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8 Grade

Describing Computer insides

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32 views10 pages

8 Grade

Describing Computer insides

Uploaded by

yasserwaz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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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Inside a computer

Have you ever looked inside a computer case, or seen pictures of the inside of one? The small
parts may look complicated, but the inside of a computer case isn't really 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.

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.

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.

Hard drive
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.
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 buildup. Static electricity can be
transmitted through the computer circuits, which can seriously damage your machine.

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 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. For computers that don't have
Bluetooth, you can purchase a USB adapter, often called a dongle.
Computer Networks - Types & Functions
A computer network is a group of computers that use a set of common communication protocols over
digital interconnections for the purpose of sharing resources located on or provided by the network
nodes.

What is a Computer Network?


Definition – A group of computers which are connected to each other and follow similar usage
protocols for the purpose of sharing information and having communications provided by the
networking nodes is called a Computer Network.

A network may be small where it may include just one system or maybe as large as what one
may want. The nodes may further be classified into various types. These include:

 Personal Computers
 Servers
 Networking Hardware
 General Hosts

Networking can be classified into three types:

1. Types of Computer Networks


2. Topology
3. Interpreters

Types of Computer Networks


There are five main types of Computer Networks:

1. LAN (Local Area Network) –


o Systems connected in a small network like in a building or a small office
o It is inexpensive
o It uses Ethernet or Token-ring technology
o Two or more personal computers can be connected through wires or cables acting
as nodes
o Transfer of data is fast and is highly score
2. PAN (Personal Area Network) –
o The smallest computer network
o Devices may be connected through Bluetooth or other infra-red enables devices
o It has a connectivity range of upto 10 metres
o It covers an area of upto 30 feet
o Personal devices belonging to a single person can be connected to each other
using PAN
3. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) –
o A network that can be connected within a city, for example, cable TV Connection
o It can be in the form of Ethernet, ATM, Token-ring and FDDI
o It has a higher range
o This type of network can be used to connect citizens with the various
Organisations
4. WAN (Wide Area Network) –
o A network which covers over a country or a larger range of people
o Telephonic lines are also connected through WAN
o Internet is the biggest WAN in the world
o Mostly used by Government Organisations to manage data and information
5. VPN (Virtual Private Network): –
o A network which is constructed by using public wires to connect to a private
network
o There are a number of systems which enable you to create networks using the
Internet as a medium for transporting data
o These systems use encryptions and other security mechanisms to ensure only
authorised users can access

Network Devices

Discussed below are a few important network devices from the exam point of view:

 Network Repeater – Used to generate incoming electrical, wireless or optical signals


 Network Hub – It is a small network device. It joins multiple computers together to form
a single network segment. On this segment, all computers can interact with each other
 Network Switch – It is a small hardware device which joins multiple computers together
with a single LAN
 Network Router – This device interfaces in multiple networks whose task is to copy
packages from one network to another. It provides connectivity inside enterprises,
between Enterprises and the Internet and within an ISP
 Network Bridge – It reads the outermost section of the data packet to tell where the
message is going. It reduces the traffic on other network segments.
 Modem – This device converts digital signals into analog signals. It is always placed
between a telephone and a computer system

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