I love to repair computers, but what I really love is to teach others how to understand/repair computers. I attempt to simplify any kind of explanation so that even the novice can understand what I’m teaching. Here is how I teach/explain the seven major computer components:
1) Motherboard
The motherboard is the heart of the computer. Every other computer part either sits on, or connects to, the motherboard in some way. The motherboard is the rectangular colored board that sits at the bottom of the case.
2) CPU
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of the computer. It runs the software and processes the data that you are working on. The CPU sits on top of the motherboard and is covered up by a heat sink and cooling fan.
3) RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) holds or remembers the data of the software that you are currently running. The RAM modules (“sticks”) are long and thin and look like a short ruler. Each RAM module snaps into a corresponding slot on the motherboard.
4) Video Card
The video card creates the images that appear on the computer monitor. Almost all modern day video cards attach to either the AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) slot, or to the PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) slot on the motherboard.
5) Power Supply
The power supply supplies the power that the computer needs. All wires going from the power supply go either directly to the computer components or to the motherboard. The power supply sits at the top of the case.
6) Hard Disk Drive
The Hard Drive holds all of your information (even when the computer power is off). When you turn on the computer, the software and data load from the Hard Drive into the RAM. The Hard Drive slides into the Hard Drive bay in your computer case.
7) Optical Drive
The optical drive uses a laser to read (play) or write (record, burn) CDs and DVDs. The optical drive sits in the front bay of the computer.
Professor Randy says: Fix a man’s computer and you will satisfy him for today, teach a man how to fix computers and you may satisfy him for a lifetime!“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown
If you have not yet “checked out” Google Voice and Video Chat you are really in for a pleasant surprise: Call anywhere in the US and Canada for free and get low rates for other countries with a small plugin — right from within Gmail.
Professor Randy says:Skype isn’t the only free or low-cost computer phone service available. Check out the free Google Voice and Video Chat – you’ll like it!
I hope that your New Year has gotten off to a good start! I also hope that you benefit from the latest tech information by following these great tech links.
Here are the five worst and the five best downloads of 2010 according to CNET. I must admit that CNET has come up with a pretty good list. Enjoy, and do your best to stay away from the bad software that you will see in the video. Happy New Year to everyone!
Professor Randy quotes Benjamin Franklin:“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.”
I hope that the Christmas/New Years holidays are going well for you! So that you may enjoy them even more, here is some of the latest and most interesting tech information available. Have fun!
Here is a great video for your enjoyment. If you haven’t seen it yet be prepared to be amazed! The true story of Christmas told in a modern digital manner! Awesome!!
Professor Randy quotes Roy L. Smith:He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
I replaced a clients motherboard the other day and when I removed the heat sink from the original mobo it came out in one piece, processor and all! The Pentium 4 processor was incredibly stuck to the heat sink/fan as if they were actually one solid unit.
The previous builder had used cheap thermal paste, applied too much, and now I had a mess on my hands. I have never seen a processor so “welded onto” a heat sink!
I tried a hair dryer at first for over half an hour (five minutes or so at a time) but I couldn’t pry the processor loose. The heat sink got good and hot (to soften the thermal compound), and I was trying to twist the processor off with my hands but “no go”. This processor could not simply be twisted off and since I had to use it again I had to be careful not to bend any pins by forcing. I decided to try something else.
I went and bought a bottle of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and spent at least half an hour dabbing all four sides of the processor (where it joined the heat sink) using various Q-tips soaked in the Isopropyl. I then took a single edge razor blade and forced it into a tiny crack between the processor and heat sink.
With much force, the processor popped off and I only had a couple of scratches on the heat sink. I sanded these scratches down (fine sand paper) until smooth, applied a small amount of fresh thermal paste to the processor and put the processor and heat sink on the new system board.
The CPU went in “without a hitch” and the unit is running fine and much cooler than before.
I would also like to add that when I was originally removing some of the thermal paste (it was glued solid under the processor but oozing out the sides), some of the paste got on to several of the processor pins.
I took a soft bristle flat toothbrush, dipped the toothbrush in the Isopropyl Alcohol, shook out the excess Isopropyl Alcohol, and gently brushed the processor pins (in the direction of the pins). The thermal compound came out (dissolved) no problem!
Professor Randy says:Be diligent and methodical when doing any kind of computer repair. Your thoroughness will pay off and you will be rewarded with peace of mind as well as an increase in business.
If you have never watched “Buzz Out Loud” you’ve been missing some great tech news TV.
“Buzz Out Loud features Molly Wood, Brian Tong and producer Benito Gonzalez, along with CNET’s top tech experts reviewing the day’s tech news. Each episode, the crew analyzes, interprets, and argues about what all this technology means and what it’s doing to us”.
I watch “Buzz Out Loud” often and I really enjoy it! Here is episode #1370 (December 14, 2010). Enjoy!
Professor Randy says: Buzz Out Loud gives you the latest tech news and makes it fun! Check out Buzz Out Loud, you’ll be glad you did!
Since I love “all things tech”, you would think that I use a smartphone, but I don’t! In a previous post I talked about the phone that I use and it’s a very simple cell phone (“dumbphone”). Today I would like to further explain why I don’t use a smartphone.
I would like to think that I don’t use a smartphone because I’m smart! Consider this:
1) $200 to sign up with a carrier. You get a nice smartphone and you agree to a two year contract.
2) $40/$50 a month for the minutes package.
3) $30 or so a month for limited data. Unlimited data will cost you more!
4) $10 a month for unlimited texting. Almost everyone is texting these days.
Now, let’s add that up: $90 a month for 24 months = $2,160!
$2,160 – that is the true cost of a smartphone over two years (and these calculations are on the “low” side!).
$2,160 – Are you kidding me?!
Professor Randy says:Smartphones are beautiful, intriguing, and technologically brilliant! But for me they aren’t a “smart” choice because of their exorbitant cost. Consider your needs, the information in the above post, and make your own decision. I’ve made mine!
