PC Architecture

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Credits
6
Types
Elective
Requirements
This subject has not requirements, but it has got previous capacities
Department
AC
In this subject the students learn how the different components of a PC Works, as well as other electronic devices related to ITs. The subject also deals with the relation between these devices and the sustainability and social commitment.

Teachers

Person in charge

  • Fermin Sánchez Carracedo ( )

Others

  • Agustín Fernández Jiménez ( )
  • David López Álvarez ( )
  • Josep-Llorenç Cruz Diaz ( )

Weekly hours

Theory
4
Problems
0
Laboratory
0
Guided learning
0
Autonomous learning
6

Competences

Technical Competences

Common technical competencies

  • CT3 - To demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of the organizational, economic and legal context where her work is developed (proper knowledge about the company concept, the institutional and legal framework of the company and its organization and management)
    • CT3.6 - To demonstrate knowledge about the ethical dimension of the company: in general, the social and corporative responsibility and, concretely, the civil and professional responsibilities of the informatics engineer.
  • CT6 - To demonstrate knowledge and comprehension about the internal operation of a computer and about the operation of communications between computers.
    • CT6.2 - To demonstrate knowledge, comprehension and capacity to evaluate the structure and architecture of computers, and the basic components that compound them.
  • CT8 - To plan, conceive, deploy and manage computer projects, services and systems in every field, to lead the start-up, the continuous improvement and to value the economical and social impact.
    • CT8.1 - To identify current and emerging technologies and evaluate if they are applicable, to satisfy the users needs.

Transversal Competences

Sustainability and social commitment

  • G2 [Avaluable] - To know and understand the complexity of the economic and social phenomena typical of the welfare society. To be capable of analyse and evaluate the social and environmental impact.
    • G2.3 - To take into account the social, economical and environmental dimensions, and the privacy right when applying solutions and carry out project which will be coherent with the human development and sustainability.

Effective oral and written communication

  • G4 [Avaluable] - To communicate with other people knowledge, procedures, results and ideas orally and in a written way. To participate in discussions about topics related to the activity of a technical informatics engineer.
    • G4.3 - To communicate clearly and efficiently in oral and written presentations about complex topics, becoming adapted to the situation, the type of audience and the communication goals, using the strategies and the adequate means. To analyse, value and respond adequately to the questions of the audience.

Objectives

  1. Be able to describe the architecture of a current personal computer
    Related competences: CT6.2,
  2. Having a historical overview of the evolution of processors, semiconductor memories, storage devices, motherboards and BIOS
    Related competences: CT8.1, CT6.2,
  3. Be able to describe the characteristics of the memory types that can be found on a PC
    Related competences: CT6.2,
  4. Being able to explain how the motherboards, chipsets and buses work, and how they affect computer performance
    Related competences: CT6.2,
  5. Being able to explain the basic principles of the BIOS and know how adjust the BIOS of the computer
    Related competences: CT6.2,
  6. Be able to describe the components that allow to add new features to a computer
    Related competences: CT8.1, CT6.2,
  7. Being able to explain the operation and the reason for the existence of graphics cards
    Related competences: CT6.2,
  8. Being able to describe the transfer system with input/output and storage systems, the basic operating principles and the parameters to consider when incorporating them into a computer
    Related competences: CT6.2,
  9. Be able to describe some current tools to evaluate the elements in a computer
    Related competences: CT8.1, CT6.2,
  10. Having a vision of the possible evolution in the short/medium term of all the elements studied
    Related competences: CT8.1,
  11. Increasing the ability of oral and written communication
    Related competences: G4.3,
  12. Acquire a commitment to values ​​such as solidarity, justice and progress
    Related competences: CT3.6, G2.3,
  13. Increasing sensitivity to the environment
    Related competences: G2.3,

Contents

  1. Brief history of microprocessors
  2. Microprocessors for PCs
  3. Memories for PCs
  4. Motherboards, BIOS, chipsets and buses
  5. Graphic cards
  6. Storage Devices: Hard Drives, CD, DVD, other
  7. Input/output/devices
  8. Performance Evaluation Software

Activities

Activity Evaluation act



Public presentation of the course work

Public presentation of the course work
Objectives: 11 12 13
Contents:
Theory
0h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
8h

Subject presentation

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Downloading material from the website
Objectives: 12 13
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Microprocesors

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 1 2 10 12 13
Contents:
Theory
8h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
3h

Memory

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 2 3 10 12 13
Contents:
Theory
4h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
1.5h

Talks presentations and reports

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 11
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Sustainability and social commitment talk

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 12 13
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Motherboards and expansion buses

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 2 4 6 10 12 13
Contents:
Theory
4h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
1.5h

First sesion of public presentations

The student makes a public presentation about the technical report developed
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

input/output and storage

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 2 6 8 10 12 13
Contents:
Theory
8h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
3h

second session of public presentations

The student makes a public presentation about the technical report developed
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Graphic cards

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 2 6 7 10 12 13
Contents:
Theory
4h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
3h

Media buses

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 2 6 8 10 12 13
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Third session of public presentations

The student makes a public presentation about the technical report developed
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Bios, chipsets and formfactors

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 2 4 5 10 12 13
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Fourth session of public presentations

The student makes a public presentation about the technical report developed
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Overclocking, termal throttle and refrigeration

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 2 9 10 12 13
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Fifth session of public pressentations

The student makes a public presentation about the technical report developed
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Contents:
Theory
2h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Debriefing course

Attendance and class participation
  • Autonomous learning: Review class material
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Contents:
Theory
6h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
2.2h

take-home exam

The student solves at home a 16-question exam. Each question has a limited space for your answer. The answer should be concise, complete and correct
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Week: 13
Theory
0h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
0h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
15h

Practice 1 in Reuse workshop

The student sets up a computer
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 12 13
Week: 10
Theory
0h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
2h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

2nd practice in Reuse workshop

The student repairs the assigned computers
Objectives: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 12 13
Week: 10
Theory
0h
Problems
0h
Laboratory
2h
Guided learning
0h
Autonomous learning
0.8h

Teaching methodology

The student attends class and study the material presented.
During the course does a report about the subject and makes a public presentation.
By the end of the course makes a practice of assembling and repairing computers in Reutilitza workshop.

Evaluation methodology

A: 20% take-home exam
B: 40% report on the subject + public presentation
C: 10% practice in Reutilitza workshop
D: 30% individual work or teamwork done in class

The non-attendance at class or lack of punctuality subtracts a D grade to the extent that the personal work planned during the class is not performed.

Failure to submit the report or not making the public presentation involve a 0 in B.

The note from the skill "oral and written communication" is calculated from the technical report. The note of skill "Sustainability and social commitment" is calculated from technical report, the practice in the Reutilitza workshop and a special session about sustainability.

Bibliography

Basic:

Complementary:

Previous capacities

Basic knowledge of computer architecture