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Writer: Elenette B. Maala

Illustrator: Jee-Jay B. Canillo
Cover Illustrator: Christopher E. Mercado
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 This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the installing and configuring computer system. The scope of this module
permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used
recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow
the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be
changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. define computer hardware;
2. differentiate assemble from disassemble;
3. identify the hardware parts according to their functions;
4. enumerate the steps in computer hardware assembly;
5. state the importance of following the correct procedures in connecting the
PC parts.

Lesson
Computer Hardware
1 Assembly
In this lesson, you will learn the step by step procedures on how to assemble
computer hardware. Assembling a computer seems like a difficult job, however, once
you get used to it, you will realize that it’s easier done than said.

You will be challenged to dig deeper into your prior knowledge and previous
experiences about computer hardware servicing. This phase will guide you in
assessing yourself by answering questions and many other types of evaluation for
you to further explore the basics of computer system servicing.

SKILLS TEST

Listed below are some of the most important skills that you must gain in order
to render quality service when you enter the real world of Computer System Servicing.
Read the skills carefully. Then write “Not much”, if you are not really familiar, “A
little” and “A lot”, if you are familiar with the skill. Feel free to answer each skill. Write
your answers in your notebook.

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 Skills in Computer System Servicing Not A A lot
Much little
1. I can open a computer case.
2. I can connect the mouse.
3. I can connect the keyboard.
4. I can connect the monitor.
5. I know how to use the Philip driver.
6. I know how to use the anti- static wrist strap.
7. I know how to use the lint free cloth.
8. I can apply occupational health and safety
precautions while working.
9. I can remove the system fan.
10. I can detach the power supply from the system
unit.
11. I know how to remove the RAM from the
motherboard.
12. I can remove the hard drive from the system unit.
13. I can install the power supply.
14. I know how to install the motherboard.
15. I can install the internal drives in a system unit.
16. I know how to attach RAM in the memory socket.
17. I can install CD / DVD drives.

As an aspiring computer technician, it is very important to know the different

components of a computer system. These are the hardware which refers to the
physical parts of the computer system; software which refers to the programs
installed in a computer and peopleware who use the computers. Each component
plays an important role, without each other computer systems will not work properly.

Assemble and Disassemble: Defined

When referring to hardware, assemble is the act of connecting together the
different parts of a computer. Disassemble is the process of breaking down a device
into separate parts to help determine a problem, to replace a part, or take the parts
and use them in another device or sell them individually.
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Computer Assembly
The following are steps in assembling computer hardware.

Installing a Motherboard
1. Remove the side panel. Before installing the
motherboard or any other components, we
obviously need to open up the case. Most cases
have two or three screws holding the side panel
on while others just pop off. When removing
screws, remember to put them in a safe place so
we don’t lose them.

2. Take a look inside. At

the left side are pictures of
the inside of an average
ATX case. Every case has
mount where you screw the
motherboard on. Feel free
to find this.

3. Examine the motherboard. Make sure you are grounded using an antistatic
wrist strap. When handling a motherboard or configuring the jumpers place
the motherboard on the static bag it came in. Don't sit it on the carpet.

4. Before you can continue, you need to set the

jumpers on your motherboard. The best way
to explain this is read your manual for proper
terminology and placement. Look for a
section on setting jumpers. Some
motherboard are jumperless while others are
not.

5. Every motherboard has holes for screws. We have

circled the holes to easily locate them.

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 6. Remove all unnecessary metal
plates. Pop out any
unnecessary temporary metal
plates on the back of the case
so the motherboard can slide
comfortably into place as
shown at the right side.

7. After that is done, simply align the

screw holes with the mounts and insert the
screws.

8. Plug in case connectors (system light, power button, and USB, if supported in
case.) This step can be confusing at first. Look for a big block of pins on your
motherboard, usually located at the bottom. Most boards label the pins, and
most cases label the connectors. So simply match up the connectors with the
appropriate pins.

9. Plug in the power connector. Since the actual computer is not plugged in, we
can go ahead and plug the power supply into the motherboard.

10. Double check steps 4 and 8! Always double check your work to ensure you
haven't forgotten anything

Installing the CPU

1. Put on an Anti-Static Wrist Strap.
Attach it to your wrist and then ground it to metal on the case. This isn't
completely necessary but highly recommended so you don't damage any hardware.
The slightest shock of static can easily damage components.
2. Locate the processor socket and lever.
Look on your motherboard and you should see a
socket similar to the one in the image below. This is
where you will place the processor. Attached is a lever
that locks the processor in place. Lift the lever so it is
vertical. This will prepare us for the next few steps.

