Unit 1 1.2 Computer Components

What you need to learn: 1.2 Computer components, i.e.: processors motherboards storage (hard drive, solid state, flash, internal,removable, SAS, SCSI, portable, Cloud) ports (USB, Firewire, SATA, Network, FibreChannel) memory (RAM, ROM, cache) expansion cards (sound, network, graphics,storage controller, fibre channel) power supplies characteristics purpose • input devices • output devices • communications devices • benefits (e.g. integrated devices make portable devices simpler to use) • limitations (e.g. voice recognition performs poorly in noisy environments) • uses (e.g. membrane keyboard could be used in harsh physical environments)

Processor The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the part of a computer system that is commonly referred to as the "brains" of a computer. The CPU is also known as the processor or microprocessor.

CPU CPU is the brain of a computer Performs many calculations behind the scenes, ultimately allowing you to complete tasks as trivial as composing an e-mail to tasks as intensive as data analysis and modelling. Processors are encountered in many forms of devices. Most familiar to many are notebook and desktop computers as well as mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Motherboards What are these? What are they used for? A motherboard is the physical arrangement in a computer that contains the computer's basic circuitry and components.  A printed circuit board containing the principal components of a computer or other device, with connectors for other circuit boards to be slotted into. The computer components included in the motherboard are: The microprocessor (Optionally) coprocessors Memory basic input/output system Expansion slots Interconnecting circuitry Demo

What is storage? What is the need for secondary storage?

Optical storage Optical storage is the storage of data on an optically readable medium. Data is recorded by making marks in a pattern that can be read back with the aid of light, usually a beam of laser light precisely focused on a spinning disc

Magnetic strip a strip of magnetic material on which information may be stored, as by an electromagnetic process, for automatic reading, decoding, or recognition by a device that detects magnetic variations on the strip

Solid state Solid-state storage (SSS) is a type of computer storage media made from silicon microchips. SSS stores data electronically instead of magnetically

Cloud computing Use the internet to find out what is meant by the term “cloud computing”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUwcAoqFEpA&list=PL3Cs7s-B5Be4e2_Gi-2HCQ1jUXY-WtYan

Cloud Computing What is cloud computing? Find out 3 different companies that provide cloud services Find out the different applications of cloud computing.

Test your knowledge: What is storage? Why is it used? What is optical storage? Positives & negatives What is magnetic strip storage? What is solid state storage?

SAS – Serial Attached Storage You have a CPU and your have the hard disk separate. They are all configured as one. Due to everything being virtual the storage of the computer it incudes a web interface and has a huge amount of storage. If a normal computer if was broken you would still have the hard drive but would need to be plugged in to an identical machine to retrieve the data. SAS you could plug the storage into any computer just ensure the OS is the same.

SCSI – Small/serial computer system interface Hard disks built into computers purely for speed. Allow much faster data transfer rates. Perfect for servers they all have SCSI interfaces. Plugs on the end determines as the type of connection for SCSI. SATA connectors (port) are this day and age. Personal home computers will have these. These are the type of connectors they include – faster data transfer. More up to date development of technology for faster data transfer again.

Demonstration Ask Paul for the two types to show the students.

SATA fast data transfer port Power

Exam Question If you are building a modern server infrastructure what type of storage would you use. Consider the benefits and limitations. (6 marks)

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