Hardware

Question 1

What are the four different types of computers?

Answer 1

1. Supercomputers
2. Mainframe Computers
3. Midrange Computers
4. Personal Computers

Question 2

What are supercomputers?

Answer 2

-most powerful type
-special, high-capacity
-typically used to process massive amounts of data

Question 3

What are mainframe computers?

Answer 3

-capable of great processing speeds and data storage
-occupy specially wired air-conditioned rooms

Question 4

What are midrange computers?

Answer 4

-also referred to as servers
-have processing capabilities less powerful than a mainframe computer but more powerful than a personal computer
-used to support or serve end users for specific needs such as retrieving data from databases or supplying access to application software.

Question 5

What are Personal Computers?

Answer 5

-also known as PCs
-least powerful
-most widely used and fastest growing type of computer

Question 6

What are the five types of personal computers?

Answer 6

1. Desktops
2. Laptops (or notebook computers)
3. Tablets (or tablet computers)
4. Smartphones
5. Wearables

Question 7

What are the four basic categories for the physical equipment in personal computer hardware?

Answer 7

1. System Unit
2. Input/Output
3. Secondary Storage
4. Communication

Question 8

What is a system unit?

Answer 8

-contain electronic circuitry, including microprocessors and memory.
-container that houses most of electronic components that make up a computer system
- Random-access memory (RAM) holds the program and data currently being processed

Question 9

RAM is a type of memory that is sometimes referred to as______?

Answer 9

• temporary storage
• contents will be typically lost if electric power to the computer is disrupted

Question 10

What are Input/Output devices?

Answer 10

• translators b/w humans and computers

Question 11

Input devices include?

Answer 11

• keyboard and mouse

Question 12

Output devices include?

Answer 12

-Most common: computer display (monitor)
-translate processed info from the computer into form humans can understand

Question 13

What is secondary storage?

Answer 13

holds data and programs
-even after electricity has been turned off

Question 14

What are three examples of secondary storage?

Answer 14

1. Hard disks
2. Solid State Storage
3. Optical discs

Question 15

What are hard disks?

Answer 15

• store programs and very large data files
• data and information are stored using magnetic charges on the disks surface

Question 16

What is solid-state storage?

Answer 16

-no moving parts
-more reliable
-requires less power
-saves data and information electronically

Question 17

What are optical discs?

Answer 17

• use laser tech to store data and programs

Question 18

What are the 3 types of optical discs?

Answer 18

1. Compact discs (CD)
2. Digital Versatile (or video) discs (DVDs)
3. Blu-ray discs (BD)

Question 19

What do Communication devices do?

Answer 19

allow personal computers to communicate with other computer systems using the internet

Question 20

What is a modem?

Answer 20

Widely used communication device that modifies audio, video, and other types of data into a form that can be transmitted across the internet.