Computer: Hardware
Components
Introduction to Computing
• Differentiate among various styles of system units on
desktop computers, notebook computers, and mobile
devices
• Describe the control unit and arithmetic logic unit
components of a processor, and explain the four steps in
a machine cycle
• Define a bit and describe how a series of bits represents
data
• Differentiate among the various types of memory
• Describe the purpose and types of expansion slots
and adapter cards
• Differentiate between a port and a connector, and
explain the differences among a USB port and other
ports
• Describe the types of buses in a computer
• Understand how to clean a system unit on a computer
or mobile device
These are the physical, tangible
parts of the computer system.
They can be classified as:
• Input devices
• Output devices
• Processing devices
• Storage devices
These are the ones that you use to enter
data to the computer.
These are the devices where
you can see the result of your
computer’s processes.
These are the components responsible for
the processing of information within the
computer system.
These are components which allow data to
be stored within a computer system.
Data are stored as numbers (binary). It is measured as:
• Bit (Binary Digit): Can only have a value of either 0 or 1.
• Byte: 8 bits (also known as a Character).
• ASCII: A code that assigns characters, such as 'a', 'b', etc. unique 8-bit values. This
allows information created on one computer to be understood by other computers.
• There are other codes besides ASCII, but ASCII is the most common, used in
virtually all personal computers and most larger computers as well.
• Kilobyte: 1024 bytes (or 2^10 bytes).
• Megabyte: 1024 * 1024 bytes (or 2^20 bytes). Roughly one million bytes.
• Gigabyte: 1024 * 1024 * 1024 bytes (or 2^30 bytes). Roughly one billion bytes.
• Terabyte: 1024 * 1024 * 1024 * 1024 bytes (or 2^40 bytes). Roughly one trillion
bytes.
