Computer hardware

COMPUTER

•The computer is made

up of several
different components.
• This is what makes up a
computer
Two Main Components
• HARDWARE : is the physical
components of a computer
• It refers to the electrical parts and
devices that make up a computer

• SOFTWARE -  is a collection of

procedures, instructions,
documentation that tells a computer
exactly what to do or allows users
to interact with a computer. 
MAIN PARTS OF THE COMPUTER (HARDWARE)

System Unit
Monitor

Printer

Keyboard

Mouse
1. The keyboard
• Keyboard (similar to a typewriter) is the main input device of a
computer .
The keys on your keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:
• alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number, punctuation, and
symbol keys found on a traditional typewriter.
• Special keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform
certain actions. The most frequently used control keys are CTRL, ALT, the Windows key,
and ESC.
• Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are labelled
as F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. The functionality of these keys differs from program
to program.
• Cursor Movement (Navigation) keys. These keys are used for moving around in
documents or WebPages and editing text. They include the arrow keys, HOME, END,
PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN, DELETE, and INSERT and ARROW KEYS.
• Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The
keys are grouped together in a block like a conventional calculator or adding machine.
2. Mouse
3. Monitor

Types of Monitor:
a. Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors
It is a technology used in early monitors. It uses a beam of electrons to
create an image on the screen. It comprises the guns that fire a beam of
electrons inside the screen
b.  Flat Panel Monitors
These types of monitors are lightweight and take less
space. They consume less power as compared to CRT
monitors. These monitors are more effective as they do
not provide harmful radiation. These monitors are more
expensive than CRTs. 
Type of FLAT Panel Monitors
• Liquid Crystal Display: LCD (Liquid crystal display)
screen contains a substance known as liquid crystal. The
particles of this substance are aligned in a way that the light
located backside on the screens, which allow to generate an
image or block.
• Liquid crystal display offers a clear picture as compared to CRT
display and emits less radiation. Furthermore, it consumes less
power and takes less space than a CRT display.
Types of FLAT Panel Monitors (c0ntd)

• Gas Plasma Display: This display uses gas plasma technology, which

uses a layer of gas between 2 plates of glass. When voltage is applied,
the gas releases ultraviolet light. By this ultraviolet light, the pixels on
the screen glow and form an image. These displays are available in
different sizes of up to 150 inches. Although it offers effective colors as
compared to the LCD monitor, it is more expensive.

• LED Monitors: a flat screen computer monitor, which stands for

light-emitting•.diode display. It is lightweight in
terms of weight and has a short depth.
As the source of light, it uses a panel of LEDs.
.
Types of FLAT Panel Monitors (c0ntd)

• OLED Monitors : It is a new flat light-emitting display technology, which is more

efficient, brighter, thinner, and better refresh rates feature and contrast as compared to the 
LCD display. It is made up of locating a series of organic thin films between two conductors.
These displays do not need a backlight as they are emissive displays. Furthermore, it provides
better image quality ever and used in tablets and high-end smartphones.
C. Touch Screen Monitors
• These monitors are also known as an input device.
It enables users to interact with the computer
by using a finger or stylus instead of using a mouse
or keyboard. When users touch the screen by their finger,
it occurs an event and forward it to the controller for processing.

•.
4. System Units
Inside Parts
4. System Units
Inside Parts
a. Motherboard:The motherboard is the main circuit board
of a microcomputer. This component contains
the connectors for attaching additional boards.
All other parts connect in one way or another
to the motherboard.
Motherboard (contd)
Motherboard (contd)
• b. Hard Disk Drive :A hard disk drive is the main storage device of a
computer.. It is a high capacity, non-volatile, magnetic data storage device with
a volume (disk) that is usually non-removable.
- Data is magnetically read and written on the platter by
read/write heads that float on a cushion of air above the platters.
c. POWER SUPPLY

