COMPONENTS OF A PC

HOPE LULET A. LOMIOAN, RN

College Instructor,
Saint Tonis College, Inc.
Learning Objectives
After studying this chapter, the student will
be able to:
1. Explain the major components of a PC;
2. Discuss about the central processing unit
(CPU);
3. Define the random access memory
(RAM);
4. Explain the motherboard and BIOS;
5. Describe the term “expansion bus”.
INTRODUCTION
 Components of a PC
• Computer hardware components include input
devices, output devices, a system unit, storage
devices, and communications devices.
Input Device
• Any hardware component that allows a
user to enter data and instructions into a
computer.
– keyboard
– mouse
– microphone
– scanner
– digital camera
– PC camera
Output Device
• Any hardware component that convey
information to a user.
– printer
– monitor
– speakers
System Unit
• A box-like case made from metal or
plastic that protects the internal
electronic components of the
computer from damage.
– central processing unit (CPU)
– memory
Storage Device
• Records and retrieves data to and from a
storage medium.
– floppy disk drive
– Zip drive
– hard disk drive
– CD-ROM drive
– CD-RW drive
– DVD-ROM drive
– DVD+RW drive
Communication Device
• Enables computer users to
communicate and exchange items such
as data, instructions, and information
with another computer.
– modem
IDENTIFYING THE MAJOR
COMPONENTS OF A PC
 Keyword: Input Device
• It is a peripheral used to provide data and control
signals to an information processing system such as a
computer or other information appliance.
 System Unit
• It is the enclosure that contains the main
components of a computer.
• Also referred to as computer case or tower.
• Its primary function is to hold all the other
components together and protect the sensitive
electronic parts from the outside elements.
 Monitors
• It is the piece of computer hardware that displays the
video and graphics information generated by the
computer through the video card.
• Refers mainly to the computer screen or display.
• May refer to the monitoring of a network traffic.
• May also refer to speakers used to monitor sounds,
or “audio monitors.”
Different Types of Monitors
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors
• Employ the CRT technology used most
commonly in the manufacturing of
television screens
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Monitors
• Also known as liquid crystal diode.
• One of the most advanced
technologies known at present.
• Typically, it consists of a layer of color
or monochrome pixels arranged
schematically between a couple of
transparent electrodes and two
polarizing filters.
Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) Monitors
• The latest types of monitors in the
market today.
• Like LCD, it is again a flat panel display
making use of light-emitting diodes for
back-lighting instead of Cold Cathode
Fluorescent (CCFL) backlighting used in
LCDs.
• Primarily, the display is of LCD only but
the back-lighting is done by the LEDs.
 Keyboard
• The piece of computer hardware used to input text,
characters and other commands into a computer or
similar device.
• Basically a board of keys.
 Mouse Devices
• A small device that a computer user pushes across a
desk surface in order to point to a place on a display
screen and to select one or more actions to take
from that position.
• A mouse consists of a metal or plastic housing or
casing and is rolled on a flat surface, one or more
buttons on the top of the casing, and a cable that
connects the mouse to the computer.
Types of Mouse
Traditional Mouse
• Traditional computer mouse button will
be the most affordable, when they make
use of a simple construction. They connect
to the personal machine utilizing the
mouse port, and some mouse for Apple
computers use a USB connection. The
mouse includes a USB connection for
those who love the USB port within the
mouse port.
Optical Mouse
• Less vulnerable in collecting dust than
traditional mouse are and require less
cleaning.
• Most optical mouse hook up to computer
through the USB port.
• Special software usually is not necessary if
one do not need advanced functions enabled
for the mouse.’
• One is able to enable any special functions
that we want the mouse to accomplish when
using the driver CD that had the mouse.
Wireless Mouse
• Provides capability of connecting
without cables.
• Very useful for gamers as well as others
who want room to freely move their
mouse.
• Usually purchased with a wireless
keyboard.
Laptop Mouse
• Have numerous of identical features as
desktop mouse.
• Give a more compact design that is
well-suited to smaller spaces that
laptops are utilized in.
• Use a retractable cord having a USB
connection or may include wireless
connection.
