PLANS AND PROCEDURE FOR ASSEMBLING A DESKTOP COMPUTER SYSTEM

1.1 Introduction

Assembling a computer system, gives maximum satisfaction to the user and a very rewarding experience to assemble Desktop PC (Personal Computer), the users / builders of such systems are probably contemplating assembling a computer instead of purchasing one pre-built or pre-assembled. This project is to enlighten us on how computer students can build a computer and peer to peer network with less stress and less amount of money, and how the computer built can meet up with the processing requirement of the school Laboratory. This research has managed to purchase the Sub-Assembly computer components and couple it to make a computer system that could rival the performance of the branded version.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background for the Study

Desktop computer is frequently used in our today’s society. It is composed of parts like monitor, mouse, keyboard and system unit. The computer box itself known as system unit is also called cabinet or chassis. It is the container that houses other components such as motherboard, RAM, interface or add-on cards, switch mode, power supply, drives, ports etc.

A good knowledge of how the computer is made up, will enable one to use it more effectively. Most people thought the system box to be the CPU, but a good understanding will help users to know it better. It is only when all the necessary components are assembled together that we can get a computer system. Having a good knowledge of the hardware components or parts of the system unit or chassis or box will enable the user to replace it when any of them breaks down. To understand, identify and know the basic hardware parts of the system unit is the purpose of this project.

It is good for one to understand that inside the system box, there are components that are connected together which make up the computer. Different kinds of parts for connecting external devices are found outside the system casing. Open bays are for connecting optical devices such as DVD and CD-Rom drive are also found on the front side. A small button is found near the drives door which can be pressed to eject the tray where you can place the CD or DVD disc. Same button can also be pressed to take-in the tray. It can also be operated from the system’s windows operating system. In some cases USB port is also found at the front of the casing which allows your flash drives, printers, Ipod, Ipads, Iphones and external plug and play USB devices to be connected into your computer. At the front panel one can also see ports for camera, memory media reader. Here you can slot in your memory card containing your memory storage removed from the camera or the phone and you insert it into the computer so that the image stored on it can be accessible.

The rear-part of the system unit box are other connectors like parallel port for printers, more USB ports, PS/2 ports for mouse, keyboard, serial ports and others. These ports are used for connection of the peripheral devices (i.e. The non-essential parts of the computer). These peripherals include external devices like monitors, speakers, micro-phones etc. At the rear is also found the Ethernet (NIC) port for connecting the computer to the network.

When you open the system unit casing by unscrewing, you will see some individual components connected via cables or plugged directly into large board attached to the side of the casing. This board is the motherboard and is used to connect all the individual devices inside the computer box. The power supply unit also provides power supply to these components as they are connected to it.

The memory (RAM) and the microprocessor is also seated fixed on the motherboard. The interface or add-on cards are also connected as they communicate with the board where it is properly fixed.

Building the computer system on this research embarks on gathering different components/devices of computer system together in other to make a well functioning computer system available to the computer laboratory (The Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti) and to enable students to be more familiar to each components of the computer system. Thus, this project will cover all the process of purchasing components, coupling, and the process of installing the OS (operating system) into the computer system. Building or assembling Pentium IV computer brings significant benefits which is identified below.

1. Know about computer components and how they fit and work together.
2. Understanding the internal and hardware workings of a computer.
3. Learning computer hardware terminology
4. Ability to customize a computer according to specialized specifications.
5. Building and assembling computer system from components.
6. The satisfaction of a job well-done.
7. Technical problem solving ability.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to explore the Plans and Procedures for Assembling a Computer Desktop System. In achieving this aim, the following objective were set out as follows:

1. To put down the plans and procedure for assembling a desktop computer system that is functional and can satisfy the need of a high configuration system. It should be purchased component by components e.g. The casing, motherboard, RAM, processor, power supply unit, the drives etc and be coupled together.
2. To identify computer components and how they fit and work together.
3. To understand the internal and hardware workings of a computer.
4. To Build and assemble computer desktop system from components.

Nevertheless, the major part of this project is planning what you are going to buy and how you can build them up into a functional computer system.

1.4 Justification of the Study

Computer system is an intricate machine as a result, many a times it is proved difficult to explain to the undergraduates of higher institution. So this project is a better idea of solving the problem. The knowledge acquired on the course of this work will enable the students understand better what the computer is, in this computer age. Carrying out such project will also overcome the barrier/limitation facing Nigeria undergraduate on the knowledge of computer. This will also help many Nigerians to be ICT compliance.

