In this course we'll give an introduction to variety of topics.

Points: 6 ECTS

Grading: homework + exam

Lecturer: Lauri Võsandi

Introduction to computer hardware

Homework:

• Use Getting started with Ubuntu as cheatsheet for this homework assignment.
• Place your preferred ISO image to a memory stick using dd or Win32 Disk Imager and boot it on your personal laptop. You do not need to install Ubuntu on your harddisk, simply use memory stick to boot the machine and carry out following tasks.
• Open up terminal by pressing Ctrl-Alt-T.
• Use cat /proc/cpuinfo and check what CPU model and how many cores your computer has.
• Use cat /proc/meminfo and check how much RAM your computer has.
• Use lspci -t -v -nn to enuerate PCI and PCI Express devices.
• Use lsusb and lsusb -t to enumerate USB devices.
• Use fdisk -l to enumerate disks and partitions.
• Use lsblk to enumerate block devices.
• Use xrandr to enumerate display outputs.
• Use cat /proc/asound/cards to check which audio devices are available, use F6 to select between audio devices.
• Use dmidecode to see even more information about your computer.
• Use ifconfig -a to list all network interfaces.
• What audio card is your machine using? What bus is it using?
• What graphics controller is your machine using? How is it connected to your machine? What video output resolutions are available and which one is currently used?
• What webcam is your machine using? What bus is it using?
• What wired network chipset your computer has? What bus is it using?
• What wireless network chipset your computer has? What bus is it using?
• What bluetooth device your computer has? What bus is it using?
• Is there a cellular modem connected and how it's connected?
• Boot the ISO image in VirtualBox and follow the same steps as above, what are the differences and why?
• Collect command outputs, answer to questions and send it as plain text e-mail to lauri [dotchka] vosandi [plus] i600 [ät] gmail [dotchka] com

Potential exam questions:

• Different buses and their uses
• What are the differences between HDD and SDD? [1]
• What are difference between volatile/non-volatile, RAM, ROM, EEPROM and where are they used?
• What are difference between asynchronous/synchronous, dynmic/static RAM and where are they used?
• What is cache? What is cache coherence? [2]
• What are differences between resistive and capacitive touchscreen? [3]
• Name screen technologies making use of TFT technology? [4]
• What are the differences between linear vs switching power regulation? [5]
• Name uses for light polarization filters?
• What are the benefits of twisted pair cabling and differential signalling?
• Active matrix vs passive matrix in display technology
• What is resistance? Capacitance? Inductance?

Jargon: CPU, RAM, ROM, HDD, SSD, PCI, PCI Express, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, VGA, HDMI, DVI, LCD, TFT, LED, AMOLED,