ELN230 – Bazlur slide 1

ELN230 Lecture – 02c

PC Components

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Functional Units of a Computer

CPU

Memory

Storage

OutputInput

System Unit

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Major Hardware Elements

A computer system consists of four major hardware elements:– The system unit (includes CPU and Memory);– Input devices; – Output devices; – Peripheral storage.

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Major Hardware Elements

System Unit

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System Components

• The Motherboard

• Processor

• RAM

• Video Card

• Sound Card

• Modem (or Network Card)

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The Motherboard

• Processor Socket

• Chipset

• Level 2 cache (on some models)

• Memory Sockets

• ROM BIOS

• Bus Slots

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Processor

• CPU “Central Processing Unit”

• The “Engine” of the Computer

• Reads Instructions (commands) from memory then executes them

• One of the most expensive, yet smallest components

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Memory

• RAM (Random Access Memory)– Requires power to maintain storage– SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module)– DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)

• ROM (Read Only Memory)– Doesn’t require power to maintain storage

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Case and Power Supply

• The shell of your computer

• Protects and directs air flow

• Different “Form Factors”

• Power Supply converts AC into low voltage DC

• Important yet often over looked

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Disk Drives (Storage)

• Hard Disk (Fixed Disk) - primary storage area for computer. Analogous to a filing cabinet

• Floppy Disk- used for storing and exchanging small files

• CD-ROM Drives- Holds greater amounts of data and are faster than floppies, yet slower than hard disks

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Disk Drives

• CD-RW Drives - Can read and write CD-R and CD-RW media for high-capacity, durable storage

• LS-120 SuperDisk, Zip Drives - Replacing the standard floppy for high-capacity removable storage for work in progress

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Keyboard and Mouse (Input)

• Many kinds of keyboards

• Only input device available prior to the invention of the GUI (graphical user interface)

• After the GUI, mice followed

• “Point and Click”

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Video Card (Interface)

• Chipset

• Video Ram

• DAC (Digital to Analog Converter)

• BIOS

• Popular upgrade component, especially for gaming

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Sound Card (Interface)

• Also popular upgrade components

• Popular for home recording

• includes Game Port

• Many high quality home PC speaker systems. Can rival home stereos.

• Often used to create and play MP3 audio files

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Monitor (Output)

• Similar to a high quality television

• Video card send its memory contents to monitor

• Now available in both CRT and active-matrix LCD versions