Unit 3 - Computer Systems Assignment 1 - The structure of a computer system

Identify the common components of a computer system Task one Identify the common components of a computer system

Computer memory There are many different types of computer memory such as flash memory, ROM or RAM. Many electrical devices use memory like mobile phones, tvs and of course computers. The term "memory" is used for the information in physical systems which are fast (i.e. RAM), as a distinction from physical systems which are slow to access

Mother board The motherboard provides the foundation for the rest of the computer components. Everything is attached to the motherboard -- the CPU, the memory, the monitor, the mouse, the keyboard, add-on cards, and extra peripherals like printers, scanners, and speakers. We could say that the motherboard is like the nervous system and skeleton of the human body -- it provides support for the internal components and also passes information between all the computer parts.

CPU If the motherboard is the nervous system, the CPU is the brain. Most of the mathematical manipulations that make computers operate are done by the CPU. Other components may also have their own processors, but the results still have to be passed through the CPU. The speed of the computer is usually measured by the speed of the CPU. Even though there are other factors affecting speed, the CPU rating is usually seen the single most important measure of performance. Modern CPUs are usually rated between 2.0 GHz and 3.0 GHz, although you see some models in the 3.5 GHz range. These numbers refer to the number of calculations the processor can make in one second, so obviously the higher the number the faster the computer. CPUs generate a lot of heat, so they need a heat sink and fan to prevent them from overheating.

Hard drive Since the data contained in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off, there has to be a place to store it permanently. This is what the hard disk is for. It also contains all our personal work as well as the operating system. An operating system like Windows uses around 4 gigabytes of hard drive space, and the extra space can be used to install computer programs and to store personal data. Eighty gigabyte hard drives are the most common, but they are available at up to 400 GB, and several hard drives can be installed in one case.

Peripherals All that is needed to complete the basic computer system is a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Accessories like a printer or scanner can be useful for office work, and gamers will probably want to add speakers and joystick controls.