The power supply unit (PSU) is used to convert AC currents

from the main supply to the different DC voltages required by
various computer components.
d. Optical Disc Drive e. System Fan
f. CPU g. CPU Fan & Heatsink
h. RAM –Random Access Memory
Random Access Memory is
volatile. That means data is
retained in RAM as long as the
computer is on, but it is lost when
the computer is turned off.
When the computer is rebooted,
the OS and other files are
reloaded into RAM, usually from
an HDD or SSD.
The term random access as
applied to RAM comes from the
fact that any storage location,
also known as any memory
address, can be accessed directly
i. ROM – Read Only Memory
ROM, stores information that can only be
read.
ROM is a type of non-volatile storage,
which means that the information is
maintained even if the component loses
power.
It contains the basic instructions for what
needs to happen when a computer is
powered on. This is typically referred to as
the firmware of a computer.
The firmware represents the basic code to
get the computer started. Once the
computer is up and running, the CPU
takes over. Firmware is also referred to
as BIOS, or basic input/output system.
When you press the power button, the
BIOS chip wakes up and checks the various
components of your computer to make
sure they are all present and functioning
properly.
h. RAM –Random Access Memory i. ROM – Read Only MEmory
j. Video Card modem sound card
• video card, also called graphics card,
is an integrated circuit that generates the
video signal sent to a computer display.
• The card is usually located on the computer
• It contains a graphics processing
unit (GPU), which is a processor
dedicated to creating images;
a digital-to-analog converter;
and memory chips that store
display data.
l. modem sound card
• An internal modem is a device installed inside a desktop or
laptop computer, allowing the computer to communicate over a
network with other connected computers. There are two types
of internal modems: dial-up and WiFi® (wireless).
m. sound card
• A sound card is a peripheral device that attaches to the ISA or
PCI slot on the motherboard to enable the computer to input,
process, and deliver sound.
5. Printers :
A computer printer is a device or an instrument that must be
connected to a computer which allows users to print text and
graphics on the plain papers.
In some case they can be directly connected to digital camera
for printing pictures without connecting to any computer.

There are different types and models of printers:

a. Inkjet Pinter -  Inkjet printers one of the user friendly computer
printers. It works by propelling variably-sized droplets of liquid or
molten material (ink) onto almost any medium.
The most common type of printer for the general consumer due to
their low cost, high quality of output, capability of printing in
glowing color, and easy to use and handle.
b. Laser Printer: - Laser printer uses LED-technology to obtain
small particles of toner from a cartridge onto paper.
They produce high quality text and graphics on plain paper.

c. Plotters Printer: - Plotters printer are very different from

others printers. Unlike other printer Pen Plotters print by
moving a pen across the surface of a piece of paper.
Plotters printer is the best way to produce color high
-resolution vector-based artwork, or very large drawings
efficiently.
Printers (contd)
d. Dot-matrix Printer: - This printer is some how like typewriting.
They create characters by striking pins against an ink ribbon. Each pin
makes a dot, and combinations of dots form characters and
illustrations. The printing involves mechanical pressure, so these
printers can create carbon copies and carbonless copies as well.
e. Thermal Printer: - Thermal printer is an inexpensive printer that
works by pushing heated pins against heat-sensitive paper. Thermal
printers are generally used in calculators and fax machines. Thermal
printers print faster and more quietly than dot matrix printers. They
are also more economical since their only consumable is the paper
itself
Types of Printer

Laser printers
Categories of hardware
1. Input Device
2. Processing device
3. Output Device
4. Storage Device
5. Communication device
1. INPUT DEVICE -Devices that helps input data inside the
computer for processing.

Example: keyboard, mouse, monitor (touch screen),

scanner, video cam

2. Processing Devices – it perform processing or

calculations.
Example:
• System Unit:
•CPU (Processor), Motherboard
3.OUTPUT Devices – devices that provides the user with
the means to view
information produced by the computer.
• Output devices make the information resulting
from the processing available for use.
Example: Printer, Monitor, Speaker
• The printer produces a hard copy of your output,
and the computer screen produces a soft copy of
your output.
3. STORAGE DEVICES – today it is called digital
storage, storage media, or storage medium, or a storage
device; is any hardware capable of holding information either
temporarily or permanently.

