Configuration

• A computer system consists of two parts:

the software and the hardware.

• The software is

the information in the form of data and program instructions.

• The hardware components are

the electronic and mechanical parts of the system.

• In the computer system there are 3 main hardware sections:

the CPU

the main memory

the peripherals

CPUWhat is the main function of the CPU?

• executes program instructions

• co-ordinates the activities of all the other units.

Main memoryWhat is the function of the main memory?

• holds the instructions and data which are being processed by the CPU.

• The internal memory has 2 sections:

RAM (Random Access Memory)

ROM (Read Only Memory).

• are the physical units attached to the computer.

• They include:

input devices

output devices

storage devices

PeripheralsWhat are peripherals?

Input devicesWhat do input devices enable us to do?

• to present information to the computer.

• The most common input devices are:

the mouse

the keyboard

Output devicesWhat do output devices allow us to do?

• to extract the results from the computer; for example, we can see the output:

on the monitor

in printed form.

Storage devicesWhat do storage devices provide?

• a permanent storage of both data and programs.

• They include e.g.:

floppy disks

hard disks

What do you use ports for?

• We can plug into ports a wide range of peripherals - modems, fax machines, optical drives and scanners.