Chapter Objectives In this chapter, you will learn: That a computer requires both hardware and software to work About the different hardware components that are inside and connected to a computer About basic ways to protect yourself and your computer system as you work on a computer Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Hardware Needs Software to Work The term hardware refers to the computer’s physical components The term software, or program, refers to the set of instructions that directs the hardware to accomplish a task A personal computer processes data that is digital, which means it is in one of two states: positive (on) and non-positive (off) This technology is called binary Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Hardware Needs Software to Work Computers use a binary number system to express the positive state as number 1 and the non-positive state as the number 0 A 1 or 0 in the binary number system is called a bit A string of eight bits is a byte The combinations of 0s and 1s that represent characters are defined by patterns called a coding scheme The coding scheme most widely used in personal computers is ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Hardware Needs Software to Work Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Personal Computer Hardware Components The computer case stores most processing, storage, communication, and power supply components The central processing unit (CPU) is central to all processing done by the computer Each hardware input, output, or storage device requires these elements to operate: A method to communicate with the CPU Software to instruct and control the device Electricity to power the device Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Outside the Computer Case: Input and Output Devices Most input and output devices reside outside the computer case, and communicate with components inside the computer case through a port or a wireless connection A peripheral device is not located directly on the motherboard but communicates with the CPU Most computer ports are located on the back of the case Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Outside the Computer Case: Input and Output Devices Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Outside the Computer Case: Input and Output Devices A keyboard is an input device that contains keys users press to enter data and send instructions to a computer A mouse is a pointing input device used to move a pointer on the screen and to make selections Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Outside the Computer Case: Input and Output Devices The monitor visually displays the output of the computer Hardware manufacturers typically describe a monitor by the size of its screen A monitor’s resolution is a function of the number of pixels used for display on the screen Resolution refers to the sharpness and clearness of an image A printer is an output device which produces output on paper The most popular printers today are ink-jet and laser printers Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Outside the Computer Case: Input and Output Devices Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Inside the Computer Case: Processing, Communications, Storage, and Power All processing of data and instructions and most storage are handled by devices that are inside the computer case Motherboard Expansion cards Secondary storage devices Power supply with power cords Cables connecting devices to circuit boards and the motherboard Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Inside the Computer Case: Processing, Communications, Storage, and Power Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

The Motherboard A circuit board is an insulated board that holds microchips, and the circuitry connecting these chips The largest and most important circuit board in the computer is the motherboard Other types of circuit boards, called expansion cards, are installed in long narrow expansion slots on the motherboard Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

The Motherboard The motherboard supplies external ports Serial ports Parallel ports USB ports FireWire ports Sound ports Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

