The Components of The Components of a Computer a Computer

and and its Peripheral Devicesits Peripheral Devices

Presented byPresented byNicholas Landreth-SmithNicholas Landreth-Smith

BTT20BTT20

What are the Main Components What are the Main Components of a Computer?of a Computer?

There are 4 main components:There are 4 main components:

MotherboardMotherboard Central Processing Unit (CPU)Central Processing Unit (CPU) MemoryMemory Hard Drive (hard disk storage)Hard Drive (hard disk storage)

MotherboardMotherboard

The motherboard is the foundation of a The motherboard is the foundation of a computer. computer.

Attached to the motherboard are the CPU, Attached to the motherboard are the CPU, memory, hard drive, monitor, mouse, memory, hard drive, monitor, mouse, keyboard, add-on cards, even peripherals keyboard, add-on cards, even peripherals like printers, scanners, and speakers. like printers, scanners, and speakers.

MotherboardMotherboard

MotherboardMotherboard

We can compare the motherboard to the We can compare the motherboard to the nervous system and skeleton of the nervous system and skeleton of the human body -- it provides support for the human body -- it provides support for the internal components and also passes internal components and also passes information between the computer parts. information between the computer parts.

Without it nothing runs...Without it nothing runs...

Central Processing Unit Central Processing Unit (CPU)(CPU)

It does the calculations, the It does the calculations, the processing of data, the reading processing of data, the reading (and interpreting) of the computer (and interpreting) of the computer code and converts it to whatever code and converts it to whatever output we or the program tells it. output we or the program tells it.

It is the place where the computer It is the place where the computer processes data and coordinates tasks processes data and coordinates tasks among different components of the among different components of the computercomputer. .

CPUCPU

The speed of the computer is measured The speed of the computer is measured by the speed of the CPU. Modern CPUs by the speed of the CPU. Modern CPUs are usually rated between 2.0 and 3.0 are usually rated between 2.0 and 3.0 GigaHertz (GHz), which is the number of GigaHertz (GHz), which is the number of calculations the processor can make in 1 calculations the processor can make in 1 second. second.

The higher the number, the faster The higher the number, the faster (better) the computer.  (better) the computer. 

CPU is the “brains" of the computerCPU is the “brains" of the computer

Memory Memory Location where the computer stores data Location where the computer stores data

while it is operating. while it is operating.

Two types of memory:Two types of memory:

• RAMRAM (Random Access Memory) - (Random Access Memory) - Hardware that temporary stores Hardware that temporary stores information. RAM is one of the things information. RAM is one of the things that makes your computer run faster. that makes your computer run faster.

• ROMROM (Read Only Memory) – this refers (Read Only Memory) – this refers to memory chips that store permanent to memory chips that store permanent data and instructions. The data on data and instructions. The data on most ROM chips cannot be changed.most ROM chips cannot be changed.

Memory Memory

Remember, when the computer is shut down, Remember, when the computer is shut down,

all data in the RAM is lost. all data in the RAM is lost.

Always save your work!!!!Always save your work!!!!

Hard Disk DriveHard Disk Drive

The hard drive is the primary device The hard drive is the primary device that a computer uses to store that a computer uses to store information.  information. 

It stores programs, data files, saves It stores programs, data files, saves files, and organizes files.  files, and organizes files. 

The hard drive, magnetically stores The hard drive, magnetically stores data on stacks of rotating disks data on stacks of rotating disks called platters. called platters.

Hard Disk DriveHard Disk Drive

The hard drive, The hard drive, magnetically stores magnetically stores data on stacks of data on stacks of rotating disks called rotating disks called platters. platters.

Data will stay stored Data will stay stored even when the even when the computer shuts down.computer shuts down.

This is the computer’s This is the computer’s filing cabinetfiling cabinet

Peripheral DevicesPeripheral Devices

A peripheral devices is any piece of A peripheral devices is any piece of hardware attached to a computer. A few hardware attached to a computer. A few examples of peripheral devices are: examples of peripheral devices are:

• MonitorMonitor• KeyboardKeyboard• MouseMouse• ScannerScanner• USB Flash Drive USB Flash Drive • Digital cameraDigital camera

ScannerScanner

A device that can A device that can read text or read text or illustrations printed illustrations printed on paper and on paper and translate the translate the information into a information into a form the computer form the computer can use. A scanner can use. A scanner works by digitizing works by digitizing an image. an image.

ScannerScanner

There are different types of scanners:There are different types of scanners:• Flatbed (most common)Flatbed (most common)• SheetfeederSheetfeeder• Handheld (not much use today)Handheld (not much use today)• Card scanners (not very useful, only Card scanners (not very useful, only

used to read business cards)used to read business cards)

USB Flash DriveUSB Flash Drive

USB Flash Drive can be used to copy and USB Flash Drive can be used to copy and store data from computer hard drives. store data from computer hard drives.

They were developed as an They were developed as an alternative to the floppy disk (3.5 alternative to the floppy disk (3.5 diskette) that was common before.diskette) that was common before.

Today, the USB Flash Drive is a Today, the USB Flash Drive is a preferred method of both permanent preferred method of both permanent and temporary data storage.and temporary data storage.

Digital CameraDigital Camera Stores images digitally rather Stores images digitally rather

than recording them on film. than recording them on film. It is downloaded to a computer It is downloaded to a computer

systemsystem Digital photos are limited by Digital photos are limited by

amount of memory in the amount of memory in the camera, the optical resolution camera, the optical resolution of the digitizing mechanism, of the digitizing mechanism, and by the resolution of the and by the resolution of the final output device (printer, final output device (printer, monitor, etc.).monitor, etc.).

Advantage of making photos Advantage of making photos inexpensive and fast because inexpensive and fast because there is no film processing.there is no film processing.

INTERDEPENDENCEINTERDEPENDENCE

All the components of a computer are All the components of a computer are interdependent to each other. Each interdependent to each other. Each component is dependent on another, component is dependent on another, they cannot function as a single they cannot function as a single component. component.

Every component must be connected to Every component must be connected to the motherboard which supports all the the motherboard which supports all the components and passes information components and passes information from one component to the other. from one component to the other.

ReferencesReferences

Components of Any Computer. A1-Computers. 30 Oct. 2008 <Components of Any Computer. A1-Computers. 30 Oct. 2008 <http://www.a1computers.net/components_of_anycomputer.http://www.a1computers.net/components_of_anycomputer.htmlhtml>>

"interdependent." "interdependent." Merriam-Webster Online DictionaryMerriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. . 2008. Merriam-Webster Online. 1 October 2008 <Merriam-Webster Online. 1 October 2008 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interdependenhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interdependentt>>

T.E. Mercer & PBG. T.E. Mercer & PBG. Computer System Components. Computer System Components. 31 March 2006. 01 Oct. 2008 <31 March 2006. 01 Oct. 2008 <http://www.helpus.com/text/components/compbrk.htmhttp://www.helpus.com/text/components/compbrk.htm>>

Web Course Modules. The university of Southern Mississippi, Web Course Modules. The university of Southern Mississippi, Dept of Technology Education. 01 Oct. 2008 <Dept of Technology Education. 01 Oct. 2008 <http://dragon.ep.usm.edu/~it365/module/Basics/storage.hthttp://dragon.ep.usm.edu/~it365/module/Basics/storage.htmm>>

Thank you very much Thank you very much for your attentionfor your attention