1.5 Scope of Study

This project’s scope covers all areas including identifying components/parts of the computer system, purchasing them and assembling them together into a functional computer system. It also involves replacing any damaged parts during breakdown. Servicing and maintenance of the computer system is not excluded.

Furthermore, knowledge for hardware upgrading and software installation and upgrading is also not exempted in this scope. By this project a proficient computer technician emerges.

1.6 Limitation Of The Study

One of the challenges I encountered during this project research was the scarcity of/unavailability of some components in the market. Nevertheless, some of these components are exorbitant even when you see them in the market.

Further limiting factors that I encountered are explained below:

• Time Constraint: The time to carry out this project is short such a research cannot be completed in a semester let alone this few weeks. Researching at the library needs time.
• Financial Constraint: As a student, I was not financially buoyant. I was affected because there was not enough money to buy components, browse the internet, pay and gather other researching materials that will certify this project a research work.

Nevertheless, the work added to my academic work load in the campus, serving as a great constraint, yet all these could not hamper the research work. However, the project, Assembly of desktop computer system has sub-units such as:

1. The system casing
2. The motherboard
3. The Central Processing Unit (CPU).
4. The drivers
5. The Input/output Unit.
6. The Software.

1.7 Definition Of Terms

1. Computer: A computer is a programmable machine which can accept data as input, process data, store data and generate output as information which helps the user in quick decision making. The main components of digital computer include CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, input/output devices etc.
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is the brain of the computer. It executes user programs and controls memory and input /output devices.
3. Hard Disk drive (HDD): It is the main storage device used for storing data and information as well as computer programs. This information can be retrieved by the user at will. The hard drive is made up of a rotating disk that is coated with magnetic material.
4. Processor: a processor or processing unit is a digital circuit which performs operations on some external data source, usually memory or some other data stream. It typically takes the form of a microprocessor, which can be implemented on a single metal–oxide–semiconductor integrated circuit chip.
5. Computer System: A computer system is a set of integrated devices that input, output, process, and store data and information. Computer systems are currently built around at least one digital processing device. There are five main hardware components in a computer system: Input, Processing, Storage, Output and Communication devices.
6. Component: A component provides a particular function or group of related functions. In programming design, a system is divided into components that in turn are made up of modules. Component test means testing all related modules that form a component as a group to make sure they work together
7. Factor: Factor is a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result.
8. Peripheral device: A peripheral device is generally defined as any auxiliary device such as a computer mouse or keyboard that connects to and works with the computer in some way. Other examples of peripherals are expansion cards, graphics cards, image scanners, tape drives, microphones, loudspeakers, webcams, and digital cameras (Lumenlearning, 2021b).
9. Computer System Assembling: This is the process of bringing together a computer system components or parts into a single group.
10. Socket processor: A CPU socket is a distinct mount used only for the CPU on the motherboard to ensure correct circuit chip insertion. It facilitates CPU access and prevents damage when a unit is inserted or removed. A CPU socket also has a lock to prevent CPU movement, and its design helps secure heat sink placement above the CPU.
11. Heat sink: A heat sink is a component that increases the heat flow away from a hot device. It accomplishes this task by increasing the device's working surface area and the amount of low-temperature fluid that moves across its enlarged surface area (Techtarget, 2021b).
12. Motherboard: A motherboard (also called mainboard, main circuit board, system board, baseboard, planar board, logic board, or mobo) is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in general-purpose computers and other expandable systems (Lumenlearning, 2021).
13. Memory modules: A memory module is another name for a RAM chip. It is often used as a general term used to describe SIMM, DIMM, and SO-DIMM memory. While there are several different types of memory modules available, they all serve the same purpose, which is to store temporary data while the computer is running (Techterms, 2021).
14. Operating system: Operating system is software that is required in order to run application programs and utilities. It works as a bridge to perform better interaction between application programs and hardware of the computer. Examples of operating system are UNIX, MS-DOS, MS-Windows – 98/XP/Vista, Windows-NT/2000, OS/2 and Mac OS (Ecomputernotes, 2021).
15. Windows Updates: Windows Update is a Microsoft service for the Windows 9x and Windows NT families of operating system, which automates downloading and installing Microsoft Windows software updates over the Internet (Wikipedia, 2021).