Transcript Unit 3: Hardware Components & Software Concepts

Computing in the Modern World
HARDWARE CONCEPTS
BCS-CMW-4: Students will describe the major
hardware and software components of a
computer and their interactions.
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Electronic device that accepts, processes,
produces results, and stores data
Data
◦ Collection of unprocessed items
 Text, numbers, images, audio, and video
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Information
◦ Conveys meaning and is useful
 Ex. Data is input to create a grade report
Storage
Input
Output
Process
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Hardware
◦ Electric, electronic, and mechanical components
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Input devices
Output devices
System unit
Storage devices
Communications devices
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Any hardware component that allows you to
enter data and instructions into a computer
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Keyboard
Mouse
Microphone
Scanner
Digital camera
Web cam
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Any hardware component that conveys
information to one or more people
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Printer
Monitor
Speakers
Portable media player
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A case that contains electronic components
of the computer used to process data
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Sometimes called system board
◦ Main circuit board of the system unit
◦ Many electronic components are attached to the
motherboard
◦ Memory Modules
◦ Adapter Slots
◦ Expansion Slots
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Interprets and carries out the basic
instructions that operate a computer
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Control Unit
◦ Component of processor that directs and
coordinates operations
◦ Like a traffic cop: it interprets each instruction
issued by a program and then initiates the
appropriate action to carry out the instruction
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Types of components it directs
◦ Arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)
◦ Registers and buses
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Performs arithmetic operations and
comparisons
◦ Basic calculations
 Add, subtract, multiply, division
◦ Comparing one data item to another
 Greater than
 Equal to
 Less than
Fetch
Decode
Store
Execute
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Controls the timing of all operations
Clock speed
◦ Pace of clock
◦ Gigahertz (GHz): one billion ticks of the system
clock per second (Giga = billion; Herz = cycle per
second)
◦ Faster clock speed=more instructions the processor
can execute per second
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Does the system clock keep track of current
date and time?
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Leading chip manufacturers
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Intel
AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)
IBM
Motorola
Today’s high performance PC’s: Intel Core
Less expensive PC’s: Pentium or Celeron
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Multi-core processor
◦ Single chip with 2 or more processors
◦ Dual-Core: 2 separate processors
◦ Quad-Core: 4 separate processors
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Increases overall performance
Especially noticeable when running multiple
programs
◦ Email, antivirus software, spyware remover, IM,
media player, CD burning software, and photo
editing software, web browser
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Store instructions, data needed by those
instructions, and the results of processed
data
One or more chips on motherboard
Stores 3 basic categories
◦ Operating system
◦ Application programs
◦ Data being processed by
application programs
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Character, basic
storage unit of
memory
Each byte has an
address
◦ Unique number that
identifies the location
of the byte in
memory
◦ Main Memory
◦ Volatile: loses its contents when power is removed
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Examples:
◦ Operating system interface
◦ Browser windows
◦ Paint program
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More RAM = faster response from computer
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Pronounced cash
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Temporary storage for faster viewing
◦ Ex. Web pages, images, media
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Permanent storage
Non-volatile: not lost when power is removed
Cannot be modified
◦ Ex. ROM chips in printers contain data for fonts
◦ Ex. When your system boots up
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Nonvolatile
Fast
Examples
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Downloading music on iTunes to Ipod
Storing phone numbers on your phone
Digital cameras
Flash Drives
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On the motherboard
To enhance functions or provide connections
to devices
* A point where the peripheral attaches to or
communicates with a system unit.
*Joins a cable or system unit
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Input
Storage
Processing
Output
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Complete 3.1 Handout: The Journey Inside
◦ You will need headphones for this assignment.