Project#6

Project #6: Explore computer hardware
Course: Engineering Problem Solving – 1 (59:005), College of Engineering, University of Iowa
Instructor: Manasi Ramachandran and Kathleen Lin, Ph.D. candidates, Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa
Level: First year engineering students
General Objective
Your objective for this project is to familiarize yourselves with computer hardware by disassembling and reassembling a unit.
Background
Computers have become an integral part of our daily lives, both in entertainment and work environments. A little bit of familiarity with both the software and hardware of the machine can really benefit you when working with computers. Although restarting your computer is a simple and effective troubleshooting step in many cases, fully diagnosing a persisting problem requires further knowledge of its hardware components. It can also prove to be more cost efficient as you can replace older components with newer ones to improve the performance of your machine as opposed to replacing the entire unit. The objective for this project is for you to familiarize yourself with how a computer is constructed as well as what all major components in the machine are responsible for controlling. Specific objectives / things to do Pick up a CPU from the TA office, 1430 SC.
1.Ensure that the computer unit you receive is working (i.e. computer boots
up properly).
2.Disassemble computer by removing the following parts from the casing.
Take pictures of each part that has been removed and label them i n the
report. If parts listed are integrated into the mother board, take a picture of it and identify it on the motherboard.
1.Motherboard
2.Processor
3.Graphics Card
4.Hard Drive
5.CD/DVD Rom
6.RAM
7.Fan
8.Power supply
9.Bus Ports
3.Reassemble the computer and ensure that it is in working condition. The
OS should boot up as it did before disassembling.
4.It is important that all members of the group are present in one place for
disassembly, exploration and reassembly of the unit.
5.Do not run the computer unless it is inside the casing. That is, do not run it
when the outer enclosure has been removed
6.Submit a report with the following (no need to follow the typical report
format for this project 6 report). Strive to keep your report as short as you
can. No need for verbose answers.
1.Place in the word document, a picture of each of the above
components and label the picture. Strive to use less than 2 pages
for all your pictures.
2.Answer the following questions in your report (be short and to the
point rather than descriptive):
1.If you would like your computer to run faster, what are two
things you could do to accomplish this?
2.If you want to use your computer to play graphics intensive
3D applications such as prototyping software or even 3D
video games, what would you include/replace/upgrade in
your computer?
3.Do you think the location of the fan in the CPU is appropriate?
Would you choose a different spot? If so, why so? If not, why
not?
Performance measures
1.The ability for the computer to function properly after it has been
reassembled.
plete answers to the questions listed above.
Engineering discipline(s)
puter/Electrical Engineering。