Expansion cards

Unit objectives Describe video adapters and

standards, and install a video adapter Define sound cards and identify the

components of a sound card, and install a sound card

Describe modem standards and identify the components of a modem

Identify the symptoms, probable causes, and potential solutions for problems related to expansion cards

Topic A

Topic A: Video cards Topic B: Sound cards Topic C: Internal modems Topic D: Expansion card

troubleshooting

Video adapters

Produce signals displayed by the monitor

Text, images, video Black & white and color

Creating an image

Phosphorescent coating Electron beam Refresh (scanning) rate Interlacing Resolution Pixel depth (colors)

Maximum colors

Pixel depth

Maximum colors

Bytes per pixel

Descriptive name

1 2 1/8th Monochrome

4 16 1/2 Standard VGA

8 256 1 256-color SuperVGA

16 65,536 2 High color

24 16,777,216 3 True color

Video standardsStandard Text

resolutionGraphics resolution

Text matrix

Max colors

Max refresh

MDA 80x25 n/a 9x14 2 50 Hz

HGC 80x25 720x348 9x14 2 50 Hz

CGA 80x25 640x200

160x200

8x8 16

4

60 Hz

EGA 80x25 640x350 8x8 16 60 Hz

VGA EGA

Emulation

640x480 EGA

Emulation

16

256

60 Hz

SuperVGA

No official standard Various proprietary schemes VESA BIOS Extensions (VBE)

– 640x400 at 8 bits per pixel– 1600x1200 at 16 bits per pixel

15-pin VGA/SVGA connector

VGA/SVGA socket

DVI connection types

DVI-D port

DVI-I port

HDMI

Digital format without conversion TMDS protocol Eight channels of audio Higher-resolution support Two connector types:

– Type A– Type B

Compatible with DVI-I and DVI-D

HDMI Type A port

Activity A-1

Identifying video adapter types

Safe handling

Unplug your computer Ground yourself to the chassis Keep cards inside static-protective

bags Handle cards by their edges or slot

cover plate Don’t touch board components, traces,

or edge-connector pins

Drivers

Software that interacts with a device and enables its functions

Some are provided by operating system

Others you must install

Installing an expansion card

1. Configure DIP switches or jumpers on the card

2. Shut down PC, unplug it, remove peripheral cables, and open case

3. Locate empty and available expansion slot of correct type

4. Remove cover for that slot

5. Move or remove wires or other expansion cards so you can access the slot

6. Connect wire assemblies to the expansion board

continued

Installing an expansion card, continued

7. Begin inserting the end of edge connector that’s farthest from the slot cover; then gently push card into place in slot

8. Fix card in place with screws or clips

9. Connect any wiring assemblies

10. Close the case, connect peripherals, and start the system

11. Configure the card

12. Install required drivers

Video adapter slot types

Built into motherboard– Don’t take up an expansion slot– Common on low-end systems– Might be able to disable on-board video

adapter in BIOS

Three types of video expansion slots– PCI– AGP– PCIe

Activity A-2

Installing a video adapter card

Topic B

Topic A: Video cards Topic B: Sound cards Topic C: Internal modems Topic D: Expansion card

troubleshooting

PC sound

Motherboard speaker– Beeps and clicks

Creative Labs SoundBlaster– Music, plus beeps and clicks– Digitizing input music– SoundBlaster Pro = the base standard

Sound card functions– Convert digital to analog, and analog to

digital– Connect game and MIDI devices

Sound card components

Digital signal processor Analog-to-digital converter Digital-to-analog converter Jacks and ports

A sound card

Sound card connectors

Line inMicrophone

Main speakers or headphones

Center speaker Rear speakers

Speakers

Activity B-1

Identifying the components ofa sound card

Installation of sound cards

Adapter card type must match expansion bus

Must attach CD drive’s audio-out cable to sound card

Some sound cards require device drivers from the manufacturer

Activity B-2

Installing a sound card

Topic C

Topic A: Video cards Topic B: Sound cards Topic C: Internal modems Topic D: Expansion card

troubleshooting

Modems

Send data signals over phone lines Modulation Demodulation Forms

Riser cards

AMR– Audio (sound) and modem cards

CNR– Communication (modem) and network

cards

ACR– Modem, sound, and network cards– Proprietary design by ASUS

Simplified expansion card reduces price

Softmodems

Implement features in software rather than hardware

WinModem: Windows-based Less expensive Easily upgradeable Specific to operating system (and

perhaps version) Slower than hardware-based modems

Activity C-1

Identifying your internal modem’s interface

Modem connections

RJ-11 connectors

RJ-11 jacks:

Connect to phone line

Optional: connect line to a phone

Data transmission speed

Measured in bits per second Baud = a measure of signal changes

per second Comparable to the frequency of an

analog wave Bits-per-second rate = baud rate ×

number of bits sent per signal change ITU defines standards for modems

ITU standards

Standard Maximum speed

V.32 4,800 bps (async)

9,600 bps (sync)

V.32 bis 14,400 bps

V.32 terbo 19,200 bps

V.34 28,800 bps

V.34 bis 33,600 bps

V.90 56,000 bps download

33,600 bps upload

V.92 56,000 bps download

48,800 bps upload

Error detection and compression

MNP classes:– Class 1– Class 2– Class 3– Class 4– Class 5– Class 6– Class 7– Class 8

– Class 9– Class 10– Class 10EC

Activity C-2

Identifying modem connections

Topic D

Topic A: Video cards Topic B: Sound cards Topic C: Internal modems Topic D: Expansion card

troubleshooting

Updating drivers

New drivers released to– Resolve conflicts– Update faulty code– Add functionality to device

Look for most up-to-date drivers on manufacturer’s Web site– Usually free download– Look for links such as Drivers, Support,

or Downloads

Update driver via Device Manager

Activity D-1

Searching for and installing updated drivers

Video card problems

No video at all Video scrolls, flips, wavers, or is too large;

lines are doubled up Video flickers Video is blurry Image artifacts are displayed across the

screen System freezes during a video change Video is connected to DVI connector, but

monitor displays message that analog connection is disconnected

Sound card problems

No sound Sound is very low Sound is distorted No audio captured No audio from CD

Modem problems

Modem picks up line and dials, but doesn’t connect

Modem reports no dial tone detected Connection drops frequently Modem connects, but only at low

speeds Modem doesn’t work at all Configuration-related error messages

NIC indicator lights

Observe to see if device is working Green is typically good Flash when sending or receiving data If not illuminated, check Device

Manager

Check device properties

Activity D-2

Troubleshooting expansion card problems

Unit summary

Described video adapters and standards, and installed a video adapter

Defined sound cards and identified the components of a sound card, and installed a sound card

Described modem standards and identified the components of a modem

Identified the symptoms, probable causes, and potential solutions for problems related to expansion cards