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Computer Hardware

System unit
Case that holds the power supply, storage devices, and the circuit boards
(including the motherboard).

CPU
Where the processing in a computer takes place, often called the brain of the
computer.

Input Devices
Units that gather information and transform that information it into a series of
electronic signals for the computer. In simple, Input devices gather and translate data
into a form the computer understands. Input is all information put into a computer.
Input can be supplied from a variety of sources:
• A person
• A storage device on computer
• Another computer
• A peripheral device
• Another piece of equipment, such as a musical instrument or thermometer

Keyboard
An arrangement of letters, numbers, and special function keys that act as the
primary input device to the computer.

Mouse or trackball
An input device that allows the user to manipulate objects on the screen by
moving the device along the surface of a desk

Joystick
Joystick useful in education as an adaptive or assistive input device.

Scanners:
Scanners are peripheral input devices which allow users to import:
• Text
• Graphics
• Images
Specialized software aids in translating information into a format the computer can
understand and manipulate. For example OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION
SOFTWARE which reads the data printed on JPEG or PDF format to electronic format.

Digital Cameras are peripheral input devices that allow users to create pictures and/or
movies in a digital format.
• Some require specialized
software to import images
into the computer.
• Some record digital images directly to a disk that can be read by the
computer.

Sound Card
A circuit board that gives the computer the ability to accept audio input, play
sound files, and produce audio output through speaksers or headphones.

Modem
A device that sends and receives data to and from computers over telephone lines.

Output Devices
Devices that display, print, or transmit the results of processing from the computer’s
memory.

Monitor
Display device that forms an image by converting electrical signals from the
computer into points of colored light on the screen. Most monitors use a bitmap display

• Allows user to resize the display.

• Pixels
Divides the screen into a matrix of tiny square “dots” called pixels.
The smallest unit in a graphic image; computer display devices use a matrix of pixels to
display text and graphics.

• Resolution
The more “dots” a screen can display, the higher the resolution of the
monitor. The density of the grid used to display or print text and graphics; the greater the
horizontal and vertical density, the higher the resolution.

Monitors are connected to a computer system via a port integrated on the video adapter
or graphics card.
A graphics card (also video card) is a piece of hardware installed in a computer that is
responsible for rendering the image on the computer’s monitor or display screen. The
graphics processing unit (GPU) is a chip akin to the computer processing unit (CPU). The
GPU on the graphics card processes data in parallel lines called “pipelines.” The more
pipelines a graphics card has, the faster it can process data. Some cards feature dual
GPUs for additional performance. Other factors that play into performance include bus
speed and the type of on-board memory the graphics card supports.

Projectors:
Projection systems or classroom TVs can display information from a computer system on
a larger screen for whole-class instruction
Storage Devices

Used to keep data when the power to the computer is turned off.
Different forms
Magnetic Storage Devices:
Magnetic storage devices store data by magnetizing particles on a disk or tape. They have
a limited life-span of 1 to 5 years, depending on the device.

Hard disk
Floppy or zip disks

Optical Storage Devices:


Optical storage devices store data as light and dark spots on the disk surface. They have
an unlimited life-span.

CD/DVD/BRD
DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disk or Digital Video Disk, CD
stands for Compact Disk and BRD stands for Blue Ray Disk. These all are optical disks
comes with different capacities, depending upon the technology. These can be used for
data storage and record movies with highest video and sound quality. The storage
capacity of a DVD varies from 4.1GB to 17GB, CD comes with upto 800MB capacity.
Flash Drive
It is a small, lightweight, removable and rewritable flash memory data
storage device. USB flash disk is faster, holds more data and more reliable than a floppy
disk. It is also know as PEN Drive, Thumb Drive or Simply USB Drive

Printer
Out put device that produces text or graphical images on paper.
Dot matrix
Seldom used in a classroom.
Still frequently used in business.
Bubble or ink jet
Laser

Speakers:
Output devices that receive signals from the computer’s sound card to play music,
narration, or sound effects.

