definition of the internal components of the
computer
Computer Hardware is the physical part of a computer, as
distinguished from the computer software that executes or runs on
the hardware.
PROCESSOR
This is the part of the
computer that processes
data, according to the
instructions is has been
given, to provide the user
with information
CPU
Brain of the computer
four steps in CPU operation: the first step, fetch, involves retrieving an
instruction from program memory. The second step, decode,the instruction
is broken up into parts that have significance to other portions of the CPU.
The third step,exercute, various portions of the CPU, such as thearithmetic
logic unit (ALU) and the floating point unit (FPU) are connected so they can
perform the desired operation. The final step, writeback, simply writes back
the results of the execute step to some form of memory.
MEMORY
The computer has to
keep to the data that
has been entered until it
is ready to process it. It
also has to load
software applications.
This memory is lost
when the computer is
off
Motherboard
The body or mainframe of the computer, through which all other
components interface.
Provides the electrical connections by which
the other components of the system
communicate. The mother board includes
many components such as: central processing
unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM),
firmware, and internal and external buses.
RAM
Random access
memory
Fast-access memory that is cleared
when the computer is power-down.
RAM attaches directly to the
motherboard, and is used to store
programs that are currently running.
RAM is a set of integrated circuits
that allow the stored data to be
accessed in any order (why it is called
random). There are many different
types of RAM. Distinctions between
these different types include:
writable vs. read-only, static vs.
dynamic, volatile vs. non-volatile, etc.
STORAGE
Files and
applications
need to be stored
safely until the
computer is
ready to load
them again. The
data is not lost
when the
computer is off
Hard drive
non-volatile
storage device
Stores digitally encoded data on rapidly
rotating platters with magnetic surfaces.
Just about every new computer comes with
a hard disk these days unless it comes with
a new solid-state drive. Typical desktop hard
disk drives store between 120 and 400GB,
rotate at 7,200 rpm, and have a madia
transfer rate of 1 Gbit/s or higher.
INPUT
DEVICES
Without external data a
computer can do almost
nothing. The role of an
input device is to input data
into a computer
Video card
An expansion card
that allows the
computer to send
graphical information
to a video display
device such as a
monitor .Each
motherboard
supports only a
limited range of video
card
Sound card
An expansion card that allows the computer to
send audio information to an audio device like
speakers or a pair of headphones. Many
modern computers do not have sound
expansion cards but instead have the same
technology integrated directly onto the
motherboard
SUPPORTER
Devices that support the computer
Power supply
A piece of hardware that's used
to convert the power provided
from the outlet into usable power
for the many parts inside the
computer case