Hardware

Personal Computer System

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Building Your Own PC

What would you need?

Keyboard & Mouse

Inside the system cabinet

Case and power supply

Processor chip – the Central Processor Unit (CPU)

Memory chips – Random Access Memory (RAM)

Motherboard – the system board

1. Memory chips plug in

2. Processor chip plugs in

3. Motherboard attaches to system cabinet

4. Power supply is connected to system cabinet

5. Power supply wire is connected to motherboard

Storage Hardware: Floppy, Hard Drive, Zip, CD/DVD, USB

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Building Your Own PC

Input Hardware

Keyboard

Convert letters, numbers, and other characters into

electrical signal readable by the processor

Mouse

Non keyboard input device ”pointing device” that is used to

manipulate objects viewed on the computer display screen

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Building Your Own PC

Output hardware

Video and sound cards

Monitor

Speakers

Printer

Joystick

Communications hardware

Modem (internal or external)

A device that sends and receives data over telephone lines to and

from computers

Network Card

A device that allow the computer to connect to the WWW using

wired or wireless network

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Building Your Own PC

Storage Hardware: Floppy, Hard Drive, Zip, CD/DVD, USB

Storage capacity is represented in bytes

1 byte = 1 character of data = 8 bits

1 kilobyte = 1,024 characters

1 megabyte = 1,048,576 (106 characters)

1 gigabyte = over 1 billion ( 109 characters)

1 terabyte = over 1 trillion (1012 characters)

1 petabyte = about 1 quadrillion( 1015 characters)

Permanently installed: floppy drives, hard drives, Zip

drives, CD/DVD drives, USB ports

Removable media: floppy disks, Zip disks, CDs, DVDs,

flash drives

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Machine Language

A binary-type programming language built

into the CPU that is run directly by the

computer

Each CPU type has its own machine

language (i.e., machine dependent)

This is why, for example: software written to

a Macintosh will not run to a Dell PC

Machine Language

How do people-comprehensible program instructions

become comprehensible machine language?

By special system programs “Language Translators”

Language Translators

System programs convert the programming instructions

into machine language

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The System Unit: The Basics

The CPU

Older CPUs processing speeds are in MegaHertz 1 MHz = 1 Million ticks per second

Current CPUs processing speeds are in GigaHertz 1 GHz = 1 Billion ticks per second

The faster a CPU runs, the more power it consumes, and the more heat it generates

Block Diagram of System

Memory

CPU

ALU

Control Unit

register

Program Counter

Ports

A port is connecting socket or jack on the

outside of the system unit into which are

plugged different kinds of cables.

A port allow you to plug in a cable to connect

to a peripheral device such as monitor or

printer

USB Port

Universal Serial Bus can theoretically connect to

peripheral multipurpose devices

Advantages

low-cost

Be able to connect lots of devices

Devices are automatically configured when they are

installed – no need to download new drivers

More on the System UnitSpecialized Expansion Ports

Port Type

4. Bluetooth

5. Ethernet

Description

4. Uses short-range radio waves that transmit up to 30 fta. Connects computers to printers,

keyboards, headsets, wireless mouse

5. The standard for linking all devices in a Local Area Network• It is commonly used to connect microcomputers, cable

modems and printers

• To use Ethernet, the computer must have network interface card, and special Ethernet cables

Primary Storage (Memory Chips)

Memory Chip

1. RAM

2. ROM

3. CMOS

Explanation

1. Random Access Memory chips are volatile and hold:

a. Software instructions

b. Data before & after the CPU processes it

2. Read Only Memory

a. Cannot be written on or erased without special equipment

b. Are loaded at factory with fixed start-up instructions

3. Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor

a. Powered by a battery, so it doesn’t loose its data when power is turned off

b. Contains time, date, calendar, boot password

Secondary Storage Hard Disks

Floppies

Store about 1.44 MB

Zip Disks

Store 100, 250, or 750 MB

Optical Disks

CDs and DVDs, DVDs Stores 9.4 or more GB

Magnetic Tape

Store terabytes of data, popular for large backups

don’t get it near a magnet as that will erase it

Online Secondary Storage

Allows you to use the internet to back up your data

Flash

Nonvolatile memory that can be erased and reprogrammed more than once.

Doesn’t require a battery

Input & Output

Input Hardware

Devices that translate data into a form the computer can

process

Translates words, numbers, sounds, and pictures into

binary

Output Hardware

Devices that translate information processed by the

computer into a form humans can understand

Translates binary into words, numbers, sounds, and

pictures

Input Hardware

Keyboards: convert letters, numbers, and characters into electrical signals

Pointing Devices

Control the position of the cursor or pointer on the screen and allow the user to select options displayed on the screen

Mouse is the principal pointing tool

Trackball

Pointing Stick

Touchpad

Touch Screens

Pen input

Pointing Devices

Trackball

Pointing Stick

Touchpad

Touch Screens

Input Hardware

Scanning & Reading Devices (Scanners)

Source Data Entry devices create machine-readable data

and feed it directly into the computer

Fax Machines

Audio Input Devices

Records analog sound and translates it into digital files for storage and processing

Bar code readers

Webcams and Video-input Cards

Digital Cameras

Camera Phones

Input Hardware

Speech-Recognition Systems

Uses a microphone or telephone as an input device

Biometrics

The science of measuring individual body characteristics,

then using them to identify a person through a fingerprint,

eye, or facial characteristic

Output Hardware

Softcopy

Data that is shown on a display screen or is in audio or

voice form; exists electronically

Output that is temporary in nature

Hardcopy

Printed and film output

Output that is more permanent in nature

Output Hardware

Softcopy

Display Screen( Monitor) :each type has its own resolution

Hardcopy

Printers

Plotters