hard drives by tommy spaventa. computer basics and hardware computer hardware can be categorized...
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Computer Basics and Computer Basics and HardwareHardware
Computer Basics and Computer Basics and HardwareHardware
• Computer hardware can be categorized into four parts
1. Processor2. Memory 3.
Input/Output 4. Storage
ProcessorProcessorProcessorProcessor
• Processors carry out and organize instructions to other hardware
• Processors are the size of a thumbnail and made of silicon
Motherboard
Processor
MemoryMemoryMemoryMemory• Memory usually
means RAM (random access memory)
• RAM stores temporary data
• Ram determines the speed of a computer
Input/Output DevicesInput/Output DevicesInput/Output DevicesInput/Output Devices
• The user gives instructions to a computer with input devices
• The computer returns feedback with output devices
Input and Output devices
Early ComputersEarly Computers• Computers were first
built in the 1940s
• ENIAC was completed in 1945 and could process 100,000 simple calculations a second
• Apple II, shown at left, was one of the first popular home PCs
ENIAC
Apple II
What is a Hard Drive?What is a Hard Drive?
• Hard drives are hardware that store data
• They work magnetically
• Hard drives use read/write heads to both store and read data
History of Hard DrivesHistory of Hard DrivesHistory of Hard DrivesHistory of Hard Drives
• First hard drives were created in 1950s
• PCs saw the first hard drives in the 1980s. Prior to that they had none.
Read/Write HeadsRead/Write Heads
• Read and write heads work by magnetically changing and reading data on the hard drive platters
• The heads never touch the platters since they are supported by a cushion of air
PlattersPlatters• The platters store all of
the information
• Platters are mirror smooth and some can show reflections
• Platters are not very large, as you can see with the image to the left
• Hard Drives can have multiple platters
How Hard Drives Work How Hard Drives Work MagneticallyMagnetically
• When a write head passes over a disk the information is changed magnetically
• A read head reads that magnetic change by going over the disk backwards
What happens when you turn off a computer?
What happens when you turn off a computer?
• When ever a computer is powering down, the hard drive heads to the “landing zone”. This is an area where no data is stored. After about 50,000 landings, hard drives have a significant chance of failing.
About the AuthorAbout the Author• I’m Tommy Spaventa. I
was born in Argentina on October 26, 1990. I have one brother and enjoy tennis, swimming and soccer.
BibliographyBibliography• Gookin, Dan, and Sandra Clemons. PCs For Dummies 2nd Edition.
New York: Wiley Publishing, 2003.
• Norton, Peter. Essential Concepts. Columbus: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1999.
• Wales, Jimmy. Hard Disk. Wikipedia. 28 Apr. 2004. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_disk>
• “Computer”. World Book Encyclopedia. New York. 2003.
• Hard Disk Drives. PC Guide. 28 Apr. 2004. <http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/index-c/html>