor - Swap test cables, ports and a different screen if possible

What diagnostics can be performed?

• Task Manager - Performance (can view GPU temperature)

• DXDiag

• GPU-Z, Furmark, MSI Afterburner and other 3rd party tools

Are there any software diagnostic tools?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the best analogy that would help explain the function of a GPU to a non-technical person?

• It's like a desk where you can lay out all your work for quick access

• It's like a film studio producing content to watch on your TV

• It's like a filing cabinet where you can store all your files safely

• It's like a waiter who brings you your food at a restaurant

RAM (Random Access Memory)

What does it do?

Stores the data that the CPU is currently working on.

• The RAM is the short term memory of the computer.

• The CPU can retrieve data from the RAM very quickly for use with the Operating System and applications

• It is referred to as volatile memory, as any data in RAM is cleared when there is no power to the component

What does it do?

• When you open a program, RAM stores the program's code and data so that the computer can rapidly access it

• When you save a file, RAM stores the file's data temporarily so that the computer can write it to the storage drive later

• When you browse the internet, RAM stores the pages you visit so that you can quickly jump back to them

• When you play a game, RAM stores the game's graphics and data so that the computer can render them swiftly

Multiple Choice

True or False - Laptops and desktop PCs use the same type of RAM...

• True

• False

Although laptop and desktop RAM function in the same way, laptop RAM is smaller than desktop RAM, and the 2 are not compatible with each other.

Laptop vs Desktop RAM

• POST

• Random Crashes & Freezes

• Stop Error Screens

• Reduced Performance

​

What faults can occur?

• POST Error Beeps

• POST Error Screens

• Check Stop Error Codes

• Check BIOS to see if the correct amount is detected

What diagnostics can be performed?

• Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

• Manufacturer Specific Tests (HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo etc.)

Are there any software diagnostic tools?

While there are 3rd Party tests you can download and run, it's much simpler for customers to use the built-in tool in Windows.

Click Start and type "mem"

Choose Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool from the results.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

A window will pop up.

Select "Restart now and check for problems (recommended)"

This will force the computer to restart.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Once the computer has restarted the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool will run.

This test can take quite some time to complete depending on how much RAM the PC has and the speed of the CPU.

Once completed, the PC will restart and boot back into Windows.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

When Windows has rebooted the results will pop up on the screen to say whether it passed or failed.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the best analogy that would help explain the function of RAM to a non-technical person?

• It's like a desk where you can lay out all your work for quick access

• It's like a film studio producing content to watch on your TV

• It's like a filing cabinet where you can store all your files safely

• It's like a waiter who brings you your food at a restaurant

Storage Drives - SSDs & HDDs

What does it do?

Stores the operating system, the programs and all of the documents and other files kept on the computer.

• Storage drives are the long term memory of the computer.

• It is referred to as non-volatile memory, data remains on the drive even when there is no power

• Data will be copied from the storage drive to the RAM so that the CPU can access it quickly

There are 2 main types of internal storage drives:

• HDDs (Hard Disk Drives)

• SSDs (Solid State Dives) - SATA & NVMe variants

Storage Drive Options

Multiple Choice

Which of the three drive types is the fastest?

• HDD

• SATA-SSD

• NVMe-SSD

HDDs work like a record player.

There are magnetic disks that spin and a head (needle), that reads the disk.

They come in 3.5" (Desktop), and 2.5" (Laptop) sizes.

HDDs are becoming obsolete due to the cons compared to SSDs

Storage Drive Options - HDD

These SSDs come in 2.5" sizes and use a SATA (Serial AT Attachment), connector, the same as HDDs.

Designed as a direct replacement for laptop HDDs

Unlike HDDs they have no moving parts and are quicker.

Storage Drive Options - SATA SSD

NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) SSDs are the newest type of storage and connect to a M2 slot on the Motherboard.

They look more like RAM than a traditional drive.

By far the quickest of the drive options.

Storage Drive Options - NVMe SSD

• Data Loss

• Boot Failure

• POST Errors

• Clicking Noises (only on HDDs)

​

What faults can occur?

Multiple Choice

Which of the three drive types is the most likely to experience mechanical failure?

• HDD

• SATA-SSD

• NVMe-SSD

• SMART Tests

• CHKDSK (Check Disk)

• Manufacturer Specific Tests (HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo etc.)

Are there any software diagnostic tools?

• POST Error Beeps

• POST Error Screens

• Test in Safe Mode if Running Slow

What diagnostics can be performed?

Self Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology.

Various aspects (both physical and performance), of a drive are constantly being monitored and from the data a predicted failure time of the drive is determined.

SMART

On HDDs various aspects are checked and monitored such as disk spin speed, head distance, temperature etc.

On SSDs similar tests are run, but the physical checks need for a HDD are omitted.

SMART

There can be different forms of SMART failures, but they generally look like this image.

If seen as a POST error the drive needs replacing.

If seen in Windows, need to check it's not a fake error and test the drive.

SMART Failures

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the best analogy that would help explain the function of a storage drive to a non-technical person?

• It's like a desk where you can lay out all your work for quick access

• It's like a film studio producing content to watch on your TV

• It's like a filing cabinet where you can store all your files safely

• It's like a waiter who brings you your food at a restaurant