A PC with no internet
A new desktop PC arrives with no Wi-Fi. The user needs the internet today. You have a small box of parts. Do you open the case and add a card? Or plug in something small from outside?
The answer depends on how the parts connect.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Motherboard | the main circuit board that joins all the parts | |
| Expansion card | a circuit board you add to give a computer a new ability | a network card |
| NIC | network interface card: it joins a computer to a network | |
| PCI | a slot inside the computer for expansion cards | |
| USB | universal serial bus: a port for plugging in devices from outside | |
| Port | a socket on the outside of a computer | |
| Driver | a small program that lets the computer use a device | |
| Network | computers joined together so they can share things | |
| CPU | the main processor of a computer | |
| ROM | a chip that keeps its data with no power | |
| Firmware | the start-up program kept in ROM | |
| Ethernet | the usual wired way to join a network | |
| MAC address | a number built into a NIC that names it |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can say what the motherboard does and choose between PCI and USB to add a device.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The motherboard joins everything
The motherboard is the main circuit board. Every part plugs into it or talks through it. Without it, the CPU, memory and disks could not work together.
It has a socket for the CPU, slots for memory, connectors for storage, slots for expansion cards and the ports at the back. It also holds the ROM chip with the start-up firmware.
A NIC joins a network
A NIC (network interface card) lets a computer join a network. It can use a cable (Ethernet) or radio (Wi-Fi). Many motherboards have one built in.
Each NIC has its own number, a MAC address, burned in at the factory. If a PC has no NIC, or it fails, you can add one.
PCI and USB compared
| Feature | PCI slot | USB port |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is | Inside the case, on the motherboard | On the outside of the computer |
| What goes in | An expansion card | A device on a lead or a small stick |
| Fitting it | Switch off, open the case, fit the card | Plug in while the computer is on |
| Speed | Very fast: for graphics and fast networks | Fast enough for most devices |
| Example of a NIC | A network card | A small Wi-Fi stick |
| Needs a driver | Yes | Yes, often found by itself |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.