Computer Hardware Basics

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:1. Identify external hardware components and

peripherals2. Identify internal hardware components

What is Computer Hardware?

Case Power switch Reset switch Hard drive Floppy CD/DVD Serial ports Parallel port USB port

Keyboard/mouse Network card Modem Sound card Video card RAM Motherboard Fan Cables

The basic system including keyboard, mouse and monitor.

What is in the box? Motherboard

Operating systems

All computer systems have an operating system. Currently, there are three dominate typical user operating systems.

Macintosh OS, Microsoft Windows OS, Linux.

Microcomputer Platforms

Compatibility refers to computers that operate in essentially the same way.

Compatibility across platforms is limited! You must know which platform your computer runs on before purchasing software.

All software is designed for a specific platform.

Windows, Mac or Unix versions

Microcomputer Platforms

All microcomputers are based on a small number of designs (interior architecture) or computer platforms.

PC architecture is based on the first IBM microcomputers. Generally, PCs use Microsoft Windows as their operating system.

Apple computers or Macs are based on proprietary architecture manufactured exclusively by Apple Computer, Inc.

Types of Devices:Digital v Analog

A digital device uses discrete data. Discrete data is distinct or separate. Ex: Numbers or digits.

Most computers today are digital. Their circuits have only two possible states,

such as “Off” and “On” or “0” and “1”.

Types of Devices:Digital v Analog

An analog device operates on continuously varying data.

Continuously varying data has an infinite number of possiblestates.

Types of Devices:Digital v Analog

A digital thermometer will give a specific numerical reading when used to measure someone’s body temperature.

An old fashioned mercury thermometer’s reading of someone’s body temperature could be interpreted differently by different users.

Communication:The Binary System

Bits – Binary digits, or 0,1. Bytes (8 bits) – ASCII, EBCDIC

One byte is the space needed to store one character, like the letter “A”.

Kilobyte (KB) – 1000 (actually, 1024) Megabyte (MB) – 1,000,000 Gigabyte (GB) – 1,000,000,000 Terabyte (TB) – 1,000,000,000,000

Computer Hardware

Central Processing Unit - also called “The Chip”, a CPU, a processor, or a microprocessor

Memory (RAM) Storage Devices Input Devices Output Devices

CPU Types

CPU or microprocessor is often described as the brain of a computer.

CPU is an integrated circuit or “chip” which processes instructions and data.

CPU types, include; Intel Pentium Intel Celeron AMD Athlon AMD Sempron

CPU types

CPU speed is measured by the number of completed instruction cycles per second Currently, CPU speeds range from 600

megahertz (MHz or million cycles per second) to 4 gigahertz (GHz or billion cycles per second).

Processor are now coming with multiple cores (or processors) on a single piece of hardware.

Always check new software’s requirements for CPU type and speed before purchasing

Computer Hardware

Central Processing Unit - also called “The Chip”, a CPU, a processor or a microprocessor

Memory (RAM) Storage Devices Input Devices Output Devices

Memory (RAM)

RAM or Random Access Memory

“Waiting room” for computer’s CPU. Holds instructions for processing data,

processed data, and raw data. Ram is measured by:

Capacity (in Megabytes or Gigabytes) Speed (in Nanoseconds)

Memory (RAM)

Amount of RAM installed will determine.Which software applications will run (efficiently)?How many software applications can be open simultaneously (multitasking ability)?

RAM upgrades are cost-effective and easy to install. Check your computer manual for RAM type

(SDRAM, DDRAM) and speed (100, 90ns).

Memory (RAM)

All software applications will have RAM specifications listed on their packaging.

Many applications list both a minimum and a recommended amount of RAM necessary to run the software.

Be cautious about buying software for a system based on minimum requirement.

Computer Hardware

Central Processing Unit - also called “The Chip”, a CPU, a processor or a microprocessor

Memory (RAM) Storage Devices Input Devices Output Devices

Storage Technology

Electronic devices that store, retrieve, and save instructions and data.

Today’s microcomputers or PCs include several types of storage devices.

Capacity and speed are important considerations when selecting a new storage device for a PC.

Storage Technology Magnetic storage devices

store data by magnetizing particles on a disk or tape. They have a limited life-span of

1 to 5 years, depending on the device.

Optical storage devices store data as light and dark spots on the disk surface. They have an unlimited life-

span.

Storage Overview

Hard Drive 2TB on upwards today As low as 256 KB less than 20 years ago!

CD-ROM 600-700 MB

DVD-ROM 4 GB - Red Laser, 27 GB- Blue Laser

Flash Drives From 256 MB up to 100+ GB

Storage Devices:Hard Disk Drives

Capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB or billions of bytes).

Typically permanently installed. Used to store operating system,

application software, utilities and data. Magnetic storage device.

Storage Devices:Floppy Disk Drives

Capacity is 1.44 to 2.0MB Storage device with the

smallest capacity Magnetic storage device. Less common today. Why?

Storage Devices:DVD/CD-ROM Drives

Typically installed on all new computer systems.

CD: Capacity is approx. 750MB DVD: Capacity is approx. 4.7GB Most mass-produced commercial

software is packaged on a DVD/CD.

Storage Devices:DVD/CD-ROM Drives

Used more often now for backup storage as DVD-RW/CD-RW (read/write) technology has become less expensive.

Data is read from DVD/CD by a laser. Optical storage device.

Storage Devices:Other Types of Drives

Zip Drives – Several different capacities are available.

Tape Drives – Generally used for system backups, becoming less common.

Flash Drive – Most common today due to ease of use and portability

Computer Hardware

Central Processing Unit - also called “The Chip”, a CPU, a processor or a microprocessor

Memory (RAM) Storage Devices Input Devices Output Devices

Input Devices

Input is all information put into a computer. Input can be supplied from a variety of sources: A person A storage device on computer Another computer A peripheral device Another piece of equipment, such as a

musical instrument or thermometer

Input Devices

Input devices gather and translate data into a form the computer understands.

Primary input device: Keyboard - Most common input device;

used to type in commands and data. Mouse or trackball enhances user’s ability

to input commands, manipulate text, images.

Joystick useful in education as an adaptive or assistive input device.

Input Devices

Scanners are peripheral input devices which allow users to import: Text Graphics Images

Specialized software aids in translating information into a format the computer can understand and manipulate.

Input Devices

Digital Cameras are peripheral input devices that allow users to create pictures and/or movies in a digital format. Some require specialized

software to import images into the computer.

Some record digital images directly to a disk that can be read by the computer.

Computer Hardware

Central Processing Unit - also called “The Chip”, a CPU, a processor or a microprocessor

Memory (RAM) Storage Devices Input Devices Output Devices

Output Devices

Monitors are the most commonly used output device.

Most monitors use a bitmap display. Allows user to resize the display. Divides the screen into a matrix of tiny

square “dots” called pixels. The more “dots” a screen can display, the

higher the resolution of the monitor.

Output Devices

Monitors are connected to a computer system via a port integrated on the video adapter or graphics card.

Graphics cards convert digital data output from software to analog data for display on monitors.

Output Devices

Printers Dot matrix

Seldom used in a classroom. Still frequently used in business.

Bubble or ink jet Laser

Output Devices

Projection systems or classroom TVs can display information from a computer system on a larger screen for whole-class instruction.

Typical parts of a motherboard.

ABIT SE6