Notes On Hardware and Software

Title: Hardware and Software
Page 1 of 3
QUESTIONS/SUMMARIES
What is software?
What are the two types of
software?
What are the two types of
system software?
What are the four categories of
hardware?
What is the function of each of
these four categories?
What are the different types of
storage?
What are the features of the
different types?
What is the difference between

volatile and non-volatile storage
and what are some examples of
each?
Name: Emily Edwards______

Class: ICT EDUC5464______
Date: 05/05/15____________
NOTES:
Software: program or application
Allows you to do many things such as word documents,
PowerPoints, etc.
Application
o
User choice
o
Non-essential
System software
o
Operating system: essential runs all systems, e.g.
Windows
Provide user interface
Manage process
Manage resources
Manage memory
Provide security
o
Utility system: essential but additional options helps to
manage the computer e.g. Antivirus, defrag
Performs very specific tasks
Related to managing system resources

Hardware: Four categories of hardware - IPOS
Input = any machine that feeds data into computer. Raw and
unreadable
o
E.g. keyboard, mouse, microphone
Processing = Getting raw data and need to do something with it so it
means something
o
Any device that handles this intermediate stage
o
Responsible for controlling the storage and retrieval of
information
o
E.g. Graphics processing unit, sound card, network
card
o
Can go to either output or storage
o
Changes raw data to information e.g. keyboard typing
to a sentence.
- Output = Information that is meaningful
o Any peripheral (outside) that receives data from a
computer
o E.g. printer, speaker
- Storage = any hardware capable of holding information on a
computer
o
Volatile: Once the computer is turned off the data is gone
o Non-volatile: Saved permanently
o Primary (Internal)
RAM, cache, ROM
Cache: Holds memory for a short period of time
(volatile)
Lower access time, faster performance, more
costly than secondary storage
ROM: boots up computer
o Secondary (internal or external)
Permanently stores data

E.g. USB, hard drives (internal/external), CDRW, cloud storage
Computer
Power supply: components need power

RAM: cleared when you turn off computer

Page 2 of 3
QUESTIONS/SUMMARIES
What are the six components of
a computer and what do they
do?

Date: 05/05/15____________
NOTES:
- Heat sink: draws heat away from CPU
- CPU: brain of the computer
- Motherboard: circuit board. Contains CPU, RAM
- Expansion slots: better sound cards, wireless connection card
CPU
What is the CPU, what are its

components and what does it
do?
Brain of computer, carries out commands and controls flow of

information between parts of computer
Silicon chip, control unit, arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), main
memory and bus.
Bus is a system of wires that information travels along

Responsibility of ALU: manages all the arithmetic equations of the
system
- Responsibility of control unit: managing system resources

Motherboard
-
Holds and connects all of the computers components, allowing them

to communicate with each other, provides power to all the
components
Five basic components: RAM, CPU, input output ports, expansion

slots, storage device connection
Short term, holds currently used data, allows computer to run
What are expansion card slots?
Electronic circuit boards that adds more functionality to a desktop

computer
What are some examples of

expansion card slots?
Allow the computer perform additional functions
Sound card: send economical input and output of audio signals
What are the five components of

a motherboard?
What does a motherboard do?
What is RAM?
RAM
Volatile: specialises in only want you are directly using
RAM clock speed: Speeds at which it reads and writes data
Measured in GB and how quick its accessed, read or written in MHz
Affects system running speed if you dont have enough RAM it will
have to revert to the hard drive which is slower. Computer crashing
can be caused by the hard drive trying to catch up to the RAM
Expansion card slots
PCI: Peripheral component interconnects

Video card: allows the computer to send graphical information to a
video display
Network card: slows access to the internet wirelessly
Bluetooth card: allows the computer to connect and send information
using bluetooth
Summary/Reflection:
Hardware and software are both essential for computers to function properly. Software can either be
essential, such as your operating system or defrag, or non-essential such as MS Word. Hardware has
four categories, input, processing, output and storage. They can be remembered with the acronym
IPOS. A computer has six components, a power supply, RAM, heat sink, CPU, motherboard and

Page 3 of 3

Date: 05/05/15____________
expansion slots. The CPU is the brain of the computer, he motherboard allows communication
between the components, RAM holds short term data that is currently being used and expansion card
slots add more functionality to a desktop computer.

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Title: Hardware and Software

What is the difference between

Name: Emily Edwards______

Provide user interface

Performs very specific tasks

Related to managing system resources

Permanently stores data

Power supply: components need power

Title: Hardware and Software

Name: Emily Edwards______

What is the CPU, what are its

Brain of computer, carries out commands and controls flow of

Bus is a system of wires that information travels along

- Responsibility of control unit: managing system resources

Holds and connects all of the computers components, allowing them

Five basic components: RAM, CPU, input output ports, expansion

Short term, holds currently used data, allows computer to run

What are expansion card slots?

Electronic circuit boards that adds more functionality to a desktop

What are some examples of

Allow the computer perform additional functions

Sound card: send economical input and output of audio signals

What are the five components of

PCI: Peripheral component interconnects

Title: Hardware and Software

Name: Emily Edwards______

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