2. CPU
Central processing unit
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
meaning the computers speed is determined by the amount of ‘bits’ can be processed the most spoken about 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.
Found Placed
Is the
in the in a
3. Memory types
RAM
RAM (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.
ROM
ROM (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/memory
these 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.
RAM Flash memory
ROM
Flash Drive
4. Memory
ROM (extended)
EPROM
This 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.
EEPROM
This then stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, information which is then written to EEPROM can be
erased and re-written without having to remove the chip from the computer.
EPROM
EEPROM
5. Adapter Cards
Audio Card
The 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 or speakers
Video Card
Video cards allow the graphic capability of an expansion card.
Network Interface Card (NIC)
The network interface card allows the computer to connect to the internet wireless or wired connection.
Audio Card
Video Card
6. Adapter Cards
Extended
PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect can either be a 32 or 64 bit slot on the motherboard.
PCIe
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is a serial bus expansion slot and has x1, x4, x8 and x16, PCIe is
supposed to be replacing AGP as an expansion slot for Video Adapters and other types of adapter cards.
PCMCIA
Stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, it’s the association that choose laptop expansion card
standards.
Cardbus
7. Storage Devices
internal storage devices
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 uses magnetic floppy disks which can
store a very small 720 KB to twice the amount 1.44 MB of data, an equivalent to 1440 KB. The floppy drive can be used to
boot the computer that’s 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.
Traditional Vs. Solid state
Floppy disk drive
Standard optical
drive
8. Storage devices
External storage devices & Interfaces
External Flash drive – these are just 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
9. Input & Output Devices
Input
Input devices are just things that can be used on a computer which change that enables 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 configuration
Output
Output 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.
