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(SLU) GIT > Unit 2: Components of a Computer System > Flashcards

Unit 2: Components of a Computer System Flashcards

1
Q

a computer system consists of
four components

A

HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DATA
USER

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2
Q

collection of parts, a computer combined with hardware and software used to perform desired tasks

A

computer system

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3
Q
  • first component of a computer system
  • It refers to the tangible, physical computer equipment and devices which provide support for the major functions of the computer system
  • Mainly the mechanical aspects of the computer
A

hardware

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4
Q
  • controls the input of data into the computer system and the output of information from the computer system
  • All these devices are interconnected with each other
A

HARDWARE

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5
Q

HARDWARE

A
  1. input devices
  2. output devices
  3. system unit
    - motherboard
    - processor
    - memory
    - RAM
    - ROM
  4. storage devices
    - magnetic storage device
    - optical storage device
    - flash memory device
    - online and cloud storage
  5. communication devices
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6
Q
  • Used to enter data or instructions into a computer system

2 categories

A
  1. INPUT DEVICES

Manual Input Devices
- needs to be operated by a human to input data

Automatic Input Devices
- can input data on their own

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7
Q

Each input device is concerned with a specific type of data:

A

Scanner – documents or images

Digital Camera – still and moving
images

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8
Q

keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, numeric keypad, light pen, touch screen, digital camera, web cam

A

common manual input devices

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9
Q

magnetic stripe reader
magnetic ink character recognition
chip and pin reader
optical mark reader
optical character reader
barcode reader

A

common automatic input devices

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10
Q
  • convey information from the computer system to one or more
    people
  • When raw data has been processed it becomes usable information
  • pieces of hardware that send this usable information out of the computer
A
  1. OUTPUT DEVICES
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11
Q
  • send information out temporarily and some send information out permanently

temporary output device
permanent output device

A

OUTPUT DEVICES

temporary output device – monitors

permanent output devices –printers which output information
onto paper as hard copy

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12
Q

crt monitor
tft monitor
laser printer
inkjet printer
dot matrix printer
plotter
speakers
multimedia projector

A

common output devices

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13
Q

Almost all input and output devices are known as

  • These are non-essential hardware components that usually connect to the system externally
  • called non-essential because the system can operate without them.
A

peripheral devices

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14
Q

houses the electronic components to process data

A
  1. SYSTEM UNIT
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15
Q
  • main circuit board of the system unit
  • central to any computer system
  • All components are plugged here either directly (straight into the circuit board) or indirectly (vis USB ports)
A

motherboard

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16
Q
  • the brain of the computer
  • Electronic component that interprets and carries out basic instructions
  • ‘controls’ what the
    computer does and is responsible for performing calculations and data processing
A

processor

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17
Q

Electronic component that store instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by those instructions.

A

memory

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18
Q
  • 2 types of internal memory
  • used to store computer data and this can be directly accessed by the CPU
  • sometimes referred to as ‘primary storage’
A

RAM and ROM

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19
Q
  • used to permanently store instructions that tell the computer how to boot (start-up)
  • also loads the operating system (e.g. Windows).
  • These instructions are known as ___________ or the _____________
A

ROM
read-only memory

BIOS (Basic input/output system) or boot program

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20
Q

Information stored in ROM is known as ______________.

This means that the contents
of ROM cannot be altered or added to by the user.

  • fast memory
  • can be accessed and read very quickly
  • Non-Volatile memory

examples of ROM

A

read-only

DVD/CD (bought in stores containing pre-recorded music and movie files)

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21
Q
  • used to temporarily store information that is currently in use by the computer
  • can be read from and written to and so the information stored in RAM can change all the time
  • fast memory; generally measured in GB (Gigabytes)
A

RAM
random access memory

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22
Q
  • Volatile Memory and stores date ‘non-permanently’. This means that information stored in RAM is deleted as soon as the computer is turned off.
  • The more RAM you have installed in your computer – the faster it can perform
A

RAM
random access memory

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23
Q
  • Holds data, instructions and information permanently for future use
  • records (writes) and/or retrieves (reads) items to and from storage media
  • used to back-up data in case original copies are lost or damaged

__________: used to store data that is not instantly needed by the computer. Also permanently store data and programs for as long as we need

2 categories

A
  1. STORAGE DEVICES

secondary storage devices

Storage Devices: internal storage (internal hard disk drives)

External Storage (external hard
disk drive, memory sticks, etc.)

