Computer Hardware

By: Louisa Marie M. Miranda BSN

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Table of Contents

Hardware, Motherboard and CPU....................................................................................3

Memory.............................................................................................................................4

Input and output...............................................................................................................5

Storage media and Hard drive.........................................................................................6

Diskette and CD-ROM...................................................................................................7

USB Disk and Classes of Computer................................................................................8

Classes of computer(cont.)...............................................................................................9

Types of computer...........................................................................................................10

Common peripherals.................................................................................................11-13

Computer software.........................................................................................................14

Computer System...........................................................................................................15

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Hardware Define as all of the physical components of the machine itself. Basic hardware include: Electronic circuits Microchips Processors Motherboard itself inside the computer housing Computer Hardware Fundamentals

Motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that holds the CPU, memory, connectors for the hard drive and optical drives, expansion cards to control the video and audio, as well as connections to your computer's ports (such as the USB ports). The motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer. Made of a dielectric or non conducting plastic material

Central Processing Unit (CPU)/ Processor the brain of the computer. Carries out the machine language functions called fetch, execute, decode and store.

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Memory Two types: Read Only Memory (ROM) is a form of permanent storage. This means that data and programs in ROM can only be read by computer and cannot be erased or altered.

Random Access Memory(RAM) RAM is your system's short-term memory. Whenever your computer performs calculations, it temporarily stores the data in the RAM until it is needed. RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).

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Input Devices Allow the computer to receive information from the outside world. Ex: Keyboard, mouse, touch screen(input and output), light pen, voice and scanner

Output Devices Allow the computer to report its result to the external world. It can be in the form of text, data files, sound, graphics, or signals to other devices. The two most obvious output devices are the monitor (display screen) and printer.

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Storage Media Include the main memory but also external devices on which programs and data are stored. The most common storage devices include the hard drive, diskettes and CD-ROMs

Hard Drive Peripheral that has very high speed and high density. It is a very fast means of storing and retrieving data as well as having a large storage capacity in comparison with the other types of storage.

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Diskettes Diskette drive allows input and output from a diskette, which is a round magnetic disk encased in a flexible or rigid case. It allows the user to transport data or programs from one computer site to another.

CD-ROM Rigid disk that holds a much higher density of information than a diskette and has a much higher speed.

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USB Disk As a demand for higher and higher density transportable storage rise, the popularity of the USB disk has also risen. A USB disk is actually a form of a small removable hard drive that is inserted into the USB port of the computer.

Classes of Computers 1. Analog Computer Operates on continuous physical or electrical magnitudes, measuring ongoing continuous analog quantities such as voltage, current, temperature and pressure.

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2. Digital Computer Operate on discrete discontinuous numerical digits using the binary numbering system.

3. Hybrid As it names implies, contains features of both the analog and the digital computer.

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Types of Computer 1. Supercomputer First supercomputer was developed by a computer engineer named Seymour Cray (The Franklin Institute, 1999) The largest type of computer. Computational-oriented computer specially designed for scientific applications requiring gigantic amounts of calculation.

2. Mainframes

The fastest, largest and most expensive typed of computer used in corporate America for processing, storing and retrieving data. A large multiuser central computer that meets the computing needs the large amount of repetitive calculations of bills, payroll and etc.

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3. Microcomputers (personal Computers or PCs)

Common Peripherals

Keyboard Input device - choose letters, symbols, and actions by pressing keys.

Monitor An output display device (looks similar to a TV) in a computer system. You see information on the monitor's screen. Screen

The viewing area on a monitor or the information or image displayed.

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Mouse A hand-held input device you roll on your desk to point to and select items on your screen. When you move the mouse, the mouse pointer on the screen moves in the same direction.

Floppy/Diskettes and CD-ROMS

Microphone Input device in which sound energy is changed into electrical energy for the sending or recording sound (your voice).

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Scanner Input device that reads copy as an image and digitally records the image.

Printer A device that produces a paper copy of the information on your screen. The printer on the left is an INK JET PRINTER, and the other is a LASER PRINTER.

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Modem A device that allows computers to communicate with each other over telephone lines (Internet). At school we do not use modems, we have a direct connection to the Internet called a T-1 line.

Computer Software and System Computer Software Gen term applied to the instructions that direct the computers hardware to perform work.

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Computer System Every functioning computer is a system; that is, it is a complex entity, consisting of an organized set of interconnected components or factors that function together as a unit to accomplish results that one part alone could not.

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