•CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT): processor chip (computer’s brain)•found on the motherboard

•RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM): Computer’s “temporary” memory used to run programs. All information stored in RAM is lost when the power is turned off.

Memory•RAM (Random Access Memory) – is

memory that is not on your hard drive that your computer uses to store things you have not saved, such as a web page you are browsing or a document that you are typing.

•The amount of RAM you need depends on what you’ll be using your computer for (i.e. video and graphics software require a lot more RAM)

•More RAM also allows you to quickly run multiple programs at the same time making your computer seem faster.

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Byte - The unit of memory needed to store one character

Kilobyte (Kb) - 1,000 bytes of information

Megabyte (Mb)-1,000,000 bytes of information

Gigabyte (Gb)- 1,000,000,000 bytes of information - or 1,000 Megabytes

Terabyte (TB) - 1,000,000,000,000 bytes of information - or 1,000 Gigabytes - or 1,000,000 Megabytes

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Modem - A device which connects your computer to a cable or telephone line

through which you can access the Internet.

•HARD DRIVE (LOWER COMPONENT): Computer’s “internal” storage which stores software (programs) and other Data. Found attached to the motherboard by a ribbon cable

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Ghz - GGiga is approximately 1 billion Hertz which stands for Cycles per Second.

G This is the speed of microprocessors, called the clock

speed.

It is how many instructions per second the microprocessor can execute.

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System software is computer software designed to operate the computer

hardware and to provide a platform for running application software.

Examples: Operating system, BIOS

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Application Software - Sets of instructions (a.k.a. a program) that tell the computer how to perform specific

tasks.

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Operating System - The system software that is initiated by the boot disk and retrieves instructions on how to run application software and how to interact with the various drivers and input/output

devices.

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Read-Only Memory or ROM is an integrated- circuit memory chip that

contains configuration data.Data stored in ROM cannot be modified, or can be modified only slowly or with

difficulty.

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USB Ports

a connection point on computers and many other types of consumer

electronics.

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Cache Memory

●is random access memory (RAM) that a computer microprocessor can access more quickly than it can access regular RAM.

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Kbps - A data rate of 1,000 bps is equivalent to 1 Kbps

- higher data rates are represented in Mbps and Gbps.

- usually refers to download or upload speed witht the internet

Mbps - A data rate of 1,000,000 bps

Gbps - A data rate of 1,000,000,000 bps

•POWER SUPPLY: computer’s power supply (plug) and cooling system (fan)

•MOTHER BOARD: main computer board – all other cards and chips plug into it

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Peripherals

●is a device attached to a host computer, but not part of it, and is more or less dependent on the host.

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Bus– a set of conductor wires that transport data among components

inside the computer through an electric path.

The bus width is the number of bits of

information the bus can transport at one time. The more bits the bus can carry,

the faster the information will travel. It is measured in MHz (megahertz).

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Keyboard - A peripheral, data input device for computers consisting of

alphanumeric, punctuation, and special keys.

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Video Card - Attaches to the motherboard via expansion slots and

displays images on your monitor.

Sound Card - Attaches to the motherboard via expansion slots and

translates digital signal into analog audio for your listening pleasure

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Mouse - A peripheral device that controls the movement of the cursor on the

monitor.

Monitor - A peripheral, output device that visually displays your work or data.

Printer - An output device that allows you to send your data to paper,

transparencies, t- shirts, etc.

•PERIPHERAL CARDS: Cards that allow “extra” components to be added to the computer system via expansion slots on the expansion board•(i) Sound Card – allows speakers

to be added•(ii) Video Card – allows games,

videos, graphics to be used

(iii) Modem Card – (allows internet & e-mail access)(iv) Network Card – (allows you to connect multiple computers)(v) Scanner Card – (allows you to enter hardcopy documents / pictures into the computer)(vi) Scuzzy Card – (SCSI) (allows you to add extra “external” memory)

•CD ROM DRIVE: allows CD software to be run

Basic Parts of a Computer

Behind the Computer