Computer Terminology … Remember: Knowledge is Power!

Computer Terminology …

Remember: Knowledge is Power!

A little about your computer …

Opening System in the Windows Control Panel will tell you a bit about your computer.

CPU - Intel (manufacturer) Pentium (brand) 4 (version of chip) running at 2.80 GHz (speed).

512 megabytes of RAM. Operating System or OS

– Microsoft Windows XP


Case – the box that most people think of when you say the word "computer".

The case contains the motherboard.

The motherboard is where you will find the cpu and RAM.


The cpu governs the speed of your computer. The number that is provided is the “clock frequency” of the chip. The higher the frequency, the more data gets processed.

CPU’s can get hot – really hot! So they often come with a fan or some other type of cooling.


Your computer comes with onboard memory called RAM – Random Access Memory.

When you use a piece of software, the computer loads the data into its RAM first – that way it is accessed much faster.

The more RAM the better, since it is relatively cheap.


Opening “My Computer” will tell you a bit more about your computer and its connections.

My computer has a “C:” drive with 37.2 GB memory.

It has an “A:” drive – a “floppy drive”

It has 2 CD drives It is connected to many

network drives.


Memory / Storage 1 byte 1 Kilobyte or KB = 1000 bytes 1 Megabyte or MB = 1,000,000 bytes 1 Gigabyte or GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes

Floppy - 1.44 MB CD - About 650 MB (600 floppy disks) or one album DVD - Over 4 GB or one movie (or more!) USB Flash Drive

Varies with size / less than 20$!!! Hard Drive

Varies with size


Keyboards, mice, monitors, and other “peripherals” are connected to the case via ports.

Common ports: PS/2 – mouse or keyboard VGA – monitor Parallel – printer Speaker / headset

USB port – used for almost everything these days (except for video)


Output devices Monitors

CRT / LCD

Printers Inkjet / Laser

(look for USB)

Input devices Mouse (use optical) Keyboard Scanner


Operating System (OS) Windows 3.x Windows 95,98,ME Windows XP Mac System 7,8,9,X

Some programs only compatible with certain OS (at a minimum).


Programs Word Processing Presentation Graphics Spreadsheet Office suite (recommend

Appleworks!)

Use MS Office or other programs on your school computer? - legally, you can install a copy at home!

Computer Terminology … Remember: Knowledge is Power!

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