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Basic Elements of a Computer

Components:
○ Cabinet or case.
Microprocessor
RAM Memory
Main Card
Video card
Audio Card
Fax-modem
Reading and data storage units.
1 Cabinet or Case
It is the 'box' where all the internal components are fitted together.
computer.
Made of metal, they are used to 'ground' some of the elements.
interconnected.
It consists of an internal power supply that reduces and maintains
Set the voltage, from it come out several cables marked with different colors.
with their respective connectors.
These provide electric power to the components of the board.
main, hard drive, floppy disk drive, and CD reader.
2. Microprocessor
The microprocessor is an integrated circuit that contains all the
necessary elements to form a 'central unit of
processing", it is also known as CPU (by its initials in
Central Process Unit)
Currently, this electronic component is made up of millions.
of transistors, integrated on the same silicon chip.
They usually have a flat prism shape, and are installed over an element called
socket. Also, in older models it used to be soldered.
directly to the motherboard
3. MICROPROCESSOR
4. RAM Memory
The random access memory, or direct access memory
More commonly known as RAM, it is made up of one or more chips and is
used as a working memory for programs and data.
 It is a type of temporary memory that loses its data when it runs out.
energy (for example, when turning off the computer), which is a memory
volatile.
5. RAM Memory
Main Card
The motherboard, mainboard, or board (in English motherboard,
The mainboard is the printed circuit board of a computer that serves
as a means of connection between the microprocessor, the electronic circuits
of support, the slots to connect part or all of the system's RAM, the
RAM and the special slots that allow the connection of cards
additional adapters. These expansion cards often perform
functions for controlling peripherals such as monitors, printers,
disk units, etc...
Motherboard
8. Video Card
A graphics card or video card is a printed circuit board whose
the function is to transform the signals that come from the microprocessor into
understandable signals that can be displayed on the PC screen.
Video cards are made up of some chips and also a
processor that helps to increase efficiency when performing operations
graphics; at the same time it also consists of memory, useful for storing images and
necessary data in the operations carried out.
We need to take into account two things: the resolution (image detail) and the
number of colors (the greater the amount of colors, the greater the resolution).
9. Video Card
10. Audio Card
A sound card or soundboard is an expansion card for
computers that allow audio input and output under the control of a
computer program. The typical use of sound cards is to provide to the
multimedia applications of the audio component. These applications
multimedia encompasses video or audio composition and editing.
Multimedia presentations and entertainment (video games). Some
Some equipment has the card already integrated, while others require cards.
of expansion.
11. Audio Card
12. Fax Modem
A modem is a device that serves to modulate and demodulate.
amplitude, frequency, phase or another system) a signal called carrier
through another input signal called modulator.
Modems have been used since the 1960s or before the 20th century.
mainly due to the direct transmission of electronic signals
intelligible, over long distances, is not efficient. For example, to transmit
 audio signals through the air would require large antennas (of the order
from hundreds of meters) for its correct reception.
Fax Modem
14. Reading and data storage units.
Storage units are those devices, whether internal or
externals, where the files of a system are physically stored.
DVD-RW Hard Drive
USB floppy disk
○CD-ROM FLASH MEMORY
CD-RW
DVD-ROM

They are the physical elements of the computer that you can touch (keyboard, monitor, speakers,
printer, scanner, etc.), although some you cannot see because they are inside the
computer case or chassis (microprocessor, hard drive, RAM, among others)
others). All of them, in turn, are classified by their function into: input devices,
processing, output and storage.

Here is a brief description of each of them:

1. Input devices.
They allow us to interact with the computer. Through them, the
computer receives the instructions to carry out the activities that the
user indicates.
Keyboard
It is the most used device on the computer; through the keyboard, data is entered.
information, is similar to a typewriter, but this one also includes keys that
they abbreviate some functions (F1, F2, CTRL+C, CTRL+V, etc.) that respond according to the
program you use.
They come in different shapes and designs, but they basically have the same keys and
distributed in the same order (alphanumeric keyboard, function keys, navigation and
numeric).

