 Input - A device, such as a keyboard, used to enter information into a computer  Output - Electronic or electromechanical equipment connected to a computer and used to transfer data out of the computer in the form of text, images, sounds or other media to a display screen, printer, loudspeaker or storage device.display screenprinter  Processing - The fundamental operation of most CPUs, regardless of the physical form they take, is to execute a sequence of stored instructions called a program.  Storage - retain digital data used for computing for some interval of timedata

 The main board of a computer, usually containing the circuitry for the central processing unit, keyboard, and monitor and often having slots for accepting additional circuitry. This is where All of the components are connected. Factors: Dimensions – length and width Number/types of expansion slots (PCI, PCI express, AGP)

 an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations.  CPU, Chip and brain of computer Manufacturers: Intel, AMD Factors: What are you using your computer for? What type of software/program will be running? What type of data will be processed? Note: the more complex the data the faster processor needed

 ROM – Read Only Memory computer memory in which program instructions, operating procedures, or other data are permanently stored, generally on electronic chips during manufacture, and that ordinarily cannot be changed by the user. Note: Part of motherboard

 A hardware device, such as a printed circuit board, that enables a personal computer to use additional peripheral devices or hardware. Factors: What type of peripheral will the adapter connect? What type of expansion slot on the motherboard will the adapter connect to? Other Cards… Sound Card NIC – Network Interface Card USB cards

 Printed circuit board that connects the monitor to motherboard. Factors: How will this be used? Monitor connection type (vga or dvi). Motherboard connection type (pci or agp)

 Disk drive containing a hard disk. Manufacturers: Western Digital, Maxtor Factors: Spindle Speed – 5400rpm, 7200rpm Storage Capacity – 160GB, 320GB, 1TB Connection Type – EIDE or SATA Size – laptop 2.5” or desktop 3.5”

 RAM – Random Access Memory (active memory)  computer memory available to the user for creating, loading, or running programs and for the temporary storage and manipulation of data, in which time of access to each item is independent of the storage sequence. Factors: Types of programs running on computer (complexity)? Number of programs running on computer?

 Servers – manages the flow of information and provides services/application to and from users on a network  Desktops -  Laptops  Notebooks

 the collection of software that directs a computer's operations, controlling and scheduling the execution of other programs, and managing storage, input/output, and communication resources.

Software or hardware that controls the interface between a computer and a peripheral device. Allows peripheral to communicate with Operating System and in turn other software and hardware Drivers are included with peripheral.