Output Devices Quiz: Printers and Projectors

Page Printers

• Page printers print an entire page at a time.
• Two types of page printers:
  • Laser printers
  • Inkjet printers
• Page printers are faster than impact printers.
• Page printers support different fonts and character sizes.
• Page printers print high-resolution output.

Laser Printers

• Non-impact page printers.
• Use laser light to produce dots for characters on a page.
• High-speed and high-quality printing.
• Expensive.
• Heavy-duty printers.

Inkjet Printers

• Non-impact character printers.
• Print characters by spraying small drops of ink onto the paper.
• High-quality output and presentable features.
• Home-based printers.

Projector

• Output device.
• Often used for meetings and presentations.
• Contains a lens that projects an image onto a screen.

Plotter

• Output device.
• Produces graphical output on paper.
• Uses single or multi-color pens to draw pictures, such as blueprints.
• Used for printing maps, architectural plans, and engineering applications.

Speaker

• Output device.
• Plays sound as output.
• Used in multimedia applications for playing sound and music.

Processing Devices

• Electronic circuitry within a computer that carries out instructions by performing arithmetic, logic, controlling, and input/output operations.
• Also known as central processor or main processor.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

• Brain of the computer.
• Performs all types of data processing operations.
• Stores data, intermediate results, and programs.
• Controls all parts of the computer.

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

• Part of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logic operations.
• Divided into two parts: arithmetic unit (AU) and logic unit (LU).

CU (Control Unit)

• Controls the operation of all parts of the computer but does not process data.
• Manages and coordinates all units of the computer.
• Responsible for controlling data and instruction transfer between units.

MU (Memory Unit)

• Stores instructions, data, and intermediate results.
• Supplies information to other units of the computer when needed.
• Also known as internal storage unit.
• The size of this unit affects the speed, power, and capabilities of the computer.

Memory

• Location where information is stored that is currently being utilized by the operating system, software programs, hardware devices, and the user.

Volatile Memory

• Loses its content when the computer loses power.
• Example: RAM (Random Access Memory).

Non-Volatile Memory

• Retains its content even when the computer loses power.
• Example: ROM (Read Only Memory).

Primary Memory

• Physical Memory that comes with every computer, also referred to as main memory or primary memory.
• Examples: RAM and ROM.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

• Internal memory of the CPU.
• Stores data, programs, and program results.
• Read/write memory that stores data while the machine is working.
• Data is erased when the machine is switched off.
• Volatile memory.

Measurement Units of Computer Memory

• Bit (b): 0 or 1.
• Nibble (N): 4 bits.
• Byte (B): 8 bits.
• Kilobyte (KB): 1024 bytes.
• Megabyte (MB): 1024 KB.
• Gigabyte (GB): 1024 MB.
• Terabyte (TB): 1024 GB.
• Petabyte (PB): 1024 TB.
• Exabyte (EB): 1024 PB.
• Zettabyte (ZB): 1024 EB.
• Yottabyte (YB): 1024 ZB.
• Brontobyte (BB): 1024 YB.
• Geopbyte (GB): 1024 BB.

Motherboard

• Serves as the platform connecting all parts of a computer together.
• Connects the CPU, memory, hard drives, optical drives, video card, sound card, and other ports and expansion cards directly or via cables.
• Backbone of a computer.

Features of Motherboard

• Supports different types of components.
• Supports a specific type of CPU and a few types of memories.
• Video cards and sound cards must be compatible with the motherboard.
• Must be compatible with the case and power supply.

Important Computer Ports

• Serial Port:
  • Used for external modems and older computer mice.
  • 9-pin and 25-pin models.
  • Data travels at 115 kilobits per second.
• Parallel Port:
  • Used for scanners and printers.
  • Also called a printer port.
  • 25-pin model.
  • IEEE 1284-compliant Centronics port.
• PS/2 Port:
  • Used for older computer keyboards and mice.
  • Also called a mouse port.
  • Most old computers have two PS/2 ports, one for the mouse and one for the keyboard.
• USB Port:
  • Connects various external USB devices, such as external hard drives, printers, scanners, mice, keyboards, etc.
  • Introduced in 1997.