An example of the configuration of the gaming system unit. Video Computer Configuration
Programs for working with graphics always require very productive hardware, and when choosing a computer for working in 3ds max, it is important to understand which of the components are most important, and where you can reasonably save money. It is clear that the more powerful, the better, but we do not live in an ideal world and each visualizer has its own budget for buying a computer.
First, let's take a look at the official 3ds max system requirements for the current version (3ds max 2018) on the Autodesk website. It should be noted that the requirements are very modest:
- Processor – 64-bit CPU from Intel or AMD
- Discrete graphics card (GTX 550 or Radeon 6670 or better)
- From 4 Gb RAM (8 Gb recommended)
- From 6 Gb free disk space
- Three button mouse
An experienced 3ds Max user will only laugh at such a configuration, it is so far from reality. However, the system requirements of 3ds Max speak only of the minimum configuration that allows you to actually run 3ds max, and not comfortable working with complex scenes.
When choosing a computer for 3ds max, you need to understand that 2 processes make the greatest demands on the system: a) work in 3ds max b) rendering. Accordingly, the task is to buy a computer that will allow you to work comfortably and quickly in Max and not wait for a render for days. However, work in 3d applications and rendering itself use computer resources in different ways and sometimes there is a contradiction in this.
There are 2 types of render in 3ds Max: 1) CPU-based (Scanline, V-ray, Corona) 2) GPU-based (Redshift, Octane Render). Let's go in order:
1. Computer for working and rendering in 3ds Max and Vray, Corona
In this case, the main focus should be on a productive processor, because. for rendering, only its resources are used, a video card is needed only for the normal operation of a high-quality monitor, without which the visualizer cannot do and support the viewport.
When choosing a processor, the number of cores and threads matters more than the number of GHz, however, the more threads, the more GHz the system will have in total, for that matter.
Speaking in the realities of January 2018, the i7 7700k CPU with 4 cores and 8 threads has already become the standard. Of course, the i9 generation looks more “delicious”: for example, the i9 7900x already has 10 cores and 20 threads, but the price goes off scale - from 65,000 rubles for i9 to 23,000 rubles for i7.
As for the video card, the GTX 1060 or 1070 is enough for the application to work correctly. More expensive and powerful video cards will not give any speed increase and will be a waste of money in the context of rendering in 3ds max.
2. Computer for working and rendering in 3ds Max and Redshift, Octane
If you are working with a GPU renderer like Redshift or OctaneRender, then the situation is almost completely reversed - we need a mid-range processor and the most powerful video card, or even several. The fact is that GPU renderers use the resources of the video card to the maximum, and the processor acts simply as a transmission link when loading geometry and other things onto the video card.
Here you can limit yourself to an entry-level i7 processor or even take a modern i5, but take a GTX 1070, GTX 1080 or even GTX 1080Ti video card. Now the most popular and effective bundle is 2 GTX 1070 cards. With an investment of only 70,000 rubles (35k per card), you get a powerful system that can even be installed in a standard case.
3. General computer configuration points for CPU and GPU rendering
Regardless of which renderer you use, the rest of the components are pretty much the same:
RAM- with memory, as in the saying "you can't spoil porridge with butter." The minimum amount of memory for graphics programs is now considered to be 16 Gb, the comfort level is 32 Gb, and for scenes with a large number of polygons, it is better to purchase 64 Gb. With memory, it’s easier - you can buy the minimum amount, and then just deliver the bars as needed and possible.
Power Supply- it is better to take with a margin. 700W has already become the standard, if you have a couple of video cards, it is better to take a unit for 1000W or even 1200W. In the end, security is more expensive and you can leave your computer rendering with peace of mind when you go to the store and not be afraid that the render will fail or, God forbid, the apartment will burn down.
SSD and HDD- it is important to take a good SSD with a good amount of space and 1 or 2 hard drives. We put the operating system on the SSD, all the software including 3ds max, and it is on it that we save the current scene and render results. The rest, slower drives are for storing assets, models and other archival matters. We select an SSD with a reasonable volume and good performance for writing and reading data. Compared to the HDD, in medium and heavy scenes, the use of an SSD gives an increase in rendering speed up to 50%!
