Introduction to Computer Hardware and Software
Dr. Md. Hayder Ali
BCSE, MCSE, MICT, CEMBA, PCSE
System Analyst
Office of the Information Technology (ICT)
National University
1 BUET,
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Content:
Discussion about Hardware
Discussion about Software
Question and Answer
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What is a Computer?
• An electronic device, operating under
the control of instructions stored in its
own memory, that can:
– Accept data (input)
– Process the data according to specified
rules (process)
– Produce results (output)
– Store the results (storage) for future
use.
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What is a Computer?...
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Examples and type of computer
Desktop
Mainframe
Tablet
Supercomputers
PDA
Notebook
Wearable Computers Smartphone
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Computer System is functional only if :
Hardware
Software
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Basic Hardware components
Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of a
computer i.e. the components that can be seen and touched.
Examples of Hardware are following:
Input devices: keyboard, mouse etc.
Output divices: printer, monitor, speaker
etc. Secondary storage devices: Hard disk,
CD, DVD etc. Internal components: CPU,
motherboard, RAM etc.
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Hardware Components
Power Supply or
SMPS(Switched Mode Power
Supply). Converts AC voltage Processor & Fan. The
Case/ System Unit. The computer processor is the main “brain” of a
from the wall outlet to DC voltage
case (also called a tower ) is the computer system while the Fan
the computer can use. It supplies
box that encloses many of the help to prevent overheating of the
parts/components of the computer DC voltages for internal computer
various electronic components
components and has a fan to
keep the computer cool.
RAM (Random Access Memory
short term memory that is used to
Motherboard. The motherboard store documents while they are being NIC (Network Interface Card)
is a large electronic board that is processed. used to describe tools that allow
used to connect the power supply The amount of RAM in a computer your computer to connect and
to various other electronic parts, determine the speed of a computer. communicate with various input
and to hold these parts in place on RAM attaches to the motherboard via and output devices.
the computer. some specific slots.
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Hardware Components cont…
Computer Hard disk are of two types, IDE(Integrated drive
electronics)-
Has a ribbon like cable with either a 40-pin or 80-pin
connector.
The IDE data transfer interface runs in parallel.
SATA(Serial Advanced Technology A\achment)-
has a narrower cable with a split data and power
connections.
It has a 7-pin cable and a much faster data transfer rate.
Most motherboards now support SATA
Well know hard disk manufactures are Seagate, Western
Digital etc.
Drives.
A computer’s drives are the devices
used for long term storage of
information. e.g. Hard Disk, Flash Disk
etc.
hard drive - Or hard disk, is a
common storage device for
maintaining files inside the computer,
usually mounted below or beside the
floppy drive.
CD drive – Peripheral hardware. NIC(Network Interface
Holds disks (CDs) that have data, Are the computer components that Card)
(NIC) is a computer component
music, or socware applications. are not found within the computer
that allows a computer to connect to a
DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) drive - case
network. NICs may be used for both
Popular alternative to a CD drive that wired and wireless connections. A
supports CDs as well as music and It is defined as any auxiliary device
that connects to and works with the NIC is also known as a network
video DVDs.
computer in some way. E.g. mouse, interface controller (NIC) or network
Flash Drive-
microphone and keyboard, monitor, card, LAN card, network adapter or
hardware network adapter card (NAC).
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What is Computer Ports?
Port:
Is a connector on the motherboard or
on a separate adapter that allows a device to
connect to a computer; these may include
keyboard, mouse, serial, parallel, network, sound,
or video ports.
Ports vary with the type of equipment that
connects to the ports.
Ports have gradually changed over time as
computers have changed to become faster and
easier to work with.
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Port contd…
Male ports – Have pins that Female ports.
protrude out from the connector and Have holes in the connector to accept the
require a cable with a female male cable’s pins.
connector.
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Ports…
• D-shell connector – A connector with more
pins or holes on the top row than on the
bottom so that a connected cable can only
be attached in one direction and not
accidentally connected the wrong way;
generally represented with the letters DB
and the number of pins such as, DB-9, DB-
15, or DB-25.
• DIN connector – Round with small holes and
normally keyed; the keyboard and mouse are
usually this type of connector with either 5 or
6 pins.
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Parallel Port. (D-Shell Connector)
Serial Port. D- Shell Connector This long and slender port is also no
uses pin connectors, longer commonly used, PS/2. DIN Connectors
Also known as a COM port) can be a The most common parallel port has Most desktop computers have two of
9-pin Female D-shell connector holes for 25 pins, these round ports for six pin
Data travels at 115 kilobits per Used for scanners and printers connectors, one for the mouse and
second Also called printer port one for the keyboard.
