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Computer Basics - Inside A Computer (Handout)

The document discusses the basic internal components of a computer including the CPU, motherboard, power supply, RAM, hard drive, expansion cards, video card, sound card, and network card. It describes the function of each component and compares some to other objects like the CPU to a brain.

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daig0803
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8 views

Computer Basics - Inside A Computer (Handout)

The document discusses the basic internal components of a computer including the CPU, motherboard, power supply, RAM, hard drive, expansion cards, video card, sound card, and network card. It describes the function of each component and compares some to other objects like the CPU to a brain.

Uploaded by

daig0803
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3.

COMPUTER BASICS: INSIDE A COMPUTER


Inside a computer
• Have you ever looked inside a computer case before, or seen pictures of the
inside of one?
• The small parts may look complicated, but the inside of a computer case really
isn't all that mysterious.
• This lesson will help you master some of the basic terminology and understand
a bit more about what goes on inside a computer casing.
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 generally 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.
• There are many processor manufacturers for personal computers, but the most
well-known ones are Intel and AMD.
Motherboard
• 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.
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.
• Before touching the inside of the computer, you should touch a grounded metal
object or a metal part of the computer casing to discharge any static build-up.
• Static electricity can be transmitted through the computer circuits and ruin
them.
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.
Computer Basics Course – 24 May – 9 June, 2016 ∙ OLOG Primary School ∙
UB - MPIT ∙ D. Garcia MSc. DIS/ M. Medina MSc. ∙ Page 1 of 2 ∙
3. COMPUTER BASICS: INSIDE A COMPUTER
Hard drive
• The hard drive on your computer is where the software is installed, and it's
also where your 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 is, the faster your computer can start up and load
programs.

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

Challenge!
Review the parts of the computer identified in this lesson. Make sure you know the function of each part.
• Think creatively! In the videos, we compared the CPU to a brain, the hard drive to a closet, and the
motherboard to a blueprint. Do any of the computer parts listed remind you of anything else?
• Find out your computer's processor speed. Is it measured in gigahertz or megahertz?
• How much RAM does your computer have?

Computer Basics Course – 24 May – 9 June, 2016 ∙ OLOG Primary School ∙


UB - MPIT ∙ D. Garcia MSc. DIS/ M. Medina MSc. ∙ Page 2 of 2 ∙

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