COMPUTER ENVIRONMENT AND SYSTEMS:
COMPUTER COMPONENTS
THE OUTSIDE OF A COMPUTER
When we mention the word computer, what are some of its features
that come to mind? Most people will mention that a computer has a
mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc. These features they describe resemble
the outside components we can see, however, there is much more
going on that we cannot see. People most often will describe the
hardware of the computer.
Hardware: parts of the computer you can physically touch (Ex.
Keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc)
The hardware components of a computer can be divided in to three (3) categories:
Input devices
Output devices
Peripheral devices
Input device: is sending information to the computer to be processed.
A keyboard and a mouse would be an example of an input device. For the keyboard, when we push a
character, the computer needs to process the character we pushed and determine what to do with it. In
the case of the mouse, the computer needs to process where the mouse is moving and what to do if we
click something.
Output device: the end product/result we see of something was processed.
A monitor is a great example of an output device, since it displays the information that was processed
by the keyboard or mouse. An output device helps put things in a format we can understand.
Peripheral device: something that is attached to the computer to enhance its functionality.
The computer does not require a peripheral device to function, but it certainly makes life easier for us.
Using the above examples, the computer does not need a monitor, keyboard, or mouse to turn on and
work. However, the monitor makes it easier for us to see what the computer is doing. The keyboard and
mouse make it easier for us to send commands to the computer to tell it to do something.
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THE INSIDE OF A COMPUTER
Every pull apart a computer and look at its insides? So many wires and
chipsets that it can seem overwhelming. If I can still touch these
components and remove/install them by hand, then there are still
hardware, even though there are encased from us.
Let us now examine some of the main components you may have, or
have already come across in a computer.
CD/DVD Drive: Allows you to read and write data to removeable
media to transfer information from one computer to another.
Power Supply: Transfer electricity to power the computer
Hard Drive/Solid State Drive: Where data is saved and stored for us to access later.
Video Card: Handles the graphics so we can see things displayed on the
monitor. You can see different connectors for cables to plug into. These places
we plug into we call ports, and can allow us to transfer our image from the
computer to a monitor, TV, projector, etc.
Fan: removes hot air from inside the computer to keep the computer
and the CPU cool. Just like humans, computers work better when at a col
temperature, as opposed to when they are overheated.
CPU: stands for Central Processing Unit. It is the brain of the computer and executes all
commands.
BIOS: stands for Basic Input Output System. Acts like an alarm clock telling the computer
when to wake up.
Modem: Allows us to communicate with other computers on a wider network. This is what
allows us to be able to connect to the Internet.
Motherboard: the main board to which the CPU, memory chips and peripheral deviced are
plugged into. All devices communicate through the motherboard. Some common ports can be seen
below.
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RAM vs ROM
All parts of the computer must work in harmony in order to have the computer function at optimal level.
In addition to the parts we have already discussed, we cannot forget about the RAM and ROM of a
computer. So what are they?
RAM ROM
Stands for Random Access Memory Stands for Read Only Memory
Can read and write data Can only read data
Temporary Memory: Forgets when computer Permanment Memory: Remembers even after
shutsdown computers shutsdown and starts up again.
You can think of RAM like a journal/diary; you can write in the journal and always erase/change the
contents you wrote later.
Figure 1: RAM Chips
You can think of ROM like a library of books; there is lots of information but you cannot change the
content in the books.
Figure 2: ROM Chips
Although there is more hardware that can be found or used on a computer, the above is all we will look
at. Using your knowledge and what you just learned, do you think you can label the parts of the
computer?
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