SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE

SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE

1. No physical part of computer (Software)

   • Programs and operations
     • Office automation systems
       • Word processors
         • (Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer)
       • Spreadsheets
         • (Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc)
       • Slide presentations
         • (Microsoft PowerPoint, LibreOffice Impress)
       • Database managers
         • (Microsoft Access, LibreOffice Base)
     • Browsers
       • (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera Browser, Safari, Microsoft Edge) 
     • Graphic design
       • (Adobe Photoshop, LibreOffice Draw, Inkscape, GIMP)
     • Technical drawing
       • (Autodesk AutoCAD, QCAD, SketchUp)
     • Utilities
       • (Antivirus, compressors (WinZIP, WinRAR, 7-Zip), burning software (Nero, ImgBurn), etc.)
     • Games
       • (Minecraft, Clash of Clans, World of Warcraft, Fortnite, FIFA, etc)
   • Operating system
     • Facilitating data input and output
     • Enabling users to share the hardware
     • To share data
     • To plan resources
   • BIOS
     • The BIOS (basic input/output system) is the computer’s basic input and output system. It is a special program stored on a small device on the motherboard, as we have seen. Once the hardware components start to boot up, the BIOS takes control of the computer. When the BIOS has finished its task, it hands control of the computer over to the next level: the operating system.
   • Hard disk
     • Boot sector
     • Partitions.
       • Primary
       • Extended
     • File system
       • The file system is a structure that permits both the storage of information in a partition and its modification or recovery. For the partition and its drives to be usable, it must first be assigned a file system. This operation is called formatting. Generally, each file system has been designed to obtain maximum performance with a specific operating system or medium.
     • Files and folders
       • Files and folders are sets of information that are stored on the disk drive and identified. Files can be created by users to store their work or they can be part of the operating system or users` application for their operation. Each file is unique in its directory or folder and is identifiable by a name and an extension, modified and last accessed dates for each file. An executable file is a file that contains a program or application. Folders are file containers and are required to organise information in an orderly and efficient Given that a drive can hold thousands of files, it is necessary to group them to make Folders are also identified by name and form a tree structure. the disk drive (root directory), we can create a series of folders at the first level (or parent folders); these can then contain other folders (subfolders or daughter folders of the parent folders) and so on, creating a tree-like structure. The path designates the exact position of a file or folder in the tree structure. Different operating systems use different rules to write the path of a given file or folder (as shown in the figure).

2. Physical part of the computer (Hardware)

   • Motherboard
     • The motherboard is the largest card with a printed circuit you see when you open a computer. All the other computer components are inserted on it, as you will see. It includes connectors or communication ports with peripherals and can also incorporate video, audio and network devices, among others, depending on the characteristics of the computer.
     • External connections
       • These are ports for connecting to the network (RJ45) and external devices, such as the keyboard (purple PS2), the mouse (green PS2), headphones (audio jacks), USB memory cards, etc.
     • PCI
       • PCI-E Slots
       • PCI Slots
     • Sata connections
       • These are the connections for the storage units: the hard disk, the DVD-ROM, the DVD recorder, etc. The boards can have two types of connection, IDE or SATA, or just one, depending on the age of the computer. SATA connections are the more modern ones. The picture shows the SATA (red) and IDE (blue) cables that connect the motherboard to the storage units.
     • IDE connections
     • Power supply connection
     • Chip set
       • This is a set of chips on the motherboard that carries out communications between the microprocessor and the different components connected to the motherboard.
     • Microprocessor socket
       • The microprocessor is plugged in here. When you open the computer, what you normally see is a large fan with an aluminium heat sink below it. A thermal paste is added under the sink to improve heat dispersal and, finally, the microprocessor is located above the socket.
       • Microprocessor
         • Microprocessor is the most important part of the computer. It is responsible for processing data, performing arithmetical-logical operations and controlling all the other devices. It is a chip that contains a set of integrated circuits with millions of transistors, plugged into a socket. It normally has a fan and heat sink above it to cool it down, along with thermal paste, because if its temperature rises too high it can block the computer. The main microprocessor manufacturers are Intel and AMD.
     • Memories
       • RAM
       • ROM
       • Cache memory
       • Internal storage
         • Hard disk drive (HDD)
           • This uses a magnetic recording system to record digital data on a series of platters or disks by means of a moving head. External communication can use IDE or SATA.
         • Solid-state disk or solid-state drive (SSD)
           • This stores information on non-volatile NAND memory microchips. Unlike HHDs, SSDs do not contain moving parts, so they are faster and more energy efficient. However, their life is limited to a given number of readwrite cycles.
       • External storage
         • CDs
         • DVDs
         • Blu-ray

Bilder und Dateien der Mindmap

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• Enclavar (Einbetten)
• Main Memory (RAM, ROM and Cache) (Einbetten)
• What is Software? (Einbetten)
• How do hard drives work? - Kanawat Senanan (Einbetten)