explore the parts of a computer inner parts outer parts

Explore the Parts of a Computer

Inner Parts

Outer Parts

Team Players Modem, Motherboard, Drives, Video Card, CPU

Power Supply, Ports, Memory and Bios

Click on the parts of the computer to learn more. Click when the pointer arrow changes to a .

CPU (Microprocessor)• I am the Central Processing Unit, which is

the heart of your computer. I do all the thinking for the computer and process all the information to be turned into files on your computer.

• I am actually a very small chip on the motherboard.

• The clock speed of the microprocessor in now measured in gigahertz (GHz). – The higher the number; the quicker the information

processed. – The chip shown below can process up to 2.80 GHz.

RAM (Random-Access Memory)

• I temporarily store data so that it can be accessed directly and randomly.

• I am a determining factor in how fast your applications or software run.

• The information in me goes away once the computer is turned off, so it is important to save any work you want to keep.

• I am measured in megabytes (MBs). – The more I have, the more I can

remember.

PortsPorts are located on the outside of a computer and ports are where you plug in other hardware. On the inside of the case they are connected to the expansion cards. Today, most new computers use USB ports.

Keyboard & Mouse

Printer

Scanner (USB)

Monitor or LCD

PortsPorts are located on the outside of a computer and ports are where you plug in other hardware. On the inside of the case they are connected to the expansion cards. Today, most new computers use USB ports.

Drives• We are normally located

in the case but we can also be external to the computer.

• The most common types are the USB flash drive, CD-ROM.

• Newer types of us that can be found today are CD-RW, which can read and write CDs and DVD, which holds even more information than CD drives.

Video Card• I am the part of the computer that is

in charge of controlling your video display.

• I am sometimes referred to as a graphics card.

• I vary in the resolution (number of pixels) and number of colors I can display. – Typically I will show at least 800 pixels (points on

the screen) wide by 600 pixels high, with each pixel capable of being displayed in one of several millions of colors.

– Older cards operate at 640X480 pixels using only 256 colors.

Power Supply

• I supply the fuel (power), for the computer. – supply power to the motherboard and the

drives

• I contain a fan that helps assist in the task of cooling the computer.

• I come in a variety of wattages. – 200 watt and 250 watt, are the most

commonly used

Modem

• Notice that I have my own speaker. When you connect to the internet and hear me dialing, it is this speaker that you hear the sound coming from.

• I am what converts the computer's digital data, into analog waves, so that the data can travel through the phone lines to another computer.

• I am rated by how many bits per second I can transmit and receive data. – Just because a modem is rated at 56K (56,000 bits per second), does not necessarily

mean that I will be able to send and receive at this speed. Phone lines and your internet provider also play a big part in how fast your computer can receive and send information via the internet. Many, if not most, phone lines are only capable of transmitting at 28.8k.

Motherboard• I am the part of the

computer that is like the blood vessels inside the human body, which connect

to all the vital organs. – Instead of blood

vessels, the motherboard uses tiny electrical paths to connect each component of the computer.

• One important part on me is the BIOS, which is where the computer's settings are stored and changed.

• In the picture above, you can see most of the connecting slots, ports, and connectors. Each is labeled to show which component it connects to.

BIOS• I stand for Basic Input/Output System.• When the computer is first turned on

(booted), the I am what is in charge. • I am the program which wakes the

computer up when you turn it on and reminds itself what parts it has and what each part is supposed to do. • After booting and performing a few system

checks, I turn the computer over to your operating system.

• I am normally stored in an EPROM chip (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)– The BIOS chip contains enough information to

operate the computer by itself without any disks or even a hard drive.

Team Playersperipherals, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and case

Click on the parts of the computer to learn more.

Click when the pointer arrow changes to a .

Computer Case• I protect all the electronic components

inside the computer

• I must provide adequate ventilation to prevent overheating

• I need to be capable of allowing you to expand your hardware if the need arises.

• I have two basic types for two different motherboard types

• I come in several different sizes and shapes – Desktop type which lies flat– Mid Tower – Full Tower

Mouse and Keyboard

• We are the main input devices on a personal computer.

• We allow you to interact with the computer.

• Everything you do on a computer must be done through us.

Peripherals• We are "extras" on things such as

computers.• We are separate components that enhance

a computer's effect or ability. – Among these would be speakers, external

modems, printers, scanners, microphones, servers, hubs, or even sub woofers.

• Now a days, printers, speakers, and even scanners come with many computer packages. – Speakers generate the digital and  acoustic

sounds that are bits of information on a computer.

Monitor• I am the computer part that allows you to

see what you’re doing. Without me your computer would be virtually useless.

• I have really come a long way in the past couple of years (along with the rest of technology). – Some variations of me are centimeters thick and

have about a 20" viewing screen. • I also have a variety of built in functions

such as low-power standby, degauss, and screen-adjusting controls.

• Due to the development of new technologies you will soon see larger viewing screens and smaller widths. Also, the prices of me will drop.

Scanner

There are a variety of scanners. Each come with their own software program. They are usually connected to either a Serial port or a USB port.

Power plug

USB plug

Serial port