Computer Components Flashcards
It executes instructions from software and hardware.
Processor
It is the primary memory for data transfer between the CPU and storage
Memory
It is the part that connects all other parts or components of a computer.
Motherboard
It permanently stores the data, e.g., hard drive.
Storage Device
It allows you to communicate with the computer or to input data, e.g., a keyboard.
Input Device
It enables you to see the output, e.g., monitor.
Output Device
What are the basic parts without which a computer cannot function?
Processor
Memory
Motherboard
Storage Device
Input Device
Output Device
Brain of the computer. Executes instructions from hardware & software. Stores programs (OS, apps). Enables I/O communication. Installed in CPU socket on motherboard.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Circuitry in the control unit, which makes use of electircal signals. Fetches, decodes, executes instructions. Controls all parts, manages info flow. Doesn’t process/store data.
Control Unit
Performs arithmetic (add, subtract, etc.) & logical (compare, select) functions. Can have multiple ALUs. Maintains timers.
ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
Random Access Memory (RAM). Temporarily stores data, programs, results. Temporary storage for running the computer.
Memory/Storage Unit/Registers
What are the Three Components of CPU?
Control Unit
ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)
Memory/Storage Unit/Registers
Instructions processed per second. Measured in GHz. 4.0 GHz = 4 billion instructions/second.
CPU Clock Speed
One core. Older type. One operation at a time, switches between tasks. Not ideal for multitasking. Performance depends on clock speed.
Single Core CPU
Two cores in one IC. Each core has controller/cache. Faster than single-core, better multitasking.
Dual Core CPU
Two dual-core processors in one IC. Four independent cores. Runs multiple instructions simultaneously. Increased speed for parallel processing.
Quad Core CPU
Four cores running in parallel on one chip. High performance without boosting clock speed. Performance increases with multiprocessing-supported software.
Octa Core CPU
History of CPU
1823 - Baron Jons Jackob Berzelius (silicon)
1903 - Nikola Tesla . . . electrical logic circuits
1947 - John Bardeen, William Shockley, Walter Brattain
1958 - (IC) Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby
1960 - first mass production facility for transistor
1968 - Robert Noyce and Mooce
1969 - Advance Micro Devices (AMD)
1971 - Ted Hoff
1972 - Intel 8008
1979 - 16/32 bit processor - Apple Macintosh and Amiga Computers
1987 - SPARC Processor
1991 - AM386 Microprocessor
1993 - Pentium Processor
1999 - Celeron 366
2005 - first dual core processor
2006 - Core 2 Duo
2007 - Core 2 Quad
2008 - Z5xx series
2009 - Core i5
2010 - Core i7
2017 - Core i9 desktop
2018 - Core i9 mobile
Physical components of a computer system. Necessary for software use. Includes connected devices.
Hardware (HW)
New/replacement/additional hardware to improve performance. Ex: RAM upgrade, video card upgrade.
Hardware Upgrade
Thin circuit board. Holds crucial hardware (CPU, memory, hard drive). Powers and enables communication between components.
Motherboard
Connects CPU to motherboard. Facilitates CPU use, prevents damage during installation/removal. Has lock (prevents movement) and heat sink (dissipates heat).
CPU Slot
Memory slot/socket for installing RAM (Random Access Memory). Motherboards have multiple RAM slots.
RAM Slot
Also called bus slot/expansion port. Connects hardware expansion cards (e.g., video card). Examples: AGP, AMR, CNR, PCI.
Expansion Slot
Two conductive plates with insulator between, wrapped in plastic. Stores electrical energy.
Capacitor
Electromagnetic coil (conducting wire around iron core). Stores magnetic energy.
Inductor (Coil)
Integrated circuit. Enables communication between CPU, AGP, and memory. Connects southbridge to RAM, CPU, and graphics.
Northbridge
Connects hardware devices (mouse, keyboard, etc.).
USB Port
Connects PCI devices (modems, network hardware, sound/video cards).
PCI Slot (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
Connects graphics cards.
AGP Slot (Accelerated Graphics Port)
Absorbs and dissipates heat from the CPU.
Heat Sink
Supplies power to the motherboard.
Power Connector
Memory that stores BIOS settings (time, date, hardware).
CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor)
What are the Components of a Motherboard?