Motherboard- you need not to miss and take a top-end mother with a fast bus and support for a large amount of memory, the necessary processor socket. The motherboard is the last thing worth saving on, it is better to overpay and take it for the future with the possibility of upgrading the computer.
We've updated our builds to use Intel's next-generation Skylake and Broadwell-EP processors. Each of the computers has DDR4 memory, which also speeded up the work. Assemblies have great potential and are designed for long-term use with the possibility of future upgrades. These configurations are ideal for graphics work, each of them has modern nVidia cards that perform well when working with professional software, such as Adobe, which actively uses CUDA cores.
When compiling these builds, we tried to achieve the highest possible level of performance, without losing sight of the stability and prospects for future PC upgrades. Also, in addition to the main assemblies, we have compiled a list of similar components. This is done so that those who have problems with the acquisition can find a replacement. Please note that the assembly may vary depending on your wishes and features of the work. Some components, such as hard drives, are extremely individual and only the user can determine the required volume. We used average values that may be relevant for most users.
1. VideoSmile™Elementary
VideoSmile™Elementary is the basic configuration for working with graphics. It allows you to work comfortably with simple projects and is ideal for beginners, as well as for those who are looking for a stable tool for work, but have a limited budget. We chose an entry-level processor - Intel Core i3, a motherboard based on B150 chipset, a rather simple but quiet DEEPCOOL cooler that does its job of cooling an energy-efficient processor with low heat dissipation, the GTX 950 graphics card has the highest performance among cards in its class, and also has increased memory capacity compared to its predecessor - GTX 750. 2 standard DDR4 modules, produced by CRUCIAL, act as RAM, despite the fact that the choice of case is a personal matter for everyone, we recommend using cases from Zalman, for their price they offer excellent functionality, build quality and compact dimensions due to the use of mATX boards. A good 400 watt PSU will power this configuration consistently.
Processor: INTEL Core i3 6100 - 7900 ₽
Cooling: DEEPCOOL Theta 21 - 400 ₽
Video card: MSI GeForce GTX 950 - 10720 ₽
RAM: Two CRUCIAL CT4G4DFS8213 DDR4 modules - 4 GB - 2800 ₽
Power supply: HIPRO HPE400W - 1600 ₽
Total: 33000 ₽
Possible analogues:
ASUS B150M-K - 4900 ₽
Video cards: GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 950 - 10600 ₽
ASUS GeForce GTX 950 - 10900 ₽
RAM: HYNIX HMA451U6MFR8N-TFN0 DDR4 - 4 GB - two modules - 2600 ₽
SAMSUNG M378A5143EB1-CPBD0 DDR4 - 4 GB - two modules - 3000 ₽
Power supply: FSP ATX-400PNR - 1600 ₽
2. VideoSmile™Basic
VideoSmile™Basic is an entry-level computer that allows you to take on more complex projects and work comfortably in almost any professional software. It has a 4-core Intel Core i5 processor, an amazingly powerful GTX 1060 that has the performance of a GTX 980, 16 gigabytes of RAM, an SSD drive, a familiar chassis and a 500-watt power supply from Hipro.
