Computer Hardware and Components

• Computers are electronic devices that follow instructions to accept input, process it, and produce information.
• Computers consist of hardware and software.

Hardware

• Hardware includes the physical components of a computer system.
• A monitor is described in inches and displays the output.
• The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is where most of the processing happens.
• Random Access Memory (RAM) provides temporary storage for data and programs.
• A Processor speed is defined in MHz.
• Other hardware components include speakers, mouse, floppy drive, CD ROM, Hard Drive, Keyboard, and Joystick.
• The computer case is also known as the system unit or system cabinet.
• Hardware components are Central Processing Unit (CPU), Input units, Output units, and Memory.

Hardware Components

• Central Processing Unit (CPU) contains the control unit (CU) and the arithmetic logic unit (ALU).
• Memory consists of RAM and ROM.
• Input units feed data into the CPU.
• Output units receive information/knowledge from the CPU.
• Auxiliary Memory is used for additional storage.
• Input devices translate human-understandable data into a form that computers can work with.
• The most common Input devices are the keyboard and mouse.
• Other examples of input devices include: QWERTY keyboard, ATMs keyboard, mouse, scanner, pre-storage devices (Disk, CD's, etc.), optical mark recognition (Light Pin, Bar code scanner), microphone, and joystick.
• Parts of computer input devices include mouse, keyboard, microphone, scanner, and webcam.

Input Types

• Trackballs
• Trackpoints
• Digitizer Tablet
• Joystick
• Trackpad

CPU Internals

• The Central Processing Unit (CPU) consists of a Control Unit (CU), Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU), and some registers.

Primary Memory

• Primary Memory is fast, expensive, short-term memory.
• Primary Memory enables a computer to temporarily store data, programs, and intermediate results.
• The two general parts of Primary Memory are RAM and ROM.
• Computer memory is measured in millions/billions of on/off charges.
• Memory is divided into Bits (0 or 1), Bytes (groups of 8 bits and the smallest unit of storage), and Words (groups of bits/bytes).
• Kilobyte (KB) is 1024 bytes.
• Megabyte (MB) is 1024 x 1024 bytes.
• Gigabyte (GB) is 1024 x 1024 x 1024 bytes.
• Terabyte (TB) is 1024 x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 bytes.

RAM and ROM

• RAM is a primary storage or random access memory (RAM), which temporarily holds data and programs for use during processing and is volatile.
• Any information stored in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off.
• ROM is part of memory, programmed at manufacturing time, and its contents cannot be changed by users.
• ROM is a permanent store.
• Data and programs are stored in RAM during and after processing but stored by the manufacturer in ROM.
• RAM stores information temporarily, while ROM stores instructions permanently.
• Processing time in RAM is very fast but uses a lot of power, whereas ROM is fast but uses very little power.
• RAM is volatile, and ROM is non-volatile.

Secondary Storage

• Secondary Storage stores data and programs permanently and is retained after the power is turned off.
• Examples of secondary storage include Hard Drive (Hard Disk), Floppy Disk, and Optical Laser Discs (CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD).

Output Devices

• Translate the processed information from the CPU into a form that humans can understand.
• Parts include monitor, printer, and speaker/headphone.
• Examples include monitors, printers (dot matrix, ink jet, laser), sound blasters, and controlling other devices,.

Software

• Instructions that tell the computer what to do,.
• Application Software helps end-users perform general purpose tasks.
• System Software enables application software to interact with the computer.
• Application Software includes word processors (Microsoft Word), spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel), database managers (Microsoft Access), and graphics (Photoshop).

Types of Computers

• Microcomputers
• Minicomputers
• Mainframe computers
• Supercomputers
• Microcomputer includes personal computers (PC).
• Microcomputers consist of Laptop, Desktop, and Workstation types.

Characteristics of Computers

• Stores a large amount of data and information for a long period of time.
• Processes data and information with high accuracy.
• High speed in processing data and information.
• Sharing of information/network.
• Data refers to basic facts names and numbers.
• Information refers to data that has been converted into a more useful or intelligible form.
• Knowledge refers to the arrangement of information and classifying information of the same type or the same topic.
• Processing data yields information, and processing information yields knowledge.

Computer Viruses

• A computer virus is an application program designed and written to destroy programs.
• A computer virus has the ability to link itself to other programs.
• A computer virus can copy itself.

Explore computer hardware and its components, including the CPU, memory (RAM and ROM), input units, and output units. Understand the functions of the control unit (CU) and the arithmetic logic unit (ALU). Learn about various hardware devices like monitors, keyboards, and storage drives.