Computer Computer HardwareHardwareComputer Computer HardwareHardware

It’s really not that It’s really not that “hard.”“hard.”

Created By:Created By:

Karen PruittKaren Pruitt

Weddington Middle SchoolWeddington Middle School

The CaseThe CaseThe CaseThe Case

•The computer's case is The computer's case is nothing more than its shell nothing more than its shell or a skeleton. or a skeleton. •The case holds the The case holds the computer together, cooling computer together, cooling (with fans), and grounding (with fans), and grounding the computer components the computer components through its steel. through its steel. •Larger cases with a lot of Larger cases with a lot of expansion bays are expansion bays are preferable because you preferable because you have lots of room to work have lots of room to work inside your case and to inside your case and to upgrade with more upgrade with more components.components.

Expansion Expansion BaysBays

The Power SupplyThe Power SupplyThe Power SupplyThe Power SupplyThe power supply supplies The power supply supplies the electrical power for a the electrical power for a

computer.computer.

Fan – Helps keep components cool.

Plug for electrical cord

Power Switch

The case and power The case and power supply are the most supply are the most simple, yet very essential simple, yet very essential components of the components of the computer. You could computer. You could actually build a computer actually build a computer with no case, you'd have with no case, you'd have all the components all the components strewn across your floor strewn across your floor and vulnerable to and vulnerable to damage. damage.

The MotherboardThe MotherboardThe MotherboardThe Motherboard

The motherboard is like The motherboard is like a big city with many a big city with many streets and highways that streets and highways that connect all of the connect all of the buildings together. buildings together. Instead of streets and Instead of streets and highways, the highways, the motherboard uses tiny motherboard uses tiny electrical paths to connect electrical paths to connect each component of the each component of the computer together. These computer together. These paths are called "buses." paths are called "buses." The more buses that The more buses that connect to a component, connect to a component, the faster it can operate.the faster it can operate.

Expansion SlotsExpansion SlotsExpansion SlotsExpansion Slots

Expansion SlotsExpansion Slots All of the basic All of the basic circuitry and circuitry and components required for components required for a computer to function a computer to function sit either directly on the sit either directly on the motherboard or in an motherboard or in an expansion slot of the expansion slot of the motherboard or are motherboard or are connected with a cable.connected with a cable.

Expansion CardsExpansion CardsExpansion CardsExpansion Cards

Examples of types of expansion cards are Graphics Examples of types of expansion cards are Graphics cards , Sound cards, Network cards, Modems, cards , Sound cards, Network cards, Modems,

Wireless network (such as WiFi) cardsWireless network (such as WiFi) cards . .

NetworkNetwork CardCard

Sound CardSound Card Graphics/VideoGraphics/Video CardCard

Network Card or Network Card or NICNICNetwork Card or Network Card or NICNIC

Wireless NICNIC

Contacts that fit Contacts that fit exactly into the exactly into the expansion slots on expansion slots on the motherboardthe motherboard

• If you have high-speed Internet connection, you need a Network If you have high-speed Internet connection, you need a Network Interface Card if you want to connect your PC to the Internet or a network. Interface Card if you want to connect your PC to the Internet or a network. •Most newer computers have a network interface built into the Most newer computers have a network interface built into the motherboard.motherboard.

Graphic/Video CardsGraphic/Video CardsGraphic/Video CardsGraphic/Video Cards

Your video card Your video card (sometimes called a (sometimes called a graphics card) determines graphics card) determines what you see on your what you see on your computer monitor. The computer monitor. The better the quality of your better the quality of your video card, the better the video card, the better the quality of your visual quality of your visual display. You need a good display. You need a good video card, preferably one video card, preferably one with a graphic accelerator with a graphic accelerator for performing for performing calculations, if you work calculations, if you work with graphic and with graphic and multimedia programs.multimedia programs.

Your monitor Your monitor connects connects

here.here.

Sound CardsSound CardsSound CardsSound CardsSound cards let your computer Sound cards let your computer output, input and manipulate output, input and manipulate

sounds. sounds.

ColorFunction

  Pink Analog microphone input.

  Blue Analog line level input.

  Green

Analog line level output for the main stereo signal (front speakers).

  Black Analog line level output for rear speakers.

Orange

S/PDIF digital output (sometimes used as an analog line output for a center speaker instead)

ConnectionsConnectionsMost sound cards adhere to Most sound cards adhere to Microsoft's standard for color Microsoft's standard for color coding the external connectors coding the external connectors as follows:as follows:

The CPUThe CPUThe CPUThe CPU

The CPU is the The CPU is the computer's control computer's control center. Think of it as the center. Think of it as the brain that does all the brain that does all the thinking (computation), thinking (computation), thus it is called the thus it is called the Central Processing Unit. Central Processing Unit. The actual CPU is about The actual CPU is about 1.5 inches square, yet it 1.5 inches square, yet it is the most critical part of is the most critical part of the computer. Having a the computer. Having a fast CPU (measured in fast CPU (measured in Gigahertz) greatly aids in Gigahertz) greatly aids in the overall speed of your the overall speed of your computer. computer.

MemoryMemoryMemoryMemory

•Random-access memory Random-access memory (commonly known by its acronym (commonly known by its acronym RAM) refers to data storage RAM) refers to data storage formats and equipment that allow formats and equipment that allow the stored data to be accessed in the stored data to be accessed in any order -- that is, at random, any order -- that is, at random, not just in sequence. not just in sequence. •In contrast, other types of In contrast, other types of memory devices floppy disks or memory devices floppy disks or CD’s) can access data on the CD’s) can access data on the storage medium only in a specific storage medium only in a specific order due to the design. order due to the design. •RAM is typically erased when a RAM is typically erased when a computer is shut down.computer is shut down.•The more RAM a computer has, The more RAM a computer has, the faster it will be.the faster it will be.

