Parts of the Computer

Monitor A monitor is a screen that displays a computer’s output. It is the most common output device. A monitor looks like a TV. It allows you to see what you and the computer are doing together.

Speakers Speakers are output devices that allow you to hear sound from your computer.

Printers Printers take what you see on a computer screen and makes a copy of it on paper. Two types: inkjet (uses ink, most common with home computers) and laser printer (uses lasers, faster, used in businesses)

Tower Case Case that houses all of the important computer components. Place to insert CDs and other storage devices.

CPU Hard Drive The hard drive is hidden inside the computer. It is not meant to be removed. Information that you save on your computer is stored here. AKA “C” drive.

Place to insert CDs Most computers have DVD (digital video disc) drive instead of a CD-ROM (read only memory) or CD-RW (read/writable).DVDs homlds much more information – watch movies, listen to music, play computer games. CAN PLAY CDs in DVD player but CAN NOT PLAY DVDs in CD player.

Keyboard The keyboard is one of the most common ways to input information into a computer. It has keys for characters (letters, #s, and punctuation marks) and special commands. Pressing the keys tells the computer what to do or what to write.

Mouse The mouse is the second most common way to input information into a computer. It allows you to move the cursor around the screen. By clicking on the buttons on the mouse, you give the computer directions on what to do.

ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OR PARTS 1.Components – many parts in computers; have special job and they all work together to make your computer operate; some hidden inside some seen partly on outside 2.Power supply – when turned on it allows electricity to travel to other components inside the computer

ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OR PARTS 1.Motherboard – it is like a mother to all of the other circuit boards; found at bottom of a desktop case or the side of a tower case; largest circuit board and has many smaller boards plugged into it. Holds all of the most important parts of computer Expansion cards – found on motherboard; each has a special purpose Sound card – contains special circuits for operating the computer’s sound Video Card – handles graphics displayed on the monitor Modem – expansion card that allows computers to talk to each other.

ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OR PARTS 1.Central processing unit(CPU) – the brain of the computer – controls information and tells other parts what to do 2.Ports – places on the outside of the computer case where you plug in hardware (rectangular holes) 3.USB (Universal Serial Bus) – used to plug-in storage devices such as flash drives to your computer.