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3. Locate placement arrow and check processor.
Most processors have an arrow or a cut
corner. This simply tells you how and where to
insert the processor. Also look on the bottom of
the processor to ensure no pins are bent. If any
are bent, contact the company and have the send
you a new one. Alternatively, you can use a
screwdriver and carefully bend them back, though this is not recommended.

4. Install the processor. First, ensure the lever is lifted

up or in the vertical position. There is only one way
the processor can be inserted so never force it in, it
should practically fall into place. Line the
placement arrow closest to the lever and drop it in.
Slowly lower the lever until its all the way down.
The processor is now installed and locked in place.

Installing the Heatsink

1. Locate the thermal pad or apply thermal gel.
Under the heatsink there should be a thermal pad. Simply pull away and remove the
plastic film. In some instances, there is no thermal pad so you need to apply a
thermal gel. Most heat sinks come with this so apply a little bit in the middle of the
processor where there is a raised area like in picture B.

2. Place the heatsink on the processor. Never tilt the heat sink when installing it.
This could damage the processor. Picture A) shows the incorrect way while picture
B) shows the correct way to install the heat sink.

3. Heat Sink should not touch the socket when fully attached.
4. Attach the clip to first plastic tab on socket.

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 5. Line up second clip with tab
and attach. Check to ensure the
second clip is aligned with the
second plastic tab. Using a
flathead screwdriver and without
applying pressure to heat sink,
push down on the clip and away
so it can move past the tab then slightly push inward to attach.

6. Plug in power lead. The power

lead is usually located near the
processor. Please refer back to the
motherboard user’s back to the
motherbaord user’s manual for
details on its location. Look for a
“Jumper and Connector Guide”
section then look for a free fan
connector named “CPU Fan Power” or something similar.

Installing the RAM

Installing the Floppy Disk Drive

1. Remove the second side panel from the case. Using the same steps for removing
the first side panel to remove the second. This will enable you to screw the
components in on both sides so it’s more securely in place.

2. Remove the faceplate and insert drive into the floppy bay. On the front of cases
there are plastic plates. These just pop out, usually just push it out from the inside.
Slide the 3½” floppy drive into the floppy bay as shown below.
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6. Hook it up to the Floppy Drive. Using the same FDD
cable, connect the other end to the back of the floppy drive.
Again, there should only be one way it can go in, but to
make sure it is installed properly, line up the red wire on
the FDD cable with Pin #1.

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 7. Adding power. This is the easiest
step. Grab an unused power cable,
preferably one with two leads on it. We
recommend this since we can use the
second lead for the hard drive in the
next lesson. With the power lead in
hand, connect it to the back of the floppy drive. The power lead can only be inserted
one way.

Installing the Hard Disk

1. Set the Hard Drive Jumper. Open your hard drive user’s manual to the jumper
section and read it if you haven't already.
If you only have one hard drive, set the jumper to "Master" or "Single"
depending on your brand of hard drive. If you have two, set the one you are going to
put an operating system on to "Master" and the second to "Slave."

NOTE: If you are using more than one Hard Drive, its best to use the same IDE cable
for both.

Note: Hard Drives generate a lot of heat so when installing one, set it as far away from
other components as possible. Some cases still have hard drive bays near the power
supply. Power supplies generate a small magnetic field which can damage or cause
problems with your hard drive so avoid this.

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Installing CD-ROM Drive
1. Set the Jumper on the CD-ROM. Grab your CD-ROM user’s manual to the
jumper section and read it if you haven't already.
If you only have one CD-ROM, set the jumper to "Master" or "Single" depending on
your brand of CD-ROM. If you have two, set one to "Master" and the second to "Slave."
NOTE: If you are using more than one CD-ROM, it's best to use the same IDE cable for
both.

3. Attach audio cable. You can either do

this step now and string the cable
through the bay or wait until you have
the CD-ROM installed. Using the cable
shown below, simply connect it to the
back of the CD-ROM drive. I will show
where to plug in the other end in our PCI section.

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Installing the AGP Video Card
1. Remove unnecessary temporary metal plate. Only
remove the metal plate from the slot you are going to
use. If you do not remove this you cannot install your
video card.

Install PCI Components

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Install PCI Components

5. Give it CD sound. Remember that audio cable from the CD-ROM drive? Now we
will connect the other end of it. If you want to hear audio when playing a cd in your
CD-ROM, you need to connect the CD-ROM to the Sound Card (or motherboard if
your sound card is integrated in) using the audio cable as seen below. Refer to your
sound card owner’s manual for correct placement.

