Introduction to Computer Hardware
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Questions and Answers

What does computer hardware refer to?

  • The physical components that make up a computer system (correct)
  • The operating system managing computer tasks
  • The network protocols used for data transfer
  • The software applications that run on computers

Which of the following is an example of internal hardware?

  • Motherboard (correct)
  • Printer
  • Keyboard
  • Monitor

What is considered an input unit in a computer system?

  • Monitor
  • Speaker
  • Printer
  • Keyboard (correct)

What step does the processing unit perform in the information processing cycle?

<p>Transform data into usable information (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which device is NOT classified as external hardware?

<p>Network card (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary benefits of using a mouse?

<p>It allows for quicker control of the cursor than a keyboard (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a step in the information processing cycle?

<p>Export (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of unit is responsible for storing data?

<p>Storage unit (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) within the CPU?

<p>Performing mathematical and logical operations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the CPU temporarily holds data while an instruction is being executed?

<p>Registers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What measurement unit is used to express CPU speed?

<p>Hz (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory loses its content when the computer is turned off?

<p>Random Access Memory (RAM) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Read Only Memory (ROM)?

<p>Holds data required for the computer startup (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of Cache Memory in a CPU?

<p>To hold frequently accessed data and instructions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component directs operations within the CPU and manages responses to instructions?

<p>Control Unit (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these memory types is volatile and loses its data when power is turned off?

<p>Random Access Memory (RAM) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the resolution of a monitor refer to?

<p>The number of pixels displayed horizontally and vertically (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of printer is known for its high speed and high-quality output?

<p>Laser Printer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a local storage device?

<p>Solid-State Drive (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What function do speakers serve as an output device?

<p>Produce sound (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of printer is primarily used by architects to print maps and building plots?

<p>Plotter (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is computer storage commonly measured?

<p>Bytes, Kilobytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic defines local storage devices?

<p>They are directly attached to the device. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which output device is capable of reproducing images and videos onto a surface?

<p>Projector (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a joystick?

<p>To control characters or machines in computer programs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which device is specifically designed for drawing or sketching digitally?

<p>Graphic Tablet (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a scanner work?

<p>By turning documents or images into digital form (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of storage device has no moving parts?

<p>Solid-state drive (SSD) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which storage media typically has the largest capacity?

<p>Blu-ray disc (BD) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding a trackball?

<p>It controls the cursor by moving a ball with fingers. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of storage device is less expensive on average?

<p>Hard disk drive (HDD) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What purpose does a barcode reader serve?

<p>To read bar-coded data for product identification (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of a digital camera?

<p>To capture images in digital form and record video (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinctive feature of cloud storage?

<p>It stores data remotely and is accessible over the Internet. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which input device is designed primarily for real-time video communication?

<p>Web Cam (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What component of a computer is primarily responsible for communication between hardware?

<p>Motherboard (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How much free storage does Google Drive offer to its users?

<p>15 GB (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of device is a microphone categorized as?

<p>An input device for audio (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which feature does not apply to solid-state drives (SSD)?

<p>Has moving parts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum capacity of a compact disc (CD)?

<p>650 to 700 MB (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is computer hardware?

Physical parts that make up a computer system.

Internal Hardware

Found inside a computer, like the CPU, RAM, and hard drive.

External hardware

Found outside a computer, like a keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

Input Units

Hardware that sends data to a computer.

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What is a keyboard?

Most common input device for typing letters, numbers, and symbols.

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What is a mouse?

A pointing device that controls the cursor on the screen.

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Information processing cycle

A cycle that involves inputting, processing, outputting, and storing information.

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Output units

Hardware that lets you see, hear, or feel the output from a computer.

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What is a monitor?

An output device that displays video, images, and text. It comes in various sizes and resolutions, measured by its diagonal length in inches and the number of pixels it can display.

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What is resolution?

The number of pixels a monitor can display horizontally and vertically.

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What is a printer?

A device that converts digital data into printed copies.

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What is a Laser Printer?

A high-speed printer that uses a laser beam to transfer toner to paper.

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What is an Inkjet Printer?

A printer that uses ink jets to spray ink onto paper.

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What are Speakers?

A device that outputs sound by converting electrical signals into sound waves.

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What is a projector?

A device that projects images and videos onto a screen or surface.

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What is a storage device?

Any hardware used for storing data permanently or temporarily. Computer storage is measured in bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), and terabytes (TB).

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Joystick

A device that allows users to control games by moving a stick and pressing buttons.

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Light Pen

A light-sensitive pen used to select menu options or draw on a screen.

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Trackball

A device that controls a pointer by rolling a ball with your fingers.

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Microphone

An input device that converts sound waves into electrical signals for computers.

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Scanner

A device that transforms physical documents or images into digital copies that can be stored and edited.

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Digital Camera

A device that captures images digitally and usually records videos as well.

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Webcam

A video camera that sends live video images to a computer or network.

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Graphic Tablet

A device that lets artists draw and sketch digitally using a pen-like stylus.

