Hardware Devices and Their Uses Modified excerpt from: GO! with Microsoft ® Office 2003 Brief, 2 nd Edition

2 Hardware Devices and Their Uses Hardware Hardware The computer and any equipment connected to it The computer and any equipment connected to it Hardware devices Hardware devices The physical components of the computer The physical components of the computer Peripherals Peripherals Items such as the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and printer that attach to the computer Items such as the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and printer that attach to the computer

3 Hardware Devices and Their Uses

4 System unit System unit The computer itself The computer itself Contains many of the critical hardware and electrical components Contains many of the critical hardware and electrical components Also referred to as the tower, box, or console Also referred to as the tower, box, or console

5 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System unit System unit Key components: Key components: The microprocessor chip The microprocessor chip Also known as the central processing unit (CPU) Also known as the central processing unit (CPU) Motherboard Motherboard A large printed circuit board to which all the other circuit boards in the computer are connected A large printed circuit board to which all the other circuit boards in the computer are connected

6 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System unit System unit CPU CPU Brain of the computer Brain of the computer Responsible for controlling all the commands and tasks the computer performs Responsible for controlling all the commands and tasks the computer performs Two main parts: Two main parts: Control unit Control unit Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)

7 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System unit System unit CPU CPU Control unit Control unit Obtains instructions from the computer’s memory, and then interprets and executes them Obtains instructions from the computer’s memory, and then interprets and executes them Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) Performs arithmetic and logic functions for the computer Performs arithmetic and logic functions for the computer Handles addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division Handles addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division Makes logical and comparison decisions Makes logical and comparison decisions

8 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System Unit System Unit Well-known chip (CPU) manufacturers: Well-known chip (CPU) manufacturers: Intel Intel Chips that Intel makes include: Chips that Intel makes include: Pentium Pentium Celeron Celeron Centrino Centrino Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Chips that AMD makes include: Chips that AMD makes include: Athlon Athlon Sempron Sempron Turion Turion Motorola Motorola

9 Hardware Devices and Their Uses The Motherboard

10 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System unit System unit Motherboard Motherboard Main computer circuit board; connects all components Main computer circuit board; connects all components Components include: Components include: CPU CPU Memory (RAM) chips Memory (RAM) chips Memory (RAM) slots Memory (RAM) slots Expansion cards Expansion cards Expansion slots Expansion slots

11 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System unit System unit Motherboard components: Motherboard components: CPU CPU Memory (RAM) chips Memory (RAM) chips Temporary holding area where data is stored; RAM means Random Access Memory Temporary holding area where data is stored; RAM means Random Access Memory Memory (RAM) slots Memory (RAM) slots Slots on motherboard used to hold memory (RAM) chips Slots on motherboard used to hold memory (RAM) chips Expansion cards Expansion cards Removable circuit boards used for new peripherals or to increase capabilities Removable circuit boards used for new peripherals or to increase capabilities Expansion slots Expansion slots Hold expansion cards Hold expansion cards

12 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System unit System unit Clock speed Clock speed Speed at which the CPU can process data Speed at which the CPU can process data Measured in either megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz) Measured in either megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz)

13 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System Unit System Unit Memory Memory Another critical system unit component Another critical system unit component Two types: Two types: ROM ROM RAM RAM

14 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System Unit System Unit Memory Memory ROM, or Read Only Memory ROM, or Read Only Memory Prerecorded on a chip Prerecorded on a chip Information on a ROM chip can’t be changed, removed, or rewritten Information on a ROM chip can’t be changed, removed, or rewritten Nonvolatile memory Nonvolatile memory Retains its contents even if the computer is turned off Retains its contents even if the computer is turned off Used to store critical information such as the program used to start up, or boot, the computer Used to store critical information such as the program used to start up, or boot, the computer

15 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System Unit System Unit Memory Memory RAM, or Random Access Memory RAM, or Random Access Memory The computer’s short-term memory The computer’s short-term memory Stores data temporarily as it is being processed Stores data temporarily as it is being processed Contents can be changed or rewritten Contents can be changed or rewritten Volatile memory Volatile memory Erased when the computer is turned off Erased when the computer is turned off

16 Hardware Devices and Their Uses System Unit System Unit Memory Memory The more tasks your computer performs at one time, the more memory it uses The more tasks your computer performs at one time, the more memory it uses Installing new memory is one of the cheapest and easiest system upgrades Installing new memory is one of the cheapest and easiest system upgrades