Module 1: PC Hardware and Components
Week of Tue, Sep 22 · module closes Sun, Oct 4 · 100 points
Take Meerk's quiz for Module 1
This module's items
- M1 Quizdue Fri, Oct 2 · 50 pts
- M1 Labdue Sun, Oct 4 · 50 pts
Exact due times are in Canvas.
Know these cold
- The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of the computer — it fetches, decodes, and executes instructions.
- RAM (Random Access Memory) is volatile — it loses its data when power is removed; it holds currently running programs.
- Storage devices: HDDs use spinning platters; SSDs use NAND flash and have no moving parts, making them faster and more durable.
- The motherboard connects all components via buses; the chipset controls communication between CPU, RAM, and peripherals.
- Power supply units (PSU) convert AC power from the wall to DC voltages (+12V, +5V, +3.3V) used by components.
Meerk's quiz — open the Module 1 gate
10 questions, no time limit. 85% on your first attempt in a 24-hour window opens the gate. Retakes inside the window are practice — they help you learn, they don't count. Work alone; the point is to know it, not to have seen it.
Dinner Table Question
Ask at home: Ask your family: which part of a computer would be hardest to replace — and why?
En español: Pregunta a tu familia: ¿qué parte de la computadora sería más difícil de reemplazar — y por qué?