Processor: INTEL Core i5 6400 - 12600 ₽
Motherboard: MSI B150M PRO-VD - 4400 ₽
DEEPCOOL Theta 21 - 400 ₽
Video card: GIGABYTE GeForce GTX1060 WINDFORCE OC 6G - 21200 ₽
RAM: Two modules KINGSTON Valueram KVR21N15S8/8 DDR4 - 8 GB - 5300 ₽
Hard drive: SEAGATE Desktop ST1000DM003 - 3300 ₽
SSD drive: SILICON POWER S60 SP120GBSS3S60S25 120 GB - 3000 ₽
Case: ZALMAN ZM-T3 - 1900 ₽
Power supply: HIPRO HPA-500W - 2400 ₽
Total: 54900 ₽
Possible analogues:
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-B150M-D2V - 4400 ₽
ASUS B150M-K - 4900 ₽
Cooling: DEEPCOOL THETA 20 - 400 ₽
DEEPCOOL THETA 15 PWM - 500 ₽
GLACIATECH IceHut 1150 Silent - 500 ₽
Video cards: PALIT PA-GTX1060 JETSTREAM 6G -21200 ₽
MSI GTX 1060 ARMOR 6G OC - 22800 ₽
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1060 - 23200 ₽
RAM: two modules CRUCIAL CT8G4DFD8213 DDR4 - 8 GB - 5300 ₽
Hard Drive: WD Caviar Blue 1000 GB - 3300 ₽
SSD drive: SILICON POWER Velox V60 120 GB - 3000 ₽
KINGSTON SV300S37A/120G 120 GB - 3100 ₽
Case: ZALMAN ZM-T1 - 1900 ₽
ZALMAN ZM-T2\ ZM-T2 PLUS\ ZM - T4 - 1900 ₽
Power supply: FSP ATX-500PNR-I - 2300 ₽
3.VideoSmile™Advanced
VideoSmile™Advanced is a perfectly balanced configuration for complex projects, ideal for 4K workflows and can be used with multiple high resolution monitors. The Intel Xeon E3 server processor has similar performance to the Intel Core i7, but in this generation of processors it requires a special motherboard, but using such a bundle saved an impressive amount that went to other components. The gtx 1070 graphics card packs a serious amount of memory and delivers an extremely high level of performance. 32 gigabytes of RAM will be enough for almost all tasks, we chose the Zalman Z3 Plus as the case, it has excellent build quality and does a good job of cooling, and is also easy to assemble. The Thermaltake 80 PLUS unit is responsible for the power supply.
Processor: Intel Xeon E3 1220v5 - 15500 ₽
Motherboard: ASRock E3V5 WS - 7900 ₽
Cooling: ZALMAN ZM-F3 - 400 ₽
DEEPCOOL Theta 21 - 400 ₽
Video card: GIGABYTE GeForce GTX1070 GV-N1070WF2OC-8GD, 8 GB - 32600 ₽
RAM: a set of 4 modules CRUCIAL Ballistix Sport DDR4 - 8 GB - 10230 ₽
Hard drive: SEAGATE Desktop ST1000DM003 1000 GB - 3300 ₽
SSD drive: KINGSTON UV400 240 GB - 4600 ₽
Case: ZALMAN Z3 Plus - 3200 ₽
Power Supply: THERMALTAKE TR2 S TRS-550AH2NK - 3200 ₽
Total: 81700 ₽
Possible analogues:
Processor: INTEL Core i7 6700 - 22900 ₽
Motherboard: MSI H170M PRO-VDH - 6000 ₽ (in the case of Intel Core i7)
Cooling: DEEPCOOL THETA 20 - 400 ₽
DEEPCOOL THETA 15 PWM - 500 ₽
GLACIATECH IceHut 1150 Silent - 500 ₽
Video cards: PALIT GeForce GTX1070 JETSTREAM 8G - 30500 ₽
RAM: four modules KINGSTON Valueram KVR21N15S8/8 DDR4 - 8 GB - 10600 ₽
Hard Drive: WD Caviar Blue 1000 GB - 3300 ₽
ZALMAN Z9 Plus - 4000 ₽
4.VideoSmile™ Pro
VideoSmile™Pro is a professional workstation capable of performing the most demanding tasks. The 6-core Intel Core i7 processor on the latest 2011v3 flagship socket with 15MB of L3 cache delivers extremely high performance and Hyper-Threading technology, giving the processor 12 threads. It is cooled by a massive cooler from Deepcool, one of the most high-performance cards at the moment - GTX 1080 acts as a video card. The motherboard from MSI has a huge number of different connection interfaces and is stable in operation, 8 slots for RAM are occupied by accelerated DDR4 memory of the CRUCIAL Ballistix format sport. The role of the case here is played by Zalman Z3 Plus. All this is powered by the reliable Thermaltake 80 Bronze standard.
