The Components of a Computer and its Peripheral Devices Presented by Nicholas Landreth-Smith BTT20

What are the Main Components of a Computer? There are 4 main components: Motherboard Central Processing Unit (CPU) Memory Hard Drive (hard disk storage)

Motherboard The motherboard is the foundation of a computer. Attached to the motherboard are the CPU, memory, hard drive, monitor, mouse, keyboard, add-on cards, even peripherals like printers, scanners, and speakers.

Motherboard

Without it nothing runs... Motherboard We can compare the motherboard to the nervous system and skeleton of the human body -- it provides support for the internal components and also passes information between the computer parts. Without it nothing runs...

Central Processing Unit (CPU) It is the place where the computer processes data and coordinates tasks among different components of the computer. It does the calculations, the processing of data, the reading (and interpreting) of the computer code and converts it to whatever output we or the program tells it.

CPU is the “brains" of the computer The speed of the computer is measured by the speed of the CPU. Modern CPUs are usually rated between 2.0 and 3.0 GigaHertz (GHz), which is the number of calculations the processor can make in 1 second. The higher the number, the faster (better) the computer.  CPU is the “brains" of the computer

Memory Location where the computer stores data while it is operating. Two types of memory: RAM (Random Access Memory) - Hardware that temporary stores information. RAM is one of the things that makes your computer run faster. ROM (Read Only Memory) – this refers to memory chips that store permanent data and instructions. The data on most ROM chips cannot be changed.

Remember, when the computer is shut down, all data in the RAM is lost. Memory Remember, when the computer is shut down, all data in the RAM is lost. Always save your work!!!!

Hard Disk Drive The hard drive is the primary device that a computer uses to store information.  It stores programs, data files, saves files, and organizes files.  The hard drive, magnetically stores data on stacks of rotating disks called platters.

This is the computer’s filing cabinet Hard Disk Drive The hard drive, magnetically stores data on stacks of rotating disks called platters. Data will stay stored even when the computer shuts down. This is the computer’s filing cabinet

Peripheral Devices A peripheral devices is any piece of hardware attached to a computer. A few examples of peripheral devices are: Monitor Keyboard Mouse Scanner USB Flash Drive Digital camera

Scanner A device that can read text or illustrations printed on paper and translate the information into a form the computer can use. A scanner works by digitizing an image.

Scanner There are different types of scanners: Flatbed (most common) Sheetfeeder Handheld (not much use today) Card scanners (not very useful, only used to read business cards)

USB Flash Drive USB Flash Drive can be used to copy and store data from computer hard drives. They were developed as an alternative to the floppy disk (3.5 diskette) that was common before. Today, the USB Flash Drive is a preferred method of both permanent and temporary data storage.

Digital Camera Stores images digitally rather than recording them on film. It is downloaded to a computer system Digital photos are limited by amount of memory in the camera, the optical resolution of the digitizing mechanism, and by the resolution of the final output device (printer, monitor, etc.). Advantage of making photos inexpensive and fast because there is no film processing.

INTERDEPENDENCE All the components of a computer are interdependent to each other. Each component is dependent on another, they cannot function as a single component. Every component must be connected to the motherboard which supports all the components and passes information from one component to the other.

References Components of Any Computer. A1-Computers. 30 Oct. 2008 <http://www.a1computers.net/components_of_any computer.html> "interdependent." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. Merriam-Webster Online. 1 October 2008 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ interdependent> T.E. Mercer & PBG. Computer System Components. 31 March 2006. 01 Oct. 2008 <http://www.helpus.com/text/components/compbrk.htm> Web Course Modules. The university of Southern Mississippi, Dept of Technology Education. 01 Oct. 2008 <http://dragon.ep.usm.edu/~it365/module/Basics/ storage.htm>

Thank you very much for your attention