Burner or CD – R Burner or CD – R Burner or CD – R Burner or CD – R

This is a device that This is a device that allows you to save data to allows you to save data to a CD. Special CD-Rs are a CD. Special CD-Rs are required for this. They required for this. They also allow you to make also allow you to make backup copies of your backup copies of your CDs. There are a large CDs. There are a large variety of types, including variety of types, including CD-R or CD-R+RW. The CD-R or CD-R+RW. The latter has support for latter has support for rewritable CDs that can rewritable CDs that can be erased and rewritten be erased and rewritten to, while CD-R only drives to, while CD-R only drives can only write to their can only write to their CDs once.CDs once.

Floppy Disk - Floppy Disk DriveFloppy Disk - Floppy Disk DriveFloppy Disk - Floppy Disk DriveFloppy Disk - Floppy Disk Drive

A floppy disk is a A floppy disk is a data storage device data storage device that is composed of a that is composed of a ring of thin, flexible ring of thin, flexible (i.e. "floppy") magnetic (i.e. "floppy") magnetic storage medium storage medium encased in a square or encased in a square or rectangular plastic rectangular plastic wallet. Floppy disks wallet. Floppy disks are read and written are read and written by a floppy disk drive. by a floppy disk drive.

Input/Output PortsInput/Output PortsInput/Output PortsInput/Output Ports

I/O stands for Input and Output. The most common device I/O stands for Input and Output. The most common device for input is the keyboard. When you type, you are for input is the keyboard. When you type, you are

putting information into the computer, which is known putting information into the computer, which is known as input. The most common device for output is the as input. The most common device for output is the

monitor.monitor.

USBUSBUSBUSB•Universal Serial Bus is Universal Serial Bus is fast replacing parallel and fast replacing parallel and serial ports as the serial ports as the standard for connecting standard for connecting output devices like output devices like modems, keyboards and modems, keyboards and scanners. scanners. •USB devices are Plug-and-USB devices are Plug-and-Play, which means that Play, which means that your PC will recognize your PC will recognize them when you plug them them when you plug them in without you having to in without you having to restart your computer. restart your computer. •They are also 'hot-They are also 'hot-swappable', so it's safe to swappable', so it's safe to add and remove USB add and remove USB devices while the PC is on. devices while the PC is on. •The connector is a small The connector is a small rectangular plug.rectangular plug.

A Flash Drive, a typical A Flash Drive, a typical USB mass-storage USB mass-storage

devicedevice

Dots Per Inch (DPI)Dots Per Inch (DPI)Dots Per Inch (DPI)Dots Per Inch (DPI) Dots per Inch is a measurement used both on monitors and printers. The Dots per Inch is a measurement used both on monitors and printers. The

measurements are done different ways though. The higher numbers on measurements are done different ways though. The higher numbers on printers generally represent more detailed print quality (i.e. 1440x1440 printers generally represent more detailed print quality (i.e. 1440x1440 would be very high resolution printing). The lower numbers on monitors would be very high resolution printing). The lower numbers on monitors represent clearer picture quality (i.e. .22 dpi would be a very high quality represent clearer picture quality (i.e. .22 dpi would be a very high quality monitor). monitor).

A close-up of the dots produced A close-up of the dots produced by an inkjet printer at draft by an inkjet printer at draft quality. Actual size is quality. Actual size is approximately 0.25 inches square. approximately 0.25 inches square. Individual colored droplets of ink Individual colored droplets of ink are visible; this sample is about are visible; this sample is about 150 DPI.150 DPI.

A 10×10-pixel image on a A 10×10-pixel image on a computer display may computer display may require many more than require many more than 10×10 printer dots to 10×10 printer dots to accurately reproduce, due to accurately reproduce, due to limitations of available ink limitations of available ink colors in the printer.colors in the printer.

The MonitorThe MonitorThe MonitorThe Monitor

A TV-like tube that displays your computer's output. A TV-like tube that displays your computer's output.

CRT Monitor CRT Monitor (Cathode Ray (Cathode Ray

Tube)Tube)

Flat Panel LCD Flat Panel LCD Monitor (Liquid Monitor (Liquid Crystal Display)Crystal Display)

Display ResolutionDisplay ResolutionDisplay ResolutionDisplay Resolution

• Similar to DPI, the resolution is how many Similar to DPI, the resolution is how many pixels can be displayed on the screen at pixels can be displayed on the screen at once. once.

• The resolution is measured in the number of The resolution is measured in the number of pixels wide and high that the display is. pixels wide and high that the display is.

• The most common resolutions are 640x480, The most common resolutions are 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, and 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, and 1600x1200. 1600x1200.

• Higher resolutions provide better quality Higher resolutions provide better quality pictures, but also make text and images pictures, but also make text and images smaller because more information is smaller because more information is squeezed onto the same size screen. squeezed onto the same size screen.

• The size of the monitor is important when The size of the monitor is important when considering the resolution. considering the resolution.

• A 14" or 15" monitor is best with an 800x600 A 14" or 15" monitor is best with an 800x600 resolution. resolution.

• 1024x768 is best for 17" monitors. 1024x768 is best for 17" monitors. • The resolution of an analog TV screen is The resolution of an analog TV screen is

512x400; another reason why a computer's 512x400; another reason why a computer's display is much better than a TV's.display is much better than a TV's.

• Although, HDTV now reaches resolutions of Although, HDTV now reaches resolutions of 1280x720.1280x720.

That’s all

folks…