1. IC 3 BASICS, Internet and Computing Core Certification Computing Fundamentals Lesson 2 How Does a Computer Process Data?

2. How Does a Computer Process Data? - Lesson 22 Common System Components This figure shows several devices that are common components of a computer system.

3. How Does a Computer Process Data? - Lesson 23 Example of a Motherboard This figure shows the devices inside a PC case, including the motherboard, the power supply, and some storage devices.

4. How Does a Computer Process Data? - Lesson 24 A CPU Chip This figure shows a CPU chip for a small computer. The CPU determines which of the millions of switches that it contains should be turned on or off by processing program statements that tell it what to do. Computer programs are written in programming languages, and each program statement causes one or more actions to occur in the CPU. Humans can understand the program language statements, but they must be converted into a series of binary bits (1s and 0s) before the com- puter’s CPU can understand and execute them.

5. How Does a Computer Process Data? - Lesson 25 Types of Memory There are two types of memory found on a motherboard: RAM – Random Access Memory This is short-term memory where data is processed while a program is running. Data stored here can be accessed and modified as needed. This type of memory loses any data it holds if the computer is shut down. ROM – Read-Only Memory ROM is memory placed on the motherboard by the manufac- turer and contains instructions that tell the computer how to start itself. This data cannot be accessed or modified by application programs. The contents of this memory are not lost when the computer is shut down.

6. How Does a Computer Process Data? - Lesson 26 Computer System Controllers A PC motherboard also contains several controllers. Controllers are devices that control the transfer of data between the computer and peripheral devices. Common peripheral devices include a mouse, a monitor, a printer, a keyboard, and so on. Controllers are usually found on a single chip which can handle all usual devices.

7. How Does a Computer Process Data? - Lesson 27 Summary The motherboard is the center of all processing. The motherboard contains the CPU, memory, and basic controllers for the system. The motherboard also contains ports and expansion slots.

8. How Does a Computer Process Data? - Lesson 28 Summary (continued) Random access memory is volatile and is used to store instructions, data, and information temporarily. Read-only memory is nonvolatile and is used to store instructions, data, and information temporarily.