Lesson 1

Understanding the
Computer System
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Different components of a
computer system
Hardware
Software
Peopleware

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Hardware
the
physical,
touchable,
electronic
and
mechanical parts of a computer
system.

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A. Major hardware components

of a computer system
1. System Unit- The main part of a
microcomputer, sometimes called
the chassis.
It includes the following parts:
Motherboard, Microprocessor, Memory
Chips, Buses, Ports, Expansion Slots and
Cards.
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Tower Type System Unit

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2. Motherboard / Mainboard / System

Board- The main circuit board of a computer. It
contains all the circuits and components that
run the computer.

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3. CPU (Central Processing

Unit) - The processor is the
main brain or heart of a
computer system. It performs
all of the instructions and
calculations that are needed
and manages the flow of
information through a
computer.
Examples of CPU (Intel Core
2 Duo and AMD Athlon)

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4. Primary storage- (internal storage,

main memory or memory) is the computer's
working storage space that holds data,
instructions for processing and processed
data (information) waiting to be sent to
secondary storage. Physically, primary
storage is a collection of RAM chips.

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Two (2) Types of

Memory
ROM (Read Only Memory) ROM is
non-volatile, meaning it holds data
even when the power is ON or OFF.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
RAM is volatile, meaning it holds data
only when the power is on. When the
power is off, RAM's contents are lost.

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5. Expansion Bus - A
bus is a data pathway
between several
hardware components
inside or outside a
computer. It does not
only connect the parts
of the CPU to each
other, but also links the
CPU with other
important hardware.
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6. Adapters- Printed-circuit
boards (also called interface cards)
that enable the computer to use a
peripheral device for which it does
not have the necessary
connections or circuit boards. They
are often used to permit upgrading
to a new different hardware.

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7. Power Supply Unit (PSU) Installed in the back corner of the

PC case, next to the motherboard.
It converts 120vac (standard
house power) into DC voltages
that are used by other
components in the PC

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8. Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

- Also known as hard drive,
is a magnetic storage
device that is installed
inside the computer. The
hard drive is used as
permanent storage for
data. In a Windows
computer, the hard drive is
usually configured as the C:
drive and contains the
operating system and
applications.
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9. Optical Drive- An
optical drive is a
storage device that
uses lasers to read
data on the optical
media. There are
three types of optical
drives: Compact Disc
(CD), Digital Versatile
Disc (DVD) and Bluray Disc (BD).
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10. Digital Versatile

Disc (DVD) Designed to optically
access data stored on
a DVD. A laser moves
back and forth near
the disk surface and
accesses data at a
very fast rate.

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B. Input Devices
- Accepts data and
instructions from the user
or from another computer
system.

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Two (2) Types of

Input Devices
1. Keyboard Entry
2. Direct Entry

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1. Keyboard Entry Data is

inputted to the computer through a
keyboard.
Keyboard - The first
input device developed
for the PC. Data is
transferred to the PC
over a short cable with
a circular 6-pin Mini-din
connector that plugs
into the back of the
motherboard.
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2. Direct Entry A form of input

that does not require data to be
keyed by someone sitting at a
keyboard. Direct-entry devices
create machine-readable data on
paper, or magnetic media, or feed it
directly into the computers CPU.

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Three Categories of
Direct Entry Devices
1. Pointing Devices - An input
device used to move the pointer
(cursor) on screen.
Mouse - The most common
'pointing device' used in PCs.
Every mouse has two buttons and
most have one or two scroll
wheels.
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Mouse

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 Touch screen- A
display screen that is
sensitive to the touch of a
finger or stylus. Used in
myriad applications,
including ATM machines,
retail point-of-sale
terminals, car navigation
and industrial controls.
The touch screen became
wildly popular for smart

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 Light Pen - A lightsensitive stylus wired to

a video terminal used to
draw pictures or select
menu options. The user
brings the pen to the
desired point on screen
and presses the pen
button to make contact.

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Digitizer Tablet - A
graphics drawing tablet
used for sketching new
images or tracing old ones.
Also called a "graphics
tablet," the user contacts
the surface of the device
with a wired or wireless pen
or puck. Often mistakenly
called a mouse, the puck is
officially the "tablet cursor."
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2. Scanning Devices- Adevicethat can read

text or illustrations printed on paper and
translates the information into a form the
computer can use.

Image Scanner

Bar Code Reader

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3. Voice- Input Devices Audio input devices also

known as speech or voice
recognition systems that
allow a user to send audio
signals to a computer for
processing, recording, or
carrying out commands.
Audio input devices such as
microphones allow users to
speak to the computer in
order to record a voice
message or navigate software

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c. Output Devices
Output Devices - Any piece
of computer hardware that
displays results after the
computer has processed the
input data that has been
entered.

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1. Computer Display Monitor- It

displays information in visual form, using
text and graphics. The portion of the
monitor that displays the information is
called the screen or video display
terminal.

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Types of Monitor
CRT Monitors - Cathode Ray
Tubes (CRT) were the only
type of displays for use with
desktop PCs. They are
relatively big (14" to 16" deep)
and heavy (over 15 lbs).