 Internal Components
• Power supply
• Motherboard
• Central Processing Unit
• RAM
• Video card
• Sound card
• Slots
• Storage
Central Processing Unit
• The hardware within a computer that
carries out the instructions of a
computer program by performing the
basic arithmetical, logical, control, and
input/output operations of the system.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
• A form of computer data storage.
• Allows data items to be read and
written in roughly the same amount of
time, regardless of the order in which
data items are accessed.
RAM Type Types
Pins ofWidth
RAM Usage
SD RAM 168 64 bit Older and slower type. No use.
Rambus RAM 184 16 bit Advanced RAM. Only used for very few
Pentium 4’s with certain Intel chipsets.
DDR RAM 184 64 bit A few faster version of SD RAM. Used
both for Athlon and Pentium 4’s. 2, 5
Volt.
DDR2 RAM 240 64 bit New version of DDR RAM with higher
clock frequencies. 1, 8 Volt.
Synchronous DRAM
DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM)
Rambus DRAM (RDRAM)
RAM Packages
• Single In-line Memory Module (SIMM)
• Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM)
• RIMM
 Motherboard and BIOS
Motherboard
• One of the essential parts of a computer system.
• It holds together many of the crucial components of
a computer, including the CPU, memory and
connectors for input and output devices.
The BIOS
• Basic Input/Output System, the BIOS,
ROM BIOS, or System BIOS is a chip
located on all motherboards that
contain instructions and setup for how
the system should boot and how it
operates.
• AMIBIOS> BIOS manufactured by the
AMI
Four main functions of a PC BIOS
• POST: Test the computer hardware and
make sure no errors exist before
loading the operating system.
• Bootstrap Loader: Locate the operating
system. If a capable operating system is
located, the BIOS will pass control to it.
• BIOS Drivers: Low level drivers that give
the computer basic operational control
over the computer’s hardware.
• BIOS or CMOS Setup: Configuration
program that allows you to configure
hardware settings including system
settings such as computer passwords,
time, and date.
Types of Motherboards
1. AT Motherboards (ex.: Pentium-III
Processors)
2. ATX Motherboards (ex.: Pentium IV,
Dual Core, Core 2 Duo, Quad Core, i3,
i5, and i7 Processors)
3. MicroATX Motherboard
4. Proprietary Motherboards
 Expansion Bus
• It is used to connect devices to the motherboard and
therefore allow the flow of data between that device
and other devices in the computer
• Types:
– Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)
– Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)
– Advanced Graphic Port (AGP)
Local Bus
• A bus is a computer component, generally
a slot attached to the motherboard that
enables the flow of information between
two or more devices.
– ISA
– VLB
– PCI local bus
– PCI-E local bus
Expansion Card
• Devices that extend a computer’s
capabilities and are inserted into
expansion interfaces on the motherboard.
• Types:
– Video cards
– Sound cards
– Network cards and modems
– I/O (input/output) cards
Universal Serial Bus (USB)
• A common interface that enables
communication between devices and a
host controller such as a PC.
• It connects peripheral devices such as
digital cameras, mice, keyboards,
printers, scanners, media devices,
external hard drives and flash drives.
 Removable and CD Media
Removable Media
• Designed to be read to or written to by removable
readers, writers, and drives.

Floppy Driver
• A disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and
flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a
rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes
dust particles.
CD-ROM/CD Media
• A pre-pressed optical compact disc
which contains data.

Compact Disc/Disk (CD)

• Introduced by Phillips and Sony in
1980 to replace LP records.
• A digital optical disc data storage
format.
Drive Type Name The drive can:
CD-ROM Compact Disk Read-Only Read CD-ROM and CD-R
Memory
CD-ROM multiread -- Read CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-E
CD-R Compact Disk Recordable Read CD-ROM and CD-R. Write once
on special disks named CD-R
CD-RW Compact Disk ReWriteable Read CD-ROMs and CD-R. Write and
rewrite on special disks (CD-RW)
DVD RAM Digital Versatile Disk Reads all CD formats. Reads DVD
Random Access Memory ROM. Reads and writes DVD disks.
 Hard Drive
• Alternatively referred to as a hard disk drive and
abbreviated as HD or HDD.
• The computer’s main storage media device that
permanently stores all data on the computer.
External and Internal Hard Drives
• Most hard drives are internal hard
drives.
• External hard drives are used to backup
data on their computer and expand the
total amount of space available to
them.