Hardware-The Physical,: Touchable, Electronic and Mechanical Parts of A Computer System
Hardware-The Physical,: Touchable, Electronic and Mechanical Parts of A Computer System
Hardware-The Physical,: Touchable, Electronic and Mechanical Parts of A Computer System
TOUCHABLE, ELECTRONIC
AND MECHANICAL PARTS
OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM.
MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
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.
MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
Motherboard / Mainboard / System Board- The main circuit board of a
computer. It contains all the circuits and components that run the
computer.
MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
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.
MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
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.
MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
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.
MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
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.
MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
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.
MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
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.
MAJOR HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
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
INPUT DEVICES - ACCEPTS DATA
AND INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE
USER OR FROM ANOTHER
COMPUTER SYSTEM.
INPUT DEVICES
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.
INPUT DEVICES
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
computer’s CPU.
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.
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 phones and tablets.
Light Pen - A light-sensitive 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.
Light Pen - A light-sensitive 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.
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."
THREE CATEGORIES OF DIRECT ENTRY DEVICES
2. Scanning Devices- A device that can read text or illustrations printed on
paper and translates the information into a form the computer can use.
THREE CATEGORIES OF DIRECT ENTRY DEVICES
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.
OUTPUT DEVICES - ANY PIECE
OF COMPUTER HARDWARE
THAT DISPLAYS RESULTS AFTER
THE COMPUTER HAS
PROCESSED THE INPUT DATA
THAT HAS BEEN ENTERED.
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.
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 PROJECTOR
Smart Board - A type of display screen that has a touch
sensitive transparent panel covering the screen, which is similar to a
touch screen.
SMART BOARD
4. Printer - A device that prints text or illustrations on paper.
TYPES OF PRINTERS
• Ink-Jet or Bubble-Jet Printer - bprays ink at a sheet of paper.
Ink-jet printers produce high-quality text and graphics.
• Laser Printer - Uses the same technology as copy machines. Laser
printers produce very high quality text and graphics.
• LCD and LED Printer- Similar to a laser printer, but uses liquid
crystals or light-emitting 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.
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.
D. Ports - External connecting sockets on the outside of the
computer. This is a pathway into and out of the computer.
A port lets users plug in outside peripherals, such as
monitors, scanners and printers.
THE PORTS AND THEIR FUNCTION
Type of Port Function Illustration
Any software required to support the production or Designed to help the user to perform singular or
execution of application programs, but which is not multiple related tasks. Examples of application
specific to any particular application. Common software are as follows:
Operating systems include :
a. Word processing software - Creates, edits, saves,
and prints documents. Example: MS Word,
WordPerfect, Ami Pro, MacWrite.
Macintosh OS 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.