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The Computer Hardware

What is a COMPUTER?

Computer – it is a machine that can be programmed to manipulate symbols.

Computers can perform complex and repetitive procedures quickly, precisely and

reliably and can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of data.

What is HARDWARE?

Hardware – it is best described as a device that is physically connected to

your computer or something that can be physically touched.

It is the physical components from which a computer is constructed

(electronic circuits and input/output devices). It is contrasted to software — the

programs and instructions used to run the system.

 The physical, touchable, material parts of a computer or other system. The

term is used to distinguish these fixed parts of a system from the more changeable

software or data components which it executes, stores, or carries.

A personal computer is made up of multiple physical components of computer

hardware, upon which can be installed an operating system and a multitude of 

software to perform the operator's desired functions. Shown below is an example of 

a PC desktop:

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 There are different kinds and functions of hardware. Each of them has a very

important role in every PC desktop. Just like a human body, it has different parts

and functions, when one is removed all of them will be malfunctioned. Here are the

different parts or kinds of hardware:

1. The Central Processing Unit (CPU)

It is also known as the “BRAIN” of the computer and “processor” or

“microprocessor”. It performs most of the calculations which enable a

computer to function. The computer CPU is responsible for handling all

instructions and calculation it receives from other hardware components

in the computer and software programs running on the computer. It is the

portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a

computer program, and is the primary element carrying out the

computer's functions.

 

2. The Random Access Memory (RAM)It is also known as “memory”. It stores all running processes

(applications) and the current running OS. It is a location where

information is stored that is being utilized by the operating system,

software program, hardware device, and/or the user.

 Two types of memory:

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1) Volatile Memory - memory that loses its contents when

the computer or hardware device loses power. Computer

RAM is a good example of a volatile memory.

2) Non-volatile Memory - sometimes abbreviated as NVRAM (

Non-volatile random access memory), is memory that

keeps its contents even if the power is lost. CMOS 

(Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) is a good

example of a non-volatile memory.

3. The Hard Disk DriveIt is the main storage of media device, also consists of one or more

hard disk platters inside of air sealed casing.

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4. The Floppy Disk Drive

It is a computer disk drive that enables a user to easily save data to

removable diskettes. Although 8" disk drives were the first real disk

drives, the first widely used a floppy disk drives were the 5 1/4" floppy

disk drives, which were later replaced with 3 1/2" floppy disk drives.

 

5. The Monitor 

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It is a piece of electrical equipment which displays images generated

by devices such as computers, without producing a permanent record.

 The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure. It

also called a video display terminal (VDT); it is a video display screen and

the hard shell that holds it. In its most common usage, monitor refers only

to devices that contain no electronic equipment other than what is

essentially needed to display and adjust the characteristics of an image.

 There are different types of monitor:

1) Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

2) Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

3) Plasma

4) Penetron

 

6. The Keyboard 

It is one of the main input devices used on a computer, a PC's

keyboard looks very similar to the keyboards of electric typewriters, with

some additional keys. It is a device to input text and characters bydepressing buttons (referred to as keys), similar to a typewriter. The most

common English-language key layout is the QWERTY layout.

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7. The Mouse

It is a pointing device that detects two dimensional motions relative to

its supporting surface. It allows an individual to control a pointer in a

graphical user interface (GUI). Utilizing a mouse a user has the ability to

perform various functions such as opening a program or file and does not

require the user to memorize commands, like those used in a text-based

command line environment such as MS-DOS.

 Types of mice:

1) Cordless 7) Mechanical

2) Optical  8) Footmouse

3)  Touchpad 9) Glidepoint

4)  Trackball  10) IntelliMouse

5)  TrackPoint 11) J mouse

6) Wheel mouse 12) Joystick

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8. The Speaker 

It is also called loudspeaker. It is an electro-acoustic device, often

housed in a cabinet that is connected as a component in an audio system,

its function being to make speech or music audible.

9. The USB

It is a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB

interface, typically small, lightweight, removable, and rewritable.

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Capacities vary, from hundreds of megabytes (in the same ballpark as

CDs) to tens of gigabytes (surpassing, at great expense, Blu-ray discs).

10.The Scanner 

It is a hardware device used to input text and/or images into the

computer. It optically scans images, printed text, handwriting, or an

object, and converts it to a digital image.

 Types of scanners:1) Flatbed Scanner 3) Handheld

2) Sheetfed 4) Cardscan

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11.The Printer 

It is an external hardware device responsible for taking computer data

and generating a hard copy of that data. Printers are one of the most used

peripherals on computers and are commonly used to print text, images,

and/or photos.

 Types of printers:

1) Inkjet Printers

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2) Laser Printers

3) Dot Matrix Printers

4) Thermal Wax Printers

 

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