Explore the Parts of a Computer

Introduction

Hardware

Software

Operating System

CPU

RAM

ROM

Computer Memory

Motherboard

BIOS

Storage Devices

Peripherals

Power Supply

Ports

What is a computer? A computer is an electronic device

that executes the instructions in a program.

The computer has four components:

Input

Storage

Processing

Output

HardwareThe physical parts of the computer that

you can actually touch.

MouseMicrophone Keyboard

ScannerMonitor

Computer

Camera

Software

Software is a computer

program that is made up of

certain instructions or codes that tell your hardware, or computer, what to do.

Software can be used to play games, write

school papers, or even sort e-

mail.

Adobe Reader

PowerPoint

Excel

Photoshop Mavis Beacon

Word

Operating System (OS)

The OS is a large program made up of many smaller programs that control how the CPU communicates with other hardware components. It also makes computers easier to operate by people because it puts a face to the computer. In other words, operating systems make computers user friendly.

Different computer manufacturers use different operating systems. Apple computers use Macintosh OS Most PC’s commonly use the OS called

Windows (XP, Vista, 7)

Desktop: the shaded or colored backdrop of your screen.

Icon: A graphical symbol for an application, folder or file.

Doc Station: Provides shortcuts to commonly used programs

Menu Bar: a horizontal menu that appears on top of a window which has a list of options.

MAC OS User Interface

CPU (Microprocessor) Stands for Central Processing Unit, which is

the brain of your computer. It does all the thinking for the computer and process all the information to be turned into files on your computer.

The clock speed of the microprocessor in now measured in gigahertz (GHz). The higher the number; the quicker the

information processed. The chip shown below can process up to

2.80 GHz.

RAM (Random-Access Memory)

RAM temporarily stores data that the computer is currently working on.

It requires for power to be turned on.

It is the determining factor in how fast your applications or software run.

The information in RAM goes away once the computer is turned off, so it is important to save any work you want to keep.

It is measured in megabytes (MBs). The larger the size , the faster it

functions

Read Only Memory(ROM)

This is read only memory which is the permanent type of memory the computer stores for information that does not change

It stores the information even when the computer is shut down.

ROM is generally installed by the manufactured of the computer as part of its system.

How is computer memory measured? Computer memory is measured in

Bytes, which is a unit of storage capable of holding a single character.

Kilobyte = about 1000 bytes. Megabyte = about one million bytes. Gigabyte = about one billion bytes.

Motherboard This is the main circuit

board that connects all other internal components, such as the CPU and memory.

It’s like the blood vessels inside the human body, which connect to all the vital organs. Instead of blood

vessels, the motherboard uses tiny electrical paths to connect each part of the computer.

One important part on the motherboard is the BIOS, which is where the computer's settings are stored and changed.

BIOS Basic Input/Output System. When the computer is first turned on

(booted), the BIOS is responsible for establishing basic communication with all the computer parts.

It is the program which wakes the computer up when you turn it on and reminds itself what parts it has and what each part is supposed to do. After booting andperforming a few system checks, It turns the computer over to your operating system.

Storage Devices•Compact Disc Re-Writable (CD-RW) is a type of disk which enables you to write onto it several times. The storage capacity can vary, but it typically holds 700 MB of data.

•Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) is a disk that enables you to write onto it once. These are typically used to save save music or data that does not change.

•Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) is a type of disk that holds digital representations that combine sound and graphic.

Storage Devices A Hard drive is a large

capacity, permanent storage used to hold programs and documents. This is stored inside your computer and holds the largest amount of data

A Floppy Disk is a portable magnetic disk that can hold up to 1.44 MB of data. This holds the least amount of data.

A USB or flash disk is a small, portable flash memory card that plugs into a computer’s USB drive and functions as a portable hard drive.

Online Activity: Different kinds of storage devices

Peripherals

Input Devices: These are devices that input data into

your computer such as: Mouse Keyboard Microphone

Output Devices: These are devices that output data

into forms which people can use such as:

Monitor Scanner Printer Speakers

These are devices that connect to your computer, but are separate from it. These devices can be categorized as either input or output.

Activity: Which Does What?

Power Supply It supplies the fuel (power), for the

computer. supply power to the motherboard and the

drives It contains a fan that helps assist in the

task of cooling the computer. It comes in a variety of wattages.

200 watt and 250 watt, are the most commonly used

PortsPorts are located on the outside of a computer and ports are where you plug in other hardware. On the inside of the case they are connected to the expansion cards. Today, most new computers use USB ports.

Keyboard & Mouse

Printer

Scanner (USB)

Monitor or LCD