Processor: Intel Core i7 6800K - 33900 ₽
Video card: PALIT PA-GTX1080 Jetstream 8 GB - 47300 ₽
RAM: Two sets of 4 DDR4 modules - CRUCIAL Ballistix Sport 4 GB - 10700 ₽
Hard drive SEAGATE Barracuda 2000 GB - 5300 ₽
SSD Drive: KINGSTON UV400 240 GB - 4600 ₽
Case: ZALMAN Z3 Plus - 3300 ₽
Power Supply: THERMALTAKE TR-650P Bronze, 650 Watts - 4800 ₽
Total: 127500 ₽
Possible analogues:
Motherboard: ASUS X99-E 17600 ₽
Video cards: MSI GeForce GTX 1080 -51100 ₽
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1080 - 51200 ₽
RAM: eight CRUCIAL CT4G4DFS8213 DDR4 modules - 4 GB - 10800 ₽
four modules KINGSTON Valueram KVR21N15S8/8 DDR4 - 8 GB - 10600₽
4 modules CRUCIAL CT8G4DFD8213 DDR4 - 8 GB - 10600 ₽
SSD drive: KINGSTON HyperX FURY SHFS37A/240G 240 GB - 6000 ₽
Chassis: ZALMAN Z3 (and additional ZM-F3 fans) 3190 ₽
ZALMAN Z9 Plus - 4000 ₽
NZXT H230 - 5300 ₽
SEASONIC SS-600ES - 5860 ₽
5.VideoSmile™ Elite
VideoSmile™Elite is an uncompromising graphics solution, 10-core Xeon server processor, Quadro m4000 professional graphics card with 8 GB of memory, 64 GB of DDR4 memory and a PCI-E SSD with a read speed of 2200 MB/s . This is the ultimate option for working on very serious projects that require maximum performance.
Processor: INTEL Xeon E5-2630V4 - 51000 ₽
Motherboard: MSI X99A RAIDER LGA 2011-v3 - 16000 ₽
Cooling: DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 400 - 1600 ₽
Video card: PNY Quadro M4000 - 64500 ₽
RAM: Two sets of 4 modules 8 GB - CRUCIAL Ballistix Sport 8 GB - 10500 ₽
Hard drive: SEAGATE Barracuda 2000 GB - 5300 ₽
SSD Drive: SSD INTEL 750 Series 400 GB - 30200 ₽
Case: ZALMAN Z11 Plus - 5200 ₽
Power supply: THERMALTAKE TR-650P - 4800 ₽
Total: 189100 ₽
Possible analogues:
Processor: INTEL Xeon E5 2650V4 - 91000 ₽
Cooling: TITAN Dragonfly4 - 2200 ₽
ZALMAN CNPS11X Performa - 2200 ₽
Video cards: nVidia Quadro m4000 ~65000 ₽
Quadro M5000 ~150000 ₽
RAM: two sets of 4 modules CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 8 GB - 25000 ₽
Eight modules KINGSTON Valueram KVR21N15S8/8 DDR4 - 8 GB - 21200₽
eight modules CRUCIAL CT8G4DFD8213 DDR4 - 8 GB - 21200 ₽
Hard Drive: WD Caviar Blue 2000 GB - 5300 ₽
SSD drive: KINGSTON HyperX FURY SHFS37A/240G 240 GB - 6000 ₽
Housing: ZALMAN Z9 Plus - 4000 ₽
NZXT H230 - 5300 ₽ (additional ZALMAN ZM-F3 - 400 ₽)
CORSAIR 200R - 5500 ₽ (additional ZALMAN ZM-F3 - 800 ₽)
Power Supply: THERMALTAKE TR2 S TRS-650AH2NK - 3980 ₽
SEASONIC SS-600ES - 5860 ₽
SEASONIC G-650 - 8900 ₽
*This list is average prices as of Fall 2016
** Assemblies are advisory in nature
This article should have been written a long time ago to close the questions of beginners about what to buy "to fly (enter the name of the program)". The downside is that beginners are, first of all, those people who are poorly versed not only in the hardware itself, but also in the way the software works, for example, in the same operating system. This is all a service, bad knowledge in finding the right information. Therefore, in this article I will try to explain in order how to approach the issue of selecting or upgrading components for working with video, be it editing, video design, 3D graphics, etc.
