Computer Hardware Introduction

Computer Hardware Introduction The basic form of a computer is this: PROCESSING MEMORY INPUTOUTPUT But let’s look inside a computer in more detail first

Computer Hardware Introduction CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) HARD DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE OTHER DISK DRIVES OTHER CARD SLOTS VIDEO CARD is the connector of most other parts of the computer Is a large plastic chip with many integrated metal connections

Computer Hardware Introduction CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) HARD DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE OTHER DISK DRIVES OTHER CARD SLOTS VIDEO CARD This is the BRAIN of the computer that does the actual tasks required by the computer It is usually covered by a fan that helps cool it off

Computer Hardware Introduction CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) HARD DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE OTHER DISK DRIVES OTHER CARD SLOTS VIDEO CARD This is the TEMPORARY MEMORY of the computer It holds all of the tasks that are going on at any one time Accessing it is VERY FAST, but it only works while the computer is running when the computer is turned off, everything that was stored in RAM is lost

Computer Hardware Introduction CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) HARD DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE OTHER DISK DRIVES OTHER CARD SLOTS VIDEO CARD This is the main semi-PERMANENT MEMORY of the computer Files can be written and read by means of a magnet placing signals on a metal disc It is slower than RAM, however it holds much more data and will keep the data even if the computer is turned off

Computer Hardware Introduction CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) HARD DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE OTHER DISK DRIVES OTHER CARD SLOTS VIDEO CARD This is the unit that provides power to most of the computer’s parts It has an input wire that is plugged into the wall socket It not only transfers power, but it also changes the voltages of the electricity, since different parts need different amounts of power It has lots of red, black and yellow wires that connect the parts of the computer

Computer Hardware Introduction CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) HARD DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE OTHER DISK DRIVES OTHER CARD SLOTS VIDEO CARD They are often called the CD Drive, and include CD-W, CD-WR, DVD, DVD-R etc They are all the drives that use lasers to read information that is etched onto a plastic disc They are a way to store data permanently, but also in a way that is portable

Computer Hardware Introduction CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) HARD DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE OTHER DISK DRIVES OTHER CARD SLOTS VIDEO CARD These are other forms of portable semi- permanent memory that are usually in the form of a removable disk This particular computer does not seem to have one, but this is where it would be usually found

Computer Hardware Introduction CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) HARD DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE OTHER DISK DRIVES OTHER CARD SLOTS VIDEO CARD This is the card that controls what shows up on the monitor The more demanding the needs of what is being shown (video gaming, animation, etc), the more powerful the video card needs to be

Computer Hardware Introduction CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) HARD DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE OTHER DISK DRIVES OTHER CARD SLOTS VIDEO CARD This are spaces for other cards to be connected to the system The most common is likely a Network Card, which allows the computer to be connected to a network of other computers This is also likely how your computer is connected to the Internet at home

Computer Hardware Introduction Outside of the computer, we connect a number of PERIPHERALS INPUT DEVICES Keyboard Mouse Touchscreen Light Pen Scanner MEMORY STORAGE External Hard Drive CD/DVD Flash Drive Diskette Magnetic Tape OUTPUT DEVICES Monitor Printer Speakers

(MORE) PERMANENT MEMORY TEMPORARY MEMORY OUTPUT PROCESSING UNIT INPUT Computer Hardware Introduction MOUSE KEYBOARD TOUCH SCREEN CPU VIDEO CARD MONITOR RAM FLASH DRIVE OPTICAL DRIVE HARD DRIVE PRINTER POWER SUPPLY