Hardware Assembly, Disassembly and Upgradation
The Hardware Assembly, Disassembly and Upgradation domain tests safe handling of PC and electronic hardware, correct component matching and upgrade planning. Expect questions on motherboards, CPU sockets, RAM, storage, PSU connectors, thermal management and POST faults.
Core rules and concepts
- Power down, unplug and hold the power button to discharge residual power. Wear an ESD strap or touch a grounded metal surface; store boards in anti-static bags.
- CPU sockets are keyed: align the triangle/notch and never force the lever. Apply a thin, even layer of thermal paste and seat the cooler evenly.
- RAM types are not interchangeable: DDR3, DDR4 and DDR5 have different keying and voltage. Match the motherboard’s supported type, speed and maximum capacity; use matched pairs in the correct slots for dual channel.
- Storage: SATA uses a data cable plus power; NVMe M.2 fits an M-key slot and needs a standoff screw. A PSU’s modular cables are not interchangeable between brands.
- POST beeps or LEDs indicate CPU, RAM, GPU or boot faults; reseat the relevant part before replacing it.
Worked example
A desktop needs a RAM upgrade. The board supports DDR4-3200, four slots, 128 GB maximum. Existing RAM is one 8 GB DDR4-3200 stick. Fit a second 8 GB DDR4-3200 module in the paired slot (usually A2/B2) to enable dual channel and reach 16 GB. DDR5 would not fit the keying, and mixing speeds may force the slower common speed.
Traps that cost marks
Forcing a CPU into the socket; forgetting motherboard standoffs and shorting the board; mixing modular PSU cables; touching gold contacts; assuming any RAM fits; applying too much thermal paste.