CIT 1051 - Computer Hardware Foundations

1. Identify basic terms, concepts, and functions of system modules, including how each module should work during normal operation.  Examples of concepts and modules should include system board, power supply, CPU, Memory, storage devices, monitor, modem, firmware, boot process, BIOS/UEFI, CMOS, system board.

2. Identify basic procedures for adding and removing field replaceable modules.  Field replaceable units covered should include power supply, CPU, memory, storage devices, input devices, standard IRQ settings.

3. Identify available IRQs, DMAs, and I/O addresses and procedures for configuring them for device installation.  Content should include standard IRQ settings, modems, floppy drives, and storage drives.

4. Identify common peripheral ports, associated cabling, and their connectors. Content should include cable types, cable orientation, and serial versus parallel, pin connections, Examples of types of connectors include Firewire, USB, DB-9, DB-25, RJ-11, BNC, RJ-45, PS2/Mini-DIN and other.

5. Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring IDE/EIDE, SAS, SATA, AND OTHER devices. Content should include master/slave, and devices per channel.

6. Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring SCSI devices.  Content should include address/termination conflicts, cabling, types (regular, wide, ultra-wide), internal versus external, switch and jumper settings.

7. Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring peripheral devices. Content should include monitor/video card, and modems.

8. Identify concepts and procedures relating to BIOS/UEFI including methods for upgrading and when to upgrade.

9. Identify hardware methods of system optimization and when to use them. Content should include memory, storage drives, CPU, cache memory, etc.

10. Identify common symptoms and problems associated with each module and how to troubleshoot and isolate the problems.  Content should include processor/ memory symptoms, mouse, floppy drive failures, parallel ports, storage drives, sound card/audio, monitor/video, motherboards, modems, BIOS/UEFI, CMOS, power supply, slot covers, POST audible/visual error codes, troubleshooting tools. 

11. Identify basic troubleshooting procedures, and good practices for eliciting problem symptoms from customers.  Content should include troubleshooting/ problem determination procedures, determine whether hardware or software problem; and gather information from user regarding customer environment, symptoms/error codes, and situation when the problem occurred.

12. Identify the purpose of various types of preventing maintenance products and procedures and when to use/perform them.  Content should include liquid cleaning compounds, types of materials to clean contacts and connections, vacuum out systems, power supplies, and fans.

13. Identify procedures and devices for protecting against environmental hazards. Content should include UPS and suppressors, determining the signs of power issues, proper methods of storage of components for future use.

14. Identify the potential hazards and proper safety procedures relating to lasers and high-voltage equipment.  Content should include lasers, high-voltage equipment, power supply, and MONITORS.

15. Identify items that require special disposal procedures that comply with environmental guidelines.  Content should include batteries, Monitors, toner kits/cartridges, chemical solvents and cans, and MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).

16. Identify ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) precautions and procedures, including the use of ESD protection devices.  Content should include common ESD protection devices, what ESD can do, how ESD may be apparent or hidden, situations that could present a hazard.

17. Distinguish between the popular CPU chips in terms of their basic characteristics.  Content should include popular CPU chips and characteristics (physical size, voltage, speeds, on board cache, sockets, and number of pins). 

18. Identify the categories of RAM (Random Access Memory) terminology, their locations, and physical characteristics.  Content should include terminology and locations and physical characteristics.

19. Identify the most popular types of motherboards such as AT (full and baby).

20. Identify the most popular types of motherboard components such as communication ports, SIMM and DIMM, processor sockets, external cache memory.

21. Identify bus architecture such as PCI-E,, PCI, USB,   local bus, and other.

22. Identify the purpose of CMOS, what it contains and how to change its basic parameters.

23. Identify basic concepts, printer operations and printer components.  Content should include types of printers (laser, ink jet, dot matrix) and paper feeder mechanisms.

24. Identify care and service techniques and common problems with primary printer types.  Content should include feed and output, errors, paper jam, print quality, safety precautions, and preventive maintenance.

25. Identify the types of printer connections and configurations.  Content should include parallel, serial, USB, Wireless, and wired network.

26. Identify the unique components of portable systems and their unique problems. Content should include battery, LCD, LED, AC adapter, docking stations, storage drive, Types I, II, III cards, network cards memory.

27. Differentiate effective from ineffective behaviors as these contribute to the maintenance or achievement of customer satisfaction.  Content should include communicating and listening, interpreting verbal and nonverbal cues, responding appropriately to the customer’s technical level, establishing rapport with customer, professional conduct, helping and guiding a customer with problem descriptions, responding to and closing a service call, handling complaints and upset customers, showing empathy and flexibility, sharing the customer’s sense of urgency.