Digital

Technology
Topic 1
Hardware ​

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 WHAT IS A COMPUTER?

• The term "computer" is a broad and generic term that refers to any device capable of
processing data.
• Computers can come in various forms, including desktops, laptops, servers, mainframes,
and more.
• A computer typically consists of a central processing unit (CPU), memory (RAM), storage
(hard drive or SSD), input/output devices (keyboard, mouse, monitor), and other
components.
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 DESKTOP COMPUTER

• Desktop computers are not designed for portability. They consist of separate components
like a tower or case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. While some desktop components may
be smaller for space-saving, they lack the integrated design of laptops.
• Desktop computers, especially high-end gaming PCs or workstations, typically offer more
powerful components, larger cooling solutions, and greater potential for upgrades. This
makes them suitable for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, or 3D rendering.
• Desktop computers rely on a constant power source. They need to be connected to an
electrical outlet to operate.

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 LAPTOP
• A laptop is a specific type of computer designed
for portability and convenience.

• Laptops are also known as notebooks and are

compact and lightweight, allowing users to carry
them easily.

• They integrate all the essential components of a

computer, including the screen, keyboard, and
trackpad (or mouse), into a single, portable unit.

• Laptops are powered by batteries, allowing

users to use them without being connected to a
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power source for a certain amount of time.
Components of a desktop computer (PC)

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Components of a laptop

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Types of hardware

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The information processing cycle

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 Practical Example

Input  You give the smartphone some of the contact’s details by typing them in.
Processing  The smartphone checks if the contact had previously been saved.
Storage  The contact is added to the storage if necessary.
Output  The smartphone displays a message that a new contact has been added or that
the contact already exists.

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 Basic components for laptops and
pc’s
Most PC’s and laptops consist of:
 a motherboard,
 a CPU,
 RAM, also known as volatile memory,
 an optional Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), also known as a video or graphics card,
 permanent storage, either a Solid State Drive (SSD), a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or both, and
 input and output devices.

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 Motherboard

A motherboard is a large circuit board found in the computer case. All components of the
computer connect directly to the motherboard. The CPU, RAM, internal storage (HHD or SSD),
and all input and output devices connect through the ports on the motherboard.

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St Catherine’s Senior School
The CPU is the brain of a computer, containing all
the circuitry needed to process input, store data,
and output results. The CPU is constantly following
instructions of computer programs that tell it which
data to process and how to process it. Without a
CPU, we could not run programs on a computer.

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If a computer's CPU (Central Processing Unit) becomes corrupted, it can lead to various issues ranging from
mild glitches to complete system failure. Here are some potential consequences:
1. System Instability: A corrupted CPU can cause system instability, leading to frequent crashes, freezes,
or unexpected shutdowns. This instability can make it difficult or impossible to use the computer
reliably.
2. Performance Degradation: A corrupted CPU may result in reduced performance. Programs may run
slowly or sluggishly, and tasks that normally execute quickly may take significantly longer to complete.
3. Data Loss: In severe cases, a corrupted CPU can cause data loss. If the CPU malfunctions while data is
being processed or written to storage, it could result in data corruption or loss.
4. Hardware Damage: In rare cases, a corrupted CPU might cause damage to other components in the
computer. For example, if the CPU overheats due to corruption, it could potentially damage the
motherboard or other nearby components.
5. Inability to Boot: If the corruption affects the CPU's ability to execute essential functions, it could
prevent the computer from booting up at all. This would require troubleshooting and potentially
replacing the CPU to resolve the issue.
6. Diagnostic Challenges: Identifying a corrupted CPU as the cause of a computer problem can be
challenging. Other hardware or software issues can produce similar symptoms, so diagnosing a CPU
corruption may require thorough testing and troubleshooting.

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 RAM (Random Access Memory)

Primary memory or RAM stores data currently being processed by the CPU. A RAM DIMM (Dual
In-line Memory Module), or a RAM board, comprises memory chips that can be accessed very
quickly. RAM is volatile memory; it only keeps data while the chip has electricity. When you shut
the computer down, it erases everything.

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If a computer's RAM (Random Access Memory) becomes corrupted, it can lead to a range of issues affecting the system's
stability, performance, and data integrity. Here are some potential consequences of corrupted RAM:
1. System Crashes and Instability: Corrupted RAM can cause frequent system crashes, freezes, or unexpected reboots. When
the system tries to access data stored in the corrupted RAM, it may encounter errors that lead to instability.
2. Application Errors: Programs running on a system with corrupted RAM may experience errors or crashes. This can
manifest as software freezing, becoming unresponsive, or displaying error messages related to memory access violations.
3. Data Corruption: Corrupted RAM can lead to data corruption, affecting files, documents, and other data stored in
memory. When data is written to or read from corrupted RAM, it may become garbled or incorrect, leading to file
corruption or loss of data integrity.
4. Slow Performance: The presence of corrupted RAM can significantly degrade system performance. As the system
attempts to work around memory errors, it may slow down processing speed and responsiveness. Tasks that require
accessing memory may take much longer to complete.
5. Blue Screen of Death (BSOD): In some cases, corrupted RAM can trigger a Blue Screen of Death error on Windows
systems or a kernel panic on Unix-like systems. These critical system errors occur when the operating system encounters
a problem that it cannot recover from, often due to memory-related issues.
6. Difficulty in Diagnosis: Identifying corrupted RAM as the source of system problems can be challenging, as the symptoms
can overlap with other hardware or software issues. Diagnosing RAM corruption typically requires running memory tests
or swapping out RAM modules to isolate the problem.
7. Potential Hardware Damage: In extreme cases, corrupted RAM can cause damage to other components of the computer,
such as the CPU or motherboard. If corrupted data is sent to critical components, it could lead to electrical damage or
system instability.

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 Graphics Card
• The graphics card is inserted into a slot on the motherboard and has
its processor, the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU).
• The GPU translates the information the computer is working on into
images and sends the images to the monitor.
• The GPU uses Video RAM (VRAM) to assist the graphics card with
processing images.
• The graphics card helps the CPU by offloading the task of processing
images and videos, which increases the speed that images can be
displayed, creating a better visual experience. Built-in fans cool the
graphics cards, which generate a lot of heat.
• The motherboard has an integrated graphics card or onboard GPU,
which is built in. The integrated graphics card does not have RAM
and uses the computer’s RAM to sore information it needs to
process.
• Integrated graphics cards are cheaper and are ideal for running
applications such as email, general word processing, and
spreadsheets.

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