Computer Hardware The Basics

Overview

Why is this important? To be able to recognize each of the main parts of a computer As a professional in digital media it is essential that you understand the equipment you are working with on a daily basis When you purchase or upgrade your computer you can make an informed intelligent decision.

CPU Central Processing Unit)--The chip in a computer that has primary responsibility for interpreting commands and running programs.

Motherboard The main circuit board of a computer.

Hard drive A device used for storing large amounts of data for a computer that persist while the computer is turned off

Hard Drive Diagram

CD ROM Compact Disc Read Only Memory. A data storage system using CDs as the medium on which electronic data is etched and read by a laser beam.

RAM random-access memory: the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on.

Heat sink A heat sink is an object that absorbs and dissipates heat from another object using thermal contact (either direct or radiant). Heat sinks are used in a wide range of applications wherever efficient heat dissipation is required thermal contact

Ribbon Cable A type of cable in the computer that connects the drives to the motherboard. Flat with one wire on the edge colored in red.

Serial ATA Cable The next generation connector is replacing the ribbon cable. The new transfer rate is 300 MB/s versus 133 MB/s Does not have pins that can be bent and only connects one way. Increase airflow in the machine Connects Hard drives and CD/DVD ROMS

Power Supply (PSU) is the component that supplies power to a computer. More specifically, a power supply is typically designed to convert V (North America and Japan) or V (Europe) AC power from the mains to usable low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the computer.VAC power DC

Video Card a piece of hardware installed into a personal computer to allow it to send video signals to an external output device such as a monitor or projector

USB Port Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard to interface devices to a host computer. USB was designed to allow many peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket.serial businterface

Firewire Port The IEEE 1394 interface is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real- time data transfer, frequently used by personal computersserial bus interface standardisochronous personal computers

LAN Port or Network Interface This port enables your computer to be connected to a network. This is also the port that plugs into your cable modem.