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Computer Basics - Inside A Computer - PowerPoint

The document discusses the main internal components of a computer including the CPU, motherboard, power supply, RAM, hard drive, and expansion cards. It describes the function of each component and how they work together inside the computer case.

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daig0803
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74 views

Computer Basics - Inside A Computer - PowerPoint

The document discusses the main internal components of a computer including the CPU, motherboard, power supply, RAM, hard drive, and expansion cards. It describes the function of each component and how they work together inside the computer case.

Uploaded by

daig0803
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

4/2/2024

COMPUTER
BASICS
INSIDE A COMPUTER

INSIDE A COMPUTER
• Have you ever looked inside a computer case
before, or seen pictures of the inside of one?
• The small parts may look complicated, but the
inside of a computer case really isn't all that
mysterious.
• This lesson will help you master some of the basic
terminology and understand a bit more about
what goes on inside a computer casing.

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CPU/PROCESSOR
• The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, is located
inside the computer case on the motherboard.
• It is sometimes called the brain of the computer, and its job is to carry
out commands.
• Whenever you press a key, click the mouse, or start an application,
you're sending instructions to the CPU.
• The CPU is generally a two-inch ceramic square with a silicon
chip located inside.
• The chip is usually about the size of a thumbnail.
• The CPU fits into the motherboard's CPU socket, which is covered
by the heat sink, an object that absorbs heat from the CPU.
• A processor's speed is measured in megahertz (MHz), or millions
of instructions per second; and gigahertz (GHz), or billions of
instructions per second.
• A faster processor can execute instructions more quickly. However,
the actual speed of the computer depends on the speed of many
different components—not just the processor.
• There are many processor manufacturers for personal computers, but
the most well-known ones are Intel and AMD.

MOTHERBOARD
• The motherboard is the computer's main
circuit board.
• It's a thin plate that holds:
– the CPU
– Memory
– connectors for the hard drive and optical drives
– expansion cards to control the video and audio
– and connections to your computer's ports (such
as USB ports).
• The motherboard connects directly or indirectly
to every part of the computer.

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POWER SUPPLY UNIT


• The power supply unit in a computer converts
the power from the wall outlet to the type of
power needed by the computer.
• It sends power through cables to the motherboard
and other components.
• If you decide to open the computer case and take a
look, make sure to unplug the computer first.
• Before touching the inside of the computer, you
should touch a grounded metal object or a metal
part of the computer casing to discharge any static
buildup.
• Static electricity can be transmitted through the
computer circuits and ruin them.

RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)


• RAM is your system's short-term memory.
• Whenever your computer performs calculations, it temporarily
stores the data in the RAM until it is needed.
• This short-term memory disappears when the computer is
turned off.
• If you're working on a document, spreadsheet, or other type of
file, you'll need to save it to avoid losing it.
• When you save a file, the data is written to the hard drive, which
acts as long-term storage.
• RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).
• The more RAM you have, the more things your computer can
do at the same time.
• If you don't have enough RAM, you may notice that your
computer is sluggish when you have several programs open.
• Because of this, many people add extra RAM to their computers
to improve performance.

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HARD DRIVE
• The hard drive on your computer is where the software is
installed, and it's also where your documents and other files are
stored.
• The hard drive is long-term storage, which means the data is still
saved even if you turn the computer off or unplug it.
• When you run a program or open a file, the computer copies some
of the data from the hard drive onto the RAM.
• When you save a file, the data is copied back to the hard drive.
• The faster the hard drive is, the faster your computer can start up
and load programs.

EXPANSION CARDS
• Most computers have expansion slots on the motherboard
that allow you to add various types of expansion cards.
• These are sometimes called PCI (peripheral component
interconnect) cards.
• You may never have to add any PCI cards because most
motherboards have built-in video, sound, network, and other
capabilities.
• However, if you want to boost the performance of your
computer or update the capabilities of an older computer,
you can always add one or more cards.

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EXPANSION CARDS
Video card
• The video card is responsible for what you see on the monitor.
• Most computers have a GPU (graphics processing unit) built into the
motherboard instead of having a separate video card.
• If you like playing graphics-intensive games, you can add a faster video card to one
of the expansion slots to get better performance.
Sound card
• The sound card, also called an audio card, is responsible for what you hear in
the speakers or headphones.
• Most motherboards have integrated sound, but you can upgrade to a dedicated
sound card for higher-quality sound.
Network card
• The network card allows your computer to communicate over a network and
access the Internet.
• It can either connect with an Ethernet cable or through a wireless connection
(often called Wi-Fi).
• Many motherboards have built-in network connections, and a network card can
also be added to an expansion slot.

CHALLENGE!
Review the parts of the computer identified in this lesson. Make sure you know the function
of each part.
• Think creatively! In the videos, we compared the CPU to a brain, the hard drive to a closet,
and the motherboard to a blueprint. Do any of the computer parts listed remind you of
anything else?
• Find out your computer's processor speed. Is it measured in gigahertz or megahertz?
• How much RAM does your computer have?

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