B.E. / B.Tech.

DEGREE EXAMINATION, NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2007

Seventh semester
(Regulation 2004)
Electronics and Communication Engineering
EC 1003 � COMPUTER HARDWARE AND INTERFACING
(Common to B.E. part time) sixth Semester Regulation 2005)

Answer all questions

PART A � (10*2=20)

1. List the performance enhancing features found in a modem processor.

2. What is CPU over clocking and what are the failures associated with CPU
3. What are the feature that handled as Southbridge chipset
4. List the common entries that are found in the standard CMOS setup menu.
5. What are the recording techniques used with CD � ROMs and hard disk drives.
6. What is region code control used with DVDs.
7. List the features of IEEE 1284 standard for parallel peripheral interface.
8. List the general steps involved in 3D rendering.
9. What are the components involved in a plug and play systems.
10. What are the signal wiring techniques for SCSI and mention their impact on bus
performance.

PART B � (5*16=80)
11. (a) (i) Discuss the importance features of the Pentium 4 microprocessor.
(ii) Explain how the CPU, the motherboard, system RAM and CPU cooling influence
CPU over clocking.
OR
(b) (i) Explain the different types of memory modules used in the PC.
(ii) Explain the different types of specialized memory devices that have been
tailored to serve specific functions in the PC.

12. (a) (i) Show the block diagram of Intel D850GB Pentium 4 motherboard and
explain the function of each block.
(ii) Discuss briefly a typical PC boot process.
OR
(b) (i) Illustrate an application of a typical chipset.
(ii) Describe briefly the core features of BIOS.

13. (a) (i) Describe the IDE features and architecture.

(ii) Discuss the function of different RAID modes.
OR
(b) (i) Show a typical hard drive sector layout.
(ii) Explain the different ways to implement a hard disk servo mechanism.
(iii) Illustrate the electronic block diagram for a typical CD drive.

14. (a) (i) Explain the functions of various parallel port timing diagrams.
(ii) Discuss the array of features provided in today�s 3D graphics accelerators.
OR
(b) (i) Show the typical parallel port timing diagram.
(ii) Explain the function of various serial port signals.
(iii) Show the block diagram of external and internal modem and explain the
operation.

15. (a) (i) Explain how the USB trouble shooting can be carried out.
(ii) Explain the function of the signals on a PCI bus.
OR
(b) (i) Show the block diagram of the AGP interface and explain the function of
each block.
(ii) Explain briefly the following
1) Plug and Play devices
2) SCSI Concepts.