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IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.0
11.3.7
Instructor
Worksheet: Research Computer Components
Print and complete this activity.
In this activity, you will use the Internet, a newspaper, or a local store to gather information about the
components you will need to upgrade your customer’s computer. Be prepared to discuss your selections.
Instructor: All of the components a student chooses must be compatible with the components provided.
(For example, the selected CPU and RAM must work in the provided motherboard). All of the components
a student chooses must have improved performance or additional capabilities. The answers provided are
examples. Student answers may vary.
1. Your customer already owns the case described in the table below. You will not need to research
a new case.
Brand and Model
Number
Cooler Master
CAC-T05-UW
Features
Cost
ATX Mid Tower
ATX, Micro ATX Compatible form factor
5 X External 5.25” drive bays
1 X External 3.5” drive bay
4 X Internal 5.25” drive bays
7 expansion slots
USB, Firewire, Audio front ports
2. Research a power supply that is compatible with the components that your customer owns. The
new component must have improved performance or additional capabilities. Enter the
specifications in the table below.
Brand and Model
Number
Antec
SP-450
SeaSonic
SS-550HT
Cisco Systems, Inc. 2007
Features
Cost
450 Watt
Dual +12V rails
> 70% Efficiency
ATX12V form factor
$60.99
550 Watt
Dual +12V rails
SLI Certified
Up to 88% Efficiency
ATX12V/EPS12V form factor
$129.99
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IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.0
Instructor
3. Research a motherboard that is compatible with the components that your customer owns. The
new component must have improved performance or additional capabilities. Enter the
specifications in the table below.
Brand and Model
Number
GIGABYTE
GA-965P-DS3
ASUS
P5B Deluxe
Features
Cost
LGA 775
DDR2 800
PCI Express x16
SATA 3.0Gb/s interface
1.8V-2.4V RAM voltage
1066/800/533MHz Front Side Bus
4 Memory Slots
Dual Channel Memory Supported
1XATA100 connector
RAID 0/1
4X USB 2.0
ATX Form Factor
LGA 775
DDR2 800
PCI Express x16
SATA 4.0Gb/s interface
1.8V-2.4V RAM voltage
1066/800MHz Front Side Bus
4 Memory Slots
Dual Channel Memory Supported
1XATA100 connector
RAID 0/1
4X USB 2.0
ATX Form Factor
Dual10/100/1000 LAN ports
$178.99
4. Research a CPU that is compatible with the components that your customer owns. The new
component must have improved performance or additional capabilities. Enter the specifications in
the table below.
Brand and Model
Number
Intel
Core 2 Duo E6300
BX80557E6300
Intel
Core 2 Quad Q6600
BX80562Q6600
Cisco Systems, Inc. 2007
Features
Cost
LGA 775
1.86GHz Operating Frequency
1066MHz Front Side Bus
2M shared L2 Cache
64 bit supported
Conroe Core
$183.00
LGA 775
2.4GHz Operating Frequency
1066MHz Front Side Bus
2x4MB L2 Cache
64 bit supported
Kentsfield Core
$835.00
Page 2
IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.0
Instructor
5. Research a heat sink/fan assembly that is compatible with the components that your customer
owns. The new component must have improved performance or additional capabilities. Enter the
specifications in the table below.
Brand and Model
Number
Intel
Stock heat sink/fan
Tuniq
Tower 120
Features
Cost
LGA 775
80mm fan
2 pin power
Under recommended socket weight
Included with
CPU
LGA 775
120mm fan
3 pin power
798g ( without fan )
$64.99
6. Research RAM that is compatible with the components that your customer owns. The new
component must have improved performance or additional capabilities. Enter the specifications in
the table below.
Brand and Model
Number
Patriot
PDC22G6400LLK
Corsair
TWIN2X20486400C3DF
Cisco Systems, Inc. 2007
Features
Cost
240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Cas Latency 4
Timing 4-4-4-12
Voltage 2.2V
$194.99
240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Cas Latency 3
Timing 3-3-3-9
Voltage 2.4V
$463.00
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IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.0
Instructor
7. Research a hard disk drive that is compatible with the components that your customer owns.
The new component must have improved performance or additional capabilities. Enter the
specifications in the table below.
Brand and Model
Number
Western Digital
WD400BB
Seagate
ST3400620AS
Features
Cost
40 GB
7200 RPM
2 MB Cache
$37.99
400 GB
7200 RPM
$119.99
16 MB Cache
SATA 3.0Gb/s interface
8. Research a video adapter card that is compatible with the components that your customer owns.
The new component must have improved performance or additional capabilities. Enter the
specifications in the table below.
Brand and Model
Number
XFX
PVT71PUDD3
EVGA
768-P2-N831-AR
Cisco Systems, Inc. 2007
Features
Cost
PCI Express X16
600 MHz Core clock
256 MB GDDR3
1600 MHz Memory clock
256-bit memory interface
$189.99
PCI Express X16
575 MHz Core clock
768 MB GDDR3
1800 MHz Memory clock
384-bit memory interface
$569.99
Page 4
IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.0
Instructor
1. List three components that must have the same or compatible form factor.
Case, Power Supply, Motherboard
2. List three components that must conform to the same socket type.
Motherboard, CPU, heat sink/fan
3. List two components that must utilize the same front side bus speed.
Motherboard, CPU
4. List three considerations when you choose memory.
Answers may vary.
Type, size, number of pins, speed, dual channel capability, CAS latency
5. What component must be compatible with every other component of the computer?
Motherboard
6. What determines compatibility between a motherboard and a video card?
Slot type
Cisco Systems, Inc. 2007
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