Computer Hardware

Computer Hardware

• 1. Computer Hardware Computer Hardware
• 2. What is a Computer? What is a Computer? lA Computer is a machine that receives input, performs processing, and produces output
• 3. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware Hardware refers to all the pieces of physical equipment that make up a computer system. lA Personal Computer includes several pieces of hardware or devices
• 4. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lThe Power Supply is a device that distributes electricity to the various components of the system. The electrical cord runs from the power supply to an electrical outlet.
• 5. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lThe Motherboard is the largest circuit board inside your personal computer. It contains millions of electronic circuit elements on chips of silicon.
• 6. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lThe CPU (Central Processing Unit) is a chip located on the motherboard, which performs mathematical calculations and logic functions. The CPU is often referred to as the brain of the computer because it administers the functions of the other components
• 7. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lThe Bus is the main communication path, or series of paths, on the motherboard that connects the system’s components with the CPU. The Bus also connects external components through expansion slots. These slots can contain plug-in cards that let the computer communicate with other devices, such as monitors and printers
• 8. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lA Peripheral is a device connected to the computer through the bus. Many essential components of a personal Computer system are peripherals, including monitors, keyboards, and disk drives lPeripherals are often divided into two categories—input devices and output devices
• 9. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lThe Monitor is an output device that displays input and the results of processing
• 10. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lThe Mouse is an input device that you use to control a pointer that displays on the monitor. A wide variety of mouse devices exist
• 11. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lThe Keyboard is an input device with alphabetic, numeric, and function keys in a standardized layout
• 12. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lMost computers contain a Hard Disk (Hard Drive) and other Disk Drives. lDisk Drives are identified by letter C: Computer Hard Drive A: Disk Drive D: CD/DVD Drive E: Removable Disk Drive F: letters continue for each drive
• 13. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lCD-Rom (Compact Disk Read Only) and DVD (Digital Video Disc) disks are input devices. Without special equipment, you cannot save data to a CD-ROM, but you can retrieve information from one if you have a CD-ROM drive on your computer. Most personal computers come with a CD writer—a CD-ROM device that lets you record on a CD-R or CD-RW
• 14. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lModems serve as a source of both input and output. Modems give you access to the Internet. A modem may be installed inside your computer (internal modem) or the modem may be connected through a communications port (external modem)
• 15. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lPrinters are the most common output device. A wide variety of printer types is available: lLaser lInk Jet/Bubble lPlotters (schematic drawings) lDot-matrix lImpact
• 16. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lYour computer operates through a vast number of on/off switches called binary digits or bits. lBits are grouped together into bytes, a string of 8 bits that can be translated by the computer into a letter or an action. For example, when you press the capital letter A on the keyboard, a signal passes to the computer and gets translated into a string of 8 bits that are represented like this : 01000001 01000001 Each 0 represents a switch that is turned off and 1 represents a switch that is turned on
• 17. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lA Byte is the most common measurement of storage in the digital computer lKilobyte (smallest) lMegabyte lGigabyte lTerabyte (largest)
• 18. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lThe speed of your personal computer is measured in Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz)
• 19. Personal Computer Hardware Personal Computer Hardware lSoftware refers to the instructions that allow a computer to run and act on the data that is input. Software is usually divided into two types: –Operating System Software –Applications Software lOperating System Software includes instructions that allow a computer to run (i.e. Windows) lApplications Software includes programs that allow you to make the computer do what you want (i.e. Microsoft Office Word, Power Point, etc.)