Parts of the computer

The basic parts of a desktop computer are the computer case, monitor, keyboard, mouse,

and power cord. Each part plays an important role whenever you use a computer.

Computer case
The computer case is the metal and plastic box that contains the
main components of the computer, including the motherboard,
central processing unit (CPU), and power supply. The front of the
case usually has an On/Off button and one or more optical
drives.
Computer cases come in different shapes and sizes. A desktop
case lies flat on a desk, and the monitor usually sits on top of it.
A tower case is tall and sits next to the monitor or on the
floor. All-in-one computers come with the internal components
built into the monitor, which eliminates the need for a separate
case.

Monitor

The monitor works with a video card, located inside the computer case, to

display images and text on the screen. Most monitors have control
buttons that allow you to change your monitor's display settings, and some
monitors also have built-in speakers.
Newer monitors usually have LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light-
emitting diode) displays. These can be made very thin, and they are often
called flat-panel displays. Older monitors use CRT (cathode ray tube) displays. CRT
monitors are much larger and heavier, and they take up more desk space.
The size of a display is usually by monitor manufacturers given by the diagonal, i.e. the
distance between two opposite screen corners. The size of the monitor is measured in inch. 1
inch = 2,54 cm.
The resolution for computer monitors has increased over time. From 320x200 during the early
1980s, to 1024x768 during the late 1990s. Since 2009, the most commonly sold resolution for
computer monitors is 1920x1080.  "1920 × 1080" means the width is 1920 pixels and the
height is 1080 pixels. 

Keyboard
The keyboard is one of the main ways to communicate
with a computer. There are many different types of
keyboards, but most are very similar and allow you to
accomplish the same basic tasks.Click the buttons in the
interactive below to learn about the different parts of the
keyboard.

Mouse
The mouse is another important tool for communicating with
computers. Commonly known as a pointing device, it lets
you point to objects on the screen, click on them,
and move them.

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There are two main mouse types: optical and mechanical. The optical mouse uses an
electronic eye to detect movement and is easier to clean. The mechanical mouse uses a
rolling ball to detect movement and requires regular cleaning to work properly.
Mouse alternatives
There are other devices that can do the same thing as a mouse. Many people find them easier
to use, and they also require less desk space than a
traditional mouse. The most common mouse alternatives are
below.
 Trackball: A trackball has a ball that can rotate
freely. Instead of moving the device like a mouse,
you can roll the ball with your thumb to move the
pointer.

 Touchpad: A touchpad—also called a trackpad—is a

touch-sensitive pad that lets you control the pointer by
making a drawing motion with your finger. Touchpads
are common on laptop computers.

Take a look at the front and back of your computer case and count the number
of buttons, ports, and slots you see. Now look at your monitor and count any you find there.
You probably counted at least 10, and maybe a lot more.
Each computer is different, so the buttons, ports, and sockets will vary from computer to
computer. However, there are certain ones you can expect to find on most desktop
computers. Learning how these ports are used will help whenever you need to connect
something to your computer, like a new printer, keyboard, or mouse.

Front of a computer case

1. Optical disk drive : Often called a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, this lets your
computer
read CDs and DVDs.
2. Power button: The power button is used to power the computer on and off.
3. Audio in/ Audio out: Many computers include audio ports on the front of the
computer case that allow you to easily connect speakers, microphones,
and headsets without fumbling with the back of the computer.
4. USB (Universal Serial Bus) port: Most desktop computers have several USB ports.
These can be used to connect almost any type of device, including mice, keyboards,
printers, and digital cameras. They will often appear on the front and back of the
computer.

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Back of a computer case
The back of a computer case has connection ports that are made to fit specific devices. The
placement will vary from computer to computer, and many companies have their own special
connectors for specific devices. Some of the ports may be color coded to help you determine
which port is used with a particular device.
Click the buttons in the interactive below to become familiar with the back of a computer.
1. Power socket: This is where you'll connect the power cord to the computer.
2. Audio in/Audio out: Almost every computer has two or more audio ports where you
can connect various devices, including speakers, microphones, and headsets.
3. Ethernet port: This port looks a lot like the modem or telephone port, but it is slightly
wider. You can use this port for networking and connecting to the Internet.
4. USB ports: On most desktop computers, most of the USB ports are on the back of the
computer case. Generally, you'll want to connect your mouse and keyboard to these
ports and keep the front USB ports free so they can be used for digital cameras and
other devices.
5. Monitor port: This is where you'll connect your monitor cable. In this example, the
computer has both a DisplayPort and a VGA port. Other computers may have other
types of monitor ports, such as HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface).
6. Serial port: This port is less common on today's computers. It was frequently used to
connect peripherals like digital cameras, but it has been replaced by USB and other
types of ports.

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7. These ports are sometimes used for connecting the mouse and keyboard. Typically,
the mouse port is green and the keyboard port is purple. On new computers, these
ports have been replaced by USB.
8. These empty slots are where expansion cards are added to computers. For example, if
your computer did not come with a video card, you could purchase one and install it
here.
9. This is an older port that is less common on new computers. Like the serial port, it has
now been replaced by USB.

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Other types of ports

There are many other types of ports, such as FireWire, Thunderbolt, and HDMI. If your
computer has ports you don't recognize, you should consult your manual for more
information.

Peripherals you can use with your computer

The most basic computer setup usually includes the computer case, monitor, keyboard,
and mouse, but you can plug many different types of devices into the extra ports on your
computer. These devices are called peripherals. Let's take a look at some of the most
common ones.
 Printers: A printer is used to print documents, photos, and anything else that
appears on your screen. There are many types of printers,
including inkjet, laser, and photo printers. There are even all-in-one
printers, which can also scan and copy documents.

