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Computer Components

The document discusses the basic components of a computer, including the monitor, keyboard, mouse, case, power supply, motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive, video card, sound card, Ethernet card, CD-ROM drive, and operating system. The monitor displays visual output, keyboard allows text/command input, and mouse controls screen pointer movement. The case houses major internal components and provides cooling. The power supply converts AC to regulated DC power. The motherboard connects all internal/external components and the CPU processes data. RAM temporarily stores data during use while the hard drive stores long-term data/programs. Video and sound cards manage multimedia output. The Ethernet card enables network connectivity and the CD-ROM drive reads optical

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Tsa Cha
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33 views

Computer Components

The document discusses the basic components of a computer, including the monitor, keyboard, mouse, case, power supply, motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive, video card, sound card, Ethernet card, CD-ROM drive, and operating system. The monitor displays visual output, keyboard allows text/command input, and mouse controls screen pointer movement. The case houses major internal components and provides cooling. The power supply converts AC to regulated DC power. The motherboard connects all internal/external components and the CPU processes data. RAM temporarily stores data during use while the hard drive stores long-term data/programs. Video and sound cards manage multimedia output. The Ethernet card enables network connectivity and the CD-ROM drive reads optical

Uploaded by

Tsa Cha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

Basic Computer
Components
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS

How do you define that an object


is a computer?
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Monitor

❑ The video display unit that sits on your desktop and serves as your
computer screen.

❑ Monitors are available in two basic types.

❑ CRT (cathode ray tube - looks like a TV set), called "flat" or


"perfect flat"

❑ LCD (liquid crystal display) called "flat panel".


BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Monitor

CRT Monitor LCD Monitor


BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Keyboard
❑ The peripheral device used to input information into a computer.

❑ It provides a set of alphabetic, numeric, punctuation, symbol and


control keys.

❑ When a character is pressed, it sends a coded input to the


computer, which then displays the character on the Monitor.

❑ Keyboards are available in corded


and wireless models.

❑ Keyboards should come with a


wrist rest.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Mouse
❑ A peripheral device connected to your
computer, used to reposition the cursor
or move the pointer on your screen.

❑ Usually has at least two buttons, that is


use to highlight text, open menu items,
launch programs, etc.

❑ Can be corded or wireless.

❑ Some mice have a ball on the bottom


that rolls as you push the mouse, and
some mice have optical function.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Case
❑ Often called the “chassis”/
“system unit", the case
houses and provides power
to the major computer
components, including the
MotherBoard, CPU, Hard
Drive, RAM, Video Card,
Sound Card, etc.

❑ Those components that do not


housed in the computer case
are usually referred to as
"peripherals".

❑ Houses the power supply.


BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Case
❑ It is important to have a large enough
power supply to handle your current
and future needs.

❑ The case should be large enough and


have enough ball bearing fans so the
internal components do not overheat
and cause damage to themselves.

❑ Miniature cases are to be avoided.

❑ Never put your computer in a desk


compartment or other small space
where it can't breathe. Heat is
the enemy of all computers.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Power Supply
❑ A power supply unit (PSU) converts
mains AC to low-voltage regulated DC
power for the internal components of a
computer.

❑ It adjust the supplied voltage to the


levels needed
❑ There are 3 types of power supply in
common use:
- AT Power Supply - used in very old
PCs.
- ATX Power Supply - still used in some
PCs.
- ATX-2 Power Supply - commonly in
use today.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
MotherBoard
❑ The main circuit board of the computer.

❑ All key internal and external components of your computer plug


into the MotherBoard, such as the CPU, RAM, Hard Drive, etc.

❑ The speed at which information travels across the MotherBoard


is referred to as the BUS speed.

❑ Recently a new technology has been introduced called PCI


Express. This allows a faster data transfer speed across the
MotherBoard, especially for video graphics.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
MotherBoard

Top View
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
MotherBoard

Side View
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Central Processing Unit (CPU)

❑ The most powerful microprocessor chip in your computer.

❑ The speed of the CPU is measured in GigaHertz (billions of


cycles per second).
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Random-Access Memory (RAM)

❑ Hardware that stores


information while you work.

❑ One of the things that makes


your computer run faster.

❑ Not permanent storage of


data. When you turn your
computer off, all data in RAM
is lost.

❑ Available in different types,


sizes, and speeds.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Hard Drive
❑ A Data Storage medium that
houses all of the information in
your computer.

❑ This would include your operating


system (OS), device drivers,
programs, and data you have
created using your programs (word
documents, spread sheets, etc.).

❑ Retains data when the computer is


turned off.

❑ Hard Drives sizes are in GigaBytes


or billions of characters.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Video Card
❑ A circuit board that plugs into a MotherBoard slot, that handles
multimedia applications and graphics-intensive web sites
freeing up the CPU (thereby increasing your computers speed).

❑ The monitor plugs into the video card which is accessed


through a slot in the back of your computer.

❑ The better the graphics chip on the video card, and the more
RAM built on the video card, the faster the display on the
monitor.

❑ Better Video Cards have both Digital (better) and Analog


outputs.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Video Card
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Sound Card
❑ A circuit board that
plugs into your
MotherBoard that
adds audio
capability to your
computer,
providing high
quality stereo
output to the
speakers .
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Ethernet Card

❑ A circuit board that plugs into your MotherBoard and provides the
capability to connect or "Network" your computer to other
computers and/or the Internet.

❑ If you use a cable modem, your computer will need an Ethernet


card. Ethernet cards come in different speeds.eg: 10/100/1000 Mbps.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
CD-ROM
❑ Compact Disk - Read Only Memory.

❑ An optical storage technology that stores


and plays back data.

❑ "Read Only" means the information can


be displayed and used or copied, but
cannot be deleted or changed (on the
disk).

❑ One CD-ROM can hold around 650


megabytes of data, or the equivalent of
450 floppies.

❑ The speed of a CD-ROM refers to how fast


the disk spins in the device.
BASIC COMPUTER COMPONENTS
Operating System
❑ The foundation software of a
computer system.

❑ Responsible for controlling and


launching the installed applications
and computer peripherals.

❑ It schedules tasks, allocates storage,


handles the interface to peripheral
hardware and presents a "default"
interface to the user when no
application program is running.

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