Types and Components of a computer system

Question 1

what is a hardware?

Answer 1

it is the physical parts of a computer. The parts that you can touch and see

Question 2

what are 4 examples of a hardware?

Answer 2

• a motherboard
• a CPU
• keyboard
• monitor

Question 3

what is a software?

2 points

Answer 3

• a collection of instructions that can be ‘run’ on a computer
• softwares are not physical

Question 4

what are 3 examples of softwares?

Answer 4

• windows
• Mac OS
• Microsoft Word

Question 5

what are the differences between softwares and hardwares?

2 points

Answer 5

• computer hardware is the physical components that make up a computer. Hardware is useless without software to run on it
• software is instructions that tell computer hardware what to do. Software is useless unless there is a hardware to run on it.

Question 6

what do computers need so that they can be useful?

Answer 6

they need to consist of both hardware and software

Question 7

what is the CPU (Central Processing Unit)?

Answer 7

it is the brain of the computer. It is the device that carries out software instructions

Question 8

what is an example of a CPU?

Answer 8

the Pentium processor made by Intel

Question 9

where is a CPU usually plugged into?

Answer 9

it is usually a pug into a large socket on the main circuit board (the motherboard) of a computer

Question 10

what does the speed of a CPU (measured in Herts, Hz) usually correspond to?

Answer 10

it corresponds to the number of actions the CPU can perform per second

Question 11

how many actions can a typical, modern CPU perform per second?

Answer 11

3 bilion actions

Question 12

where does any data or instruction that are to be processed by the CPU placed in?

Answer 12

into main memory

Question 13

what is random access memory (or RAM)?

Answer 13

it is the part of the computer that temporarily stores the instructions that the computer is running

Question 14

what type of device is RAM?

Answer 14

it is a volatile storage device. This means that if the computer’s power is turned off the contents of RAM disappear and are lost.

Question 15

where do RAM plug into?

Answer 15

into sockets on the motherboard

Question 16

what will RAM contain when a computer is in use?

3 points

Answer 16

• The operating system software
• The application software currently being used
• Any data that is being processed

Question 17

what is read-only memory (ROM) used in most computers for?

Answer 17

it is used to hold a small special piece of software: the ‘boot up’ program

Question 18

what type of storage is ROM?

Answer 18

it is a non-volatile storage

Question 19

when does ROM software usually runs?

Answer 19

when a computer is switched on

Question 20

what is the name for the extra devices in a computer?

Answer 20

peripheral devices

Question 21

what are peripheral devices usually categorised in?

Answer 21

in input, output devices and storage devices

Question 22

what are input devices?

Answer 22

devices that pass data into the computer

Question 23

what are 3 examples of input devices?

Answer 23

• keyboard
• mouse
• webcam

Question 24

what are output devices?

Answer 24

they are devices that take data from the computer

Question 25

what are 3 examples of output devices?

Answer 25

• loudspeaker
• printer
• monitor

Question 26

What is secondary storage (sometimes called backing storage)?

Answer 26

the name of all devices that can be store data in a computer disk

Question 27

what is an operating system?

Answer 27

a special piece of software that manages the general operation of a computer

Question 28

what do operating systems provide?

Answer 28

a user interface so that we can interact with the computer

Question 29

what do operating systems manage?

Answer 29

• applications that are running on the computer
• files, helping us save our work and organise our files
• the computer’s memory
• the computer’s input and output hardware

Question 30

what do operating systems look after?

Answer 30

computer security

Question 31

what is user interface?

Answer 31

the system people use to interact with a computer

Question 32

what are the 2 user interface systems?

Answer 32

• Graphical User Interface (GUI)

- Command-Line Interface (CLI)

Question 33

Graphical User Interface (GUI) is built around what?

Answer 33

visual things:

• windows
• icons
• menus
• a pointer

Question 34

what are Command-Line Interface (CLI)?

Answer 34

a black screen full of codes

Question 35

what is a mainframe computer?

Answer 35

a large computer used by large businesses, in government offices or by universities

Question 36

what are 3 characteristics of mainframe computer?

Answer 36

• powerful
• large
• multi-user

Question 37

what is a Personal Computer (PC)?

Answer 37

computers small enough that everyone could have their own

Question 38

what is a Laptop Computer?

Answer 38

a light, compact and portable PC

Question 39

what do laptops contain?

Answer 39

• a rechargeable battery so that they can be used even when not plugged in
• built-in LDC monitor

Question 40

what do most laptops do to be as portable as possible?

Answer 40

• they avoid any sort of cable or wire
• instead of mouse they use a trackpad
• instead of wire connection they use wireless radio connections

Question 41

what is a Palmtop Computer?

Answer 41

it is similar to a laptop computer but smaller, small enough to fit on you hand

Question 42

why are palmtop computers usually not very powerful?

Answer 42

because they are too small, so it can’t fit a fast CPU battery