Introduction to Computers

By: Najam Khan

What we will learn about:

• Hardware: The term used to describe the physical parts of a computer.

• Ex. The box, the motherboard, the circuits, the mouse, keyboard, soundcard…

• Software: The programs that allow the computer to run.

•Ex. The Operating system, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Accounting

software…

Hardware

Hardware refers to those parts of a computer that you can actually hold.

• Ex: Monitor, Motherboard, Diskettes, Memory Sticks, keyboard, mouse, etc.

• If you can hold it … its hardware!

Peripherals (part of Hardware)

• Peripherals are hardware that are outside the computer.

• The dictionary defines it as:n. Computer Science

An auxiliary device, such as a printer, modem, or storage

system, that works in conjunction with a computer.

• Ex. Printer, Keyboard, Mouse, speakers, Microphone, Camera, Etc.

Peripherals!

RAM (part of Hardware)

Random Access Memory•RAM is temporary memory that is used while the

computer is on. (A computer needs some memory just to work.)

• More RAM will allow the computer to do more things at the same time.

•These are 2 sticks of RAM.

• Each one is 256 MB x2 = 512 MB

•Ram in measured in Megabytes

•1000 MB = 1 GB (Gigabyte)

The Hard Drive (also hardware)

This is an image of a Hard Disk

•The hard drive is another kind of memory where you would save your personal files and software application files (programs like WORD).

•Anything you save to the hard drive will stay there even when the computer is off, even if you come back 20 years later.

Hard disk memory is

measured in Gigabytes

(usually between 10GB-350GB)

Removable Storage

• Not part of the computer (peripheral)

• Floppy Disk (1.44 MB)

• CD (700 MB)

• USB Drive or Flash Drive or Memory stick (256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB)

• best buy

The MotherboardThe Motherboard is the “headquarters” of the computer. This is what all other components are plugged into.(Such as Soundcards, Video cards, Ram, …)

The Processor• The processor is the brain of

your computer.

• This will determine how smart your computer is (and what you will be able to make it do)

• If your computer is stupid (slow processor), it might not be able to run complicated new software or technology, or it might not be able to handle a new version of Microsoft Windows or Office.

This is an Intel Pentium 4 processor. Intel is a company name.

Which companies make processors?

• Intel

• AMD

Intel:

• 286 (1982)

• 386

• 486

• 586 (Pentium)

• Pentium I

• Pentium II

• Pentium III

• Intel Celeron

• Intel Centrino

• Pentium 4

• Intel Core 2 Duo (2007)

• Link to intel processors

AMD:

• AM386 (1991)

• AM486

• K5

• K6

• Athlon XP

• ATHLON 64 X2 (2005)

• AMD Sempron

• K10 Phenom (2008)

Processors also have a speed!

• Speed is measured in Megahertz

1000 MHz = 1 Gigahertz

• (Don’t confuse with Gigabytes! Hertz means speed)

• (older)…433MHz…733MHz….833MHz…1GHz,

1.33GHz, 2.33 GHz, 3GHz…..(newer)

Software

• Software refers to all the programs on your computer.

• One of the most important programs is…

The Operating SystemThe Operating System

► What is the operating system?What is the operating system?

► It is loaded onto the computer before It is loaded onto the computer before any programs.any programs.

► It makes the computer easy to use and It makes the computer easy to use and allows programs to run. Instead of allows programs to run. Instead of coding, you can click on icons and have coding, you can click on icons and have ‘Windows” open up with options.‘Windows” open up with options.

► Without an operating system, your Without an operating system, your computer would display a black screen computer would display a black screen and green/grey letters, and nothing else!and green/grey letters, and nothing else!

Common Operating Systems

• Microsoft keeps making the operating systems better!

• Windows 95• Windows 98• Windows 2000• Windows NT• Windows XP…• And most recently,

Windows Vista

• Imagine a city with no roads….

• Its very hard to get around and do things.

• Now imagine roads are built…

• This is like putting an operating system on a computer.

• It’s the first thing you have to put on the computer before you put any programs on it or before you can use it.

• The operating system is a big file!

Other Software…

• After you put the operating system, now you can put other programs on your computer such as:

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)• Video game files• Internet• Accounting, or science or math programs• There are thousands of different programs.

Question

• What type of memory is usually larger?

• RAM or Hard Drive?

• HARD DRIVE!

Question

• Which is not normal for Hard Drive size?

• 20 GB?• 34 000 MB?• 1 GB?• 350 GB?

• 1 GB. It is not enough to even load the O/S

What is the name of the hardware that all components are attached?

• The Motherboard.

What is the most important software that should be loaded to a

computer?

• The Operating System

• (Windows XP or Windows VISTA)

Why do public computers sometimes have locks on the back?

• People steal hardware.

How many Gigabytes is 19 000 MB?

• 19 GB

At school, where are your personal files saved?

• The H drive (a network drive)

• All computers in the school are connected (networked)

What is normal for a USB Drive?

• 8 MB

• 1 GB

• 380 GB

Which computer is better?

• Pentium 4, 2 GB RAM, 280 GB Hard Drive

• Pentium 4, 1 GB RAM, 300 GB Hard Drive

• It has twice as much ram, and just a tiny bit less storage.

What is the difference between the type of technology used for these:

ANALOG DIGITAL

Which one has more storage size?

• A CD or a 256MB USB Drive?

• CD. App. 700MB

How do we measure speed of a processor?

• Megahertz / Gigahertz

• 1000 MHz = 1 GHz

What do we call this?

• A USB Plug

• Universal Serial Bus

What do we call this?

• A USB Port or USB connector

Which one do you save your files to?

• RAM

• Hard Drive

• Motherboard

• Fatherboard