Computer PARTS
What is hardware? The hardware are the parts of the computer itself including the Central Processing Unit (CPU), keyboards, monitors, case, and drives. (hard, CD, DVD, floppy, optical, tape, etc...).
What are devices? Other extra parts called devices include mouse, printers, modems, scanners, digital cameras, and cards (sound, color, video,etc). Together, hardware and devices are often referred to as a personal computer.
What is Hardware? Refers to objects that you can actually touch, like disks, disk drives, display screens, keyboards, printers, boards, and chips.
What is Software? Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it.
Processor The central processing unit (CPU) is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system.
Operating System The most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. For PCs, the most popular operating systems are DOS, OS/2, and Windows, but others are available, such as Linux.
Memory A form of electronic storage, it is used most often to identify fast, temporary forms of storage. If your computer's CPU had to constantly access the hard drive to retrieve every piece of data it needs, it would operate very slowly. When the information is kept in memory, the CPU can access it much more quickly. Most forms of memory are intended to store data temporarily.
Hard Drive Computer hardware that holds and spins a magnetic or optical disk and reads and writes information on it They store changing digital information in a relatively permanent form. They give computers the ability to remember things when the power goes out. Nearly every desktop computer and server in use today contains one or more hard-disk drives.
Optical Drive Optical drives retrieve and/or store data on optical discs like CDs, DVDs, and BDs (Blu-ray discs) which hold much more information than classic portable media options like the floppy disk. Optical Drive (Internal BD/DVD/CD Burner)
Monitor A device that displays signals on a computer screen A monitor or display (sometimes called a visual display unit) is an electronic visual display for computers. Also knows as: "computer screen" or "display."
Video Card A video card, video adapter, graphics accelerator card, display adapter, or graphics card is an expansion card which generates output images to a display. Most video cards offer added functions, such as accelerated rendering of 3Dscenes and 2D graphics. Other modern high performance video cards are used for more graphically demanding purposes, such as PC games.
Sound Card A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs.
Speakers Speakers are one of the most common output devices used with computer systems. Some speakers are designed to work specifically with computers, while others can be hooked up to any type of sound system. Regardless of their design, the purpose of speakers is to produce audio output that can be heard by the listener.
Keyboard a keyboard is a data input device for computers; arrangement of keys is modeled after the typewriter keyboard
Mouse a hand-operated electronic device that controls the coordinates of a cursor on your computer screen as you move it around on a pad.
Modem A device for transmitting usually digital data over telephone wires by modulating the data into an audio signal to send it and demodulating an audio signal into data to receive it.
Computer Buying Project! Now, get started on your Computer Buying Project!!! You must fill out the form while you research. Then, write an article for “SMMS Magazine” on your new computer. Make sure you include why you chose it, and specifications for your article.