Transcript 1.15HardwareNotes - Mr Kratz and his Wiki

Grade 9 BTT Hardware Notes
Hardware and Software
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Hardware is any part of the
computer system you can see
Software is a set of electronic
instructions (programs) that tell a
computer what to do
 Application:
made by others so you
can do specific things
 Operating System: made by others
to control the operation of
computers
 Data: what you have made
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
How Computers Work:
They collect, process, store and
output information
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Devices =
Hardware
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Input: devices that let you put data into
the computer; keyboard & mouse
Process: the computer chip that
controls all the work done by the
devices
Store: keep information for a long time;
hard drive, floppies, CD-ROM
Output: devices that show what was
processed: printers & monitors
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
A typical computer system
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Computer Case (Chassis): contains all the
major parts and the connects for other parts
Monitor: shows text and graphics (soft copy)
Printer: shows text and graphics on paper
(hard copy)
Keyboard: allows user-entered commands to
be placed in the computer (QWERTY)
Mouse: hand-held device to pick and move
screen objects like text and graphics
Modem: allows communication to other
computers through the phone lines
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
Parts Found Inside Computer Case
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Power Supply:
 also
called “transformer”; converts from AC to DC
 changes household electricity into form that
computer can use (115v to 12v or 5v)
 has a fan to cool the parts
 needs power cord
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Hard Drive:
 large,
built-in storage area
 keeps operating system files, application files and
data files
 files stored magnetically
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Parts Found Inside Computer Case
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Motherboard:
 large
flat plate where all parts connect to
 contains Central Processing Unit (CPU or
microprocessor) which controls all the activities of
the computer system
 contains different integrated circuits (chips) which
help the CPU - especially RAM chips that help
increase the CPU’s memory
 has expansion slots where other devices can be
attached via expansion cards; eg. Video expansion
card fits into an expansion slot then the monitor
cable fits into the expansion card
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
Parts Found Inside Computer Case
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Floppy Drive:
 stores/retrieves
data to/from floppy diskettes
 for easy transportation of small data files
 stores data magnetically
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CD-ROM Drive:
 stores
large amounts of information
 stores data by laser light reflected from small holes
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Tape Drive:
 also
called “zip”drives
 used for backing up data daily
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Drive Bays: the place where all the drives are put
Prepared by: C. Novak into
Ridgemont
Parts Found Inside Computer Case
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Ports: connectors at the back of the case where
devices are plugged in
 Parallel
 25
holes (female)
 connects printers or external tape drives
 called LPT1 and LPT2
 Serial
 either
9 or 25 pins (male)
 connects mouse or modem
 called COM1 and COM2
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
Parts Found Inside Computer Case
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Other Ports:
 Monitor
 Keyboard
 Game
 USB (Universal Serial Bus): new; many devices can be
connected using this one port; on new iMACs
 Network: connects computer to other computers or other
devices to share information
Other Parts:
 Sound Card
 Joy stick for games
 Modem
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
CPUs - Microprocessors
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Functions:
 process
instructions
 perform calculations
 manage the flow of data through the whole
computer system
 performs millions of calculations per second
 uses switches (transistors) to turn circuits ON or
OFF
 uses electricity (either there or not there) to make
the calculations
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
Microprocessor Specifications
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Made by Intel, AMD, Cyrix and Motorola (MACs)
Generations: newer ones can process more data
faster; Intel 80486; Pentium (80586); Pentium Pro
(80686); MMX technology to improve multimedia
Speed is important; measured in megahertz (MHz)
Inserted into motherboard: if upgrading to a faster
one, make sure the motherboard can handle the
faster speed
Many come with their own fans to cool them down
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
Memory Cache and Analogy
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Internal Cache (on
CPU):
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first place to look for
data; very fast; primary
(L1) cache
External Cache (on
motherboard):
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Look for documents on
your desk
Look for documents in
your desk drawer
SRAM; slower than L1;
secondary (L2) cache
RAM (Random Access
Memory):
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slower than others;
constantly being
updated; deleted when
powered OFF
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Look for documents in a
filing cabinet
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
Operating Systems
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Software that controls the overall activity of a
computer
The operating system needs the hardware and
the hardware needs to software - both can be
upgraded though
FUNCTIONS:
 controls
the devices and lets the devices interact
 lets application programs run
 manages the files: sort, copy, delete, view, make
folders etc.
Prepared by: C. Novak Ridgemont
Operating Systems
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What are some names of Operating
Systems?
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