Printer Parts and Function

• A printer is a device that transfers digital information to a physical hard copy.

Printer Parts

• Toner cartridges contain toner powder and supply it to the imaging drum.
• Toner film uses heat to melt and fuse the toner onto paper permanently.
• Fuser assemblies permanently bond toner to paper using heat and pressure.
• Separation rollers ensure only one sheet of paper is fed at a time to prevent jams.
• Paper pickup rollers grab and feed the top sheet of paper from the tray into the printer.
• Transfer rollers move toner from the imaging drum to the paper using electrostatic charge.
• Fuser gears drive the fuser rollers, applying heat and pressure to bond toner to paper.
• Drum units transfer toner to paper with an electrostatic charge.

How Printers Work

• The pickup roller grabs a single sheet of paper from the tray.
• The separation roller ensures only one sheet enters to prevent jams.
• The transfer roller applies an electrostatic charge to the paper.
• A laser scanner unit projects an image onto the imaging drum, creating an electrostatic pattern.
• The toner cartridge releases toner powder onto the drum where the laser has drawn the image.
• The imaging drum transfers toner onto the paper.
• The transfer roller pulls the toner from the drum to the paper.
• The fuser assembly heats and presses the toner onto the paper to make the print permanent.
• Fuser gears ensure the fuser rollers rotate smoothly.
• The printed paper moves through rollers and exits into the output tray.

Computer Parts - New Standard

• The PCIe slot is for graphics cards, sound cards, and expansion cards.
• The Northbridge was replaced by integrated controllers in modern CPUs, it managed CPU-RAM-GPU communication.
• The CPU (processor) plugs into the socket
• IDE connectors connect hard drives and CD drives.
• Memory slots are for RAM.
• SATA connections are for hard drives.
• The power connector gives power to the main connector.

Computer Parts - Old Standard

• The 20-pin ATX power connector provides power from the PSU to the motherboard.
• The CMOS backup battery keeps BIOS settings and system time when the PC is off.

External Ports

• HDMI is appropriate for modern devices as it supports video and audio.
• VGA is an old standard and only supports video.
• DVI is better than VGA, but does not support audio.
• DisplayPort is used for high-end displays and gaming.

Internal Components

• The motherboard connects components and allows communication.
• The CPU (Central Processing Unit) processes instructions, calculations, and controls operations.
• The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) handles image and video rendering, mainly for gaming, design, and AI tasks.
• RAM (Random Access Memory) is temporary memory for active programs and data, with more RAM resulting in faster multitasking.
• HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) are permanent storage for files, software, and the OS, but are slower than SSDs.
• SSDs (Solid State Drives) offer faster storage than HDDs and improve boot speed and app performance.
• The PSU (Power Supply Unit) converts AC power from the wall into DC power for internal components.

Additional Components

• BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) initializes hardware and boots the OS, and is replaced by UEFI in modern PCs.
• AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) is an old slot for graphics cards.
• PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) is an older expansion slot for sound, network cards, etc.
• PCIe (PCI Express) is a modern, faster expansion slot for GPUs, SSDs, and other add-ons.
• IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) is an old interface for HDDs and optical drives; SATA has replaced it.
• SATA (Serial ATA) connects modern HDDs, SSDs, and CD/DVD drives to the motherboard.
• Cooling systems prevent overheating and improve performance by dissipating heat from components like the CPU and GPU.
• Server racks securely organize and cool multiple servers and networking devices efficiently in a compact space.
• A rack unit (RU) is a standard measurement for the height of equipment in a server rack, where 1U = 1.75 inches (44.45 mm).
• A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts internet connections, ensuring privacy, security, and anonymity by masking IP addresses and data traffic.
• Routers are networking devices that connect multiple devices to the internet and direct data between them, enabling Wi-Fi and wired network communication.
• Core switches are high-capacity network switches that act as the backbone of a network, managing and directing data traffic between devices, servers, and other switches for fast and reliable communication.
• Juniper firewalls are network security devices that protect systems by monitoring, filtering, and controlling incoming and outgoing traffic to prevent cyber threats.
• Server units are powerful computers designed to store, process, and manage network resources and services for multiple users.
• KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switches allow users to control multiple computers or servers using a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse.
• UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) provides backup power and ensures that routers, firewalls, switches, and servers stay powered during outages.
• Patch panels organize and manage network cables, allowing easy connection between network switches, routers, and end devices for efficient cable management.
• RJ45 keystone jacks are modular connectors used in network wall plates and patch panels to provide a secure and organized Ethernet port for network cables.