Unit 2 task 1 By Mitchell Broomfield. Computer hardware components O Internal system unit components: 1. Processor: 2. Motherboard: 3. BIOS: 4. Power.

Unit 2 task 1

By Mitchell Broomfield

Computer hardware components

O Internal system unit components:1. Processor:2. Motherboard:3. BIOS:4. Power supply:5. Fans and heat sinks or cooling6. Hard drive configuration7. Ports8. Internal memory9. Specialized card: network and graphics

cards

ProcessorO The purpose of a processor is to deal with

the data that is inputted into the computer and then process it in the system.

O A CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the core of every Personal Computer. Without it, no PC can function and it would be useless.

This is an image of a processor

MotherboardO The Motherboard is a circuit board in

the computer. O It has many sockets into which the

CPU, graphics card and RAM plugs into and where peripheral devices are connected to.

O The Motherboard is essential as it connects all of the computer's parts together.

BIOSO BIOS means Basic input output

systemO The BIOS runs as part of the start up

system when you switch on your computer. The BIOS contains all the code required to control all the hardware for a example a keyboard, mouse and monitor uses BIOS to work correctly so the computer can respond to anything which is inputted and or outputted

PSU (power supply unit)

O The PSU is the most important part to your computer because it supply's power to the rest of the system so if there wasn’t any PSU you couldn’t use your computer at all.

Fans and heat sinks and or cooling

O Fans and heat sinks play a very big part to your computer system because it helps cool down all the parts inside the system like the motherboard, RAM and hard drive but what you will find in most computers is that the processor has its own fan because it the brain of the computer and can overheat very quickly.

Hard drive configuration

Disk controller: The disk controller controls the data from the USB to the hard drive.SATA: SATA is a part of the computer that connects the adaptor to a mass storage device like a hard drive. IDE (intelligent drive electronic) is an interface for mass storage device in which the controller integrates with the diskMaster/slave port is when one device has control over one or more devices.

PortsO Ports : A port is where you plug in all

the peripheral and it connect to the system like a keyboard, mouse and any other devices you want attached to the computer

Internal memory

O RAM is a type of internal it main purpose is to store computer programs while they are running and any information the program need to there job properly.

O ROM is a memory chip where all data is saved to even when the computer is turned off. The data held on ROM can only be read until you re-save the file and then it is moved from ROM to your hard drive.

O Cache is used to speed the program it is running for example if it was running Google chrome it would use a cache to remember all the pages you were on previously and then display them in your history

Specialized cards(Graphics, network)

O This is a device which fits into an expansion slot on the Motherboard and can be used to produce high quality displays for your monitor.

O Many computer users don't need a high quality display but if you want good graphics a top of the range graphics card is a must have.

O Network cards are required in every machine connected to the network. They allow the signal from the network to be transmitted to the machine like WIFI etc.

Peripherals O Output devices: monitor, printer,

speakersO Input devices: keyboard, mouse

webcamO Cabling: coaxial, optical, twisted pair

Output devices O Monitor: the main use of a monitor is

to display the image from the computer through mainly a VGA cable. A VGA cable is a cable which transfers the image from the computer to the monitor.

O You can use more than a VGA cable to transfer the image, you could use a HDMI cable or a DVI cable.

Output devicesO Printers: there are three different types of printers.

O Laser printer- A type of printer that uses a laser beam to produce an image on a drum. The light of the laser alters the electrical charge on the drum wherever it hits. A laser printer could cost you from £39 to £350.

O Inkjet printer- an inkjet printer is a type of printer that works by spraying ink at a sheet of paper. Magnetic plates in the ink's path direct the ink onto the paper in the desired shapes. The price of an inkjet printer can range from £30 to £1000

O Dot matrix Printer -A type of printer that produces letterings by marking the ink to print closely spaced dots in the appropriate shape and size. Dot-matrix printers are relatively expensive and do not produce high-quality output. The price can range from £179 to £1000.

Output devicesO Speakers- Speakers are popular output

devices used with computer systems. They receive audio input from the computer's sound card and produce audio output in the form of sound waves. Most computer speakers are active speakers, meaning they have an internal amplifier which allows you to increase the volume, or amplitude, of the sound. Speakers usually come in pairs, which allows them to produce stereo sound from two separate audio channels.

