PC Components - PL Flashcards
These are all the electronic and mechanical equipment in a computer.
Hardware
What are the different kinds of Hardware?
Motherboard
Hard Disk
RAM
Power Supply
Processor
Case
Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
This is used to describe computer programs that perform a task or tasks on a computer system
Software
Software can be grouped into three. What are they?
System Software
Utility Program
Application Software
This is the collection of electronic and mechanical devices operating as a unit.
Computer System
What are the main parts of Computer System?
System Unit
Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Speaker
This is the main container for system devices.
System Unit
This protects the delicate electronic and mechanical devices from damage
System Unit
What are the typical system unit devices?
- Motherboard
- CPU (Processor)
- Memory
- Disk Drives
- Ports - USB etc.
- Power Supply
- Expansion Cards - Sound Card, Network Card, Graphics Card
These are devices that connect to the system unit using cables or wireless technologies
Peripherals
What are the typical peripherals
- Monitor
- Keyboard
- Printer
- Plotter
- Scanner
- Speakers
This supplied on a single silicon chip
Integrated Circuit (IC)
Its function is to control all the computers functions.
Processor
What are the main processor Manufacturers?
AMD - Athlon and Turion
Intel - Pentium and Centrino
This is a series of instructions. When a program is run, the processor carries out these instructions in an orderly fashion
Computer Program
What are the Typical Instructions of a Computer Program?
- Arithmetic
- Logical
- Move
This instruction is to do addition, subtraction, etc.
Arithmetic
This instruction is to compare data and act according to the result
Logical
This instruction is to move data from place to place within the computer system - memory to the processor for addition
Move
How is Processor Speed measured?
Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz)
This is what you call to the speed of the system clock within the processor and it controls how fast instructions are executed.
Processor Speed
System clock is also called?
Clock Speed
How many clock ticks is 1 MHz?
1 Million Clock Ticks every Second
How many clock ticks is 1 GHz?
1 Billion clock ticks every Second
This processor can have two, three, or four processor cores on a single chip.
Multi-Core
What is the meaning of RAM
Random Access Memory
This is the main computer memory. Data programs currently in use are held in RAM
Primary Storage
This contents of memory are lost if the computer is turned off
Volatile
This is the memory IC’s on a circuit board
Module
This type of memory is for desktop computers
Dual Inline Memory Module
This memory is for notebook computers
Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module
DIMM’s and SODIMM’s are available in modules of?
- 256 MB
- 512 MB
- 1 GB
- 2GB
What is the meaning of DDR
Double Data RAM
What are the different types of DDR
DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
This is the main circuit board for the computer system. All device in the computer system will either be part of the motherboard or connected to it.
Mainboard or System Board or Motherboard
These talks about different processors require different sockets and a motherboard must be chosen to suit the processor intended for use
Processor Socket
What are the different Processor Sockets?
- Socket 478 - Intel Pentium IV
- Socket 775 - Intel Dual Core and Core Duo
- Socket 754 - AMD Athlon
- Socket 939 - AMD Athlon 64
- Socket AM2 - AMD Athlon X2
This controls data flow around the computer
Chipset
This talks about data flow between memory and processor - data flow between the processor and the graphics card
Northbridge
This controls data flow to the devices - USB, IDE, SATA, LAN, and Audio - controls PCI Slots and onboard graphics
Southbridge
This is a path through which data can be sent to the different parts of the computer system
Buses
This converts alternating current to direct current
Power Supply
This transforms main voltage to the voltages required by the computer
Power Supply
What are the main voltages in a Power Supply
12 Volts for Disk Drives
3.3 and 5 Volts for Circuit Boards
What is the meaning of APM
Advanced Power Management
This allow the computer go into a standby mode
Advanced Power Management
True or False:
Some have a switch to toggle between 240 volt supplies and 110 volt supplies
True
This connects to the motherboard and supplies the 3.3 and 5 volt supply for the board
Main Connector
This connects IDE hard drives and optical drives
Molex Connector
This connects floppy disk drives
Berg Connector
This connects SATA drives
SATA Connector
These are interfaces between peripherals devices and the computer. Mainly found at the back of the computer but are often also built into the front of the computer chassis for easy access
Computer Ports
This is a 9 port. Often called Com Ports. Mice and external modems were connected to these ports. They are turquoise in colour
Serial Port
This is a 25 pin port used to connect printers, scanners, external hard disks, zip drives, etc. to the computer. Burgundy in color, they are often called LPT ports
Parallel Port
This is use to connect a monitor to the computer system
Video Port
This is a 15 pin port and is blue in color. it is an analogue port and is being replaced by the DVI port
VGA Port
White in color, it is a digital port. This means that no conversion is necessary between the computer and the monitor and that means that images can be produced more quickly on the monitor
DVI Port
This is use to connect keyboards and mice to the computer. keyboard port is purple and the mouse port is green
PS/2 Port
This is use to connect a modem to a telephone line. RJ11 is the technical term for the port
Modem Port
This is intended to replace serial, parallel, and ps/2 ports with a single standard. 127 devices can be connected to this single port
USB port
These are devices can be connected and disconnected while the computer is on
Hot Swappable
This USB standard transfer data of 1.5 MBps and is the original standard
USB 1
This USB standard transfer rate of 60 MBps and is the current standard
USB 2
This USB standard transfer rate of 600 MBps and is the future standard
USB 3
This is (IEEE 1394) an Apple technology port
FireWire port
This FireWire port transfer rate is 50 MBps
FW 400
This FireWire port transfer rate of 100 MBps
FW 800
This FireWire port transfer rate of 400 MBps
FW S3200
This is used to connect to a network. Knows as RJ45, it is larger than a modem port
Ethernet Port
This is used to input and output audio from the computer.