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6. Repeat for any other components. Every component is different but as long as it's
PCI compatible, it is installed the same way (except for the audio cable. It is installed
only on sound cards and motherboards.)

Using a plastic housing

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Hooking External Hardware

Rearrange the following procedures in their proper order. Use numbers to indicate
their order of precedence.
A. Installing the Motherboard F. Installing the Hard Disk
_____ Align screw holes and mounts. _____ Adding power.
_____ Examine the motherboard. _____Connect IDE cable to Hard
_____ Find necessary screw holes. Drive.
_____ Plug in case connectors _____Connect IDE cable to motherboard.
_____ Plug in power connector. _____Insert into Hard Drive bay.
_____ Remove all unnecessary metal _____Screw in Hard Drive.
plates. _____Set the Hard Drive Jumper.
_____ Remove the Side Panel. G. Installing CD-ROM Drive
_____ Set the Jumpers. _____Adding power.
B. Installing the CPU _____Attach audio cable.
_____ Install the processor. _____Connect IDE Cable to CD-ROM
_____ Locate placement arrow and Drive.
check processor. _____Connect IDE Cable to motherboard.
_____Locate the processor socket and _____Remove face plate and insert CD-
lever. ROM into bay.
_____Put on an Anti-Static Wrist _____Screw it in.
Strap. _____Set the Jumper on the CD-ROM slot.

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C. Installing the Heatsink H. Installing the AGP Video Card _____
_____Attach clip to first plastic tab on Insert screw.
socket. _____Line up and install Video Cards in
_____Heat Sink should not touch the AGP Slot.
socket. _____Locate AGP Slot on
_____Locate thermal pad or apply Motherboard.
thermal gel. _____Remove unnecessary temporary
_____Place heat sink on processor. metal plate.
_____Plug in power lead.
I. Install PCI Components
D. Installing the RAM _____Give it CD Sound.
_____Install the RAM. _____Insert screw
_____Line up RAM with DIMM slots _____Line up component with PCI slot
_____Locate notches in DIMM slots and install.
and RAM. _____Locate PCI Slots on
Motherboard.
E. Installing the Floppy Disk Drive _____Remove any unnecessary
_____Adding power. temporary metal plates.
_____Hook it up to the Floppy Drive. _____Repeat for any other components.
_____Hook it up to the motherboard.
_____Locate FDD Floppy Disk Drive J. Installing Chassis Fan
cable. _____Insert screws.
_____Remove face plate and insert drive _____Line up holes with fan
into floppy bay. _____Connect the power leads to the
_____Remove the second side panel motherboard.
from the case. _____Snap fan into housing
_____Screw in the floppy drive. _____Snap housing into case.

K. Hooking External Hardware

_____Just plug it all in!
_____Plug everything into an outlet.

Self-Check 1.1
Direction: Answer briefly the questions below.
1. Define what is computer hardware?
2. In your own words, what do you mean by assemble and disassemble?
3. What is the essence of following the correct procedures in connecting the PC
parts?
4. What do you think is the main reason why we should never exert too much
force when attaching the cables of PC parts? Explain your answer.
5. What is your perspective why the power cable should always be the last on
the procedure of attaching parts?

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TLE – Computer Hardware Servicing
(depedbataan.com/resources/9/k_to_12_entrep-based_pc_hardware_servicing_lear
ning_module.pdf)

Danilo Ibarrola – Marikina Polytechnic College (EVOC-CTP) Computer and

Troubleshooting and Repair

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/d/disassem.htm

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 Development Team of the Module

Writer: Elenette B. Maala (THS)

Editors:
Uriel B. Teodoro (SH-SNNHS)
Bernie P. Riñon (TLE Subject Coordinator- BNHS)

Internal Reviewer: Joseph T. Santos (EPS-EPP/TLE)

Illustrator: Jee-Jay Canillo (NHS)
Lay-out Artist: Maricel M. Fajardo (FHS)

Management Team:
Sheryll T. Gayola
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
OIC, Office of the Schools Division Superintendent

Elisa O. Cerveza
Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division
OIC, Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Joseph T. Santos
Education Program Supervisor – EPP/TLE

Ivy Coney A. Gamatero

EPS – Learning Resource Management and Development System

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Schools Division Office- Marikina City

Email Address: [email protected]

191 Shoe Ave., Sta. Elena, Marikina City, 1800, Philippines

Telefax: (02) 682-2472 / 682-3989

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