In fact, many people erroneously look at a computer and call it a CAP] or a hard drive, when in fact these are just two parts of a computer. When these individual components are connected together they create a complete and working device with an all encompassing name of computer. As a computer user it is important that you have a basic understanding of the core components that make up your computer. This knowledge will prove invaluable it you decide to upgrade your computer or if a piece of hardware breaks and you need to purchase a replacement.
The purpose to this is to discuss the basic pieces in every imputer and their function. HISTORY OVA COMPUTER The computer as we know it today had its beginning with a 19th century English mathematics professor name Charles Babbage He designed the Analytical Engine and it was this design that the basic framework of the computers of today are based on. Generally speaking, computers can be classified into three generations. Each generation lasted for a certain period of time,and each gave us either a new and improved computer or an improvement to the existing computer.
First generation: 1937 – 1946 – In 1937 the first electronic digital computer was built by Dry. John V. Donations and Clifford Berry. It was called the Donations-Berry Computer (BBC). In 1943 an electronic computer name the Colossus was built for the military. Other developments continued until in 1946 the first general- purpose digital computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (MANIAC) was built. It is said that this computer weighed 30 tons, and had 18,000 vacuum tubes which was used for processing.
When this computer was turned on for the first time lights dim in sections of Philadelphia. Computers of this generation could only perform single task. And they had no operating system. Second generation: 1947 – 1962 – This generation of computers used transistors instead vacuum tubes which were more reliable, In 1951 the first computer for commercial use was introduced to the public: the universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC l), In 1953 the International Business Machine (MOM) 650 and 700 series computers made their mark in the computer world.
During this generation of computers over 100 computer programming languages were developed, computers had memory and operating systems. Storage media such as tape and disk were in use also were printers for output. Third generation: 963 – present – The invention of integrated circuit brought us the third generation Of computers. With this invention computers became smaller, more powerful more reliable and they are able to run many different programs at the same time. Nailing Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-Dos) was born and in 1981 IBM introduced the personal computer (EPIC for home and office use.
Three years later Apple gave us the Macintosh computer With its icon driven interface and the ass gave us Windows operating system. As a result of the various improvements to the development of the computer we have seen the computer Ewing used in all areas of life. It is a very useful tool that will continue to experience new development as time passes. The Outside of your Computer When you look at your computer what you are seeing is actually the computer case. Inside the case are all of the individual components that when connected together create your computer.
On the outside of the case you will see various external ports that you can plug devices into as well as the ability to access your optical devices such as your CD and DVD drives, Front of a Dell Inspiring Desktop Back of a Dell Inspiring Desktop On the front f the computer you will commonly find a CD or DVD drive that can be opened by pressing a small button near the door of the drive. This will eject the drive tray where you can place a CD or DVD When you press the button again, the tray will slide back into your computer so that you can access it from within your operating system.
On the front of the case, you will also typically find LIST ports and media readers. A LIST port is a small opening on the front of your computer that allows you to plug a JIBS device or cable into it. You can usually determine if a port on your computer is LIST as it will have the logo next to it. Common devices that you would plug into USB ports are pod and pad* flash drives, and external hard drives. The other common ports that you can find are for camera memory media. These media readers allow you to remove the memory card from your camera and insert it into the computer so you can access the images stored on it.
On the back Of the case are connectors that are typically only used when you assemble your computer for the first time. These connectors allow you to connect external devices such as your printer, monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers. The back connections will also include an Ethernet port that will allow oh to connect your computer to your network. Last, but not least, there will also be more USB ports available in the event that you need more USB connections than are available on the front of your computer.
The Inside tryout Computer Now that you know how to connect your various external components to your computer case, let’s take a look at the inside of a computer as this is where the magic really happens. To open your case, you will need to typically unscrew a side panel or press a button on the bottom of the computer to open the computer like a clamshell Once you can see inside a computer, you will see arioso individual components connected via cables or plugged directly into a large board attached to the side of the case.
This board is the motherboard and is used to connect all the individual devices inside your case into a single computer. These individual devices and the motherboard they plug into can be seen in the image below. As you can see from the image above, there are various components all connected to each Other. Every device must be connected to the power supply unit , which provides electricity to various components. The add-on cards, each performing their own function, are inserted to the motherboard so that they can ammunition with it.
