Computer System Computer System Component Component BreakdownBreakdown

A PRESENTATION ON THE A PRESENTATION ON THE COMPONENTS OF COMPONENTS OF

COMPUTERCOMPUTER

COMPUTER CASECOMPUTER CASE

The box all the parts (except monitor, The box all the parts (except monitor, keyboard, mouse, and printer) are keyboard, mouse, and printer) are stored in... unless you have a notebook stored in... unless you have a notebook or laptop computer. In most instances, or laptop computer. In most instances, the case is nothing more than personal the case is nothing more than personal preference. Try to get one large preference. Try to get one large enough to grow with your future enough to grow with your future needs, taking into account your needs, taking into account your workspace. This is like the body - it workspace. This is like the body - it contains, holds, and protects the vital contains, holds, and protects the vital componentscomponents..

MOTHER BOARDMOTHER BOARD The main printed circuit board in the The main printed circuit board in the

computer, which the CPU (see below) computer, which the CPU (see below) plugs into; as do all of the "cards" - plugs into; as do all of the "cards" - sound card being the most common, sound card being the most common, scanner cards, etc.,  the bus,  memory scanner cards, etc.,  the bus,  memory sockets, keyboard controller and sockets, keyboard controller and supporting chips. This is the central supporting chips. This is the central nervous system of your computer. nervous system of your computer. Without it nothing runs... with one too Without it nothing runs... with one too cheap, things run slower or more cheap, things run slower or more sluggishly that they would with a sluggishly that they would with a better one.better one.

CPU CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSOR (CENTRAL PROCESSOR

UNIT)UNIT) This is the actual "brains" of the computer. It does the This is the actual "brains" of the computer. It does the

calculations, the processing of data, the reading (and calculations, the processing of data, the reading (and interpreting) of the computer code and converts it to interpreting) of the computer code and converts it to whatever output we or the program tells it. It turns the whatever output we or the program tells it. It turns the massive 1's and 0's (binary machine language) and massive 1's and 0's (binary machine language) and hexadecimal code into real English (or your preferred hexadecimal code into real English (or your preferred language). It also controls the other components in the language). It also controls the other components in the computer. Keep in mind that it has a ZERO I.Q. - because computer. Keep in mind that it has a ZERO I.Q. - because it can ONLY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS (from the firmware it can ONLY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS (from the firmware (chips built in to the motherboard and certain cards), OS (chips built in to the motherboard and certain cards), OS (operating system), and programs (which you or some (operating system), and programs (which you or some person told the computer to run). Without specific person told the computer to run). Without specific instructions, the CPU is worthless. The CPU is the MOST instructions, the CPU is worthless. The CPU is the MOST vital part of a computer, BUT the speed of the CPU is vital part of a computer, BUT the speed of the CPU is LESS IMPORTANT than many techs would want you to LESS IMPORTANT than many techs would want you to believe... the video, RAM, and bus speeds are actually believe... the video, RAM, and bus speeds are actually MORE IMPORTANT than the speed of the CPU. Again, this MORE IMPORTANT than the speed of the CPU. Again, this is considered the "brain" - with no intelligence, only the is considered the "brain" - with no intelligence, only the ability to follow instructions - like a genius without any ability to follow instructions - like a genius without any social skills. social skills. 

RAM RAM (RANDOM ACCESS (RANDOM ACCESS

MEMORY)MEMORY) Like pieces of scratch paper that Like pieces of scratch paper that

information is temporarily stored on information is temporarily stored on ONLY WHILE you are actually working ONLY WHILE you are actually working on the computer. Programs require RAM on the computer. Programs require RAM to operate, this is where data is stored to operate, this is where data is stored while in use... while being manipulated - while in use... while being manipulated - edited, added to, or subtracted from. edited, added to, or subtracted from. This is the only usable MEMORY. When This is the only usable MEMORY. When you lose power, all of the scratch paper you lose power, all of the scratch paper is thrown away. It is instantaneously is thrown away. It is instantaneously history... therefore, if you didn't save history... therefore, if you didn't save your work to your hard drive, there is a your work to your hard drive, there is a 99% chance it is lost forever!99% chance it is lost forever!

DISK CONTROLLERDISK CONTROLLER This allows your computer to interact with your This allows your computer to interact with your

disk drive storage devices... whether they are disk drive storage devices... whether they are hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, CD-ROMS, or hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, CD-ROMS, or Tape drives a controller is required. Now days, Tape drives a controller is required. Now days, the controller and I/O ports (serial or COM ports, the controller and I/O ports (serial or COM ports, and printer port) is usually built into the and printer port) is usually built into the motherboard, and can be turned off or by-motherboard, and can be turned off or by-passed through the BIOS (which is part of the passed through the BIOS (which is part of the motherboard). Like flood gates on a damn in a motherboard). Like flood gates on a damn in a river, the bus speed of the disk controller river, the bus speed of the disk controller determines how much stuff can get through. If determines how much stuff can get through. If you have a slow controller, then fast drives you have a slow controller, then fast drives won't matter... it would be like having a Porsche won't matter... it would be like having a Porsche that can't drive in anything but 1st gear. that can't drive in anything but 1st gear. Controller speed is measured in two fashions: Controller speed is measured in two fashions: bus speed (from the motherboard), and bus speed (from the motherboard), and megabytes per second (controller/drive speed megabytes per second (controller/drive speed combination).combination).

