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Hardware - A Generic Term Used To Describe Any: Computer System

The basic components of a computer include the case, power supply, motherboard, processor, memory, drive controllers, hard disk drive, CD-ROM drive, floppy drive, and other possible storage devices like DVD drives or tape backup devices. The motherboard contains the core components including the microprocessor, memory, and drive controllers. Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system including input, output, storage, and processing devices.

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Aaron James Lico
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32 views

Hardware - A Generic Term Used To Describe Any: Computer System

The basic components of a computer include the case, power supply, motherboard, processor, memory, drive controllers, hard disk drive, CD-ROM drive, floppy drive, and other possible storage devices like DVD drives or tape backup devices. The motherboard contains the core components including the microprocessor, memory, and drive controllers. Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system including input, output, storage, and processing devices.

Uploaded by

Aaron James Lico
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computers are made of the following basic components: 6.

Other possible file storage devices include


DVD devices, Tape backup devices, and
1. Case with hardware inside: some others.

1. Power Supply - The power supply comes 2. Monitor - This device which operates like a TV set
with the case, but this component is lets the user see how the computer is responding to
mentioned separately since there are various their commands.
types of power supplies. The one you should
get depends on the requirements of your 3. Keyboard - This is where the user enters text
system. This will be discussed in more detail commands into the computer.
later
4. Mouse - A point and click interface for entering
2. Motherboard - This is where the core commands which works well in graphical
components of your computer reside which environments.
are listed below. Also the support cards for
video, sound, networking and more are
mounted into this board. Hardware - A generic term used to describe any
component of a computer system with a physical
presence and which can, therefore, been seen and
1. Microprocessor - This is the brain touched.
of your computer. It performs
commands and instructions and
controls the operation of the Hardware components are often categorised as
computer.
2. Memory - The RAM in your being either input, output, storage or processing
system is mounted on the components. Devices which are not an integral part
motherboard. This is memory that
of the CPU are referred to as being peripherals.
must be powered on to retain its
contents. Peripherals are usually used for either input, storage
3. Drive controllers - The drive or output (such as a hard disk, keyboard or printer).
controllers control the interface of
your system to your hard drives. A device does not necessarily have to be outside the
The controllers let your hard drives same physical box as the CPU. The best example of
work by controlling their operation.
On most systems, they are included this is the hard disk, which is a peripheral even
on the motherboard, however you though it is not usually housed within the main case.
may add additional controllers for
faster or other types of drives.

3. Hard disk drive(s) - This is where your


files are permanently stored on your
computer. Also, normally, your operating
system is installed here.

4. CD-ROM drive(s) - This is normally a read


only drive where files are permanently
stored. There are now read/write CD-ROM
drives that use special software to allow Fig 1: The main hardware components of a
users to read from and write to these drives. computer system

5. Floppy drive(s) - A floppy is a small disk


storage device that today typically has about Input devices are hardware devices which take
1.4 Megabytes of memory capacity.
information from the user of the computer system,
convert it into electrical signals and transmit it to the
processor. The primary function of input devices is to
allow humans to interact with the computer system.
For instance a mouseallows the user to control the
movement of the pointer (a common element in user
interface design).

Output devices take data from the computer


system and convert it to a form that can be
interpreted by humans. For instance
a monitor creates a visual electronic display to
output information created by the processor to the
user.

Processing devices are the components


responsible for the processing of information within
the computer system. This includes devices such as
the CPU, memory and motherboard.

Storage devices are components which allow data


to be stored within a computer system. This includes
devices such as hard disk drives and compact
disk drives.

Components of a Computer

The five classic components of a computer are briefly


described below. Each component is discussed in more detail
in its own section. The operation of the processor is best
understood in terms of these components.

 Datapath - manipulates the data coming through the


processor. It also provides a small amount of
temporary data storage.
 Control - generates control signals that direct the
operation of memory and the datapath.
 Memory - holds instructions and most of the data for
currently executing programs.
 Input - external devices such as keyboards, mice,
disks, and networks that provide input to the
processor.
 Output - external devices such as displays, printers,
disks, and networks that receive data from the
processor.

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