Tic 2015

Informtica (TIC)

Components of a
Computer System

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Four basic parts

The computer is a machine that changes information from one form to
another
Takes in information (input) and gives out information (output)
All computer systems have four basic parts:

COMMUNICATIONS

INPUT

PROCESSING
STORAGE

OUTPUT

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Components of a Computer System

HARDWARE

The physical parts of a

computer system

COMPUTER
SYSTEM

SOFTWARE

Programs, routines and

procedures that can be run
on a computer system

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Hardware
Processor
Output
devices
Storage
Input
devices

devices

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Storage devices
Storage inside the
computer, only used
by the processor

Primary
storage
ROM

RAM

Read -Only Memory

Storage
devices

Secondary
storage

Random -Access Memory

cant be changed

Can be changed

Non volatile

Volatile

Allows the computer to

record information, so it can
be read later.

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Storage Devices

Magnetic stripe

Secondary
storage
Magnetic storage

Magnetic disks
Floppy
disk

Hard disk
Jaz disk

Zip disk

Magnetic tape

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Storage Devices
Secondary
storage

Optical storage

Blu-ray disks: largest

capacity of all the optical
media available (25GB)
CD/DVD ROM can only be
read.
CD-R/DVD-R (recordable
once)
CD-RW/DVD-RW
rewritable
DVD-RAM writing and
reading can occur at the same
time (rewritable) (10 GB)

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Storage Devices
Secondary
storage

Solid state
backing store

Memory sticks/pen drives

Control the movment of

electrons within a
microchip.

very compact and portable

Flash memory cards: they are

used to store photos, music

very robust

very compact, easily removed

large capacity

very robust

files are easy to lose

expensive

Is not possible to write protect the

data and files

finite life in terms of the

number of times they can be
read from and written to