Reading Material

COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING

Lesson 3: BASIC COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS

A computer system consists of hardware and software components. As

important as the software which are the programs that run the computer,
the hardware is the physical equipment such as the case, storage drives, keyboards,
monitors, cables, speakers, and printers that builds up and let the software run.

Computer Systems

The complete computer made up of the CPU, memory and related electronics (main
cabinet), all the peripheral devices connected to it and its operating system.

Computer systems fall into two broad divisions:

1. Client machines fall into three categories from low to high end: laptop,
desktop and workstation.

2. Servers range from small to large: low-end servers, midrange

servers and mainframes.

Processing Devices

Processing devices are the computer’s circuitry in the system unit.

● Motherboard – the circuit board housing the memory and the central processing
unit (CPU)
● Central Processing Unit (CPU) – manipulates input data into the information
needed by the users

● Memory – also known as Random Access Memory or RAM. It is a series of

electronic elements that act as temporary storage of data and program instructions
while the instructions are being processed by the CPU.

● Chips – these make up the CPU and the memory; these are electronic devices that
contain many microscopic pathways designed to carry electrical currents.
 Storage Devices

Storage devices store data and programs. These hold data, information, and programs
permanently.

● Solid State Drive (SSD) – mass storage device that stores data in a permanent
state even without power. Similar to an HDD’s function, only the internal
components are different. SSDs do not have moving parts but store data on
magnetic platters making use of flash memory.

● Hard Disk Drive (HHD) – often called hard drive or hard disk. This is the most
common storage device that do not need power to maintain data; these store data
through spinning platters or magnetic disks, recording individual bits written into the
disk.
● Flash Drive – highly portable small data storage devices making use of flash
memory and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port connection

● CD – “compact disc”, this storage device can hold up to 700 MB; it is read by an
optical drive through a laser

Input Devices

Input devices allow the user to communicate with the computer by entering data or
commands.
● Keyboard – primary input device used to input alphanumeric data and commands
to the computer

● Mouse – primary input device used to navigate and interact with the monitor output

● Scanner – scans documents and converts them digitally, which can be edited on a
computer.

● Webcam – small cameras attached to a monitor or desk that record or broadcast

video

● Joystick – device used to control video games, aside from the keyboard

Output Devices

Output devices enable the computer to show the processed data and information
understandably to the user.

● Printer – prints paper documents, photographs, and other outputs called hard
copies which are physical versions of the documents.

● Monitor – acts as the primary display of the unit where the user interface and
programs are reflected.

● Speakers – sound system device that produce audio output from the computer
Other Hardware Components:

● Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS): This is and electronic device which is
used to manage the power supply of computer.

● Universal Serial Bus (USB): This is used to connect the external device to the
computer.

● Ethernet Cable : This is used to connect computer with other computer.

● Speaker : This is an output device which is used to listen voice, songs, etc.

● Mike : This is an Input device which is used to record the sound .

● Laptop : This is complete computer which can be carried anywhere any time.

● Netbook : This is called mini laptop which is generally lighter and smaller than
laptop.

● Sound Card : This is also a combination of electronic circuits which helps to

give out put in the form of sound.

● Graphics Card : This is also a combination of electronic circuits which helps to

give output the data into the monitor.

● Pen Drive : This is very popular device now a days for carrying data on move.

● Blue Ray Disk : This is same as CD/DVD but only different is it can store multi
time of data from CD/DVD and faster than CD/DVD.

● Scanner : This is an input device which is used to scan the document for the
soft copy.

● LCD : It is known as Liqued Crystal Display. It is an output device as monitor.

Computer Software
Software is a logical programme to handle/solve the complex problem.

● System Software : This is special type of software which is responsible for

handle the whole computer system.

● Application Software : This is special type of software which is used to solve

a particular problem.

● Embeded Software : This type of software embeded with hardware to do a

specific type of job.

● Proprietary Software : In general, this type of software require to purchase to

use that particular software for the some time or single user as per conditioned
by the vendor of that particular software.

● Open Source Software : This type of software may be freely available and can
not be use in commercially. We can modify, and use it under the same license.

Computer Languages

■ Machine Level Language: This is low level programming language.

Computer or any electronic device only understand this language. i.e.
Binary number i.e 0 and 1.

■ Assembly Level Language: This is a low level programming language

which is converted into executable machine code by a utility programmer
referred to as an assembler.

■ High Level Language: High level language is a programming language

which is easily understandable/readable by human.

■ Interpreter: This is a convertor which converts high level language

programme to low level language programme line by line.

■ Compiler: This is also a convertor which converts whole high level

language programme to low level language programme at a time.
 Operating System

● Windows : This is an Proprietary Operating system and vendor is

Microsoft. i.e. Windows 2007, Windows vista, Windows 2008 etc.

● Linux : This is an open source Operating System such as ubuntu, fedora,

debian, mandriva, centOS etc.