Computer Components

Computers come in all different shapes and forms (examples: desktops, laptops), but the main components that make up a computer pretty much stay the same. Components can also be refereed to as; hardware or parts. Some of this information is considered basic computer knowledge, but there is no better place to start with than with the basics. Every computer Consists of the following basic components:
1. Computer Case - Where all of the components are stored. The power supply is mounted to the computer case. Brief notes of the power supply are as follows; Power supply: Power Supply (PSU) is vital to the operation of a computer. The Power Supply converts AC current to DC current and then sends power to all of the internal components in the computer system so they can function. A Computer Power Supply is a metal box usually located inside the top backside of the computer case and is visible from the back of the computer. There are different types and styles of power supplies on the market today. Three of the basic types of desktop PC power supplies are AT, ATX and ATX-2. AT Power Supply - Typically used in older PCs ATX Power Supply - Commonly used in PCs today ATX-2 Power Supply - New standard for power supplies today Power supplies are easily changed and are generally cost effective. 2. CPU - It is basically the brain of your computer. The CPU is a used to process everything from basic to complex functions in a computer. 3. RAM - is memory that attaches to the motherboard. RAM is hardware used to temporarily store and access data. From the time you turn on your computer, your CPU is constantly using memory (RAM). Every time something is opened or loaded, it gets placed into RAM. This means it is put into a temporary storage area so the CPU can more easily access the information. In most computers, the transfer of data between CPU and RAM happens millions of times every second. When an application is closed, the application itself, along with all its accompanying files is deleted from RAM thereby making sure that there is room for new data. 4. Motherboard - A Motherboard is the most important component in a computer system. All of the other hardware in a computer system connect to the motherboard. 5. Power Supply - A Power Supply is the sends power to all of the other hardware so they can operate. 6. Hard Drive - A Hard Drive is used for permanently storing files and programs. 7. Disk Drives - Disk Drives can be a floppy drive, CD drive, DVD drive or other possible file storage devices that are used in a computer. 8. Video Card - A Video Card is the part of a computer system that converts binary code from the CPU so you can view it on a monitor. AGP Video Cards use pipelining and sideband addressing to improve its overall speed. Pipelining is a way to improve performance by letting tasks overlaps themselves. Sideband addressing separates the address bus from the data bus, which allows the graphics controller to issue new AGP commands while the main address/data lines are still operating. These two features greatly improve the speed of this style video card. The AGP Video Card and the monitor are what determine the quality of a computers video display. 9. Monitor - The part of a computer that allows you to see what the computer is processing. 10.Keyboard - A keyboard allows a computer user to enter text commands into a computer system.

BIOS: Computer BIOS is software that is usually stored on a flash memory chip and is located on the motherboard. What BIOS does is make sure that the CPU, hard drive(s), ports, and other chips in the computer work together. Computer BIOS plays a huge part in starting up a computer. The BIOS provides the CPU with the instructions to start the operating system. A computer might have more than one bios chip. For example: A video card might have its own bios chip installed. The BIOS settings are in charge of things like the monitor, keyboard, and other ports on the computer especially when the computer system is starting up. Upon starting a computer system, the bios runs a POST to check all of the hardware components to make sure they are functioning properly. At times a Computers BIOS and its Drivers will need to be updated. This is usually true with older computers because with the arrival of new technology, new standards will arise, and the BIOS and Drivers will need to change in order to understand the new hardware. A driver is a software program that controls a device. Every device like a printer, disk drive or keyboard has a driver. Whenever you startup a computer, the first thing you see is the BIOS software running. To enter the BIOS setup you will have to press a certain key or combination of keys in the initial startup screen (Esc, Del, Ctrl-Esc, F2, F1, Ctrl-Alt-Esc). There is usually a command line that shows up. When it does, press the specified key or keys to enter setup. Depending on the BIOS manufacturer you will see a number of options. (Examples: time/date, memory, plug and play, security, power management, boot sequence, drive configuration, exit) Be cautious when making changes to the setup. Some changes can cause the computer to not boot properly. When you finish you should save your settings and exit. The BIOS should restart your computer and the new settings should take effect. Definitions: RAM is computer memory that holds instructions and data. When the computer is switched off, the contents of the RAM are lost. It's just like a calculator- switch that off and you lose the contents. The gigabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage. The prefix giga means 109 in the International System of Units (SI), therefore 1 gigabyte is 1000000000bytes. The unit symbol for the gigabyte is GB or Gbyte, but not Gb (lower case b) which is typically used for the gigabit. CD-R Alternatively referred to as CD-WO (Write once) or WORM (Write Once Read Many) drive. CDR is short for CD-Recordable and is a writable disc and drive that is capable of having information written to the disc once and then having that disc read many times after that. If the data is not written to the disc properly, has errors, or has the incorrect information that disc or portions of that disc cannot be erased and is often jokingly referred to as a coaster. CD-ROM Short for Compact Disc-Read Only Memory, CD-ROM drives or optical drives are CD players inside computers that can have speeds in the range from 1x and beyond, and have the capability of playing audio CDs and computer data CDs. Below is a picture of the front and back of a standard CDROM drive. Interfaces Below are the different interfaces that allow a CD-ROM and other disc drives to connect to the computer. IDE / ATA - One of the most commonly used interfaces used still today to connect disc drives to the computer. Panasonic - Older proprietary interface. Parallel - Interface used with old external CD-ROM drives. PCMCIA (PC Card) - Interface sometimes used to connect external disc drives to laptop computers. SATA - Replacing IDE as the new standard to connect disc drives.

SCSI - It is highly recommended to get a card that matches the CD-ROM drive as some of the earlier drives had proprietary SCSI interfaces. Otherwise, a SCSI-2 card is recommended. USB - Interface most commonly used to connect external disc drives.