The mouse
It is a manual device that, when slid over a flat surface, allows for movement.
the cursor (usually represented by an arrow or another figure) on the screen. With it
you will be able to carry out various activities in a graphical and simple way, just by doing
"Click" the right mouse button to select text, images, as well as
quickly activate applications or programs. They usually have two or more
buttons that fulfill different functions.
There is a wide variety of them, from the well-known ball mouse up to the optical e
wireless.
With the emergence of graphical environments like Windows and Macintosh, it became
an essential element due to its utility and functionality.

Scanner
It is an external device that has a
function contrary to the printer, and it is the
to convert printed text and photographs
to digital data capable of being
interpreted by the computer to
view on screen and be able to edit or
save them to disk. There are various types.
types, although the most commonly used at home
it is the "flat bed".
2. Processing devices.
Processor
Inside your computer, there is the Processor and it is a chip.
that is used to manage both the software and the hardware of your
computer.
It is the part that performs the calculations, processes the instructions and
manages the flow of information that passes through the computer.
There are different types such as the Pentium (the most common one in)
market), AMD, Cyrix etc., for PC; and G3, G4 for Macintosh; they are measured by their
speed in MHz (megahertz).
3. Storage devices.
They are responsible for storing all your information (programs, images, documents of
text, among others).
Hard drive
It is an element that stores all the information and programs on your
computer. It is the unit that functions as long-term memory.
deadline.
They come in various capacities 2, 4, 10, 20, 40... and more Gb (Giga-
bytes). The greater the capacity of your disk, the greater it will be
information that you can store.
A Gigabyte could be equivalent to the
information from a library with 2,000
books of 250 pages each.

RAM (temporary storage)

It is a piece made up of integrated circuits that is found
inside the computer and allows storing information
temporarily. The information in RAM remains
only while the computer is turned on. All
information stored in RAM is lost when powering off the
computer, it is short-term memory. Furthermore, it is the one
enables your computer to do different things at the same time, measured in Mb or
(MegaBytes).
The more RAM you have installed in your
computer, better. Currently recommended is 68,
128, 256 MB or more depending on your needs.
The amount of memory needed will depend on the use that
from your machine, that is to say it will be conditioned by the
operating system and the programs you use (games,
Internet, design programs) since they are the ones that
consume more memory.
CD and diskette unit
You will regularly find them inside the chassis, allowing the insertion of a disk.
Compact discs or flexible disks; they have the function of reading or storing information on them.

4. Output devices.
They are those physical elements that allow us to obtain the information processed by the
computer either visually, auditorily, or printed.
Monitor
It is the screen where you can view everything you work on on your computer (image and
text). It resembles a television and basically there are two types: The CRT (Cathode Ray
Tube), based on a cathode ray tube like that of televisions, and the LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display); which is a flat liquid crystal screen, representing the latest in
technology.

Speakers
They are responsible for reproducing the stored sounds or
transmitted by some internal and external elements connected in
the computer.
Example:
Through a microphone, keyboard; through sound files.
saved on a diskette, compact disc, and hard drive.
Printer
It is an external element, that
you can connect to your computer, it works
to put the information on paper
generated, which can be text or images.
There are various types, but the most...
common ones to use at home are: the
inkjet printer (color) and
the "laser printer" (black and white).

The chassis
It is a metal or plastic box that serves the function of storing the brain and the
components that make your computer work. It is generally separate from the
monitor.

It is made up of the programs that the computer needs to be able to do

make all hardware elements work.
It is the set of instructions you give to the computer so that it can function with a
determined end. Without these, you would only observe a dark screen and a lifeless piece of furniture; not
the other elements of your machine would make sense. They are the reason for the hardware's existence.
To understand it better, we could compare it to a person, in which their body,
systems and organs are the hardware and the accumulated knowledge and experiences,
they represent the software.
The programs offer various possibilities of use, there are options for those who wish to:
•draw (Paint Brush, CorelDraw),
•write and/or process texts (Microsoft Word, Notepad, WordPad),
perform mathematical calculations and graphs (Microsoft Excel, Lotus)
•design (CorelDraw, Illustrator),
navigate the Internet, (Microsoft Explorer, Netscape)
create databases, (Microsoft Access, DBase)
chat (ICQ, Messenger)
send emails (Pegasus Mail, Eudora).