Skip to main content

Computer Hardware - The Essentials

All computers have essential hardware components and computer hardware can be defined as a combination of physical components that form a computer.

The physical parts of a computer include both input and output devices that include the monitor, CPU, keyboard, motherboard, mouse and printer 

The motherboard which comes with integrated circuitry is the main component that connects the other parts of the computer including the the disk drives  as well as any peripherals connected with expansion slots or ports.

Input devices are those that are used to give the computer data or commands such as the keyboard, mouse, scanner, etc

Next comes the processor which is the logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer.

The term central processing unit is found in a personal computer  in small devices is often called  is the logic of a computer and functions like a human central nervous system, directing signals from one component to another and enabling everything to happen

Memory is the electronic holding place for instructions and data that your computer that can reach quickly and it usually contains the main parts of the operating system and some or all of the application programs and related data that are being used.

Memory is often used as a Random Access Memory which stores the code and data that are being actively accessed by the CPU.

RAM usually comes in the sizes 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB, but can be much larger.

 This kind of memory is located on one or more microchips that are physically close to the processor in your computer.

The more RAM you have, the less frequently the computer has to access instructions and data from the more slowly accessed hard disk form of storage.

Memory is also called primary memory.

Storage in computing terms is the holding of data with access by a processor with secondary storage data resides on hard disks, tapes, and other external devices.

Primary storage differs from secondary storage in that it is much faster to access  because of the proximity of the storage to the processor or because of the nature of the storage devices.

 Secondary storage can store much more data as compared to primary storage.

Output devices to which the computer writes data and converts the data into a human readable form. Monitor and printer are output devices.

When using computer hardware, it is important to new hardware to a computer that improves its performance, adds capacity or new features.

For example, a user could perform a hardware upgrade to replace the hard drive to get a boost in performance or increase the amount of files that may be stored.

One can increase the RAM so the computer may run more smoothly and to fully use USB 3.0 devices, or could upgrade for extra  power.

It is important to remember that performing such hardware upgrades may be necessary for older computers to meet a programs system requirements

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Coding Explained

Code can be defined as a set of instructions in a language that computers can understand; and it is what makes it possible for us to create different computer software, apps and websites that we use including the browser, the operating system, the apps present on your phone, social media sites etc. are all made with code.   Computer coding is a process that leads from an original forming of a computing problem to a computer program that works. Codes play an important role in our lives as code is what makes computers work and computers are integrated with many objects and electronic devices that we use daily like phones, watches, microwaves and cars. People who code are known by different names such as coders, programmers, developers, computer scientists, software engineers, etc. Computers are nothing but machines that run on binary code written in 1s and 0s which is very difficult for humans to work with. Computers like people can understand different la...

Culture conflict in globalization

Globalization is a phenomenon that has made its presence felt in our daily lives and has changed the way we live and has led to the interaction between diverse cultures through convergence of world views, products and ideas, whereby cultural conflict can make or break a business that is trying to establish itself in a foreign country. One of the strategies that make a difference when it comes to establishing a successful presence in a foreign land is effective communication. This includes not just language and does not include only English as although English is the global language of doing business, many countries prefer to function in their local language which can be a cause for concern but this problem is minimized as most countries have a sizeable population who are bilingual and are comfortable with using English despite the fact that it is not their mother tongue. Non-verbal communication also plays an important role and one needs to be aware of the cultural nuances and cu...

Smartwatches - How They Work

A  smartwatch  can be described as a mobile device with a touchscreen display that is designed to be worn on the wrist for daily use. It comes with an a compatible smartphone app that provides for management and telemetry such as long-term bio monitoring. Smartwatches have become popular among gadget lovers as more companies that are manufacturing smartwatches including the traditional watch companies due to its large market.  What is it that makes smartwatches different from other gadgets so you can decide you should buy one or not.  Are smart watches worth buying when  the primary function of a watch  is showing you the time.  In case of a smartwatch, the most important function is to show you the notifications and you will have a quick access to them.  It allows you to read a message that you receive or checking out a social media notification without picking up your mobile phone. If you are busy and spend a lot of time outdoors, it...