Computer Components Unit 1: Human Computer Interactions

Table of Contents Introduction: Importance of Knowing Your Components Computer Components: Processor Operating System Memory Hard Drive Optical Drive Monitor Video Card Sound Card Speakers Keyboard Mouse Modem

Introduction What’s so important about knowing PCs? Computers are everywhere. There’s not a whole lot you can do in the professional world (job wise) without a computer. Knowing the different components will help you save money and keep yourself from getting frustrated when you buy a personal computer that you eventually want to throw out the window.

Computer Components What you need to know

Processor The processor (CPU, for Central Processing Unit) is the computer's brain. It allows the processing of numeric data, meaning information entered in binary form (0 and 1), and the execution of instructions stored in memory. Why is processor speed important? The processor speed is important because it will help one know how many instructions will be executed within a given time duration. The bigger your processor the better

Operating System WindowsMac OS X Chrome OSDesktop Linux Android ConvertiblesiPad with Keyboard An operating system is software that controls the execution of computer programs and may provide various services Which operating system is the winner? We covered six different options here, but no one of them is the winner. There is no one answer that applies to everyone – each operating system has its own strengths and each is ideal for different people.

Memory Primary storage, also known as main storage or memory, is the main area in a computer in which data is stored for quick access by the computer's processor. Also known as RAM (Random Access Memory) It stores the data before it can be processed When choosing between a faster processor or more RAM. Go for the latter.

Hard Drive Computer hardware that holds and spins a magnetic or optical disk The hard drive reads and writes information on these magnetic/optical disks

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

Monitor A device that displays signals on a computer screen A monitor influences everything you do on your PC. It can make games more impressive, movies sharper and documents clearer. Details matter Image:

Video Card Alternatively referred to as a display adapter, graphics card, video adapter, video board, or a video controller, a video card is an internal circuit board that allows a display device such as a monitor to display images from the computer.

Sound Card The sound card is an expansion card that allows the computer to send audio information to an audio device like speakers or a pair of headphones. ASUS Xonar DX PCIe Sound Card © Newegg Inc.

Speakers Computer speakers range widely in quality and in price. The computer speakers typically packaged with computer systems are small, plastic, and have mediocre sound quality. Some computer speakers have equalization features such as bass and treble controls.

Keyboard and Mouse Keyboard: a data input device for computers All pictures of keyboards are from: keyboards.html Mouse: a hand-operated electronic device that controls the coordinates of a cursor on your computer screen as you move it around

Modem Modems are networking devices that convert analog and digital data for computer-to-computer communication. This is what you use to connect you to the internet.

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