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Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

A storage device that uses rotating magnetic disks to store data. It is typically slower and less energy-efficient than SSDs.

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Solid State Drive (SSD)

A type of non-volatile storage that uses flash memory to store data. It is faster, quieter, and more energy-efficient than HDDs.

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Portable Storage Device

A storage device designed for portability, allowing you to easily transport data from one location to another.

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USB Flash Drive

A type of portable storage that uses flash memory and a USB interface to store and transfer data.

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Optical Storage Device

A type of storage that uses laser light to read and write data on plastic discs.

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Google Drive

A type of cloud storage offered by Google, providing 15 GB of free storage space.

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Cloud Storage

A service that stores, manages, and backs up data remotely, making it accessible over a network like the internet.

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Motherboard

The main circuit board of a computer, where major components like the CPU and RAM are connected and communicate.

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What is the CPU?

The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of a computer. It handles data processing, arithmetic calculations, and logical operations.

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How is CPU speed measured?

The speed of a CPU is measured in Hertz (Hz), specifically in Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz), indicating how many operations it can perform per second.

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What does the ALU do?

The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is responsible for performing mathematical operations, like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It also handles logical comparisons, selection, matching, and data merging.

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What is the role of the Control Unit?

The Control Unit (CU) directs operations within the computer's processor. It coordinates communication between the CPU's logic unit, memory, and input/output devices.

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What are CPU registers?

Registers are temporary data storage areas within the CPU. They hold data during the execution of an instruction.

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What is RAM?

Random Access Memory (RAM) temporarily stores data while programs are running. Its contents are lost when the computer is turned off or loses power.

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What is ROM?

Read Only Memory (ROM) stores the data needed to start the computer. It retains its information even when the computer is off.

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What is cache memory?

Cache memory is a high-speed memory that the CPU can access faster than regular RAM. It stores frequently used data and instructions for quicker access.

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Study Notes

1. Introduction to Hardware

  • Computer hardware are the physical components of a computer system.
  • Internal hardware is inside the computer.
    • Processor (CPU)
    • Drives (CD-ROM, DVD, hard drive, SSD)
    • Fan (heat sink)
    • Modem
    • Motherboard
    • Network card
    • Power supply
    • RAM
    • Sound card
    • Video card
  • External hardware is outside the computer or may come with it
    • Flat panels, monitor, and LCD
    • Gamepad
    • Joystick
    • Keyboard
    • Microphone
    • Mouse
    • Printer
    • Projector
    • Scanner
    • Speakers
    • USB thumb drive

2. Hardware Units

  • Hardware is a platform for the information processing cycle.
  • The cycle has four stages: input, process, output, and store.
  • Four hardware units are required to perform these cycles: input, output, storage, and processing units.

2.1 Input Units

  • Input units send data to a computer.

  • They allow users to interact with the computer.

  • Key examples include:

    • Keyboard: the most common input device for typing letters, numbers, and symbols
    • Mouse: a popular pointing device, controlling cursor position and sending signals to the CPU
    • Joystick: an input device for computer games and controlling characters or machinery
    • Light pen: a light-sensitive pen used for selecting items or drawing images on a screen
    • Trackball: a ball that you turn to move the cursor on a screen, taking up less space than a mouse
    • Microphone: captures audio and converts it to a digital format

  • Other input devices include scanners, digital cameras, webcams, graphic tablets, and barcode readers.

2.2 Output Units

  • Output units send data from the computer to the user.
  • Common output devices include:
    • Monitors: display images, video, and text
    • Monitors vary in size and resolution (the number of pixels horizontally and vertically)
    • Printers: transfer soft copies (texts or images) to hard copies
      • Types of printers include laser printers, inkjet printers, dot matrix printers, and plotters
    • Speakers: play sounds and music from the computer
    • Projectors: display images and videos from a computer onto a surface

2.3 Storage Units

  • Storage devices store data either temporarily or permanently.
  • Measurements Include bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), and terabytes (TB).
  • Storage categories include:
    • Local storage devices (hard drive or solid-state drive - directly attached to the device)
    • Portable storage devices (USB flash drive)
    • Optical storage devices (CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs)
    • Memory cards
    • Cloud storage (data stored and managed remotely)

2.4 Processing Units

  • The processing unit is the main part of a computer.
  • Key components include:
    • Motherboard: the main circuit board where components like the CPU, RAM, and others are attached
    • Processor (CPU): the brain of the computer, handling data processing. Key parts of a CPU include the ALU, CU, and Registers
    • Memory Units (RAM, ROM, Cache Memory): hold data and instructions for the CPU to execute.
  • RAM is temporary memory lost when power is turned off
  • ROM is permanent memory
  • Cache memory is high-speed memory for faster CPU access

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamental concepts of computer hardware, including internal and external components. It explains the roles of various hardware units in the information processing cycle, highlighting the importance of input, output, storage, and processing units. Test your knowledge of the components that make up computer systems.

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