Core Hardware — System Components & Storage

Overview

AI, Data Science & Cloud Certificates from Google, IBM & Meta — 50% Off

One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera. 50% off Coursera Plus Annual for 10 days only — price increases June 17.

Unlock All Certificates

This course builds on foundational hardware knowledge by covering the critical system components that make a PC function: firmware, motherboards, power supplies, and storage. Covering approximately 5 hours of expert instruction, learners gain the skills to configure BIOS/UEFI settings, identify motherboard components, select and replace power supplies, and implement a wide variety of storage solutions. Learners benefit by developing hands-on proficiency with the internal architecture of a modern PC. Online labs reinforce BIOS/UEFI navigation, storage device identification, RAID configuration, and power supply selection. By the end of this course, learners will be able to configure system firmware, identify and replace motherboard components, size and install power supplies, and implement storage solutions from traditional HDDs to modern NVMe SSDs.

Syllabus

BIOS and UEFI

This chapter covers the essential types and characteristics of DRAM, explaining how memory capacity, configuration, and virtual memory work while teaching you how to upgrade, install, and troubleshoot RAM for better system performance.

Motherboards

This chapter explains how motherboard form factors, chipsets, and component compatibility shape a PC’s design, and guides you through selecting and properly installing a motherboard within a case.

Power Supplies

This chapter explores the major types of mass storage—HDDs, SSDs, and SCSI—explaining how they work, how systems communicate with them, and the maintenance needs and use cases for each technology.

Mass Storage Technologies

This chapter explains how modern systems use various mass‑storage technologies—HDDs, SSDs, and SCSI—and highlights their operation, maintenance needs, and boot‑order configuration.

Implementing Mass Storage

This chapter covers how RAID improves speed and reliability through various array levels, explains hardware and software RAID configuration, explores storage‑encryption methods, and outlines how to diagnose and repair mass‑storage failures.