CHAPTER 2
COMPUTER CONFIGURATIONS AND
HARDWARE
INTRODUCTION
As a technician you must be able to recognize the different types of computers
to maintain them. The functional units of any computer are consistent, no matter
what type of computer you are maintaining. Your main concern will be the
architecture of the computers you maintain. Mainframe computers and
minicomputers are usually housed in large- to medium-sized frames or cabinets
suited for ruggedness. Microcomputers are housed in compact frames built more
for their portability. If you can understand the architecture and general physical
makeup, then you can maintain any type of computer. Technical manuals, owners’
manuals, desktop guides, and system operating manuals are all excellent sources
of information that you can use to learn the configuration of a specific computer
system and its physical makeup.
After completing this chapter, you should be able to:
Interpret the various types of diagrams and layouts used to specify unit
configurations
Describe the major hardware parts of a computer system
Describe the unit connectors and cables of computer systems
Describe the types of cooling systems used with computers
TOPIC 1—COMPUTER
CONFIGURATIONS/LAYOUTS
To be an effective technician, you must be familiar
with the computer-inside and out. You must be able
to understand the hardware as well as each of the
functional units by using technical documents. The
computer’s technical manual will be your most reliable
and effective source. Technical manuals usually start
with a general description of the computer and become
more detailed when discussing the hardware and each
functional area of the computer. As a reminder, you
must ensure you use the most current documentation
when you perform maintenance on a computer. This is
a MUST.
In our discussion of the computer in this topic, we
examine the computer from two aspects—the
functional layout and the physical layout. Let’s begin
by examining how computers are functionally
configured.
FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAMS OF
COMPUTERS
A functional block diagram provides you with a
general analysis of the principles of operation of the
overall equipment, types of signals and their directional
flow, and the major functional areas. Functional block
diagrams can be of two types—the overall functional
block diagram of the computer and the individual
functional block diagrams of each functional unit.
You can use both to gain a better understanding of the
computer.
2-1