Firstly It is worth remembering and keeping in mind the following resources:
- http://www.overclockers.ru/
- http://www.thg.ru/
- http://www.ixbt.com/
These websites provide synthetic benchmarks for various peripherals, processors, video cards, motherboards, and other components.
Golden rule: if you are in doubt about the choice of a particular device, for example, what to take: an Asus GTX 780 video card or a Gigabyte GTX 780? Feel free to watch the tests! Moreover, it is desirable to compare the results and conclusions of tests for several resources. Based on this, make a choice in favor of a particular device.
Secondly you need to decide on a budget. How much money are you willing to spend on an upgrade or purchase, it is advisable to choose a range from and to. It should be understood that top-end, productive hardware costs more than average, budget models.
The golden rule: if the budget allows, buy top-end hardware or a graphics station right away. And you will be happy.
Third, let's look at the components themselves:
Motherboard
The first thing to decide when choosing a motherboard is its platform and socket. There are exactly two platforms Intel or AMD.If the budget allows, feel free to take Intel. As practice and synthetic tests show, assembling an Intel-based computer will be much more productive than the same AMD (of course, I'm talking about assembling a system with equivalent components). In addition, Intel occupies a large part of the market, while AMD captivates with the cheapness of its components (in particular, processors). Next, select a socket. A socket is a slot for a processor. When choosing a socket, you need to think about such a thing as a subsequent upgrade. If you plan to continue to buy additional components, then it is advisable to choose the last of the available sockets. For example, when choosing an Intel platform, there are two options: take a board on a 1150/1155 socket or take it on a 2011. The latest 2011 socket has a number of advantages - you can install 2 times more RAM (usually such boards support 8 slots instead of 4- x.But the price of the board and other components based on the socket 2011 is much higher.If your budget does not allow you to spend more than 1.5 thousand dollars on an upgrade and you do not want to spend a penny on an additional upgrade in the future, then it is more reasonable to build a system for 1150 /1155 socket At the same time, the AMD platform will save you even more money, plus it will be an easier socket choice, since the choice on this platform is not large AM3 / AM3 + and many motherboards are backwards compatible, that is, am3 processors will work on motherboards with am3 + sockets, since there are no fundamental differences in the design (the size is the same).Also in 2014, a series of fm1 / fm2 sockets will appear, which will replace hereinafter am3. In the future, when choosing a motherboard, it is necessary to take into account its dimensions. Of course, if you are not building a budget system unit, you should take a full-fledged ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) board, and not any mini-micro ATX. They are smaller in size, they are cheap, but they are also much inferior in performance and the availability of additional sockets, and when installing overall components, it will be rather difficult to find normal cooling so that it fits firstly, and secondly, it is conveniently located inside the case without interfering with the rest. gland. The rest of what you should pay attention to is the number of RAM sockets, the availability of modern ports, from sata and usb to pci-e, the cooling of the chipset and the entire motherboard as a whole. Don't forget to back up your choice with tests as well!
CPU.
It is the processor that takes on most of the work, namely video encoding, rendering (unless, of course, it is a GPU - rendering). In fact, the more powerful the processor, the more powerful the system. With the choice of processor, everything is much simpler, if there is money, then you need to take the top. Look at the tests. At the moment, the choice is for the Intel Core i7-3930K. Cooler is only the X series of the same processor and server solutions of Xeon processors, or for example two-processor systems. If there is no money or you want to save money, based on your budget and the choice of platform and socket, choose what will be better according to the tests. Be sure to check your choice! See processor benchmarks.
RAM.
It is also selected based on the processor. There is such a nuance - see the characteristics of the upper frequency threshold that the processor supports. For example, the Intel Core i7-3930K supports memory up to 1600 MHz. this means that faster memory at 2400 MHz will run at 1600 with this processor (without overclocking). The number of memory modules, their number, must be a multiple of the number of RAM channels. For example platforms AM3/AM3+, LGA 1155/1156 are dual-channel. Number of modules - 2 or 4. Platform LGA 1366 three-channel, number of modules - 3 or 6. Platform LGA 2011 - number of channels 4. Number of modules - 4 or 8. It is very important, since the operation of memory in single-channel modes increases the bandwidth of RAM, which has a very good effect on work in heavy graphics programs. Slots that work in multi-channel modes are highlighted in color on the motherboard. If you installed memory modules for a multiple number of channels, or for example, memory modules are different (different manufacturers, different memory sizes, different timings), then this third module in a dual-channel system will work in Flex mode. Flex mode was originally implemented by Intel. Flex mode was later implemented in AMD platforms as well. Therefore, it is desirable that the memory modules are of the same manufacturer. As for the volume, here you need to focus on your budget.
