The PC that would not start
A firm buys parts for a new desktop. The processor does not fit the board, and the memory is the wrong type. Nothing starts, and the parts cannot be returned.
A good build begins on paper. You check every part against the need and against the other parts before you spend a pound.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can choose PC parts that meet a need and fit together, then install and check software.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Specification | a list of what a device must have or do | 16 GB of memory |
| Compatible | able to work together, such as a processor that fits a board | |
| Socket | the slot on a board where a processor fits, which must match the processor | |
| Power supply | the part that gives power to every other part | |
| Package | a program bundled so it can be installed and kept up to date | |
| Configure | to choose the settings a program or device runs with |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
This is practice
Important
You cannot fit a processor or plug in a drive in a browser lab. Real builds are done on site with the right tools and care for static electricity. This lesson teaches the choosing and the checking, and gives real commands for the software half.
Worked example: parts for a bookkeeping PC
| Need | Part to choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Run accounts software and several browser tabs | 16 GB of memory, a 4-core processor | Memory stops the machine slowing down with many programs open |
| Open large files quickly | A 512 GB solid state drive | A solid state drive has no moving parts and opens files fast |
| Work for years without trouble | A power supply with plenty of room above the total watts | A supply working at its limit wears out sooner |
| Fit in a small desk space | A small case with a board of the matching size | The board must fit the case |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check that the parts fit each other
Three checks come up every time. The processor socket must match the board. The memory type must match the board, so DDR4 will not go in a DDR5 slot. The power supply must give more watts than all the parts need together.
Write each check in a table with a tick or a cross.
Read a machine: how many cores?
nprocA command for the lesson’s lab terminal. It is shown here and not run.