TRS. TRS (tip, ring and sleeve) ports
Also known as ports for mini-jacks or
audio jacks. HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)
USB. They are commonly used to connect provides an interface between any
A 4-wire connector type of port audio devices such as headphones audio/video source, e.g. DVD player,
Different models (USB 1.0, USB 2.0 andmicrophones to computers. or A/V receiver and an audio and/or
and USB 3.0), video monitor, such as a digital
Connect all kinds of external USB television
devices e.g. external hard disk, printer, (DTV),
scanner, mouse, keyboard etc. HDMI supports standard, enhanced,
Most of the computers provide two or high-definition video, plus multi-
USB or three USB ports as minimum. channel digital audio on a single
Data travels at 12 megabits per cable.
seconds
USB compliant devices can get GAME PORT.D-Shell Connector.
power from a USB port A 15 port pin used to connect games
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Modem Port
VGA Connects a PC's modem to the
A three row, telephone network. Game Port.
15-pin female D-shell connector for Connect a joystick to a PC
newer VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA, or Now replaced by USB
UXGA monitors
Connects monitor to a computer's
video card.
Similar to serial port connector but
serial port connector has pins, it has
holes.
IEEE 1394 ports –
A serial technology developed by
Apple Computer sometimes called the
FireWire port.
A 6-wire cable/port (4 for data, 2 for
power) Ethernet Port
speeds of 100, 200, 400, 800, and Connects to a network and high
1200 Mbps. speed Internet.
Connect network cable to a
Serial Port. Male D- Shell Connector computer.
uses pin connectors, This port resides on an Ethernet
it is no longer commonly used,
Card.
It was used for printers, mice, Data travels at 10 megabits to 1000
modems and a variety of other digital
megabits per seconds depending
devices.
upon the network bandwidth.
Data travels at 115 kilobits per
second
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Arrangement of computer Components/ Ports
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Computer Software
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What is a Software?
Software.
Is a set of programs, which is designed to perform a well-
defined function. A Program is a sequence of instructions
written to solve a particular problem.
Types of software
System Software
The system software is collection of programs designed
to operate, control, and extend the processing
capabilities of the computer itself.
System software are generally prepared by computer
manufactures.
System software serves as the interface between
hardware and the end users. e.g. Operating System,
Compilers, Interpreter, Assemblers etc.
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Software Types and Categories…
Application Software:
Application software products are designed to satisfy a
particular need of a particular environment.
Application software may consist of a single program, such
as a Microsoft's notepad for writing and editing simple text.
It may also consist of a collection of programs, often called
a software package, which work together to accomplish a
task, such as a spreadsheet package. e.g. Payroll
Software, Student Record Software , Inventory
Management Software, Microsoft Office Suite Software,
Adobe Premiere suites etc.
• Utility Software. Allow a computer to perform tasks that are not
part of the operating system, but are still practical and useful. For
example, a utility software might instruct a computer on how to copy
(burn) information to a CD-ROM disk, or it might be an anti-virus
program
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Relationship Between
Hardware and Software
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Relationship between Hardware and SoTware
Hardware and software are mutually dependent on each other.
Both of them must work together to make a computer produce a
useful output.
Software cannot be utilized without supporting hardware.
Hardware without set of programs to operate upon cannot be
utilized and is useless.
To get a particular job done on the computer, relevant software
should be loaded into the hardware . i.e. a device driver is needed.
A device driver is a program that controls a particular type of device
that is attached to your computer. There are device drivers for
printers, displays, CD-ROM readers, diskette drives etc. When you buy
an operating system, many device drivers are built into the product.
Hardware is a one-time expense.
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Relationship between Hardware and Software
Software development is very expensive and is a
continuing expense.
Different software applications can be
loaded on a hardware to run different jobs.
A software acts as an interface between the
user and the hardware.
If Hardware is the ‘soul' of a computer system,
then Software is its ‘hart'. Both are
complimentary to each other.
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Maintaining your Computer
Do:
Keep your computer system in a cool, dry, and dust-free
environment.
Ensure that the power switches on the system unit,
monitor and printer are OFF before switching on the
mains.
Switch off the monitor, system unit and the printer,
before switching off the mains.
Clean the computer work area everyday; cover your
system at the end of the day.
Keep your system away from room walls to ensure
proper air flow around the computer.
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Maintaining your Computer
Do Not:
Allow eating or drinking near the computer.
Smoke in the vicinity of your computer.
Allow direct sunlight to fall on your computer.
Run any electric equipment like a vacuum
cleaner in the vicinity of the computer when it
is on.
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Maintaining your System Unit
Do:
Park the hard disk before shifting the machine, when
the unit needs to be transferred from one site to
another.
Parking refers to positioning the disk head on an
unused area to ensure that the head does not damage
the disk.
Handle the floppy drive lever gently.
Ensure that there is no diskette in the floppy drive
before switching off the system unit.
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Maintaining your System Unit
Do Not:
Switch on the system with a data floppy in
the drive.
Insert or remove the diskette when the
drive select indicator is glowing.
Switch off the system when the hard disk
drive is active, i.e. when the indicator is
glowing.
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Maintaining your Monitor
Do:
Keep the brightness and contrast at minimum before
switching on the system, and increase it to the appropriate
level thereafter.
Do Not:
Try to open the VDU and touch the parts as these
parts may carry high voltage.
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Let's Discuss
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Thank You
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