Hardware

Personal Computer System

Building Your Own PC

What would you need?

Keyboard & Mouse

Inside the system cabinet

Case and power supply

Processor chip the Central Processor Unit (CPU)
Memory chips Random Access Memory (RAM)
Motherboard the system board
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

Memory chips plug in

Processor chip plugs in
Motherboard attaches to system cabinet
Power supply is connected to system cabinet
Power supply wire is connected to motherboard

Storage Hardware: Floppy, Hard Drive, Zip, CD/DVD, USB

Building Your Own PC

Input Hardware

Keyboard

Mouse

Convert letters, numbers, and other characters into

electrical signal readable by the processor
Non keyboard input device pointing device that is used to
manipulate objects viewed on the computer display screen

Building Your Own PC

Output hardware

Video and sound cards

Monitor
Speakers
Printer
Joystick

Communications hardware

Modem (internal or external)

Network Card

A device that sends and receives data over telephone lines to and
from computers
A device that allow the computer to connect to the WWW using
wired or wireless network

Building Your Own PC

Storage Hardware: Floppy, Hard Drive, Zip, CD/DVD, USB

Storage capacity is represented in bytes

1 byte = 1 character of data = 8 bits

1 kilobyte = 1,024 characters
1 megabyte = 1,048,576 (106 characters)
1 gigabyte = over 1 billion ( 109 characters)
1 terabyte = over 1 trillion (1012 characters)
1 petabyte = about 1 quadrillion( 1015 characters)

Permanently installed: floppy drives, hard drives, Zip

drives, CD/DVD drives, USB ports
Removable media: floppy disks, Zip disks, CDs, DVDs,
flash drives

Machine Language
A binary-type programming language built
into the CPU that is run directly by the
computer
Each CPU type has its own machine
language (i.e., machine dependent)
This is why, for example: software written to
a Macintosh will not run to a Dell PC

Machine Language
How do people-comprehensible program instructions

become comprehensible machine language?

By special system programs Language Translators

Language Translators

System programs convert the programming instructions

into machine language

The System Unit: The

Basics

The System Unit: The Basics

The CPU
Older CPUs processing speeds are in
MegaHertz

Current CPUs processing speeds are in

GigaHertz

1 MHz = 1 Million ticks per second

1 GHz = 1 Billion ticks per second

The faster a CPU runs, the more power it

consumes, and the more heat it generates

Block Diagram of System

CPU
Control Unit
ALU

register
Program Counter

Memory

Ports
A port is connecting socket or jack on the

outside of the system unit into which are

plugged different kinds of cables.
A port allow you to plug in a cable to connect
to a peripheral device such as monitor or
printer

USB Port
Universal Serial Bus can theoretically connect to
peripheral multipurpose devices
Advantages

low-cost
Be able to connect lots of devices
Devices are automatically configured when they are
installed no need to download new drivers

More on the System Unit

Specialized Expansion Ports

Port Type
4.

Bluetooth

Description
4.

Uses short-range radio waves that transmit up to 30

ft
Connects computers to printers,
keyboards, headsets, wireless mouse

a.

5.

Ethernet
5.

The standard for linking all devices in a Local Area

Network

It is commonly used to connect microcomputers, cable

modems and printers
To use Ethernet, the computer must have network
interface card, and special Ethernet cables

Primary Storage (Memory Chips)

1.

Memory Chip
RAM

2.

ROM

3.

CMOS

Explanation
1. Random Access Memory chips are volatile and hold:
a.
Software instructions
b.
Data before & after the CPU processes it
2. Read Only Memory
a.
Cannot be written on or erased without special
equipment
b.
Are loaded at factory with fixed start-up
instructions
3. Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
a.
Powered by a battery, so it doesnt loose its data
when power is turned off
b.
Contains time, date, calendar, boot password

Secondary Storage
Hard Disks

Floppies

Store about 1.44 MB

Zip Disks

Store 100, 250, or 750 MB

Optical Disks

CDs and DVDs, DVDs Stores 9.4 or more GB

Magnetic Tape

Store terabytes of data, popular for large backups

dont get it near a magnet as that will erase it

Online Secondary Storage

Allows you to use the internet to back up your data

Flash

Nonvolatile memory that can be erased and reprogrammed more than once.
Doesnt require a battery

Input & Output

Input Hardware

Devices that translate data into a form the computer can

process
Translates words, numbers, sounds, and pictures into
binary

Output Hardware

Devices that translate information processed by the

computer into a form humans can understand
Translates binary into words, numbers, sounds, and
pictures

Input Hardware
Keyboards: convert letters, numbers, and characters into

electrical signals
Pointing Devices
Control the position of the cursor or pointer on the screen and

allow the user to select options displayed on the screen

Mouse is the principal pointing tool
Trackball
Pointing Stick
Touchpad
Touch Screens
Pen input

Pointing Devices
Trackball

Touchpad

Pointing Stick

Touch Screens

Input Hardware
Scanning & Reading Devices (Scanners)

Source Data Entry devices create machine-readable data

and feed it directly into the computer
Fax Machines
Audio Input Devices

Records analog sound and translates it into digital files for storage

and processing
Bar code readers
Webcams and Video-input Cards
Digital Cameras
Camera Phones

Input Hardware
Speech-Recognition Systems

Uses a microphone or telephone as an input device

Biometrics

The science of measuring individual body characteristics,

then using them to identify a person through a fingerprint,
eye, or facial characteristic

Output Hardware
Softcopy

Data that is shown on a display screen or is in audio or

voice form; exists electronically
Output that is temporary in nature

Hardcopy

Printed and film output

Output that is more permanent in nature

Output Hardware
Softcopy
Display Screen( Monitor) :each type has its own resolution
Hardcopy

Printers

Plotters