LCD Monitors - Liquid Crystal

Display (LCD) technology has
been used in laptops for some
time. It has recently been
made commercially available
as monitors for desktop PCs.

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LED Monitors
(LightEmittingDiod
e) - A display and
lighting technology
used in almost every
electrical and
electronic product on
the market, from a
tiny on/off light to
digital readouts,
flashlights, traffic
lights and perimeter
lighting.

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2. LCD Projectors- utilize two

sheets of polarizing material
with a liquid crystal solution
between them. An electric
current passed through the
liquid causes the crystals to
align so that light cannot pass
through them. Each crystal,
therefore, is like a shutter,
either allowing light to pass
through or blocking the light

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3. Smart Board - A type of display screen that has a touch

sensitive transparent panel covering the screen, which is similar
to a touch screen.

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4. Printer - A device that prints

text or illustrations on paper.
Types of printer
Ink-Jet or Bubble-Jet
Printer - bprays ink at a
sheet of paper. Ink-jet
printers produce highquality text and graphics.
Laser Printer - Uses the
same technology as copy
machines. Laser printers
produce very high quality
text and graphics.
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LCD and LED Printer- Similar to a laser

printer, but uses liquid crystals or lightemitting diodes rather than a laser to
produce an image on the drum.
Line Printer - Contains a chain of
characters or pins that print an entire line
at one time. Line printers are very fast, but
produce low-quality print.
Thermal Printer- An inexpensive printer
that works by pushing heated pins against
heat-sensitive paper. Thermal printers are
widely used in calculators and fax
machines.

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5. Speakers - Used to play sound. They may

be built into the system unit or connected with
cables. Speakers allow you to listen to music
and hear sound effects from your computer.

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D. Ports
D. Ports - External connecting
outside of the computer. This is
and out of the computer. A port
in outside peripherals, such
scanners and printers.

sockets on the
a pathway into
lets users plug
as monitors,

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The Ports and their

function
1. Serial Port - Intended
for serial type mouse and
older camera
2. Parallel Port - Also
called as printer port.
This is only for old model
printer. It has 25 pins. It is
a female port.
3. VGA (Video Graphic
Array) Port - Used to
connect monitors. It has
15 pins and it is a female
port.

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4. USB (Universal Serial

Bus) Port - High speed
serial interface that is used
with almost all devices. It is
used to connect latest model
printers, pen drives, cell
phones etc. it has 4 pins.
5. PS/2 Port - Simple, 6-pin,
low-speed serial connections
commonly dedicated to a
keyboard and mouse.
6. Power Port- Intended for
power cord.

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7. S-Video Port - S-Video

connections are available on
certain source components
and video display devices,
and offer a higher level of
video performance over
composite video signals.
8. Audio Port - Intended for
plugging in the speaker or
headset.
9. LAN (Local Area
Networking) Port - A
physical interface often used
for terminating twisted pair
type cables usedICT-to
connect
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E. Cables and Wires

Cables and Wires- A cable is most
often two or more wires running
side by side and bonded, twisted or
braided together to form a single
assembly, but can also refer to a
heavy strong rope.

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The Cables and

Connectors
These jacks are
intended for the PS/2
port specifically for
PS/2 type of keyboard
and mouse.
This type of jack is
intended for the audio
and microphone port.
S-video jack is obviously
for S-Video port
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This monitor jack is intended

for the VGA (Video Graphic
Array) port
This USB (Universal Serial
Bus) plug is intended for USB
port. Modern or new model of
peripherals
like
printer,
camera, scanners and even
other
portable
computer
attachments used USB type of
plugs.
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This printer cable jack is

intended for the parallel port.
RJ45 ("RJ" in RJ45 stands for
"registered jack," since it is a
standardized networking
interface and the "45" simply
refers to the number of the
interface standard) is a type of
connector commonly used for
Ethernet networking.

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Power cord is the

most important
cord because it
connects the
computer to the
main source of
electricity to make
it functional.

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Software
is the set of instructions (also called a
program) that guides the hardware to
operate effectively. Software can be split
into two main types:
System Software
Application Software

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1. System Software Any software required to support

the production or execution of application programs, but
which is not specific to any particular application.
Common operating systems include Windows, the
Macintosh OS, OS/2 and UNIX.

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2. Application Software Designed to help the

user to perform singular or multiple related tasks.
Examples of application software are as follows:
a. Word processing software - Creates, edits,
saves, and prints documents. Example: MS Word,
WordPerfect, Ami Pro, MacWrite.
b. Spreadsheet software - An electronic
spreadsheet consisting of rows and columns is
used to present and analyze data. Example: MS
Excel, Lotus 123, Quattro Pro.

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c. Database management software Used to structure a database, a large

collection of computer programs. Data is
organized as fields and records for easy
retrieval. Example: MS Access, dBase,
Fox Pro, Oracle.
d. Graphic software - Graphics programs
display results of data manipulation for
easier analysis and presentation.
Example: Macromedia Flash, Harvard
Graphics, 3D Studio Max, Adobe
Photoshop
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People ware
Peopleware - Refers to people involved
in the data processing operations such as
the system administrator, office workers,
students and others.

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