When all of these components are properly connected to each other, they can then communicate with each other and the computer will operate properly, In the next section we will discuss each individual component and what function they serve. The individual parts of your computer As already stated, a computer is nothing more than various individual hardware components connected to each through cables and the motherboard. These devices are then given electricity by the power supply unit 50 that they can function.
In this section we will discuss the individual components and the unction that each performs, * Computer Case The computer case, also called a chassis, houses and protects other core parts of the computer Computer cases come in different sizes and shapes in order to accommodate the various environments that they will be stored in. These shapes * Tower – A tower case is vertical and usually sits on the floor. A tower case comes in a mini, mid, and full size, with the larger sizes being able to hold more components. Desktop – A horizontal case that is designed to rest on a shelf or sit on your desk with the monitor on top of it. * Rockbound- Rockbound cases re horizontal and are typically used for servers. These servers will then mount in a rack so that there are stacks of computers in one computer rack. Gull Tower case Rockbound Case Computer cases also need to support the largest component that resides inside it, which is typically the motherboard. The motherboard can come in many different shapes and sizes, called form factors, and the specifications on a computer case will state which form factors can fit inside it.
Virtually all modern cases have: Power switch * Indicator lights such as disk activity or network activity, * Back panel that notation holes to expose external ports. Metal framework to house the US and hard disk}optical drives * Mounting points to secure the motherboard k Vented panels to allow airflow through the case Depending on the model, some cases have other features as well such as headphone jacks or USB ports. K Motherboard The motherboard, or mob for short, is perhaps the most critical piece of the computer.
It is a relatively large, rectangular board filled with various circuits, chips , and slots that you plug things into The motherboard serves two functions. First, the motherboard is home to a number of chips that dictate owe the various components Of the computer Will talk to each Other _ It also has special slots that allow you to plug expansion cards in that add new or improved functionality to your computer. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, the motherboard is the connecting point for all of the other pieces of the computer.
Without the motherboard, the different parts cannot communicate with each other, and the computer cannot function. Computer Motherboard Motherboards come in a variety of sizes, or form factors, such as ATX or micro ATX Generally speaking, the larger the form factor the more devices can be attached to it. Motherboards connect with the other devices in your computer using a set of special slots and connectors called ports that are located on the top and back edge to the motherboard. The ports on the back edge tooth motherboard protrude out of the back panel of the computer case and allow you to connect external devices to the computer.
Virtually all modern motherboards have one or more JIBS ports and an Ethernet port mounted externally to allow connection to the internet and external devices. Additionally, all modern motherboards contain at least one DID or SAT port to allow the connection of a hard drive. Central Processing Unit(CHIP) The central processing unit, or CHIP, is at the core of every computer _ Functioning as the “brain” of the computer, the CPU performs basic mathematical and logical functions as instructed by a computer program.
The CPU is located on the motherboard and is connected to it through a special port called the CHIP socket. When the CPU is in use it generates heats, Which must be transferred away from CPU chip so that it is not damaged. This is accomplished through the use of a heat-sink and fan Which draws the heat out Of the CPU chip and transfers it into the case instead. Computers CPU A CPU has a maximum speed at which it can safely process instructions. This speed is called the clock rate and is measured in hertz (Haze). Some Cups will allow a user to raise the clock rate beyond the speed at which the CPU is safely rated.
This is called overcooking, and can provide increased computer performance at the cost of potential system instability or damage. Due to the complexity of overcooking and the potentially destructive side effects it Gang cause, overcooking is a technique not recommended for average or professional computer users. A relatively recent development in the field of Cups is the multi-core processor, Having many processing cores in the CPU effectively multiplies its potential by allowing the CPA to simultaneously process as many instructions as it has cores.
However, the SO must be designed to make use of multiple cores for this ability to take effect, The CHIP of a modern PC will likely have anywhere from two to eight cores k Power Supply unit All parts Of a computer require electricity in order to operate. The part Of the computer that provides this electricity is called the power supply unit, or ISIS. The SLIPS receives electricity from an external source, Which is usually a wall outlet, and changes it into power that the other parts of the computer can use. Power Supply A US is necessary for two reasons. First, computers require direct current, or DC, power.
