Josue, Dareen Louise P.
Living in the IT Era
COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
1) Motherboard
also known as the ‘mainboard’
the main printed circuit board (PCB) in a computer
serves as a single platform that ties the computer’s components together
connects the CPU, memory, hard drives, optical drives, etc.
considered as the backbone of the computer
located on the backside or at the bottom of the computer chassis
2) Central Processing Unit (CPU)
also called a ‘processor’
considered as the brain of the computer
performs all types of data processing operations
carries out the instructions of a computer program through a basic arithmetic unit
holds the control unit and the arithmetic/logic unit
control unit: uses electrical signals to direct the entire computer system to execute
program instructions (it does not execute the program instructions itself, but merely
directs the system to do so)
arithmetic/logic unit (ALU): performs all arithmetic or logical operations in a
computer
- arithmetic unit: carries out four basic mathematical operations (addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division)
- logic unit: used for the comparison of computer characters such as comparing
numbers, letters, or symbols; can also test for three conditions (equal-to, less-
than, and greater-than conditions)
3) Memory and Storage
component of the computer where data or instruction are either temporarily or
permanently kept
memory
- also known as the primary memory or main memory
- stores short-term data used for immediate access
- random access memory (RAM): a high-speed component that temporarily
stores all the information a device needs; access to a RAM is more efficient
than accessing ROM; a volatile technology that once it loses its power, it
forgets everything
storage
- component of a computer that allows you to store and access data on a long-
term basis
- usually comes in the form of a solid-state drive or hard drive
- read-only memory (ROM): provides permanent and non-erasable storage for
instructions needed during computer bootstrapping (the process of turning
on or restarting your computer); has slower access speed than RAM; data in
ROM can only be read by the CPU, but cannot be modified
4) Input Devices
an essential piece of hardware that sends data to a computer
keyboard
- the most common type of input device
- most keyboards use the QWERTY layout
- by pressing its keys, a user can feed data and instructions to the computer
through entering texts
mouse
- interacts with a computer through a process known as “point and click”
- most computer mice have two buttons for clicking and a wheel in the middle
for scrolling up and down
- touchpads are the common substitute for a mouse in devices like laptops
scanner
- an input device that uses optical technology to transfer images and text in a
computer and converts them into a digital image which can be saved, edited,
shared, or printed
microphone
- records the audio and sends it to a computer where it is converted to a digital
sound that can be replayed
- also allows a user to relay sounds live in a video conference, audio stream,
etc.
webcam
- a camera that operates dependently from a computer
- it may be used to record videos or show a live video for video conferences,
livestreams, etc.
5) Output Devices
a hardware device that receives the data from the computer
monitor
- a visual device that displays the data of the computer onto a screen so that
the user can interact via digital interface
- consists of a screen, circuitry, power supply, and buttons
- also known as VDT (video display terminal) or VDU (video display unit)
printer
- creates a copy of whatever is sent from the computer to a printer
- takes electronic data sent from a computer and generates a hard copy or a 3-
dimensional item
speakers
- an audio output device that transforms signal from computer’s sound card
into audio
- creates or produces sound using internal amplifiers that vibrate at different
frequencies according to the data from the computer
- headphones (also known as earphones) are speakers for a single listener; it
allows a user to listen to audio without disturbing other people in the vicinity
projector
- a visual device that “projects” computer images or videos onto a wall or a
screen
REFERENCES:
https://turbofuture.com/computers/computer-basics-10-examples-of-output-devices
https://turbofuture.com/computers/examples-of-input-devices
https://techdifferences.com/difference-between-ram-and-rom-memory.html
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/what-is-ram/
https://homepage.cs.uri.edu/faculty/wolfe/book/readings/reading04.htm
