A+ Course

Introduction to Computers

What Is a Computer?
An electronic machine, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory accepts data manipulates the data according to specified rules produces results stores the results for future use

Process

What is the information processing cycle?

Input
Any data or instructions you enter into a computer

Manipulate the input (data) to produce output (information)

Output Communication
The capability of communicating with other computers

Storage
Area in a computer that can hold data and information for future use

Data that has been processed into information

The Components of a Computer

What are common computer hardware components?
PC camera speaker printer speaker system unit

monitor keyboard modem scanner mouse

microphone digital camera

The Components of a Computer

What is an input device?
Any hardware component that allows a user to enter data and instructions into a computer
microphone keyboard PC camera

mouse scanner

digital camera

The Components of a Computer

What is an output device?
Any hardware component that can convey information to a user

monitor

speakers

printer

What is the system unit ?

A box-like case made from CD-RW drive metal or plastic that protects the internal Zip electronic components of disk the computer from drive damage hard Circuitry in the system unit disk usually is part of or is drive connected to a circuit board called the motherboard
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

floppy disk drive

The Components of a Computer

What are two main components on the motherboard? Central Processing Unit (CPU) Memory (RAM)

The Components of a Computer

What are internal components and external devices? Internal Component
Resides inside the system unit External Device Also called a peripheral Attaches to the system unit

The Components of a Computer

What is storage?
Holds data, instructions, and information for future use

Storage Device Storage Medium

The Components of a Computer

What is a floppy disk?
A thin, circular, flexible disk enclosed in a plastic shell Insert and remove a floppy disk into and from a floppy disk drive A Zip disk is a higher capacity disk up to 250 Mbytes

The System Unit What are common components inside the system unit?
Processor Memory module Expansion cards Sound card Modem card Video card Network interface card Ports and Connectors

Ports
What is a port?
Used to connect external devices to the system unit Port is the interface, or point of attachment, to the system unit Most located on the back of the system unit
keyboard USB serial port mouse USB printer (parallel port) speaker monitor game port network microphone

telephone line in svideo out

FM reception cable TV

Ports
What is a connector?
Used to join a cable to a device Some connectors are on the computer when purchased, others added on expansion cards Male connectors have one or more exposed pins Female connectors have matching holes to accept the pins on a male connector
power cord

keyboard connector USB connector

mouse connector

printer connector monitor connector

network connector

speaker connector microphone connector telephone line in connector

Gender changer is a device that allows you to join two connectors that are the same

Ports What are the different types of connectors?

Ports What is a universal serial bus port (USB)?

Can connect up to 127 different peripheral devices with a single connector type Supports newer peripherals Supports hot plugging and Plug and Play

What is a serial port?

Transmits one bit of data at a time Used to connect devices that do not require fast transmission rates
mouse keyboard modem

serial transmission of data

Ports

byte representation for number 1 (00110001)

byte representation for number 3 (00110011)

byte representation for number 5 (00110101)

Two common types

25-pin 9-pin

DB-9 female connector

DB-9 male connector

Ports
What is a parallel port?
Connects devices that can transfer more than one bit at a time Usually used for printers Two newer types
EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port) ECP (Extended Capabilities Port) byte representation for number 1 byte representation for number 3 byte representation for number 5

DB-25 male connector

DB-25 female connector

Power Supply What is a power supply?

Converts alternating current (AC,115 to 120 volts) to direct current (DC, 5 to 12 volts)

Some peripheral devices have an AC adapter

The System Unit What is the motherboard?

Also called the system board Main circuit board in the system unit Contains many electronic components

ATX Motherboard

ATX Motherboard
AGP Slot USB, Serial, Parallel, Keyboard, mouse Ports P1 or ATX power connector

PCI Slots

Northbridge

Processor zif socket

CMOS battery

RAM DIMM sockets Floppy Disk Drive Controller

IDE 1 and IDE 2

Buses What is a bus?

Electrical channels that allow various devices inside the computer to communicate with each other Bus width determines the number of bits transmitted at one time Word size determines the number of bits the processor can interpret and execute at a given time

Buses What are the two basic types of buses?

Expansion bus Allows the processor to communicate with peripheral devices

System bus Part of the motherboard that connects the processor to main memory

Central Processing Unit

What are the components of the central processing unit (CPU )?

CPU Arithmetic/ Logic Unit (ALU)

Control Unit

Central Processing Unit What is the control unit?

A component of the CPU that directs and coordinates most of the operations in the computer

CPU The control unit repeats a set of four basic operations: Fetch Arithmetic/ Control Unit obtain a program instruction or data item from memory Control Unit Logic Unit Decode - translate the instruction into (ALU)
commands Execute - carry out the command Store - write the result to memory