Audio Ports
What Color
In this audio port, Line in -this connect external devices
Light Blue
What Color
In this audio port, this connect the speakers
Lime
What Color
In this audio port, this connect the microphone
Pink
Graphics card handles it’s own processing making it almost independent of the processor
Processor and Fan
This talks about the AGP or PCI-Express
Board Connector
Graphics card has it’s own memory. This makes it much faster. Most new cards use DDR3 memory
Memory
Digital output is supplied through this port
DVI Connector
Analogue output is provided through this port
VGA Connector
What do you call to the screen images that are made up of dots
Pixels (Picture Elements)
This must process each of these pixels to create the image
Graphics Card
How many pixels is the Following Resolutions
- 800 x 600
- 1024 x 768
- 1280 x 1024
- 1600 x 1200
- 480,000 pixels
- 786,432 pixels
- 1,310,720 pixels
- 1,920,00 pixels
This is the older technology but still available. It can output in analogue or digital or both
Accelerated Graphics Port
This is the new technology - faster than AGP.
PCI - Expressv
Allows for two graphics card to improve the performance
Scalable Link Interface
This connects the sound card to a PCI slot
PCI Connector
This Musical Instrument Digital Interface port is used to connect digital musical instruments to the computer
MIDI Sockets
These are sued to connect microphone, speakers, stereo systems, etc. to the computer
Audio Jacks
This prepare audio for speakers
Digital to Analogue Converter
This convert the audio coming into the computer
Analogue to Digital Converter
This allows computers join a network. Can be wired or wireless
Network Card
The standard used is called _____ - covers wired and wireless networks
Ethernet
Transmission speed of 100 MBps
Fast Ethernet
Transmission speed of 1000 MBps
Gigabyte Ethernet
This is introduced in 1999, it has a transmission rate of 11 Mbps and a range of 30 meters
The B Standard
This is introduced in 2003, it has a transmission rate of 54 Mbps and a range of 30 Meters
The G Standard
This is introduced in 2006, it has a transmission speed of 540 Mbps and a range of 50 meters
The N Standard
This can do internet access using a telephone line
Modem
This converts the digital computer data to analogue before transmission over the telephone line and converts the analogue data to digital before transmission to the computer.
Modem
The device “Modem” gets it’s name from these two terms
Modulation and Demodulation
What is the standard transmission speed of a modem
56 Kbps
This is a memory, volatile, and contents lost when power is turned off
Primary Storage
This are disk drives, non-volatile, and can store files when power is turned off.
Secondary Storage
In memory, voltages are used to store data as ____
Binary
It was decided to mimic the situation for secondary storage using _____ instead of electrical voltages to represent the binary data
Magnetism
This is coated with tiny iron particles which can be magnetized to north and south to represent the binary digits
Metal Disk (Platter)
This is used to magnetize the particles on the disk surface to represent the data held in RAM.
Read-write head
Hard disk can be ____ or ____
Internal or External
The disk connect to the motherboard using a ribbon cable
Integrated Drive Electronics
Each cable in an IDE can hold two drives. What are those?
Master and Slave
The drive is set as master or slave by positioning a ____ switch on the back of the drive
Jumper
This allow faster data transfer speeds than IDE.
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
These can be IDE or SATA and can be mains powered or host powered.
External Hard Disk Drives
These use lasers to sense pits and lands mechanically pressed into a polycarbonate disk.
