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1.2 MaintComponents
of Computer Hardware
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- Four
main
components
of
computer hardware include:
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Input devices
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ii.
Output devices
P j iii.BProcessor
and internal memory devices
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iv.
Secondary
storage devices
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Input Devices
- The devices by which data and instructions are fed to the computer are called input devices.
Examples are keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone etc.
Output Devices
- The devices which receive data and instructions from the computer after processing are called
output devices. Examples are monitor, printer, speaker etc.
Section 1
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ii. Internal Hard Drive and its Role
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The internal hard drive is the computer's main memory.
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software, disk operating system and data files are stored.
The main advantage of these
1large
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memories is the fast data transfer/access
times
and
their
capacity to store data.
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iii. Random Access Memory (RAM)
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Random access memory
(RAM) is e
an internal chip where data is temporarily stored
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when running applications.
memory
can be written to and read from. Since its contents
u to theucomputer
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t
are lost when i
power
is turned off, it is often referred to as a volatile or
tmemory. p
temporary
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iv.cRead OnlyC
Memory (ROM)
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Read
only
memory
(ROM) is an internal memory chip used to store information that
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to
be
permanent.
It usually contains configuration data for a computer system. This
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P j Bmemory cannot be altered and can only be read from. Since the information stored on
ROM chip is not lost even when power is turned off to the computer, it is referred to
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as non-volatile or permanent memory.
ROM also contains some coding known as the boot file. This code tells the computer
what to do when it first starts up. It is often referred to as the BIOS (basic input/output
system). When the computer is turned on, the BIOS carries out a hardware check to find
out if all the devices are present and whether they are functional. Then it loads the
operating system into the RAM.
Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) is a non-volatile chip where the
BIOS stores the date, time and system configuration. It is usually battery powered.
Secondary Storage Devices
- Secondary storage devices also known as back up storage devices allow a user to back up
Section 1
data from a computer system. Examples are CD, DVD, floppy disk, memory stick etc.
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1.4 Types of Computers
- Various types of computers used these days are:
i.
PC/Desktop Computers
ii. Laptop Computers
iii. Notebooks
iv. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
v. Mainframe Computers
Section 1
PC/Desktop Computers
- PC /desktop computer refers to a general purpose computer which is made up of separate
monitor, keyboard, mouse and processor unit.
- Some of the advantages and disadvantages of desktop computers are as follows:
Advantages:
i. Spare parts and connections are standardised, which usually result in low costs.
ii. Desktops have a better specification (e.g. faster processor) for a given price.
iii. The large casing allows good dissipation of any heat build-up.
Disadvantages:
i. Desktops are not particularly portable since they are made up of separate and heavy
components.
ii. All the components need to be hooked up by wiring, which can be quite complex and
clutters up the desk space.
iii. Being not portable, the data has to be copied if one wants to do some work elsewhere.
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Laptop Computers
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- Laptop refers to a type of computer where the monitor, keyboard,
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are all together in one single unit. This makes them extremely portable
1 systems.
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- A laptop has the following key features:
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i. low weight and portability
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ii. low power consumption and long
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iii. a processor that does not
too
emuch heat
e generate
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- Compared with desktop computers,
laptops,
too,
have some advantages and disadvantages
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which are as follows: it
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Advantages:
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i. They
the monitor, pointing device, keyboard, processor and
Iare very portable,
a are allsince
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backing
store
units
together
in one single box.
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ii.
are
no
trailing
wires,
etc.
because
f iii. Theygcan take full advantage of WiFi. everything is in one single unit.
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Since they are portable, they can link into any multimedia system.
Disadvantages:
Ta i. Since they are portable, they are easy to steal.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Notebooks
- Notebook is a smaller version of a laptop which can almost fit onto a hand. It is also known as
palmtop computers, but this term now generally applies to much smaller devices which use touch
screens often a stylus to key in data.
- Notebook computers have many of the features of laptops and therefore have similar advantages
Section 1
and disadvantages.
- In addition to the disadvantages for laptops, notebooks have some other disadvantages:
i. Notebooks don't have optical drives.
ii. The keyboards are only about 80 per cent the size of laptop keyboards.
ii. They lack some of the features found in larger machines, principally due to the size
constraints and to the fact that they are cheaper to purchase.
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
- Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are small handheld computers that usually come with a touch
screen that is activated using a stylus. Data (e.g. text) is entered by using a keyboard that appears
on the touch screen. PDAs are now exclusively used in new generation mobile phones, data
loggers, satellite navigation systems, etc. Many PDAs now have basic database, word-processing
and spreadsheet facilities.
- Some of the advantages and disadvantages of PDAs are as follows:
Advantages:
i.
They can be used anywhere because of their size.
ii. They are very lightweight and are more portable than laptop computers.
Disadvantages:
i.
It is difficult to enter text quickly.
ii. They have very limited capabilities due to the software and the operating system used.
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Mainframe computers
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e powerful,Ccomputer system. Its main purpose is to run commercial
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- Mainframe computer is a large,
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s where huge amounts of data need to be processed each day.
applications, such as banking
insurance,
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- The main features s
of main frame computers are as follows,
n
mCPUs.
i.
TheyIcan have several
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ii. cThey have very
processor speeds.
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iii.
They
can
support
systems.
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f iv. Theyghave huge amounts ofoperating
r
storage
capacity.
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P j v.BThey have huge internal memories (e.g. several hundred Gbyte of RAM).
vi . They often operate using time sharing or batch processing.
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- Some of the advantages and disadvantages of mainframe computers are as follows:
Advantages:
i.
They can be used to do very large jobs which require large memories and very fast processor
time.
ii. They are used in time-sharing systems.
iii. They can deal with very complex mathematical functions which would be very time consuming
using a PC.
Disadvantages:
i.
Mainframe computers need to be permanently housed in a large room, so cannot be moved
around.
ii. They are very expensive to operate and maintain.