Tic 2015

Informática (TIC)

Components of a Computer System

Tic 2015

Four basic parts

The computer is a machine that changes information from one form to another

Takes in information (input) and gives out information (output) All computer systems have four basic parts:

INPUT PROCESSING OUTPUT

STORAGE

COMMUNICATIONS

Tic 2015

Components of a Computer System

COMPUTER SYSTEM

HARDWARE SOFTWARE

Programs, routines and procedures that can be run

on a computer system

The physical parts of a computer system

Tic 2015

Hardware

Processor

Storage

devicesInput devices

Output

devices

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Storage devices

Storage devices

Primary storage

Secondary storage

Storage inside the computer, only used by the processor

ROMRead -Only Memory

• can’t be changed

• Non volatile

RAMRandom -Access Memory

Allows the computer to record information, so it can be read later.

• Can be changed

• Volatile

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Storage Devices

Secondary storage

Magnetic storage

Magnetic disks

Magnetic stripe

• Hard disk

• Jaz disk

• Floppy disk

• Zip disk

Magnetic tape

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Optical storage

• CD/DVD ROM can only be read.

• CD-R/DVD-R (recordable once)

• CD-RW/DVD-RW rewritable

• DVD-RAM writing and reading can occur at the same time (rewritable) (10 GB)

Secondary storage

Storage Devices

Blu-ray disks: largest capacity of all the optical media available (25GB)

Tic 2015

Storage Devices

Secondary storage

Solid state backing store

Memory sticks/pen drives

• very compact and portable

• very robust

• large capacity

• files are easy to lose

• Is not possible to write protect the data and files

Control the movment of electrons within a microchip.

Flash memory cards: they are used to store photos, music

• very compact, easily removed

• very robust

• expensive

• finite life in terms of the number of times they can be read from and written to