Optical Drives
The laser can only operates at a ____ as it only scans the surface of the disk to detects the pits and lands
Single Intensity
These use a dye layer to mimic the lands and pits created mechanically on commercial disks. The laser used has Two intensities
CD-R (Blank CD’s)
This disk is similar but the laser has three intensities. The third and highest is needed to turn the burned areas of the dye layer back to their original condition
CD-RW (Re-Writable)
What are the Three Laser Intensities?
- Intensity 1 - Read Data
- Intensity 2 - Burn Data
- Intensity 3 - Erase Data
What is the capacity of CD-R?
650 MB to 800 MB
DVD’s can hold how many of data?
4.7 GB
This are read only. Mechanically stamped and manufactured as single or double layer and as single sided or double sided
DVD-ROM
These are single or dual layer disks and can be single or double sided. They can be written to only once.
DVD-R
These are same as DVD-R but can be written to several times.
DVD-RW
These are single or dual layer disks and can be single or double sided. They can be written to only once.
DVD+R
These are the same as DVD+R only that they can be written to several times
DVD+RW
This uses a new laser technology resulting in layer of 15 GB instead of the 4.7 GB on standard DVD. This gives a total capacity of a double sided - double layered disk as 60GB
HD-DVD
Higher capacity than HD-DVD - 25 GB of data/layer. A dual layer disk can hold 50 GB. Technically, a double sided and double layered disk can hold 100 GB of data
Blu-Ray
These replaces floppy drives in new computers
Card Readers
Card Readers can read media cards from most digital cameras like
- Microdrive
- Smartmedia
- SD Memory Card
- Memory Stick/Duo/Pro
- xD Picture Card
This displays images generated by the graphics card
Monitors
Monitors are almost exclusively LCD. What is LCD
Liquid Crystal Display
CRT Monitors are rare and are now as expensive as LCD monitors. What is the meaning of CRT
Cathode Ray Tube
The ____ of a computer monitor is the ratio between the width and height of the screen.
Aspect Ratio
What is the aspect ration of a standard and widescreen monitor?
Standard - 4:3
Widescreen - 16:9
What is the meaning of XGA and its resolution
Extended Graphics Array - 1024 x 768
What is the meaning of SXGA and its resolution
Super Extended Graphics Array - 1280 x 1024
What is the meaning of UXGA and its resolution
Ultra Extended Graphics Array - 1600 x 1200
What is meaning of QXGA and its resolution
Quad Extended Graphics Array - 2048 x 1536
What is the meaning of WXGA and its resolution
Wide XGA - 1280 x 800
What is the meaning WSXGA and its resolution
Wide SXGA - 1680 x 1050
What is the meaning of WUXGA and its resolution
Wide UXGA - 1920 x 1200
This contains the letter and number keys, shift keys, spacebar, return key
Typing Keys
These keys are arranged as on a calculator
Numeric Keypad
These are programmable keys used by software for special functions
Function Keys
These are for screen and Cursor Control
Control Keys
This is the most common arrangement in a keyboard
QWERTY
What are the other arrangements that are available in a keyboard?
Dvorak
ABCDEF
AZERTY
These are either PS/2 or USB
Wired Keyboards
The Keyboard uses batteries
Wireless Keyboards
These are useful for use with notebook computer. Leaves users less prone to RSI?
Rubber Keyboard
Meaning of RSI
Repetitive Strain Injury
This is an input device that uses point and click technology
Mouse
This uses a ball to roll across the surface and move rollers attached to sensors inside the mouse - reflecting the ball movement as cursor movement.
Ball Mouse
This talks about camera takes thousands of images per second and sends them for digital processing. The red LED lights up the surface for the Camera
Optical Mouse
This is an output device - that produce a hardcopy of computer data. They can print onto paper, transparency, photographic paper, card.
Printers
What are the two main technologies involved in Printers
Inkjet (Bubble-Jet)
Laser
uses an electric charge to vibrate a membrane. When the membrane flexes downwards, it ejects an ink droplet through the nozzle (1). When it flexes upwards, it draws more ink into the reservoir (2).
Inkjet
This is a heating element locally heats ink to form a bubble (1). As the bubble expands, it forces ink through the nozzle (2). When it bursts, it causes a vacuum which draw sink into the reservoir (3).
Bubblejet
Laser printers use _____ instead of liquid ink as in inkjet printers
Toner
Printers are available in __, __, and __
A4, A3, and A2
This use inkjet technology and are available in A3, A2, A1, and A0. They take up much less space than an equivalent inkjet or laser, bur are more expensive
Plotter