Example : Hard disk

Thumb drive
CD’s/DVDs
Memory Card
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER STORAGE
a. Magnetic storage devices
•Today, magnetic storage is one of the most
common types of storage used with computers.

odiskette
oHard drive
oMagnetic strip
oSuperDisk
oTape cassette
oZip diskette
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER STORAGE(contd)

b. Optical storage devices

Optical storage, which uses lasers and lights
as its method of reading and writing data.
oBlu-ray disc
oCD-ROM disc
oCD-R and CD-RW disc.
oDVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+R
W disc.
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER STORAGE(contd)

c. Solid-state storage devices

Solid state storage (flash memory) has replaced
most magnetic and optical media as it becomes
cheaper because it's the more efficient and
reliable solution.

Other Example of storage devices:

o USB flash drive, jump drive, or thumb drive
o Memory card
o SD Card
CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER STORAGE(contd)

d. Online and cloud

Storing data online and in cloud storage is
becoming popular as people need to access
their data from more than one device.
Example:
Cloud storage
Network Media
5. COMMUNICATION DEVICES
A communications device is any type of
hardware capable of transmitting data,
instructions, and information between a
sending device and a receiving device.
One type of communications device
that connects a communications
channel to a sending or receiving device
such as a com- puter is a modem.
Computers process data as digital
signals. 
Example of Communication devices
• Dial-Up Modems
• a computer’s digital signals must be converted to analog
signals before they are transmitted over standard telephone
lines
• ISDN and DSL Modems
• A DSL modem sends digital data and information from a
computer to a DSL line and receives digital data and
information from a DSL line.
• Cable Modems
• a computer’s digital signals must be converted to analog
signals before they are transmitted over standard telephone
lines
Example of Communication devices (Contd)

• Wireless Modems
• Some mobile users have a wireless modem that uses the cell phone
network to connect to the Internet wirelessly from  a notebook
computer, a smart phone, or other mobile device
• Network Cards
• A network card is an adapter card, PC Card, ExpressCard module,
USB network adapter, or flash card that enables a computer or device
that does not have networking capability to access a network.
• Wireless Access Points
• A wireless access point is a central communications device that allows
com- puters and devices to transfer data wirelessly among themselves
or to transfer data wire- lessly to a wired network
Example of Communication devices (Contd)

• Routers
• A router is a communications device that connects
multiple computers or other routers together and
transmits data to its correct destination on the network.
A router can be used on any size of network.
SOFTWARE
TWO MAIN TYPES OF COMPUTER
SOFTWARE

1. SYSTEM SOFTWARE - System software

is a type of computer program that is
designed to run a computer's
hardware and application programs.
Example:
o MS Windows • For smartphones:
oMac OS
oUnix Apple’s iOS
oLinux Google’s Android
oUbunto Windows Phone OS
TWO MAIN TYPES OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE (contd)

2. APPLICATION SOFTWARE
application software, designed to handle specific
tasks for users. Such software directs the computer
 to execute commands given by the user and may be
said to include any program that processes data for
a user.

Example: word processors, spreadsheets, database
management,etc.
 References:
• https://peda.net/kenya/ass/subjects2/computer-studies/form-1/the-co
mputer-system#:~:text=There%20are%20five%20main%20hardware,Stor
age%
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SIS1Nn13eKgK0BE-vvg%3A1674458880414&ei=ADfOY5n_GMiQ-Aal64n
wAg&ved=0ahUKEwiZ_4e2ld38AhVICN4KHaV1Ai4Q4dUDCA8&uact=5&o
q=video+card
• http://computerit4u.weebly.com/system-unit.html
• https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/stordevi.htm