Basic Computer

Calera High School

Dawn Bone

Hardware vs Software

• Hardware – the physical parts of the computer

• Software – the electronic instructions that tell the computer what to do

Types of Software

• Application software – lets you accomplish specific tasks– Examples – Word, Excel, Print Shop

• Operating system – sets rules for how computer hardware and application software work together– Examples – Windows XP, Windows 7, Unix

How Computers Work

• Input

• Process

• Storage

• Output

Input

• Input device – computer hardware that accepts data and instructions from the user

• Examples– Keyboard

– Mouse

– Joystick

– Microphone

– Scanner

Output

• Output device – A hardware component that returns processed data to the user.

• Examples– Monitor

– Printer

– Speakers

Process

• Processing – the procedure that transforms raw data into useful information

• CPU – Central Processing Unit – the brains of the computer; processes instructions, performs calculations and manages the flow of information

• Examples– AMD– Intel Core

Storage

• Storage – the portion of the computer that holds data or programs while they are not being used

• Examples– Hard drive– Floppy disk– CD-ROM– Servers– DVD

Types of Cases

• Desktop Case – sits on a desk, under a monitor

• Tower case – sits on the floor

Inside the computer

• Power supply – changes normal household electricity into electricity that a computer can use

• Motherboard – main circuit board of a computer• CPU – main chip in the computer• Expansion card – a circuit board that plugs into

expansion slot, lets you add new features to a computer

• Hard drive – the primary storage device• Secondary Storage devices – CD-ROM drive,

floppy drive• Memory chips

Outside the computer

• Ports – a socket at the back of a computer where you plug in an external device– Serial port – usually connects a modem or mouse– Parallel port – usually connects a printer– USB port – usually connects a digital camera or scanner

Other specific ports– Keyboard port– Mouse port– Monitor port– Speakers port

Memory

• Random Access Memory – RAM temporarily stores data inside a computer

• Read Only Memory – ROM

• What determines the amount of programs you can read at one time? RAM

• What type of “memory” is on a cd? ROM

Measuring Memory

– Measuring memory• Byte – one character

• Kilobyte – one thousand characters

• Megabyte – one million characters

• Gigabyte – one billion characters

• Terabyte – one trillion characters

CPU

•Factors that determine the performance of a CPU Manufacturer – who makes them

Examples: Intel, AMD

Generation Examples: Intel Core, Intel Core 2

Speed – measured in megahertz or gigahertz, the faster, the better

Examples: 400 MHz, 1 GHz