O You can pick up a pair of speakers from £10-£100.

Input devicesO Keyboard- The keyboard is one of the primary

input devices used with a computer. The keyboard's design comes from the original typewriter keyboards, which arranged letters and numbers in a way that prevented the type-bars from getting jammed when typing quickly. This keyboard layout is known as the QWERTY design, which gets its name from the first six letters across in the upper-left-hand corner of the keyboard.

O You can use the keyboard to input data into the computer system.

Input devicesO Mouse- A mouse is another primary

input device because it controls the cursor. It is controlled either using a laser or ball, the laser points down at the surface and when you move the device it recognises it and then moves the cursor on the screen. The ball mouse is exactly the same but when the ball moves the cursor moves with it.

CablingO Coaxial cable is a type of wire that consists of a centre

wire surrounded by insulation and then a grounded shield of copper braided wire. The shield minimizes electrical and radio frequency interference.

O Fibre optic uses glass (or plastic) threads to transmit data. A fibre optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of transmitting messages modulated onto light waves.

O Twisted- pair cable is a type of cable that consists of two independently insulated wires twisted around one another. The use of two wires twisted together helps to reduce crosstalk and electromagnetic induction..

Backing storageO Types of storage devicesO Flash O Floppy disk (old)O CDO Smart mediaO Removable hard driveO Memory stickO Cloud storage

Backing up storageO Fixed-A hard-drive built into the case of a

computer is known as ‘fixed’. Almost every computer has a fixed hard-drive. Fixed hard-drives act as the main backing storage device for almost all computers since they provide almost instant access to files.

O Portable- A portable hard-drive is one that is placed into a small case along with some electronics that allow the hard-drive to be accessed using a USB or similar connection. Portable hard-drives allow very large amounts of data to be transported from computer to computer

The purpose of an Operating System(OS)

O There are three main operating systems

O Windows, O OS-X(Apple)O Linux

Graphical User interface&

Command line interfaceO Graphical user interface (GUI) is a human-

computer interface (i.e., a way for humans to interact with computers) that uses windows, icons and menus and which can be manipulated by a mouse (and often to a limited extent by a keyboard as well).

O A command line interface (CLI) is a type of human-computer interface a way for humans to interact with computers) that relies solely on written input and output.

Operating system function

O controls the backing store and peripherals such as scanners and printers

O deals with the transfer of programs in and out of memoryO organises the use of memory between programsO organises processing time between programs and usersO maintains security and access rights of usersO deals with errors and user instructionsO allows the user to save files to a backing storeO provides the interface between the user and the computer

- for example, Windows Vista and Apple OSX. For more information, see the User Interfaces Revision Bite.

O issues simple error messages

Device driversO A device driver  is a computer

program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer. A driver provides a software interface to hardware devices, enabling operating systems and other computer programs to access hardware functions without needing to know precise details of the hardware being used.

The purpose of different software utilities

O Virus protection software is designed to prevent viruses, worms and Trojan horses from getting onto a computer as well as remove any malicious software code that has already infected a computer.

O Most virus protection utilities now bundle anti-spyware and anti-malware capabilities to go along with anti-virus protection. 

O firewall is a system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software, or a combination of both. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks. Firewall can be used anywhere with a private network to protect details which you don't want anyone to know EG customer bank details, phone numbers addresses.

The purpose of different software utilities

O Cookies-A cookie is the term given to describe a type of message that is given to a Web browser by a Web server.  The main purpose of a cookie is to identify users and possibly prepare customized Web pages or to save site login information for you. An example would be site like Facebook which saves your login details.

O Internet history-In a Web browser, the history is a detailed list of Web sites the computer has visited which remains in a computer's memory for a pre-determined number of days. the list of Web sites in a browser's history can be viewed by date, time of day, title, address (URL), alphabetical order, or number of repeat visits.

The purpose of different software utilities

O Disk defragmentation-Over time, both the file and the hard disk itself become fragmented, and your computer slows down as it has to look in many different places to open a file. Disk Defragmenter is a tool that rearranges the data on your hard disk and reunites fragmented files so your computer can run more efficiently.

O When you format a disk, the operating system erases all information on the disk and then checks if the disk is still working how is should, you would do this if you were selling your computer or trying to make it run faster.