Hardware Components & Software Concepts Intro to Digital Technology HARDWARE CONCEPTS

GPS Standard IT-IDT-4 Identify, describe, evaluate, select, and use appropriate technology. IT-IDT-5 Understand, communicate, and adapt to a digital world.

What is a computer? Electronic device that accepts, processes, produces results, and stores data Data Collection of unprocessed items Text, numbers, images, audio, and video Information Conveys meaning and is useful Ex. Data is input to create a grade report

Information Processing Cycle Input Process Output Storage

Components of a Computer Hardware Electric, electronic, and mechanical components Input devices Output devices System unit Storage devices Communications devices

Input Devices Any hardware component that allows you to enter data and instructions into a computer Keyboard Mouse Microphone Scanner Digital camera Web cam

Output Devices Any hardware component that conveys information to one or more people Printer Monitor Speakers Portable media player

System Unit A case that contains electronic components of the computer used to process data

Motherboard Sometimes called system board Main circuit board of the system unit Many electronic components are attached to the motherboard Expansion slots Processor chips Memory slots

Processor or CPU Interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer

Processor Control Unit Component of processor that directs and coordinates operations Like a traffic cop: it interprets each instruction issued by a program and then initiates the appropriate action to carry out the instruction

System Clock Controls the timing of all operations Clock speed Pace of clock Gigahertz (GHz): one billion ticks of the system clock per second Faster clock speed=more instructions the processor can execute per second Does the system clock keep track of current date and time? First computers: 30 MHz Current: 3 GHz No, the system clock does not keep track of real time. A separate battery backed chip, called the real-time clock, keeps track of the the date and time. It contiunies to run the real-time clock even when the computer is off.

Comparison of Processors Leading chip manufacturers Intel AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) IBM Motorola Today’s high performance PC’s: Intel Core Less expensive PC’s: Pentium or Celeron

Processors Multi-core processor Increases overall performance Single chip with 2 or more processors Dual-core: 2 separate processors Quad-core: 4 separate processors Increases overall performance Especially noticeable when running multiple programs Email, antivirus software, spyware remover, IM, media player, CD burning software, and photo editing software

Memory Store instructions, data needed by those instructions, and the results of processed data One or more chips on motherboard Stores 3 basic categories Operating system Application programs Data being processed by application programs

Byte Character, basic storage unit of memory Each byte has an address Unique number that identifies the location of the byte in memory

Memory Sizes

RAM Random access memory Examples: Temporary memory More information processed = more RAM needed Volatile: loses its contents when power is removed Examples: Operating system interface Browser windows Paint program More RAM = faster response from computer Software applications usually have a minimum requirement for RAM for the application to run properly. EX. Vista, Microsoft Office

Cache Pronounced cash Temporary storage for faster viewing Ex. Web pages, images, media

ROM Read-only memory Permanent storage Non-volatile: not lost when power is removed Cannot be modified Ex. ROM chips in printers contain data for fonts Ex. When your system boots up

Flash Memory Nonvolatile Fast Examples Downloading music on iTunes to your iPod Storing phone numbers on your phone Pagers Digital cameras

Expansion Slots/Adapter Cards Motherboard To enhance functions or provide connections to devices

Ports Port: a point in which peripheral attaches to or communicates with a system unit. Connectors: joins a cable to a port

Connectors

4 Components of a Computer Input Storage Processing Output