Dell Alienware Series Manual

Also see for INSPIRON SERIES: Setup guide Setup guide Setup guide Setup guide Quick start guide

Contents

System boardA system board forms the central part of computers. All other devices connect to the system board to be able to interact with each other.The system board holds various controllers and connectors that help in exchange of data among various components of the computer. Asystem board may also have integrated graphics, sound, and network capabilities. Some important components of a system board are:• Processor socket• Memory-module connectors• Expansion‑card slots• CMOS to store the BIOSChipsetThe chipset controls the components on the system board and enables communication between various components. Generally, thechipset is part of the system board. However, with some new generation processors, the chipset may be integrated in the processor.ProcessorProcessors receive data and instructions from applications and process the data as requested by the software. Processors are designedspecifically for desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and so on. Generally, the processor designed for one type of device cannot be used onanother type of device. Processors designed for laptops and mobile devices consume less power compared to the processors designed fordesktops or servers.Processors are mainly classified based on:• Number of processing cores• Speed or frequency measured in GigaHertz (GHz) or MegaHertz (MHz)• On-board memory, also referred to as cacheThese aspects also determine the performance of the processor. Higher values generally mean better performance. Some processors maybe integrated on the system board. Some of the processor manufacturers are Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and so on.Computer fanA computer fan cools the internal components of a computer by expelling hot air from the computer. Computer fans are commonly used tocool components that have high power consumption and thus generate a high amount of heat. Keeping the components cool helps inprotecting them from overheating, malfunctioning, and damage.24 About your computer