Unit 2: Components of a Computer System Flashcards
(55 cards)
a computer system consists of
four components
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE
DATA
USER
collection of parts, a computer combined with hardware and software used to perform desired tasks
computer system
- first component of a computer system
- It refers to the tangible, physical computer equipment and devices which provide support for the major functions of the computer system
- Mainly the mechanical aspects of the computer
hardware
- controls the input of data into the computer system and the output of information from the computer system
- All these devices are interconnected with each other
HARDWARE
HARDWARE
- input devices
- output devices
- system unit
- motherboard
- processor
- memory
- RAM
- ROM - storage devices
- magnetic storage device
- optical storage device
- flash memory device
- online and cloud storage - communication devices
- Used to enter data or instructions into a computer system
2 categories
- INPUT DEVICES
Manual Input Devices
- needs to be operated by a human to input data
Automatic Input Devices
- can input data on their own
Each input device is concerned with a specific type of data:
Scanner – documents or images
Digital Camera – still and moving
images
keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner, numeric keypad, light pen, touch screen, digital camera, web cam
common manual input devices
magnetic stripe reader
magnetic ink character recognition
chip and pin reader
optical mark reader
optical character reader
barcode reader
common automatic input devices
- convey information from the computer system to one or more
people - When raw data has been processed it becomes usable information
- pieces of hardware that send this usable information out of the computer
- OUTPUT DEVICES
- send information out temporarily and some send information out permanently
temporary output device
permanent output device
OUTPUT DEVICES
temporary output device – monitors
permanent output devices –printers which output information
onto paper as hard copy
crt monitor
tft monitor
laser printer
inkjet printer
dot matrix printer
plotter
speakers
multimedia projector
common output devices
Almost all input and output devices are known as
- These are non-essential hardware components that usually connect to the system externally
- called non-essential because the system can operate without them.
peripheral devices
houses the electronic components to process data
- SYSTEM UNIT
- main circuit board of the system unit
- central to any computer system
- All components are plugged here either directly (straight into the circuit board) or indirectly (vis USB ports)
motherboard
- the brain of the computer
- Electronic component that interprets and carries out basic instructions
- ‘controls’ what the
computer does and is responsible for performing calculations and data processing
processor
Electronic component that store instructions waiting to be executed and data needed by those instructions.
memory
- 2 types of internal memory
- used to store computer data and this can be directly accessed by the CPU
- sometimes referred to as ‘primary storage’
RAM and ROM
- used to permanently store instructions that tell the computer how to boot (start-up)
- also loads the operating system (e.g. Windows).
- These instructions are known as ___________ or the _____________
ROM
read-only memory
BIOS (Basic input/output system) or boot program
Information stored in ROM is known as ______________.
This means that the contents
of ROM cannot be altered or added to by the user.
- fast memory
- can be accessed and read very quickly
- Non-Volatile memory
examples of ROM
read-only
DVD/CD (bought in stores containing pre-recorded music and movie files)
- used to temporarily store information that is currently in use by the computer
- can be read from and written to and so the information stored in RAM can change all the time
- fast memory; generally measured in GB (Gigabytes)
RAM
random access memory
- Volatile Memory and stores date ‘non-permanently’. This means that information stored in RAM is deleted as soon as the computer is turned off.
- The more RAM you have installed in your computer – the faster it can perform
RAM
random access memory
- Holds data, instructions and information permanently for future use
- records (writes) and/or retrieves (reads) items to and from storage media
- used to back-up data in case original copies are lost or damaged
__________: used to store data that is not instantly needed by the computer. Also permanently store data and programs for as long as we need
2 categories
- STORAGE DEVICES
secondary storage devices
Storage Devices: internal storage (internal hard disk drives)
External Storage (external hard
disk drive, memory sticks, etc.)
Example of Storage Devices
MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICE
- hard drive
OPTICAL STORAGE DEVICE
- blu-ray disc
- COD ROM disc
- CD-R and CD-RW disc
- DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW disc
FLASH MEMORY DEVICE
- memory card
- memory stick
- SSD (Solid State Drive)
- USB flash drive, jump drive or thumb drive
ONLINE AND CLOUD STORAGE
- cloud storage
- network media