However, electricity is supplied by power companies in alternating current, or AC, form. The US takes the AC electricity and converts it into a DC form so that the computer can use it. The second reason is that computer components use electrical power of relatively low voltage, while the electricity that comes out of a wall socket is of a significantly higher voltage, The US converts the higher voltage energy into a low voltage tort that the computer an properly use, power supplies are classified by the maximum amount of watts, such as 500 or 650 watts, which can be supplied to your computer system.
The amount of electricity that is required to power a computer depends on what components the computer is using. For example, it you are using a high- end processor and a high-end video card your power you may need a more powerful ISIS to support these power hungry devices. Therefore, when buying new components for a computer you should always look at the specifications for these devices to determine how much power they need and whether or not your ISIS can support it. Hard Disk Drive The hard disk drive, or HAD, is the primary source of secondary storage in modern computers.
Secondary storage is any device where information is stored when it is not needed for immediate use. An HAD uses magnetism to record information on a rotating disk Of magnetic material. It uses a movable arm containing a device called a drive head to read from and write to different portions Of the disk.. Since the disk remains magnetized even after power is removed, information is not lost when you turn off the computer. One downside Of Heads is that they are very slow compared to Other devices in the computer.
This is because the drive must position the arm and disk in the correct position in order to retrieve a particular piece of information. Hard Disk Drive Modern Heads have three major variables. The first is the drive capacity. This is how much information the drive can hold. Drive capacity is measured in either gigabytes (KGB) or terabytes (TAB). One terabyte is equal to one thousand gigabytes. The second variable is the rotation speed. This is how quickly the disk inside the HAD can rotate, and is measured in rotations per minute (RPM).
The taster the disk spins, the more quickly information can be retrieved trot it. The final variable is the type of interface the HAD uses. The interface is the part of the HAD that connects to the motherboard and is how the HAD sends and receives information. Most modern Heads use SAT or ASS interfaces, although Heads using DID interfaces are still somewhat common. It is important to know which interfaces your motherboard supports when purchasing a new HAD. A recent addition to the personal computer market is a technology called a solid state drive, or SD.
While not technically an HAD, Sad’s fill the same functions. The difference between Heads and Sods is that while an HAD uses a spinning sis to store data, an SD uses special microchips. Due to this, Sad’s are less susceptible to physical shocks such as impacts and falls compared to a HAD. Additionally, Sods run silently and can access data more quickly. However, Sods have a higher cost per gigabyte than their HAD cousins do. * Optical Disk Drives An optical disk drive is a component that uses a laser to read from or write to an optical disk.
Examples of optical disks include CDC, DVD’s, and all. Rays. An optical disk drive writes to a disk by using a laser to etch tiny grooves into the surface of the disk. The disk is read by using a different, low-power laser o detect those grooves. Modern optical disk drives usually have reading and writing (burning) capability. Additionally, most optical drives are backwards compatible, which means that a new technology can read the media from an older technology. For example, a Blue-Ray drive can also play DVD’s and CDC.
Optical Drive Optical disk drive speed is measured differently than HAD speed, While HAD speed is measured in the number of Rims, optical drive speed is measured by the maximum rate at which data can be read from the disk. Poor each technology (CD, DVD, Blue-Ray) there is an industry-wide standard data rate that serves as a encroach by which drive speeds are measured, The speed listed is put in terms of multiples of that base speed. For example, the base speed for Blue-Ray technology is 6. 74 megabytes per second. Therefore, a drive rated at Sax can read data at a maximum rate of 52 x 6. 4 = 350. 48 megabytes per second. * Cooling Devices As computer runs, it generates a lot of heat. One or more cooling devices are part Of any modern computer in order to keep the machine from overheating. The bono types of cooling devices that are in almost every modern computer are heat sinks and cooling fans. Heat sinks are small metal Structures that conduct eat well. They function by absorbing the heat produced by a component and efficiently releasing it into the air, or a liquid in certain special situations, similarly to how the radiator in your car works.
Cooling fans work by removing warm air from components or heat sinks and pulling in cool air to replace it. Fans are available in a variety of sizes that determine how much air they can move within your case. When adding a fan, it is important to ensure that you purchase a fan that is compatible with your motherboard, since different fans have different kinds to power connectors. CPU Heat Sink and Fan Some extremely high-end PC’s have liquid cooling systems which use tubes of flowing water or coolant instead of or in addition to cooling fans.
