1. +
Connor Howe, computer
components
By Connor Howe

2. +
CPU
 A CPU is the brain of the computer which issues commands and it stands
for central processing unit.
 It communicates with all components and gives them desired commands.
This Is because the CPUs main function is to execute a series of stored
instructions.
 CPU speed is measured in hertz, megahertz and gigahertz. Its size is
measured in bits, the higher the bits the faster the processor. the most
common CPU sizes are 8, 16, 32 and 64-bit processors.
 The CPU is found in the ZIF socket
on the motherboard and on top of
that is a layer of thermal compound and a heat sink.

3. +
Memory (ROM)
 ROM: (Read Only Memory)
ROM can be found on the motherboard. ROM contains commands that can
only be accessed by the CPU such as the boot sequence and the data on
ROM cannot be erased. There are two more advanced types of ROM these
are:
- EPROM = EPROM is Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. EPROM
can be erased by exposing it to UV light from a mercury-vapor light source.
EPROM comes in sizes from 2Kbit – 32Mbit and 256 bytes – 4 MB.
- EEPROM = EEPROM is Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only
Memory. EEPROM can be erased and reprogrammed electronically.
EPROM usually had to be removed from the system to be erased whereas
EEPROM can be erased while in circuit.
ROM EEPROM
EEPROM

4. +
Memory (continued)
 RAM: (Random Access Memory)
RAM stores the data that you are using and can be increased to speed up and enhance the performance of your
computer. RAM only stores the data while power is connected to it, so therefore if the power is removed the data
is lost. There are two main types of modern RAM these are:
- SRAM = SRAM is Static RAM. In SRAM data is stored using the state of a Flip-Flop. SRAM is more expensive but
requires less power and is faster than DRAM. SRAM is usually used as Cache memory for the CPU in modern
computers.
- DRAM = DRAM is Dynamic RAM. DRAM stores data by using a capacitor with an integrated circuit. DRAM is
volatile memory and unlike SRAM which has four to six transistors, DRAM has only one which allows DRAM to
reach high density's.
 Flash Drive: (Memory Sticks)
Flash Drive memory is used in memory. Memory sticks are a non-volatile memory type, this means they don't need
power to store data and draw what power they need from the machine they are plugged into and they also have a
solid state drive
RAM Memory Stick

5. +
Memory (continued 2)
 Permanent storage:
Some examples of permanent storage are.
- Hard Drive,
- ROM,
- Removable drives,
- Internet storage.
 Temporary storage:
Some examples of temporary storage are.
- RAM / Cache Memory.

6. + Adapter / Expansion Cards
 Adapter cards or expansion cards are used to expand the capabilities of a computer. Some
examples of these adapter cards are:
- Graphics card = the graphics / video card controls the graphic capabilities of the computer, it can
also be upgraded to meet the requirements for a task, CPU and/or RAM. The video cards have
ports on them that will connect them to a monitor or television
- Sound card / Audio card = the sound card controls the sound quality emitted. the audio card will
have an earphone and a microphone socket and most newer audio cards will have a digital audio
port.
- Input / output card = you can get different I/O ports on different cards, some of the most common
ports are firewire, serial, parallel and USB. Some of these are Plug and Play such as USB.
- NIC’s = Network Interface Cards ( NIC’s ) are what is used to connect to the internet. NIC’s can
be upgraded to increase bandwidth, improve access to the internet and faster speeds. There are
two types of NIC, these are Wired NIC’s which have Ethernet ports on them and Wireless NIC’s.
Wireless NIC’s are used for computers to be able to connect wirelessly to a wireless ISR/router.
graphics card sound card I/O card NIC card

7. +
Adapter cards (extended)
 PCI card = PCI cards are used in computers and some
examples of these are video cards, network cards, sound
cards and modems.
 PCIe = PCI Express is a expansion card designed to
replace older PCI cards. improvements PCIe has over
PCI are:
- Better performance scaling,
- More detailed error detection and reporting system,
- Lower I/O pin count, smaller physical footprint.
 On board cards are integrated onto the motherboard and
are usually found in laptops.

8. + Adapter cards (extended 2)
 PCMCIA = Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association is an organization
consisting of around 500 companies that
have developed PC cards. There are three
types of PC cards, these are:
1. Type 1 cards are for adding ROM or RAM.
2. Type 11 cards are used for fax modem and
modem cards.
3. Type 111 cards are used for portable disk
drives.
 CARDBUS = a CARDBUS is an advanced
type of PC card and is a type of PCMCIA.
They are mainly used in portable computers
like laptops and notebooks.