Video card.
Here, too, there are nuances. The video card is important, first of all, to those people who use the full power of the GPU rendering (the rendering is done by the GPU). In After Effects, if you use Raytraced 3D, 3D shapes in a new engine, open gl view, Element 3D plugin, 3D flag from Zavrex, and in addition to AE, you work in 3D packages, and also render with support for graphic rendering, then pay attention to the top solutions. If the budget is limited, then at least your video card should support CUDA technology. At the moment, even the most budget video cards are trying to support this technology. Therefore, if you still have the old good on the AGP bus, you can safely throw it away. The main attention should be paid to the amount and speed of video memory, as well as its bit depth, bus and core frequencies, the number of universal processors, the more the better, the dependence here is direct. And of course, do not forget to check how well or poorly the GPU itself is cooled. A small nuance, nvidia has a series of professional video cards, this is the QUADRO series, which are designed for video professionals. These are top solutions for professionals, although there are budget options among these cards. These budget options are not worth considering, usually an adjacent series for the same price outperforms a budget version of a professional card in terms of performance. Here it is worth looking at the tests.
Hard drive and SSD
Hard disk drives (HDDs) are usually divided into 3 types, by colors. Green (green) is a quiet, silent, cold and very slow drive. If you need to store a huge number of projects, then it is better to take it, the more memory it allows you to store, the better. Black (black) is, on the contrary, a very fast, noisy and hot disk. You should definitely make sure that your case has airflow for hard drives, as this type of hard drive warms up quite a lot, especially when reading / writing from it. The third option is blue (blue) - the middle between the black and green versions. If the budget allows not only to purchase disks, but also to put a cooling system under them, take the black version, large volume. You can also, like me, take an additional green version for the archive.
An SSD solid state drive is a must if you want to build a productive system. At a minimum, such a disk is needed for a system, at least 128GB. Store only installed software there. A noticeable increase in performance is provided.
Power supply and case.
Here it is better not to save and take a powerful one right away. From 850 watts, and preferably from 1 kilowatt, if you are going to upgrade the system in the future. Of course, you should pay attention to good proven companies, rather than take the Chinese Noname! this is very important, because if the power supply turns out to be of poor quality, then other components in the system will also be under the threat of a voltage drop. In terms of the case, it is advisable to pay attention to its size and the internal convenience of the location of such elements as a place for hard drives, a place for a power supply, is it possible to install liquid cooling, is it possible to hide wires under the walls of the case, the presence of coolers in the box and the possibility of installing additional coolers .
The computer configurator with compatibility check allows you to quickly assemble a system unit with the technical characteristics required by the user. With the help of our online builder, you can easily assemble a reliable office machine, a home multimedia system unit or a powerful gaming setup.
Computer assembly online
In our time, like many years before, it is popular to assemble a computer from self-selected components. This is a good opportunity to choose exactly what you want. Nothing limits you, hundreds of options are available for assembly, among which there is sure to be one that you like.
Our online store offers the possibility of assembling a computer online, through a configurator. In it, this process is presented in the form of categories of components, from the processor to the power supply. Each category contains an extended range of models with a description of the characteristics for ease of selection.
To simplify the selection of components, the configurator has a compatibility filter for the main components of the assembly. For example, by selecting a specific processor, the following components are automatically filtered by compatibility. Also, you will be presented with the choice to install the operating system. After the assembly process is completed, you get the final result in three parameters: price, technical data, rendered image. After placing an order and confirming it by phone, our specialists assemble this equipment and check its performance.