 Scanners: A scanner allows you to copy a physical image or document and

save it to your computer as a digital (computer-readable) image. Many
scanners are included as part of an all-in-one printer, although you can also
buy a separate flatbed or handheld scanner.
 Speakers/headphones: Speakers and headphones are output devices, which
means they send information from the computer to the user—in this case, they
allow you to hear sound and music. Depending on the model, they may
connect to the audio port or the USB port. Some monitors also have built-in
speakers.

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  Microphones: A microphone is a type of input device, or a device that
receives information from a user. You can connect a microphone to record
sound or talk with someone else over the Internet.
Many laptop computers come with built-in microphones.
 Web cameras: A web camera—or webcam—is a type
of input device that can record videos and take pictures.
It can also transmit video over the Interne t in real time,
which allows for video chat or video conferencingwith
someone else. Many webcams also include a microphone
for this reason.
 Game controllers and joysticks: A game controller is used to control
computer games. There are many other types of controllers you can use,
including joysticks, although you can also use your mouse and keyboard to
control most games.
 Digital cameras: A digital camera lets you capture pictures and videos in a
digital format. By connecting the camera to your computer's USB port, you
can transfer the images from the camera to the computer.
 Mobile phones, MP3 players, tablet computers, and other
devices:Whenever you buy an electronic device, such as a mobile phone or
MP3 player, check to see if it comes with a USB cable. If it does, this means
you can most likely connect it to your computer.
 Light Pen
Light pen is a pointing device similar to a pen. It is used to select a displayed menu
item or draw pictures on the monitor screen. It consists of a photocell and an optical
system placed in a small tube.

When the tip of a light pen is moved over the monitor

screen and the pen button is pressed, its photocell
sensing element detects the screen location and sends
the corresponding signal to the CPU.

Inside the computer

Motherboard

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The motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that holds the CPU,
memory, connectors for the hard drive and optical drives, expansion cards to control the video
and audio, and connections to your computer's ports (such as USB ports). The motherboard
connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer.

CPU/processor
The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, is
located inside the computer case on the motherboard. It is
sometimes called the brain of the computer, and its job is to
carry out commands. Whenever you press a key, click the
mouse, or start an application, you're sending instructions to
the CPU.
The CPU is usually a two-inch ceramic square with
a silicon chip located inside. The chip is usually about the
size of a thumbnail. The CPU fits into the
motherboard's CPU socket, which is covered by the heat
sink, an object that absorbs heat from the CPU.
A processor's speed is measured in megahertz (MHz), or millions of instructions per second;
and gigahertz (GHz), or billions of instructions per second. A faster processor can execute
instructions more quickly. However, the actual speed of the computer depends on the speed of
many different components—not just the processor.
RAM (random access memory)

RAM is your system's short-term memory. Whenever your computer performs calculations,

it temporarily stores the data in the RAM until it is needed.
This short-term memory disappears when the computer is turned off. If you're working on a
document, spreadsheet, or other type of file, you'll need to save it to avoid losing it. When
you save a file, the data is written to the hard drive, which acts as long-term storage.
RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). The more RAM you have, the
more things your computer can do at the same time. If you don't have enough RAM, you may
notice that your computer is sluggish when you have several programs open. Because of this,
many people add extra RAM to their computers to improve performance.

ROM (read only memory)

The memory from which we can only read but cannot write on it.
The information is stored permanently.

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Hard drive (HDD)

The hard drive is where your software, documents, and other files are stored. The hard drive
is long-term storage, which means the data is
still saved even if you turn the computer off or
unplug it.
When you run a program or open a file, the
computer copies some of the data from the hard
drive onto the RAM. When you save a file, the
data is copied back to the hard drive. The faster
the hard drive, the faster your computer can start
up and load programs.
Power supply unit

The power supply unit in a

computer converts the power from
the wall outlet to the type of power
needed by the computer. It sends
power through cables to the
motherboard and other components.
If you decide to open the computer
case and take a look, make sure
to unplug the computer first.

Expansion cards
Most computers have expansion slots on the motherboard that allow you to add various types
of expansion cards. These are sometimes called PCI (peripheral component interconnect)
cards. You may never need to add any PCI cards because most motherboards have built-in
video, sound, network, and other capabilities.
However, if you want to boost the performance of your computer or update the capabilities of
an older computer, you can always add one or more cards. Below are some of the most
common types of expansion cards.

Video card
The video card is responsible for what you
see on the monitor. Most computers have
a GPU (graphics processing unit) built into

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the motherboard instead of having a separate video card. If you like playing graphics-
intensive games, you can add a faster video card to one of the expansion slots to get better
performance.
Sound card
The sound card—also called an audio card—is responsible for what you hear in the
speakers or headphones. Most motherboards have integrated sound, but you can upgrade to a
dedicated sound card for higher-quality sound.
Network card
The network card allows your computer to
communicate over a network and access the
Internet. It can either connect with
an Ethernet cable or through
a wireless connection (often called Wi-Fi). Many
motherboards have built-in network connections,
and a network card can also be added to an
expansion slot.

Bluetooth card (or adapter)

Bluetooth is a technology for wireless communication over short distances. It's
often used in computers to communicate with wireless keyboards, mice,
and printers. It's commonly built into the motherboard or included in a wireless
network card.

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Answer the questions.
What kind of hardver devices does a computer have?
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Which are the input devices?
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Which are the output devices?
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What types of memories can we distinguish? What is the difference between them?
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What card do you need to use the Internet?
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What is the hard drive for?
___________________________________________________________________________
Check the memory of your computer.
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Chech the capacity of the HDD.
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Check the speed of the processor.
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22 inch = ? cm
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The resolution of the monitor is 1920x1080. How many pixels does this mean?

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___________________________________________________________________________

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