Learn While You “Canabalize” the Old HPs

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, we're going to take the old Hewlett-Packard computers apart and strip them of usable parts, and then throw out the power supplies, cases and old motherboards and such. We'll learn which parts can be safely thrown in a dumpster and which need to be saved for the computer recycling event that takes place every May. The Napa Valley College hosts a recycling event at that time and the NVUSD hauls away a lot of discarded gear.

We're going to take the old HPs apart and write one-page, double-spaced reports, one at a time over the next two or three weeks, about the following components:

1. Ethernet Card (NIC)
2. Video Card (video graphics adapter)
3. Sound Card
4. PCI and ISA slots
5. Microprocessor
6. SDRAM DIMMs (memory)
7. Motherboard
8. Daughterboard
9. Power Supply
10. Hard Drive
11. CD-ROM
12. Floppy Drive
13. Case

In writing about these items, we're going to review in depth the main components of the IBM-PC clone in order to understand their generic nature. That means we're going to be able to understand how we can buy those same components to make new computers based on the original IBM-PC model as it has evolved until this day. We'll also try to use many of these parts to create our own computers. Each class will build a "computer on a board" using parts stripped from old computers.

Build Your Own Computer for less than $650

Other than staying under $650, you want:

Parts for a computer minus the keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer and speakers.

• Case. Must match CPU (i.e. P4 ready) with power supply (at least 400W) and form factor (ATX) must match motherboard.
  
• ATX Motherboard, CPU, or Motherboard Combo.
  
• Motherboard should be 800fsb, possibly lan, audio, vid on-board, and sata, ide, possibly raid
  
• CPU socket types must match (e.g. 775, 478)
  
• Memory 512MB or 1GB, DDR or DDR2, PC3200 or higher
  
• Hard drive (7200rpm), CD-R/RW, floppy
  
• NIC, Video card, sound card if not on-board
  

www.pricewatch.com is a good starting point…

New Era of Self-Responsibility

In keeping with the jobs training character of this course, I’ve chosen a new accountability path for the middle third of the 2nd semester:

1. Everybody starts with an A+ (averaged with the grades of the 1st and 3rd thirds), which = 4.5
• Tardies and unexcused absences = .5 grade deduction
• Failing to do requested work each day = .5 grade reduction
• Violation of the dress code = .5 grade reduction
• Behavior infraction = .5 grade reduction
• Everybody seated for dismissal (bell does not dismiss class, teacher does)
2. To improve grade, 1-hour home assignment, well done, can bring grade up .5.
3. Remember: In the classroom we respect ourselves and each other and take responsibility for our actions.
4. Our goal is to learn Computer Technician Training skills and on-the-job performance skills (on-time, effective, responsible, motivated, productive workers).