The advantage of this method of buying a system unit is that you not only choose the components you want, but also have the opportunity to choose the brand or manufacturer of the part.
Having assembled a certain configuration, having completed by pressing the assemble / buy buttons, the assembly is assigned a certain serial number, by typing which in the product search bar, you can find this PC and send a link to it to friends or acquaintances for advice or recommendations for them to buy.
An important feature of our configurator is the "get expert opinion" function. By sending your request through this form, you will receive a detailed response with a recommendation to the email address you specified.
Try it and see for yourself - assembling a computer online is easy and simple! In case of difficulty, you can always get advice from our experts on all your questions.
The system unit is the main part of the computer. From a formal point of view, this is a computer, and everything else is peripheral devices, that is, devices connected to it and providing specific functions. The system unit contains all the components responsible for performing calculations and processing information, there is also a hard disk on which this information is stored, optical drives (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM) that read optical discs, and other auxiliary devices.
Motherboard. It provides connection and interaction of all computer subsystems. The processor, RAM, drives and expansion cards are connected to special connectors on the motherboard. Additional cards, called expansion cards, can be installed in special slots on the motherboard. It can be anything from a sound controller to specialized devices such as a satellite DVB tuner.
CPU. It performs calculations that are requested by executable programs, thereby realizing the functionality of the computer. The processor is installed in a special socket - a socket (socket). Now 2-core and 4-core CPUs are being produced.
Hard disk - responsible for storing information, which is one or more magnetic plates with reading heads enclosed in a metal sealed case.
A video card is a device designed to process and output to a display device (for example, a monitor) graphic information (operating system and program interface, video, and so on). There are motherboards that already include a simple video adapter. In this case, an external video card is not required unless high graphics performance is required on the computer.
RAM. It stores data and commands that may soon be needed for calculations by the processor or are awaiting transfer to other subsystems of the computer (video card, hard drive, etc.). RAM transfers information orders of magnitude faster than storage devices (hard drives or optical drives), and is needed to ensure the continuity of computing without delays in receiving data.
Optical drives are designed to read and write optical discs of CD, DVD standards. In addition, high-capacity Blu-ray and HD-DVD drives are expected to become popular in the near future.
The monitor is used to visually display the information provided by the computer. The main types of monitors are cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and liquid crystal monitors. They differ in the technology by which the image is formed on the screen.
The keyboard and mouse are so-called input devices, that is, with their help, the user enters commands into the computer's memory.
2 Bus architecture of personal computers
With the bus structure of communications, all signals between devices are transmitted over the same communication lines, but at different times (this is called multiplexing). Moreover, transmission over all communication lines can be carried out in both directions (the so-called bidirectional transmission). As a result, the number of communication lines is significantly reduced, and the exchange rules (protocols) are simplified. A group of communication lines over which signals or codes are transmitted is called a bus.
All devices of the microprocessor system are united by a common sidark tire(also called system highway or canascrap). The system backbone includes four main low-level buses:
Address bus serves to determine the address (number) of the device with which the processor is currently exchanging information. Each device (except the processor), each memory cell in the microprocessor system is assigned its own address. When the code of some address is set by the processor on the address bus, the device to which this address is assigned understands that it has to exchange information. The address bus can be unidirectional or bidirectional.
Data bus- this is the main bus, which is used to transfer information codes between all devices of the microprocessor system. Usually, a processor is involved in the transfer of information, which transmits a data code to some device or memory cell, or receives a data code from some device or memory cell. But it is also possible to transfer information between devices without the participation of the processor. The data bus is always bidirectional.
Control bus unlike the address bus and the data bus, it consists of separate control signals. Each of these signals during the exchange of information has its own function. Some signals serve to gating transmitted or received data (that is, they determine the times when the information code is set to the data bus). Other control signals can be used to acknowledge receipt of data, reset all devices, clock all devices, and so on. Control bus lines can be unidirectional or bidirectional.
Power rail It is not designed to send information signals, but to power the system. It consists of power lines and a common wire. A microprocessor system may have one power supply (usually +5V) or multiple power supplies (typically -5V, +12V, and -12V). Each supply voltage has its own communication line. All devices are connected to these lines in parallel.
