Computer Hardware
The Desk Top Computer A PC is a general-purpose information processing device. It can take data from a person (through the keyboard and mouse), from a device (like a floppy disk or CD) or from the network (through a modem or a network card) and process it. Once processed, the information is shown to the user (on the monitor), stored on a device (like a hard disk) or sent somewhere else on the network (back through the modem or network).
Each part of a computer system has hardware associated to it. Some of the hardware components are found internally within the case of the computer. Other components are found attached to the tower externally. They are called peripherals.
Inside the Computer Used for ProcessingStorageCommunication lines (BUS) Central Processing Unit(CPU) Memory (RAM,ROM) Cache (Level 1,2) Motherboard Power Supply Hard Disk Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)Controller Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)Bus Universal Serial Bus (USB) SCSI AGP Sound card Graphics card Network Card (NIC)
Outside the Computer (peripherals) Input units Storage Units (removable) Output Units Keyboard Mouse Microphone Scanner Digital Camera Modem Network Floppy Disk CD- ROM Flash memory DVD-ROM Monitor Printer Speakers Modem Network
Back of Computer - ports for plugging peripherals in - power supply port for power cord - mouse and keyboard port - usb ports - plug in newer mouse, printer, Flash or Jump drives - serial ports - serial mouse, serial port to upload Rogue programs - parallel port - plug in printers- parallel interface - scanners - parallel interface - network - plug into ethernet card - 10/100mbs - monitor port, sound port for speakers peripherals can plug in
Input devices -mouse, keyboard, hard disk, Flash drive or jump drive, 3 1/2" floppy drive -CD- RW, CD-R Output devices -screen, printer, hard disk, flash drive, CD – RW, DVD-RW CPU - made up of Control Unit and ALU. -Control unit manages the activity of the computer. -The ALU performs the calculations along with registers in the computer. Storage - RAM - random access memory - temporary memory - loads all software into RAM including the operating system - ROM - read only memory - usually contains the BIOS for the computer to help it boot up - and access the peripherals or attached devices and the operating system Bus - transports or carries the information throughout the computer 5 main parts of the computer