Computer Components Presentation

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is a very important part of the computer, it is like the brain as it coordinates and sorts out all of the activities that go on within a computer. Another way of putting this is by saying this is that the CPU processes and sorts out the data and instructions given to it by other components.A CPUs’ size is measured in bits, the larger the amount of bits the more data can be managed at the same time. The most common CPU bit speeds are 8, 16, 32 and 64-bit processors 64-bit processors being the fastest. The CPU fits in a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket in the motherboard, which is found beneath the Heatsink.

CPUCentral processing unit

Is the Placed in a

Found in the

CPU Motherboard ZIF SOCKETBrian

RAMRAM (Random Access Memory) is a very good component as it makes the computer save files faster and improves the speed/ performance of the computer. The larger RAM is the more files can be opened at the same time meaning the speed of the computer increases. RAM is known to have volatile memory which means that after the computer is shut down all the memory sent there is lost.

ROMROM (Read Only Memory) is also found on the motherboard. ROM contains instructions that can only be accessed by the CPU these include instructions for booting the computer (Starting up the computer). Unlike the RAM form of memory the contents of the ROM cannot be erased. EPROM/EEPROM are more advanced forms of ROM and will be explained on the next page.

Flash Drive/memoryThese are removable storage device, flash drives use non-volatile memory solid-state drives which don’t need power to keep the memory that is stored.

Memory types

RAMROM

Flash memoryFlash Drive

EPROMThis stands for Erasable-Programmable-Read-Only-Memory, this is a very interesting form of technology where when

the EPROM chip is created, information is written onto it but to erase it UV light would need to be exposed to it.

EEPROMThis then stands for Electrically-Erasable-Programmable-Read-Only-Memory, information which is written to EEPROM

can be erased and re-written without having to remove the chip from the computer.

MemoryROM (extended)

EPROM

EEPROM

Audio CardThe sound card (Audio card) is what is known as an expansion card as it is added to a computer to enable it to do

certain things. It is obvious what the sound card does as it enables the computer to play audio files aloud from your computer. This means that you can listen to your music through headphones, speakers or any audio output device.

Video CardVideo cards allow the graphic capability of a Computer

Network Interface Card (NIC) The network interface card allows the computer to connect to the internet whether it is wirelessly or by a wired

connection.

Adapter Cards

Audio

C

ard

Video Card

NIC

Adapter CardsExtended

PCIPeripheral-Component -Interconnect can either be a 32 or 64 bit slot on the motherboard.

PCIePeripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is a serial bus expansion slot and has x1, x4, x8 and x16, PCIe is supposed to replace AGP as an expansion slot for Video Adapters and other types of adapter cards.

PCMCIAStands for Personal-Computer-Memory-Card-International-Association, it’s the association that choose laptop expansion card standards.

PCIe

PCI

There are a few storage devices that can be used to store media and files here are four storage devices: Floppy Drive – to keep it simple the floppy disk drive is a relatively old piece of tech, it uses magnetic floppy disks

which can store a very small 720 KB to twice the amount (1.44 MB an equivalent to 1440 KB), of data. The floppy drive can be used to boot the computer, that is if there is a bootable floppy disk present.

Optical drive –the optical drives use laser in order to read data on the optical drive, there are three main types of optical drive: Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and the more recently acknowledged Blu-ray Disk (BD). CDs’ are only able to store a maximum of 700MB, DVDs’ have a max. of 4.3GB and a dual layer DVD can hold a max of 8.5GB and blu-ray can store the most with about 25GB and a ridiculous size 50GB can be stored on a dual layer disk.

Hard drive - This Is the main place that information is stored on the computer permanently. The storage on a

computer is measured in Billions of bytes (gigabytes- GB) which clearly is a lot, the speed of the Hard Drives is measured in revolutions per minutes RPM (this just pretty much means the total amount of full turns a minute). Hard drives use a reliable technology which is called solid state, meaning that there are no moving parts which means that it is not likely that the hard disk will fail.

Partitioning is when the storage devices a divided into sections where once divided each partition will behave like a separate disk drive. Formatting the process where a file system is prepared in a partition to store files.

Storage Devicesinternal storage devices

Floppy disk drive

Standard optical drive

Traditional Vs. Solid state

External Flash drive – these are USBs pretty much they are normally connected to USB ports. in order to store memory they use the same storage technology as non-volatile memory chips, in the sense that they don’t have any moving parts so no power is needed to keep the memory.

Drive interfaces SATA – the Serial ATA which uses a 7-pin data connector PATA – the Parallel ATA SCSI – a interface that can connect to 15 drives and uses either a 50-pin, 68-pin or 80-pin connector

Storage devicesExternal storage devices & Interfaces

SATA

PAT

A

SCSI

USB

Input & Output Devices

InputInput devices are just things that can be used on a computer which enable you to make a change or control

the computer. These types of devices include; game controllers, keyboards, mice, microphones and computers or tablets that have the touch-screen capability.

OutputOutput devices are devices that display information or give out data from the computer to the user, these

include; printers, monitors, projectors and speakers.

Keyboards and mice commonly used to use the PS/2 connectors but, more recent keyboards and mice use USB connectors.

Games controllers use PATA interfaces. Game controllers, speakers, headphones and microphones would normally connect to Audio cards.

Printers now use USB connectors but used parallel in the past.Projectors and monitors use VGA and HDMI cables.

CPU ZIF Socket

PCI Slots

Adapter card slots

Heatsink