9. + Storage devices
 Internal = the main type of internal storage device is the hard disk drive. The
hard drive is a form of permanent storage that stores data even when power
is lost. A hard drive in made of one or more magnetic material coated disks
that spin quickly. A hard drive’s size is measured in bytes, on average starting
from 1oo,ooo,ooo bytes (100 MB) to 1,000,000,000,000 bytes (1 TB).
 External: = the most common forms of external storage devices are external
hard drives and flash memory drives (memory sticks). External hard drives
are small, portable and compact but still have a large storage capacity.
Portable hard drives are USB so therefore are plug and play. External hard
drives are commonly used for data storage, disk cloning, backing up (data
recovery) and can be used for storing and running operating systems such as
windows and Linux. The more expensive drives can have biometric security
built in to them. Another example of external memory is a flash drive (memory
stick) which has been previously covered in the presentation.
Hard Drive External Hard Drive

10. +
Storage devices (extended)
 SATA = Serial ATA is a computer bus interface that is used to connect a host controller
(HBA) to a storage device (hard drive). SATA devices communicate by using a high speed
serial cable and was initially designed to replace PATA.
 PATA = PATA is an interface that is used to connect storage devices into computers. PATA
cables have a maximum length of 18 inches and has been greatly replaced by SATA.
 SCSI = Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is a common interface that is used for
connecting hard drives but can be used to connect other peripheral devices such as
CD/DVD drives. SCSI also has a peer-to-peer interface.
 Solid State Drive (SSD) = a flash memory drive (memory stick) is and example of a solid
state storage device and another main example is a solid state hard drive. A solid state
hard drive is much like a normal hard disk drive but alternatively to the rotating magnetic
coated disks the SSDs use non-violet micro-chips, and therefore have no moving parts.
SSDs are silent, less susceptible to physical shock but are more expensive when
compared to HDDs.
SATA PATA SCSI
SSD

11. +
Storage devices (extended 2)
 Partitioning = partitioning is where you split a Hard Drive into segments
which are in themselves separate hard drives. In one hard drive you
can make four partitions and on each partition you can have different
operating systems. One partition is always a primary partition and it is
the primary partition that contains the Boot files/Sequence (mgrboot,
ntldr). There can also be only one extended partition which can be
divided again into logical partitions. Some down sides to partitioning
are that the space on the hard drive is reduced and the overall disk
performance is reduced.
 Formatting = disk formatting prepares a HDD for storing data. Low
level formatting is basic medium level preparation, and the process of
making a new file system is referred to a high level formatting.
Disk-Partition

12. + Input and Output Devices (input)
 Input devices are peripherals that put information or commands into the computer. Some
examples of input devices are:
- Key Board = a keyboard uses a GUI interface and is used to input text into a computer. Keyboard
are connected to a computer by USB but they used to be connected by PS2.
- Mouse = a mouse also uses a GUI interface and is used to navigate from place to place via a
curser in a commuter. Mice are connected to a computer by USB but they used to be connected
by PS2.
- Game controller. ( wii remote) = some game controllers plug directly into a console but more
modern game controllers are wireless. Some controllers connect via Bluetooth and have buttons
which you use to control the console. some other controllers control the console by the way they
are moved, the signals given off are picked up by a camera that tells the console what to do.
- Video inputs. (digital cameras ) = a digital camera takes and stores pictures. The image is stored
as a file and when the camera is connected to the computer usually via USB the image can be
copied, printed and edited.
- Audio input (microphone) – a microphone picks up your voice and puts it into the computer via
USB or the microphone socket on the audio adapter card..
- Touch Screen (tablet computers) = a touch screen device has a clear touch sensitive panel, the
panel give the device instructions depending on where you touch it.
- biometric scanners = there are three main types biometric scanners that you would get on a
computer or laptop, these are fingerprint scanners, retinal scanners and voice scanners. These
scanners measure and read certain physical attributes and the result is then combined with your
desired password to works as a security lock system.

13. + Input Devices
Mouse Keyboard
Game controller Touch screen
Biometric scanner

14. + Input and output devices (output)
 Output devices are peripherals that give out data and information in picture form or via audio some
examples of these devices are:
- Printer = all printers create hard copies of computer files onto paper. Certain printers are specialized for
performing specific tasks, some printers specialize in photo printing. These printers print with a higher
DPI therefore enhancing the picture quality but consequentially the PPM is dramatically reduced when
compared to an office printer which is designed primarily to have a high PPM. All-in-one printers have
three main features, these features are to print, to copy and to fax. Printers are connected to computers
by USB but used to be connected by serial.
- Monitor = monitors display digital images. There are three types of monitors that are defined by the
technology used in them. The first type is a CRT monitor which has coloured tubes inside that glow to
create an image on the screen. The second is an LCD monitor is made of liquid crystals, an electric
current aligns the liquid crystals to either not allow or allow certain amounts of light through to create an
image. The third is an LED monitor, these monitors consist of a large amount of small LED lights that
light up in different colours, different brightness's and at different times to create an image. Monitors are
most commonly connected to computers via VGA.
- Speaker / headphones = speakers and headphones are output devices that output sound from the
computer. Headphones and speakers are plugged into the audio ports on an adapter card in a computer
or into the USB port.
Printer Monitor Speaker/headphones

15. Floppy drive
CD-ROM Power cable PATA cable HDD
Mother Board
PS
U
Expansion
cards/slots
CPU / Heat Sink RAM slots