Expansion cards Unit objectives Describe video adapters and standards, and install a video adapter Define sound cards and identify the components of a sound card, and install a sound card Describe modem standards and identify the components of a modem Identify the symptoms, probable causes, and potential solutions for problems related to expansion cards

Topic A Topic A: Video cards Topic B: Sound cards Topic C: Internal modems Topic D: Expansion card troubleshooting

Video adapters Produce signals displayed by the monitor Text, images, video Black & white and color

Creating an image Phosphorescent coating Electron beam Refresh (scanning) rate Interlacing Resolution Pixel depth (colors)

Maximum colors Pixel depth Maximum colors Bytes per pixel Descriptive name 121/8 th Monochrome 4161/2Standard VGA color SuperVGA 1665,5362High color 2416,777,2163True color

Video standards StandardText resolution Graphics resolution Text matrix Max colors Max refresh MDA80x25n/a9x14250 Hz HGC80x25720x3489x14250 Hz CGA80x25640x x200 8x Hz EGA80x25640x3508x81660 Hz VGAEGA Emulation 640x480EGA Emulation Hz

SuperVGA No official standard Various proprietary schemes VESA BIOS Extensions (VBE) – 640x400 at 8 bits per pixel –1600x1200 at 16 bits per pixel

15-pin VGA/SVGA connector

VGA/SVGA socket

DVI connection types

DVI-D port

DVI-I port

HDMI Digital format without conversion TMDS protocol Eight channels of audio Higher-resolution support Two connector types: –Type A –Type B Compatible with DVI-I and DVI-D

HDMI Type A port

Activity A-1 Identifying video adapter types

Safe handling Unplug your computer Ground yourself to the chassis Keep cards inside static-protective bags Handle cards by their edges or slot cover plate Don’t touch board components, traces, or edge-connector pins

Drivers Software that interacts with a device and enables its functions Some are provided by operating system Others you must install

Installing an expansion card 1.Configure DIP switches or jumpers on the card 2.Shut down PC, unplug it, remove peripheral cables, and open case 3.Locate empty and available expansion slot of correct type 4.Remove cover for that slot 5.Move or remove wires or other expansion cards so you can access the slot 6.Connect wire assemblies to the expansion board continued

Installing an expansion card, continued 7.Begin inserting the end of edge connector that’s farthest from the slot cover; then gently push card into place in slot 8.Fix card in place with screws or clips 9.Connect any wiring assemblies 10.Close the case, connect peripherals, and start the system 11.Configure the card 12.Install required drivers

Video adapter slot types Built into motherboard –Don’t take up an expansion slot –Common on low-end systems –Might be able to disable on-board video adapter in BIOS Three types of video expansion slots –PCI –AGP –PCIe

Activity A-2 Installing a video adapter card

Topic B Topic A: Video cards Topic B: Sound cards Topic C: Internal modems Topic D: Expansion card troubleshooting

PC sound Motherboard speaker –Beeps and clicks Creative Labs SoundBlaster –Music, plus beeps and clicks –Digitizing input music –SoundBlaster Pro = the base standard Sound card functions –Convert digital to analog, and analog to digital –Connect game and MIDI devices

Sound card components Digital signal processor Analog-to-digital converter Digital-to-analog converter Jacks and ports

A sound card

Sound card connectors Line in Microphone Main speakers or headphones Center speaker Rear speakers

Speakers

Activity B-1 Identifying the components of a sound card

Installation of sound cards Adapter card type must match expansion bus Must attach CD drive’s audio-out cable to sound card Some sound cards require device drivers from the manufacturer

Activity B-2 Installing a sound card

Topic C Topic A: Video cards Topic B: Sound cards Topic C: Internal modems Topic D: Expansion card troubleshooting

Modems Send data signals over phone lines Modulation Demodulation Forms

Riser cards AMR –Audio (sound) and modem cards CNR –Communication (modem) and network cards ACR –Modem, sound, and network cards –Proprietary design by ASUS Simplified expansion card reduces price

Softmodems Implement features in software rather than hardware WinModem: Windows-based Less expensive Easily upgradeable Specific to operating system (and perhaps version) Slower than hardware-based modems

Activity C-1 Identifying your internal modem’s interface

Modem connections RJ-11 connectors RJ-11 jacks: Connect to phone line Optional: connect line to a phone

Data transmission speed Measured in bits per second Baud = a measure of signal changes per second Comparable to the frequency of an analog wave Bits-per-second rate = baud rate × number of bits sent per signal change ITU defines standards for modems

ITU standards StandardMaximum speed V.324,800 bps (async) 9,600 bps (sync) V.32 bis14,400 bps V.32 terbo19,200 bps V.3428,800 bps V.34 bis33,600 bps V.9056,000 bps download 33,600 bps upload V.9256,000 bps download 48,800 bps upload

Error detection and compression MNP classes: –Class 1 –Class 2 –Class 3 –Class 4 –Class 5 –Class 6 –Class 7 –Class 8 –Class 9 –Class 10 –Class 10EC

Activity C-2 Identifying modem connections

Topic D Topic A: Video cards Topic B: Sound cards Topic C: Internal modems Topic D: Expansion card troubleshooting

Updating drivers New drivers released to –Resolve conflicts –Update faulty code –Add functionality to device Look for most up-to-date drivers on manufacturer’s Web site –Usually free download –Look for links such as Drivers, Support, or Downloads Update driver via Device Manager

Activity D-1 Searching for and installing updated drivers

Video card problems No video at all Video scrolls, flips, wavers, or is too large; lines are doubled up Video flickers Video is blurry Image artifacts are displayed across the screen System freezes during a video change Video is connected to DVI connector, but monitor displays message that analog connection is disconnected

Sound card problems No sound Sound is very low Sound is distorted No audio captured No audio from CD

Modem problems Modem picks up line and dials, but doesn’t connect Modem reports no dial tone detected Connection drops frequently Modem connects, but only at low speeds Modem doesn’t work at all Configuration-related error messages

NIC indicator lights Observe to see if device is working Green is typically good Flash when sending or receiving data If not illuminated, check Device Manager Check device properties

Activity D-2 Troubleshooting expansion card problems

Unit summary Described video adapters and standards, and installed a video adapter Defined sound cards and identified the components of a sound card, and installed a sound card Described modem standards and identified the components of a modem Identified the symptoms, probable causes, and potential solutions for problems related to expansion cards