Hardware and software
Grade 7
Hardware
• Hardware is a physical component of a
computer
External hardware
• These are parts of the computer
outside the CPU case.
• These are peripheral devices
• Examples are:
• Microphone
• Speaker
• Projector
• And so on
• Usually, Cambridge asks few questions
to identify these devices through their
function
Internal hardware
• These are parts of the computer inside the
CPU case.
• Cambridge used to ask questions on their
functionalities
• Examples are:
• Motherboard
• Sound card
• Network card
• Graphic card
• Memory
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• A device which carries out system
instruction
Motherboard
• is circuit board which is connects to
main components of the computer
system.
Graphic Video Cards
• graphics video card is a device that
attaches to the motherboard to
enable the computer to process and
display graphics.
sound card
• is a device that attaches to the
motherboard to enable the
computer to input, process, and
deliver sound
Internal Hard Disk
• hard disk drive is a hardware device
that's used to store information like
software and files.
Memory
• Any data or instructions that are to
be processed by the CPU must be
placed into main memory.
Types of memory
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• It stores programs currently running in your computer
• Data stored in the RAM get deleted when the computer is turn off
• It is volatile (i.e. it temporarily stores data)
• Read Only Memory (ROM)
• It stores start-up instructions
• Data stored in the ROM remains even when the computer is turn off
• It is non-volatile (i.e. it permanently store data)
Network Card
•A network card provides the
computer with a network (internet
connection)
• either through wireless signals or a
physical cable connection.
Optical Disk Drive
• optical disk drive allows optical disks
to run on the computer
• This can be
• CD
• DVD
• Blu-Ray
Power Supply
• It connected to main power sources
to give power to the computer
system.
IGCSE Questions on Chapter One
Some of the Hardware
related questions
from
2013 - 2019
Make sure you write the answers exactly the way it’s written in the options
hardware
software
microphone
hard disk drive
Video conference
Speaker
Projector
Microphone
RAM or Random Access Memory
Motherboard
ROM or Read Only Memory
Sound card
Mind your spelling please
CPU or Central Processing Unit
Motherboard
Sound card
RAM or Random Access Memory
ROM
Internal hard disk
RAM
Video card
Laptop computer Laser printer
Bar code reader Graphics tablet
Software
• These are set of instructions
runs in a computer system
• These are programs which
control computer system
Types of software
• Application software
• are designed to allow users to
complete specific tasks
• Examples: MS Word, Google Chrome,
Adobe Photoshop and so on.
Types of software
• System software
• These are software which control hardware
devices
• Examples:
• Operating system (OS) e.g Windows
• Device driver e.g printer drivers
• Utility software e.g anti-virus
• Linkers: combines object files into a single program
• Compilers: convert high level language into machine
code
IGCSE Questions on Chapter One
Some of the Software
related questions
from
2013 - 2019
These are programs run in a computer system. For example, Microsoft Word, Windows
Note: make sure you give answers or points equivalent to the marks awarded. Don’t give
less.
Note: read & write means copy and delete
System
Applications
A printer
A compiler
a dongle a dongle
encryption
Quantum cryptography
a pin
System software
Windows, iOS, Android
Application software
Google Chrome, Microsoft PowerPoint
1. Data stored in RAM are volatile
2. Data stored in ROM are non-volatile
3. RAM contains programs currently running in the computer
4. ROM contains BIOS or start-up instructions
Control software
Measuring software
Spreadsheet software
Presentation software
Internet browser
1. Data stored in RAM are volatile
2. Data stored in ROM are non-volatile
3. RAM contains programs currently running in the computer
4. ROM contains BIOS or start-up instructions
Document editing software e.g Microsoft Word
Use to type and edit text
Internet browser software e.g Google Chrome
To search the internet to find information
Part 2
The main components of
computer systems