The CPU and the Chip Set The CPU could not do its job without the assistance of the chip set, a group of microchips on the motherboard that control the flow of data and instructions to and from the CPU IBM-compatible personal computers Macintosh family of personal computers Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Memory (Primary Storage) The CPU uses temporary storage, also called primary storage or memory, to hold data and instructions temporarily while it is processing them Primary storage is provided by chips, called random access memory (RAM), located on the motherboard and other circuit boards DIMMs (dual inline memory modules) SIMMs (single inline memory modules) RIMMs (memory modules manufactured by Rambus, Inc.) Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Memory (Primary Storage) RAM is considered to be volatile, which means it loses its contents when the computer is turned off Another kind of memory, called ROM (read-only memory), is nonvolatile, which means that it holds its data permanently, even when the power is turned off Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Memory (Primary Storage) Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Instructions Stored on the Motherboard and Other Boards The motherboard includes a ROM chip to store basic data and programs used to start up the computer, relate to simple hardware devices, and search for an operating system The BIOS stores these data and programs The BIOS is categorized by three main purposes: System BIOS Startup BIOS CMOS BIOS Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Motherboard Configuration Settings The CMOS setup instructions are stored on the motherboard as part of the ROM BIOS chip, or a separate chip called CMOS RAM chip, CMOS setup chip, or CMOS configuration chip A CMOS RAM chip, which is nonvolatile, contains a very small amount of memory to hold configuration information Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Motherboard Configuration Settings A motherboard can retain setup or installation information using different settings of jumpers or DIP switches Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Motherboard Components Used for Communication Among Devices Traces are circuits or paths that enable data, instructions, and power to move from component to component on the motherboard These paths collectively are referred to as a bus The data bus transfers actual data by placing voltage on each line of the data bus Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Motherboard Components Used for Communication Among Devices The main bus on the motherboard that communicates with the CPU, memory, and chip set is called the system bus Today’s motherboards contain a system bus that is 64 bits wide An important line on the system bus is used by the system clock, which helps the CPU control the timing of all computer operations Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Motherboard Components Used for Communication Among Devices The speed of the cycles of the system clock is called the clock speed Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Expansion Cards The lines of a bus often extend from the CPU to the expansion slots used to hold expansion cards The size and shape of an expansion slot depends on the kind of bus it uses: PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Expansion Cards Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Secondary Storage When data and instructions are not in memory, they must be in secondary storage Data and instructions cannot be processed by the CPU from secondary storage A storage medium is the physical material on which a computer keeps data, instructions, and information A key characteristic of a storage medium is its capacity Kilobyte (KB) Megabyte (MB) Gigabyte (GB) Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Secondary Storage A storage device is the computer hardware that writes and/or reads data to and from storage media A hard drive stores data magnetically and is a read/write storage medium Most hard drives today use a technology called EIDE, a standard that defines how the motherboard communicates with secondary storage devices Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Secondary Storage A ZIP drive is a device that reads from and writes to a Zip disk, which is a removable magnetic medium that can store up to 750 MB A CD-ROM drive uses a laser beam to read data from a CD-ROM A DVD-ROM drive uses laser technology to read data from a high capacity optical disk called a DVD-ROM A floppy drive can read from and write to a floppy disk Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Secondary Storage Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

The Electrical System The most important component of the computer’s electrical system is the power supply The power supply converts the power received from a standard power outlet and reduces it to a voltage that the computer can handle The power supply runs a fan directly from the electrical output voltage to help cool the inside of the computer case Motherboards and secondary storage devices include connections for power cords Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

The Electrical System Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Protecting Your Computer System Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is an electrical charge that can build up on the surface of insulating materials When two objects with dissimilar electrical charges touch, static electricity passes between them until the dissimilar charges become equal ESD can damage electronic components, or cause total failure Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Always ground yourself before touching electronic components A ground bracelet is an antistatic strap you wear around your wrist A ground mat provides a grounded surface on which to place components with which you are working Whenever possible, lay computer components on static shielding bags Unplug your computer before you work on it Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Protecting Against EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) When electricity flows, it creates an electromagnetic field in a radio frequency range Emissions from one device can interfere with other devices, causing EMI EMI can lead to data loss, picture quality degradation on monitors, and other problems with your computer, or problems with radio and TV reception Always install face plates in empty drive bays or slot covers over empty expansion slots Avoid having computers on the same circuit as high-powered electrical equipment Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Providing Surge Protection and Battery Backup Consider how the power coming into the computer is regulated Many devices are available to filter the AC input from a wall socket to a computer and its peripherals, as well as to provide backup power when the AC fails Surge Suppressors Power Conditioners Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Surge Suppressors A surge suppressor (or surge protector) provides a row of power outlets and an on/off switch that protects equipment from overvoltages on AC power lines and telephone lines Not all power strips have surge protection The let-through voltage is the maximum voltage the surge suppressor allows to reach your equipment A surge suppressor rated at 330 volts lets through the least amount of electricity and provides the most protection Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Power Conditioners A power conditioner (or line conditioner) provides protection against spikes It also regulates or conditions power by providing continuous voltage during spikes or brownouts Power conditioners provide no protection against a complete loss of power during a blackout Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Uninterruptible Power Supplies An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) conditions the line for both brownouts and spikes, provides backup power during a blackout, and protects against very high spikes that could damage equipment A smart UPS or intelligent UPS allows you to manage the UPS using software installed on your computer Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Uninterruptible Power Supplies Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Chapter Summary In this chapter, you learned: That a computer requires both hardware and software to work About the different hardware components that are inside and connected to a computer About basic ways to protect yourself and your computer system as you work on a computer Chapter 1: Introducing Hardware

Chapter 1 Complete