Hardware
Includes the electronic and mechanical devices that process the data; referes to the
computer as well as peripheral devices.
Central Processing Unit - also called “The Chip”, a CPU, a processor or a
microprocessor
 CPU or microprocessor is often described as the brain of a computer.
 CPU is an integrated circuit or “chip” which processes instructions and data.
 CPU types.
 Intel Pentium 64 bit (II, III, IV, Dual Core, Tri Core, Hexa Core, Octa core
 AMD 64 bit (Athlon, Dual Core, Tri Core, Hexa Core, Octa core)
CPU speed is measured by the number of completed instruction cycles per second
Currently, CPU speeds range from 600 megahertz (MHz or million cycles per second) to
4 gigahertz (GHz or billion cycles per second).
Always check new software’s requirements for CPU type and speed before purchasing

Memory (RAM)
Storage Devices
Input Devices
Output Devices

Peripheral devices
Used to expand the computer’s input, output and storage capabilities.
Input
Whatever is put into a computer system.
Data
Refers to the symbols that represent facts, objects, or ideas.
Information
The results of the computer storing data as bits and bytes; the words, numbers,
sounds, and graphics.
Output
Consists of the processing results produced by a computer.
Processing
Manipulation of the data in many ways.
Memory
Area of the computer that temporarily holds data waiting to be processed, stored
or output.
Storage
Area of the computer that holds data on a permanent basis when it is not
immediately needed for processing.

Processor
Most computers use integrated chips or integrated circuits for their processors or main
memory. A chip is about 1 cm square and can hold Millions of electronic components
such as transistors and resistors.
CPU of a microcomputer is a microprocessor
Processor and Main Memory of a PC are held on a single board called a motherboard.
Brain of the computer
Processes intructions in three steps
1. Fetches Instructions
2. Decodes Instructions
3. Executes Instructions
Main memory
The program currently being executed and the data used by the program is held in Main
Memory. Main Memory is divided into millions of individually addressable storage units
called BYTES. One byte can hold one character Or one byte can hold a code representing
something i.e., a part of a picture, or a sound, or a program instruction. The total number
of bytes in Main Memory = The computers Memory Size.
Computer Memory Sizes
1 Kilo Bytes = 1024 Bytes
1 Mega Bytes = 1024 KB
1 Giga Bytes = 1024 MB
1 Terra Bytes = 1024 GB (about 1 trillion bytes)

Processing power and Main Memory in a computer has increased exponentially in


the past year! It has grown at a rate that no one could have predicted.

Two kinds of memory


ROM and RAM
RAM – Random Access Memory (Main Memory)
RAM or Random Access Memory
Holds instructions for processing data, processed data, and raw data.
 Ram is measured by:
 Capacity (in Megabytes or Gigabytes)
 Speed (in Nanoseconds)

This used for storing programs that are currently running and data that is being processed.
It is also called “Waiting room” for computer’s CPU. Holds instructions for processing
data, processed data, and raw data.. It is also called Volatile memory. When you switch
off the machine, it disappears.
ROM – Read Only Memory
Its contents are Permanently stored or burned into the memory chip at the manufacturing
stage. It is a Non-Volatile memory (does not change). Programs that are necessary for the
computer to run. It is used – for example to load the bootstrap loader which is a program
that loads as soon as you start the machine or Boot up program.

Cache Memory
This is a very Fast type of memory that is used to improve the speed of a computer,
Doubling it in some cases. It acts as an intermediate store between CPU and MM. It
works by storing most frequently or recently used instructions so that it is fast to retrieve
them again. Cache comes in different sizes from 1 KB to 2Mb and it has been keep
increasing size for better performance.
Auxiliary Storage:
Auxiliary storage is also called Secondary Memory, backing store and external
memory.
The most common secondary memory (auxiliary storage) is DISK.

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