CPU slot
RAM slot
Expansion slot
Capacitors
Inductors
Northbridge
USB port
PCI Slot
AGP Slot
Heat sink
Power connector
CMOS
Display unit. Shows processed data (text, images). Also called VDU (Visual Display Unit)
Monitor
It has cathode ray tubes which produce images in the form of video signals. Its main components are electron gun assembly, deflection plate assembly, glass envelope, fluorescent screen, and base.
CRT Monitor
It is a flat panel screen. It uses liquid crystal display technology to produce images on the screen. Advanced LEDs have thin-film transistors with capacitors and use active-matrix technology, which allows pixels to retain their charge.
LCD Monitor
It is an advanced version of an LCD monitor. Unlike an LCD monitor, which uses cold cathode fluorescent light to backlight the display, it has LED panels, each of which has lots of LEDs to display the backlight.
LED Monitor
It uses plasma display technology that allows it to produce high resolutions of up to 1920 X 1080, wide viewing angle, a high refresh rate, outstanding contrast ration, and more.
Plasma Monitor
What are the Types of Monitors?
CRT Monitor
LCD Monitor
LED Monitor
Plasma Monitor
Input device for text, characters, commands.
Keyboard
What are the Types of Keyboards?
QWERTY Keyboards
AZERTY Keyboards
DVORAK Keyboards
Handheld device to control pointer (cursor) in GUI.
Mouse
It is the main function of the mouse
Move the cursor
It allows you to open a folder or document and execute a program. You are required to take the cursor on the folder and double click it to open it.
Open or execute a program
It allows you to select text, file, or any other object
Select
It is an act of moving the mouse cursor over a clickable object.
Hovering
It allows you to scroll up or down while viewing a long webpage or document.
Scroll
What are the Main Functions of a Mouse?
Move the cursor
Open or execute a program
Select
Hovering
Scroll
A mouse is provided with ___ _______ for right click and left click.
Two buttons
A wheel located between the right and left buttons, which is used to scroll up and down and Zoom in and Zoom out in some applications like AutoCAD.
Scroll Wheel
A _______ is required in a wireless mouse
Battery
A mouse can have a trackball or an optical sensor to provide signals to the computer about the motion and location of the mouse.
Motion Detection Assembly
What are the Parts of a Mouse?
Two buttons
Scroll Wheel
Battery
Motion Detection Assembly
Set of programs enabling hardware to perform tasks. Three types: system, application, programming.
Software (SW/S/W)
Main software, runs the computer. Activates hardware, controls functions. Manages application programs. Ex: Operating systems.
System Software
Interface between user and computer. Manages hardware/software. Ex: Windows, Linux, macOS.
Operating System
System software stored in ROM (or flash memory). First software activated on startup. Loads hard disk drivers and helps OS load into memory.
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
Loaded into memory and executed when computer starts. BIOS contains basic commands for input/output instructions to start the computer.
Boot Program
Converts basic computer instructions into bit patterns that the processor uses for operations.
An Assembler
System software that controls connected hardware. Provides interface for computer to use hardware. OS usually includes many drivers. May need to be installed separately.
A Device Driver
Examples of System Software:
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
Boot Program
An Assembler
A Device Driver
Programs for specific tasks. Not essential for computer operation. Easily installed/uninstalled. Ex: Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop.
Application Software
Creates, edits, formats, and manipulates text. Offers options for documents, images, etc. Ex: MS Word, WordPad, Notepad.
Word Processing Software
Performs calculations, stores data, creates charts. Uses rows and columns (cells). Ex: Microsoft Excel.
Spreadsheet Software
Edits video, audio, text. Combines text, video, audio, images. Enhances documents with photos, animations, graphics. Ex: VLC, Windows Media Player.
Multimedia Software
For business operations in large organizations. Used for accounting, billing, order processing. Ex: CRM (Customer Relationship Management), BI (Business Intelligence).
Enterprise Software
What are the Different Types of Application Software?
Word Processing Software
Spreadsheet Software
Multimedia Software
Enterprise Software
Tools for developers to write other software. Translates programming languages to machine code. Ex: Compilers, debuggers, text editors.
Programming Software
It is a java language editor.
Eclipse
It is a programming language editor for Mac.
Coda
It is an open-source editor for windows.
Notepad++
It is a cross-platform code editor for Linux, Mac, and Windows.
Sublime text
Examples of Programming Software:
Eclipse
Coda
Notepad++
Sublime text
