Hardware Lesson 2

Computer Components

Path of Information Through Path of Information Through a Computera Computer

RAM

Output Device

Power supply (the heart)

• Takes electricity from the wall outlet and converts it into a current that works for the computer.

• When your computer is turned on, the power supply carries the converted electricity to other components inside the computer.

Motherboard (the spine)

• Houses all of the other circuit boards (expansion cards) and the processor (CPU).

• Every component in the computer must connect to the motherboard.

• Each model of motherboard accepts different types of processors and expansion cards.

CPU or Central Processing Unit (the brain)

• The CPU controls the hardware and tells the other parts what to do.

• The type of CPU in a computer also determines how fast that computer can operate.

• A CPU generates a lot of heat, so there is usually a small fan nearby to cool it down.

More

Expansion Cards

• Anything added to a computer.• Includes sound cards, video cards, network (or

LAN) cards, modems, serial cards and parallel cards, etc. that attach to the computer.

BIOS or Basic Input Output System Chip

• Wakes up the computer when you turn it on and reminds it what parts it has and what they do.

• Stores the date and time, and the basic hardware settings for the computer.

• Had a battery so the BIOS is not lost when the computer is turned off.

Ports• These are places on the back (or side) of the

computer where you plug in hardware. The keyboard, mouse, monitor, and printer all plug into ports.

• PS2 (mouse and keyboard)• Serial (mouse, communications device)• Parallel (LPT: printer / scanner)• Video (video cable)• LAN and MODEM (network or phone line)• USB (Universal Serial Bus) (anything)

Looking at Ports

or scanner

For graphics

Storage

• Saved files• Internal or external• Include

– Hard disk– Floppy disk– CD or DVD/ROM– USB or Flash sticks– and more

Storage• Hard disk drive

– Internal or external– Consists of a set of stacked

"disks," with data recorded electromagnetically in circles or "tracks" on the disk.

– A "head" works like a phonograph arm; it reads and writes information on the tracks.

– Files and applications are stored on the hard drive

Storage

• Floppy disk drive– Reads and writes to floppy disks– Long or short-term file storage– 1.4 MB of data– Original disks were 8 inches across.

The next generation made was 5 ¼ inches, and now they are 3 ½ inches across.

CD-ROM

• Compact Disc, Read-Only Memory• Can store text files and audio (or music) • Max. 650 - 700 MB of data, or 74 - 80 minutes

of music

• Internal or external• Application software

is often installed FROMa CD ONTO a harddrive

DVD-ROM

• Digital Video Disc, Read-Only Memory

• Best for Multimedia (movies and games)• Max. 4.7GB to 17GB

• Faster than CD-ROM

Flash memory

• EEPROM chips - Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.

• a grid of columns and rows with a cell that has two transistors at each intersection

• See more at How Stuff Works

Examples of Flash Memory

• Your computer's BIOS chip

• CompactFlash (digital cameras)

• SmartMedia (digital cameras)

• Memory Stick (digital cameras)

• PCMCIA Type I and Type II memory cards (used as solid-state disks in laptops)

• Memory cards for video game consoles

Inside a Mini-Tower

Review Questions

• Answer the questions on the review sheet.

• We’ll go over them when everyone is finished.

Hardware Lesson 2

Computer Components