This document provides an overview of the key components of a computer system. It describes the computer case, motherboard, CPU, RAM, disk controller, hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, video display driver, monitor, input devices like keyboards and mice, modems, printers, and some optional equipment. The motherboard is described as the central nervous system, while the CPU is called the "brains" that processes instructions to perform calculations. RAM is compared to scratch paper for temporary information storage.

1. Computer System
Component
Breakdown
A PRESENTATION ON THE
COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER

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

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

4. CPU
(CENTRAL PROCESSOR UNIT)
 This is the actual "brains" of the computer. It does the
calculations, the processing of data, the reading (and
interpreting) of the computer code and converts it to
whatever output we or the program tells it. It turns the
massive 1's and 0's (binary machine language) and
hexadecimal code into real English (or your preferred
language). It also controls the other components in the
computer. Keep in mind that it has a ZERO I.Q. -
because it can ONLY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS (from
the firmware (chips built in to the motherboard and
certain cards), OS (operating system), and programs
(which you or some person told the computer to run).
Without specific instructions, the CPU is worthless.
The CPU is the MOST vital part of a computer, BUT the
speed of the CPU is LESS IMPORTANT than many techs
would want you to believe... the video, RAM, and bus
speeds are actually MORE IMPORTANT than the speed

5. RAM
(RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)
 Like pieces of scratch paper that
information is temporarily stored on
ONLY WHILE you are actually
working on the computer. Programs
require RAM to operate, this is where
data is stored while in use... while
being manipulated - edited, added to,
or subtracted from. This is the only
usable MEMORY. When you lose
power, all of the scratch paper is
thrown away. It is instantaneously
history... therefore, if you didn't save

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

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

8. FLOPPY DISK DRIVE
 Either 5 1/4" or 3 1/2". An inexpensive way to save,
transport, and backup data and programs which are
small. They are quickly being phased out, and will
eventually be completely replaced by rewritable optical
drives, and larger capacity removable disks. The 3.5"
high density 1.44 MB floppies are still being used, but
CDs are quickly becoming the preferred method of
program and data distribution. Super Disk and Zip
drives are much more popular, and are readily
available... although I prefer the Zip, only the Super
Disk drive is capable of reading a normal floppy disk (as
well as the 120MB Super Disk). With bootable CD-ROM
discs and drives, the necessity for having a floppy drive
is less important. Short of some small word processing
files (with or without small graphics) and a few other
programs, it is getting increasingly difficult to even fit

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

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

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

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

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

14. OPTIONAL EQUIPMENTS
 Tape Backup Devices, Audio
Adapters, CD-ROM drives, removable
drives, digital cameras, etc.

15. ENDING UP THE
PRESENTATION
 THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE
WATHING THIS PRESENTATION. I HOPE
YOU LIKED IT.