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Practical 1

This document provides an overview of the basic hardware and software components of a computer system. It describes the main hardware components including the motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive, CD-ROM, floppy drive and their functions. It also explains what software is and how it interacts with hardware. Finally, it provides steps for powering on and shutting down the computer system properly.

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Navjot Mavi
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68 views2 pages

Practical 1

This document provides an overview of the basic hardware and software components of a computer system. It describes the main hardware components including the motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive, CD-ROM, floppy drive and their functions. It also explains what software is and how it interacts with hardware. Finally, it provides steps for powering on and shutting down the computer system properly.

Uploaded by

Navjot Mavi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Practical 1: Familiarization of the computer system and on

hand practice on power on and power off.


Hardware (comper), equipment involved in the function of a computer. Computer hardwareconsists of the components that can be physically
handled. The function of these components istypically divided into three main categories: input, output, and storage. Components in
thesecategories connect to microprocessors, specifically, the computer’s central processing unit(CPU), the electronic circuitry that provides the
computational ability and control of thecomputer, via wires or circuitry called a bus.
Software, on the other hand, is the set of instructions a computer uses to manipulate data, such asa word-processing program or a video game.
These programs are usually stored and transferredvia the computer's hardware to and from the CPU. Software also governs how the hardware
isutilized; for example, how information is retrieved from a storage device. The interactionbetween the input and output hardware is controlled by
software called the Basic Input OutputSystem software (BIOS).
Although microprocessors are still technically considered to be hardware, portions of theirfunction are also associated with computer software.
Since microprocessors have both hardwareand software aspects they are therefore often referred to as firmware
The main parts of a computer that we'll be focusing on are the Power Supply, Access Slots,
Motherboard, Hard Drive, CPU, RAM, CD-Rom, and Floppy Drive.
First, let's look at two simple diagrams of the inside of a computer.

Quickly, you may recognize some parts of you computer just from these simple diagrams. The
first diagram is of a tower computer, which currently is popular for the home PC. The second

diagram is a desktop computer, which normally is used for space as you can easily place the
monitor on top of it and have the whole computer compact in one easy spot.
POWER SUPPLY
The power supply is vital to the computer as it is the source of power. The power supply is
usually a small metal box in the top corner of a case (tower).
ACCESS SLOTS
Access slots or expansion slots are openings in a computer where a circuit board can be insertedto add new capabilities to the computer.
Examples of drives that may go here would bemodems, USB drives, networking cards, video adapters, and sound cards. These expansions
areeasy to install along with being very useful to your computer to allow you to do new things, suchas network computers together.
MOTHERBOARD
The motherboard has been an integral part of most personal computers for more than 20 years.The motherboard contains various circuit cards
performing various functions all plug into manysimilar sockets on a common circuit board. Each circuit card performs a unique function in
thecomputer and gets its power from the socket.
The motherboard contains many circuits and slots, but let's focus on some of the important ones.
The motherboard is home to the processor (CPU) along with the access slots and RAM.
If we look at the diagram above I've labeled the parts of the motherboard that I wanted todiscuss. The objects labeled 1 are the access slots. 2 is
the processor slot and 3 are slots to holdmemory (RAM).
CPU
The CPU, or processor, is the heart of your computer no matter what type (PC, Server, andLaptop). There are many brands for processors such as
Intel and Athlon all with differentprocessors for your computer. The CPU processes everything that your computer does, thereforethe better the
processor, the faster the computer.

RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) is the form of memory contained in most computers. RAM isconsidered "random access" because you can
access any memory cell directly if you know therow and column that intersect at that cell. When an application is running it stores its
informationin the RAM. When you close the application the information is deleted from the RAM. This iswhy you need certain amounts of RAM
to run applications. The more RAM you have the fasteryour computer will be, and the more applications you'll be able to run without loosing
speed.

HARD DRIVE
Nearly every desktop computer and server in use today contains one or more hard-disk drives.These hard disks do one thing well - they store
changing digital information in a relativelypermanent form. They give computers the ability to remember things when the power goes out.
A hard drive stores all your files and information in a permanent form unlike storing it in RAM(which is temporary). The larger your hard disk
(drive) the more information and files you'reable to store. Today's average hard drive is 40 GB although slowly 80 GB hard drives arebecoming
used more often.

CD-ROM
The CD-Rom is quite simple, it reads CD's. CD-Rom completely stands for Compact Disk ReadOnly Memory. The revolution of CD's is that
they hold much more data than a floppy disk,although are not as flexible when it comes to rewriting and storing personal data.

Using CD-RW you can make your own CD's and use them more like a floppy disk. These are

becoming more and more popular although you still need a CD-Rom to read them.

FLOPPY DRIVE
A floppy drive reads the popular floppy disk. Floppy disk are easy to use, rewritable, compact,and great for storing information. The floppy drive
is simple and allows you to read, write to, andwrite over information stored on a floppy disk.

Now you have a basic knowledge of the parts of your own PC. In the future you'll be able to read

more advanced articles and have an understanding of the parts of a PC.

STEPS TO SWITCH ON THE COMPUTER:

1)Switch on the UPS.

2)Switch on the monitor.

3)Press the power key of the CPU to start the machine.

STEPS TO SWITCH OFF THE COMPUTER:

1)Click on START.

2)Select TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER OPTION option.

3)Click on SHUT DOWN to turn off.

4)Switch off the monitor.

5)Switch off the UPS.

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