HDDHDD(HARD DISK DRIVE)(HARD DISK DRIVE)

A STORAGE device, NOT MEMORY! This is like a A STORAGE device, NOT MEMORY! This is like a filing cabinet - no more, no less. Retrieval is filing cabinet - no more, no less. Retrieval is faster, and finding things is usually easier, but it faster, and finding things is usually easier, but it is still just a filing cabinet. Drives give you a is still just a filing cabinet. Drives give you a place to store you data, install programs that place to store you data, install programs that are larger than what would fit on a floppy disk, are larger than what would fit on a floppy disk, and drastically speed up the time spent and drastically speed up the time spent accessing programs. With the huge drives accessing programs. With the huge drives available today, you can think of the hard disk available today, you can think of the hard disk drive as a room full of filing cabinets, which drive as a room full of filing cabinets, which store papers, files and data. Having a fast hard store papers, files and data. Having a fast hard drive is useful ONLY if you have a fast controller. drive is useful ONLY if you have a fast controller. Data can only travel as fast as the combination Data can only travel as fast as the combination of the drive, controller, and motherboard allows. of the drive, controller, and motherboard allows. Drive speed is measured in two places, usually: Drive speed is measured in two places, usually: 1) Megabytes per second, and 2) RPM's (the 1) Megabytes per second, and 2) RPM's (the higher the number the faster - in both cases). higher the number the faster - in both cases). 

FLOPPY DISK DRIVEFLOPPY DISK DRIVE Either 5 1/4" or 3 1/2". An inexpensive way to save, Either 5 1/4" or 3 1/2". An inexpensive way to save,

transport, and backup data and programs which are transport, and backup data and programs which are small. They are quickly being phased out, and will small. They are quickly being phased out, and will eventually be completely replaced by rewritable optical eventually be completely replaced by rewritable optical drives, and larger capacity removable disks. The 3.5" drives, and larger capacity removable disks. The 3.5" high density 1.44 MB floppies are still being used, but high density 1.44 MB floppies are still being used, but CDs are quickly becoming the preferred method of CDs are quickly becoming the preferred method of program and data distribution. Super Disk and Zip program and data distribution. Super Disk and Zip drives are much more popular, and are readily drives are much more popular, and are readily available... although I prefer the Zip, only the Super available... although I prefer the Zip, only the Super Disk drive is capable of reading a normal floppy disk (as Disk drive is capable of reading a normal floppy disk (as well as the 120MB Super Disk). With bootable CD-ROM well as the 120MB Super Disk). With bootable CD-ROM discs and drives, the necessity for having a floppy drive discs and drives, the necessity for having a floppy drive is less important. Short of some small word processing is less important. Short of some small word processing files (with or without small graphics) and a few other files (with or without small graphics) and a few other programs, it is getting increasingly difficult to even fit programs, it is getting increasingly difficult to even fit your data on floppies. I don't use floppies unless I have your data on floppies. I don't use floppies unless I have no other choice... it is zip, jaz, or CD all the way!no other choice... it is zip, jaz, or CD all the way!

VIDEO DISPLAY DRIVERVIDEO DISPLAY DRIVER

Unlike your eyes, it can ONLY OUTPUT Unlike your eyes, it can ONLY OUTPUT the computer information in the form the computer information in the form of a video signal that is human of a video signal that is human readable (via the monitor). It decodes readable (via the monitor). It decodes the computer data and sends it to the the computer data and sends it to the monitor, which makes the monitor monitor, which makes the monitor the most common "output device." the most common "output device." The difference in display adapters can The difference in display adapters can be as big as the difference between a be as big as the difference between a tricycle and a jet airplane. tricycle and a jet airplane. 

MONITORMONITOR The actual display you see the words, The actual display you see the words,

pictures, and data on. There are two main pictures, and data on. There are two main types: analog and digital. Then things get types: analog and digital. Then things get more complicated. "dpi" is Dots Per Inch, more complicated. "dpi" is Dots Per Inch, the smaller the better the resolution. A .28 the smaller the better the resolution. A .28 dpi is generally adequate for 15" dpi is generally adequate for 15" monitors, .26 for 17", and .25 for larger monitors, .26 for 17", and .25 for larger monitors. 15" and 17" monitors are the most monitors. 15" and 17" monitors are the most common, with 19" coming down in price and common, with 19" coming down in price and improving in quality. Even touch screens, improving in quality. Even touch screens, which replace the mouse, the actual video which replace the mouse, the actual video portion is still only an output device. portion is still only an output device. 

INPUT DEVICEINPUT DEVICE

Keyboard, Mouse, Digitizer, Keyboard, Mouse, Digitizer, Scanner, Pen, Digital Camera, Scanner, Pen, Digital Camera, etc. Basically any device that, etc. Basically any device that, once connected to the outside of once connected to the outside of the computer, can directly input the computer, can directly input (add or change) data in the (add or change) data in the computer.computer.

MODEMMODEM

A device which hooks your A device which hooks your computer up to the telephone computer up to the telephone line, allows you to connect to the line, allows you to connect to the Internet, as well as directly to  Internet, as well as directly to  other computers in different other computers in different cities, states, and country's.cities, states, and country's.

PRINTERPRINTER

The most commonly known The most commonly known "Output device" (the monitor is "Output device" (the monitor is not commonly thought of as not commonly thought of as such, but really is). This allows such, but really is). This allows you to print to paper, you to print to paper, transparencies, film, even coffee transparencies, film, even coffee cups and t-shirts (depending on cups and t-shirts (depending on the type of printer you have).the type of printer you have).

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENTSOPTIONAL EQUIPMENTS

Tape Backup Devices, Audio Tape Backup Devices, Audio Adapters, CD-ROM drives, Adapters, CD-ROM drives, removable drives, digital removable drives, digital cameras, etc.cameras, etc.

ENDING UP THE ENDING UP THE PRESENTATIONPRESENTATION

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE WATHING THIS PRESENTATION. I WATHING THIS PRESENTATION. I HOPE YOU LIKED IT.HOPE YOU LIKED IT.