These systems are more effective, quieter, and more efficient than air cooling systems. However, they are complex, expensive, and carry the danger of a coolant leak which can damage the system. Poor a typical EPIC air cooling systems are sufficiently effective. K Memory Random Access Memory, or RAM, is the part Of the computer where information is stored while it is being used by the computer’s processor, operating system, programs, and Other devices on your computer. RAM is designed so that any of the information stored on it can be read in any order without losing performance.
This makes RAM faster and more efficient to store data compared to slower devices such as an HAD or CD-ROOM. Computer Memory When you are using your computer it copies information that it is currently using, such as parts of the operating system or currently running programs, into RAM so that it can work faster. The more RAM that the computer has, the less often it needs to get information off of the much slower HAD, To use a comparison, think of your HAD as well. The intonation on the HAD is the water in the well, ND the RAM is a bucket.
The bigger your bucket, the fewer trips you have to make to the well to get the water you need One characteristic to RAM is that it is volatile. This means that when you turn off the computer, any information in the RAM is erased. To protect against loss of information, an operating system will copy any data that it needs to the HAD so that it is available the next time you start the computer. RAM comes in different speeds and types. When you upgrade your computer’s memory, it is important that you ensure that you choose a speed and type of RAM that is compatible with a computer’s dartboard.
A great tool for finding out what kind of memory your computer uses is Crucial Memory Advisory. * Expansion Cards An expansion card is a device that is inserted into special slots on the motherboard and provides the computer with additional functions, resources, or features. There are a number Of different kinds of expansion cards available; two of the most common being video cards, which provide increased graphics processing ability, and sound cards, Which enhance the audio ability Of the computer.
Some expansion cards such as video cards also include their own receptors, memory, and even cooling devices such as fans or heat sinks. When purchasing expansion cards there are a number of important factors to consider. First and foremost is the type of connection that the expansion card requires. There are a number of different standards for expansion slots, and motherboards have only a limited number of each kind of slot. Before purchasing you need to ensure that your motherboard has the required slots available for use. Another important factor is the size tooth expansion card.
The card needs to be able to fit inside your computer case, and should not make intact with any other parts of the computer except for the motherboard. Finally, you should ensure that your US can output enough power to support all your connected expansion cards. If the US cannot supply the computer with enough electricity then one or more of your devices will fail to function. Two common types of expansion cards are sound and video graphic cards k Sound Cards Sound cards are a kind of expansion card which deals with audio input and output.
Sound cards generally fill two functions. First, sound cards enhance the sound processing capability of the computer, allowing for the creation and output of more complex sounds. Secondly, sound cards often possess input and output ports that allow for Other audio devices such as microphones or speakers to be connected to it. Sound Card * Video Cards A video card is a type of expansion card which increases the computer’s ability to handle different kinds of visual output. Video cards have two main functions.
First, while nearly all modern motherboards have some basic graphics capabilities built in, a video card can handle graphics issues much more effectively than the graphic chips built into the motherboard. As a result, a video rd allows for the creation and display to more complex and detailed images without putting an additional strain on the CAP’, Additionally, since many video cards have their own memory, this leaves more tooth general computer memory available for other purposes.
Second, many video cards add additional functions to the computer such as video capture, a TV-tuner which allows you to watch TV on your computer, or the ability to connect multiple monitors to the computer, Video Graphics Card * External ports As mentioned above in the motherboard section, a number of connectors on he motherboard are accessible from the back panel of the computer case. These connections are called external ports because they can be accessed from outside the computer case.
There are a number Of different kinds Of connections available that include: *VGA or DVD Connector- These ports are used for connecting a monitor or Other display device to your computer. * Ethernet Port – This port allows you to connect your computer to a N.B.,fork or the Internet. * HID – Allows you to connect your computer a High Definition display or TV. * seats – These ports allow you to connect an external SAT hard drive to LIST Port . A common connector for external devices. More your computer. Information about LIST ports can be found below.
External Ports on the back of a computer Virtually every modern PC also includes one or more CIFS, or Universal Serial Bus, ports. There are two primary kinds of USB ports in use right now: USB 2. 0 and LIST 3. 0. LIST 3. 0 ports can move data much more quickly than LIST 2. 0 ports. However, the connected device must he designed to take advantage of USB technology in order to use the increased speed. LIST ports and devices are both backwards and forwards compatible. This means that you can plug any standard LIST device into any standard LIST port, and the device will function.
