1. Personal Computers A Research and Reverse Engineering
Assignment for Engineering I Students
Due Friday, February 24, 2017

2. Note: Although the computer build portion of this activity is a group project, ALL students must complete the PowerPoint.  If you do not turn-in a PowerPoint, you will receive a grade of zero (0) for this entire project. 

3. Assignment: General Steps (in small groups of 3-4)
Familiarize yourself with your particular PC (including initial photographs, labelling of connections)
Dis-assemble the PC completely
Photograph everything.
Create PowerPoint
Re-assemble PC
Install OS
Install productivity software.

4. Assignment: Specifics
Steps: Dis-assembly
Turn-on your computer with a spare keyboard and monitor.
Go into BIOS and verify that it’s functional (it will NOT have a main OS like Windows onboard)
Turn-off computer and open case.
You should ensure that you know where EVERY CONNECTOR/WIRE on the motherboard goes. Use a combination of pictures and labels (tape) to make sure you can put the unit back together properly.

5. Assignment: Specifics
Steps: Dis-assembly (…continued)
Be very careful when dis-assembling the computer; your grade depends on your ability to restore it to 100% functionality.
Do NOT remove the CPU chip without permission and guidance from instructor.

6. Assignment: Specifics
Steps: PowerPoint
After dis-assembly, you should create a PowerPoint with photographs of each part that, at a minimum, details the following information.
Manufacturer and/or specs. of motherboard
Manufacturer and/or specs. of hard drive (HDD)
Amount and type of RAM
Number and type of external drives (optical, floppy [FDD]
Number and type of any expansion cards

7. Assignment: Specifics
Steps: Re-assembly and OS installation.
Carefully re-assemble the computer, starting with the motherboard, and working your way out.
After you have checked and double checked all of the components and their connections, turn-on the PC and make sure it will still allow you to go into BIOS.
Verify that the PC and all of its drives are functional.
See instructor for OS disks and install operating system.

8. Assignment: Specifics Key Terms and Concepts that should be included in a glossary in your presentation; very short definitions are acceptable.
Input Devices
Output Devices
Central Processing Unit
Power Supply
RAM
ROM
Motherboard
Expansion Card
Hard Disk Drive (HDD – magnetic)
Solid-State Drive (SSD)
Optical Storage Device
Floppy Disk Drive (FDD)
Universal Serial Bus (USB)
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
Video Graphics Array (VGA)
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
intel
Expansion Card
Graphics/Video Card
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Bit/speed rating of CPU
Mechanical Mouse
Optical Mouse
Trackball
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor
LCD Monitor
Operating System
Text-Line Interface
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Network
Server
Client
Local Area Network
Wide Area Network
The Internet
Intranet

9. Example Specifications of a Motherboard and Hardware Configuration
Typical motherboard specifications:
Foxconn 661FX7MI-RS Socket 775/ SiS 661FX/ DDR/ SATA/ A&V&L/ MATX Motherboard Specifications
Mfr Part Number: 661FX7MI-RS
CPU: Socket 775 supports Intel LGA 775 processors; FSB 800/533 MHZ
Chipset: SiS 661FX & 964
Memory: 2x DDR-400/333 DIMMs, Single Channel, Max capacity 2GB
Slots: 1x AGP 8X slot; 3x PCI slots
IDE/SATA: 2x ATA-133 channels; 2x SATA ports support RAID 0, 1, JBOD
Audio: Realtek ALC channel Audio CODEC
Video: Integrated SiS Mirage Graphics Controller shared upto 64MB system memory
LAN: Broadcom AC131KML 10/100Mbps Ethernet Controller
Ports: 8x USB 2.0 ports (4 rear, 4 by headers); 2x PS/2 ports; 1x Parallel port; 1x VGA port; 1x RJ45 port; Audio I/O jack
Power Connector: 1x 20pin main power, 1x 4pin CPU power
Form Factor: Micro ATX, 9.6 x 8.3 inch

10. Places to start…. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/
This is a very short list…feel free to find your own resources!