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Computer Hardware Overview

This document provides an overview of key hardware concepts and components discussed in Chapter 2 of the textbook "Technology in Action". It defines data versus information and bits versus bytes. It also lists and describes various categories of computers including desktops, laptops, tablets, and mainframes. Additionally, it outlines common input devices like mice and keyboards, output devices like monitors and printers, components within the system unit such as the motherboard and processor, storage devices, and ports for connecting hardware.

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MD ROKNUZZAMAN
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47 views2 pages

Computer Hardware Overview

This document provides an overview of key hardware concepts and components discussed in Chapter 2 of the textbook "Technology in Action". It defines data versus information and bits versus bytes. It also lists and describes various categories of computers including desktops, laptops, tablets, and mainframes. Additionally, it outlines common input devices like mice and keyboards, output devices like monitors and printers, components within the system unit such as the motherboard and processor, storage devices, and ports for connecting hardware.

Uploaded by

MD ROKNUZZAMAN
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Technology in Action

Lecture Notes
Chapter 2 Hardware

1. Data vs. Information


a. Data Item  representation of a fact, figure, idea
b. Information  data items placed in context

2. Bits vs. Bytes CD-R Student Resource


a. KB kilo 1000
b. MB mega 1,000,000 million
c. GB giga 1,000,000,000 billion
d. TB tera 1,000,000,000,000 trillion
e. … see page 49

3. Computer Categories
a. Desktop
b. Laptop
c. Tablet
d. Netbook
e. Pad
f. Cell (Phone)
g. Mainframe – data processing – transactions – i/o intensive – heavy trucks
h. Supercomputers – computation intensive
i. Embedded computers

4. Input Devices
a. Mice, Trackballs & other Rodents
b. Stylus
c. Scanner
d. Keyboard
i. Qwerty
ii. Dvorak
iii. Virtual (lazer)
iv. Flexable

5. Output Devices
a. Monitors, i.e., display screens
i. LCD (liquid crystal display) & LED (light emitting diode)
ii. CRT (cathode ray tube)
iii. Pixels – red, green, blue, yellow
b. Printers
i. Inkjet
ii. Laser
iii. Thermal
iv. Wireless
v. Cost of printer
vi. Cost of using the printer
c. Sound – OPM (other people’s music)
6. System Unit – “box”
a. Motherboard, i.e., Backplane
i. Expansion cards, i.e., adapter cards
 Sound Card
 Video Card
 Modem Card
 NIC (network interface card)
ii. Processor (speed – pico/nano seconds)
CPU (central processing unit)
 45 billion tasks per second
 Machine Cycles per Second, i.e., Hertz
o Fetch instructions & data from memory
o Execute instruction on data
o Store results back into memory
 3.8 GHz Processor – 3.8 billion machine cycles per second
 Cores – Paths thru the CPU, i.e., effectively multiple processors
o Operating System
o Virus Detection Software
o MS Word
o Spell Check
iii. Memory (speed – nanoseconds)
 RAM (random access memory, i.e., read-write memory) -- volatile
 ROM (read only memory) – nonvolatile
 Cache Memories – freeway ramp between RAM & CPU
iv. Bus Architecture
 FSB (front side bus – CPU  RAM)
b. Storage Devices (speed – milli/micro seconds) – nonvolatile
i. CD/DVD/BluRay(BD)
ii. Internal Hard Drives
iii. External Hard Drives
iv. Flash Drives/Flash Memory Cards
v. Solid State Drives (SSD)
c. Power Unit
d. Ports – connection point (conversion hardware)
i. USB
ii. Serial – mouse
iii. FireWire – external hard drives, cameras, music/medial players
iv. Ethernet – network (internet, fax, local area network)
v. VGA – video graphics array port (monitors)
vi. DVI – digital video interface port (new LCD monitors, TV, DVD, projectors)
vii. S-video – super video ports
viii. HDMI – high-definition multimedia interface (home theater environments)
carries high-definition video & uncompressed digital audio signals

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