Parts of a Computer Created by Carmen Garzes

An electronic device that manipulates information or data. It can store, retrieve or process data. There are two types of computers: desktop and laptop. Desktop Laptop

Your basic desktop consist of: CPU Monitor Keyboard Mouse The desktop is also called a Personal Computer or PC.

Any part of the computer you can physically see and touch are known as hardware. This includes what’s inside the computer.

Any external device that plugs into your computer such as a printer or scanner. They are components added to the computer that allow it to perform other functions.

Computers process information. Input Devices Any part of the computer that is responsible for getting information into the computer. Output Devices Getting information out of the computer are known as output devices.

Any part of the computer or device that is responsible for getting information into the computer.

Any device that gets information out of the computer for the user to see.

Computers require both hardware and software for them to work. Each is useless without the other. Software programs are sets of instructions telling the computer (CPU) to perform a series of actions in a certain order.

System Software Includes programs that manage the basic operations of a computer Application Software Programs that perform a single task such as: Word processor Spreadsheets Database Programs that perform a single task such as: Word processor Spreadsheets Database Software programs are divided into two categories. They are System software and Application software.

The operating system is the most important piece of software on your computer. Operating systems perform basic task such as: recognizing input from the keyboard; sending output to the display screen; keeping track of files and directories on the disk; controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. The operating system is the most important piece of software on your computer. Operating systems perform basic task such as: recognizing input from the keyboard; sending output to the display screen; keeping track of files and directories on the disk; controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

Operating System Operating System

Windows - PC Windows runs on PC Platform. There are several versions of windows operating system: Windows 2000 Windows XP Windows Vista Windows runs on PC Platform. There are several versions of windows operating system: Windows 2000 Windows XP Windows Vista Mac OS - Macintosh Mac OS X only runs on Apple or Mac computers. Operating systems are designed for a particular platform which is determined by the type of computer or processor.

Analogue Old way of storing and managing information. Examples of analogue devices: Printed photograph Record Old analogue TV’s Regular camera that uses film Old way of storing and managing information. Examples of analogue devices: Printed photograph Record Old analogue TV’s Regular camera that uses film Digital New way of storing and managing information. It breaks information into pieces. Examples of digital devices Digital camera Scanner Digital TVs CDs and DVDs New way of storing and managing information. It breaks information into pieces. Examples of digital devices Digital camera Scanner Digital TVs CDs and DVDs There are two basic methods of storing and managing information.

Analogue Old way of storing and managing information. Digital New way of storing and managing information.

CPU is often referred to as the brains of the computer. It contains the main chip or processor of a computer that carries out instructions, performs calculations and manages the flow of information through the computer system.

Also known as a computer chassis, tower, box; It is the outer shell of the computer. The case houses the CPU, motherboard, hard drives, cd drives, and other components that make the computer work.

A motherboard is like a blueprint. It contains the basic plan or layout of where everything will reside. It contains the computer's basic circuit board into which everything is plugged into such as your CPU, memory boards, and peripheral cards. Additional components can be added to a motherboard through its expansion slot.

Permanently stores your files for later use; The Operating System, such as Windows XP, as well as any applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) are stored here. Also known as Drive C

RAM is a computer’s temporary memory, which exists as chips on the motherboard near the CPU. It temporarily stores data or information while they are being used until you hit Save. Everything stored in this temporary memory is lost when the computer shuts down.

The monitor looks like a television. It has a display screen to provide “output” to the user. It is where you view the information you are working on. There are two types of monitors LCD CRT LCD Monitor

It is a circuit board attached to the motherboard that contains the memory and other circuitry necessary to send information to the monitor for display on screen. Without the Video Card, you would not be able to see images on your screen.

The keyboard has a set of raised keys. It is used to enter information into the computer and for giving commands. It is an input device.

A hand-held input device used to select or move items on a screen, open programs, highlight text and perform other functions. The mouse is used to control the on-screen pointer by pointing and clicking, double-clicking, or dragging objects on the screen.

A pressure-sensitive and motion sensitive device used in place of a mouse. Touchpads are also found on phones.

It is also known as an Optical Drive. The drive that reads information stored on compact discs (CDs) or DVDs. CDs are used to install software. When you burn a CD, you are writing information onto CDs and DVDs to be used later or in another location. It is also known as the D Drive on your computer.

A small round plastic disk used to store large amounts of digital information. CDs store about 700 MB of data DVDs store about 4.7 GB of digital information.

Small easy portable USB device used to store digital data from a computer. Comes in a variety of storage sizes. They are also called jump drives, pen drives or flash drives.

An input device used for capturing text or images and converting it into a digital image.

Allows the user to record sounds as input to their computer.

Used to generate or reproduce voice, music, and other sounds. It is an output device.

The Sound Ports plug into the Sound Card. Microphones, headsets and speakers will connect to the computer through the sound ports. The Sound Card processes sound data so that you can speak into a microphone to record and listen to audio with speakers or a headset.

The place where the computer is connected to the phone line. The modem is what allows us to connect to the Internet.

An output device that produces a hard copy (paper copy) of information displayed on a computer screen. It gives information to the user in printed form. There are two types of printers: laser and inkjet. Inkjet PrinterLaser Printer

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) has become the standard method of connecting computer peripherals such as mouse, keyboard, scanners, printers, cameras, etc. USB was designed to replace serial and parallel ports.

Connects your computer to other computers and the Internet One end plugs into your computer’s Network Card The other end plugs into a “drop” along the wall

Supplies power to the computer.