24
Q

Example of Storage Devices

A

MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICE
- hard drive

OPTICAL STORAGE DEVICE
- blu-ray disc
- COD ROM disc
- CD-R and CD-RW disc
- DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW disc

FLASH MEMORY DEVICE
- memory card
- memory stick
- SSD (Solid State Drive)
- USB flash drive, jump drive or thumb drive

ONLINE AND CLOUD STORAGE
- cloud storage
- network media

25
Q

one of the most popular types of storage used

A

magnetic storage device

26
Q

main storage device in a computer

A

internal hard drive

27
Q

also known as removable hard drive

used to store portable data and backups.

A

external hard drive

28
Q

uses lasers and lights as its mode of saving and retrieving data.

A

optical storage device

29
Q

A digital optical storage device which was intended to replace the DVD format.

A

blu-ray disc

30
Q

An optical storage device that is read-only or cannot be modified nor deleted.

A

CD-ROM disc

31
Q
  • a recordable disc that can be written to once
  • a rewritable disc that can be written to multiple times.
A
  • CD-R
  • CD-RW
32
Q

now replacing magnetic storage device as it is economical, more
functional and dependable

A

flash memory device

33
Q

An electronic flash memory device used to store digital information
and commonly used in mobile electronic devices

A

memory card

34
Q

memory card that is removable

A

memory stick

35
Q

A flash memory device that uses integrated circuit assemblies
to save data steadily

A

SSD – Solid State Drive

36
Q

A small, portable storage device connected through the USB port.

A

USB flash drive
jump drive
thumb drive

37
Q

now becoming widespread as people access data from
different devices

A

online and cloud storage

38
Q

Data is managed remotely and made available over a network.

Basic features are free to use but upgraded version is paid monthly as a per consumption rate.

A

cloud storage

39
Q

Audio, Video, Images or Text that are used on a computer network.

A community of people create and use the content shared over the internet.

A

network media

40
Q

Classification of Memory and Storage Devices

A

According to Data Retention
- Volatile Memory
- Non-Volatile Memory

According to Access Techniqu
- Random Access
- Sequential Access

According to Access Rights
- Read/Write Access
- Read-Only Access

41
Q

Device requires power to retain its stored data – data is lost as soon as power is cut-off from the device

A

volatile memory

42
Q

Device can retain stored data even after computer power is turned-off

A

non-volatile memory

43
Q

Data stored in the device can be accessed in any order, i.e. random

A

random access

44
Q

▪ Data stored in the device can be accessed only in sequential order from start to finish
▪ Example: A movie stored in a BluRay Disc is accessed in sequential order so that the movie stored therein can be viewed from start to finish

A

sequential access

45
Q

The device allows data to be read and written onto it.

A

read/write access

46
Q

device only allows data to be read from it – its contents is prefabricated during the production of the device.

A

read-only access

47
Q

containing multiple tracks for a single album

  • ______ can be chosen at random
  • ______ is played
    sequentially
A

Audio CD

  • tracks
  • single track
48
Q
  • Enables a computer to send and receive data, instructions, and
    information to and from one or more computers.
  • A hardware device capable of transmitting an analog or digital signal over the telephone, other communication wire, or wirelessly.

Examples: Bluetooth devices, Infrared devices, Modem (over phone line), Network card (using
Ethernet), Smartphone, Wi-Fi devices (using a Wi-Fi router)

A
  1. COMMUNICATION DEVICES
49
Q
  • second component of a computer system
  • known as the series of related
    instructions that make the computer perform tasks
  • tells the computer what to do
  • ______ or ______ refers to any piece of software

2 types

A

software

program or application

systems software and application software

50
Q
  • includes the programs that are dedicated to managing the computer itself, such as the operating system, file management utilities, and disk operating system (or DOS).
  • Without this installed in your computers, no instructions would be executed for the tasks needed to be done.
A

systems software

51
Q

examples

Utility software (antivirus, disk tools), system servers, device drivers, operating systems, windows/graphical user interface (GUI) systems

A

systems software

52
Q
  • Simply referred to as ‘applications’, these are end-user programs that execute specific tasks like report generation, spreadsheet management, running games, sending emails, and online research among other functions.
  • They can be as simple as a calculator or as complex as a video editing software.
A

application software

53
Q

examples

MS Office Word, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Edge, Calculator, Minesweeper, Steam

A

application software

54
Q
  • third component of a computer system
  • consists of individual facts or pieces of information that are used by the computer system to produce information
  • may not make much sense to a person
55
Q
  • fourth component of a computer system
  • The operator of a computer is known as ‘peopleware’, other books call them liveware, or human ware
  • commands the computer system to execute on instructions

(SLU) GIT (9 decks)

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