CHAPTER 1

Network +

Color conventions

Green text: Table of contents of things to come

Red text: Concepts you should learn for quizzes, texts, etc.

Red Underlined text: Technical termsGold text: Terms or continuations of series

that you don’t have to memorize

Topics

1. Personal Computers and Applications2. Types of Computers3. Binary Representation of Data4. Computer Components and Peripherals5. Computer System Components

1. Personal Computer and Applications

Computers are EVERYWHERE! Mfg, Sales, Art, Science, Homes, Government,

Publishers

Computers are IN NEARLY EVERYTHING! Cars, Microwave ovens, Watches, Pacemakers,

Phones, Prosthetics, Refrigerators

Computer RequirementsComputers require some type of Hardware to function

Computers require some type of Application Software to give them instructions

Computers require some type of System Software (Operating System) to interpret application instructions to the hardware

Computers require firmware (BIOS) to be able to find and load the Operating System into memory

1. Personal Computers and Applications (cont)

1. Personal Computers and Applications (cont)

All programs run from memory, not directly from a storage medium.

Both the Operating System and Application must be in memory in order to be usable by the computer

1. Personal Computers and Applications (cont)

Application software can be Vertical (Specific software for an industry) Horizontal (General use across many industries)

Application software can be: Local Application (Runs directly on the local

computer) Example: Windows Media Player

Network Applications (Runs over a Network or the Internet) SQL (Database software)

2. Types of Computers

Mainframe: Large centralized computer built or sold through a specialized reseller

Server: High-performance computer designed to provide network services.

Desktop: (Also called PCs) End user devices usually acting as clients in a network

2. Types of Computers (cont)

Workstations: High-end specialized computers usually given specific functions Example: Graphics rendering computer

Portable Devices: Laptop PDA Gaming Machine Smart Phones Tablets

3. Binary Representation of Data

Bit: The smallest unit of data a computer is capable of storing or manipulating. Represented as a zero or one

Technically it’s zero or non-zero May be part of a letter, character, color, instruction,

sound, number, function, or true/false state

ASCII code: A character or instruction made up of a 7-bit combination Thus 128 possible characters in ASCII

3. Binary Representation of Data (cont)

Byte: A collection of eight bits that make up a single unit. Basic unit of data storage. Allows 256 possible combinations

Bit is abbreviated “b”Byte is abbreviated “B”

3. Binary Representation of Data (cont)

Kilo = 2^10 = 1024 (Thousand)Mega = 2^20 = 1024 * 1024 = 1,048,576 (Million)Giga = 2^30 = 1024 * 1024 *1024 = 1,073,741,824

(Billion)Tera = 2^40 = 1024 * 1024 * 1024 * 1024 =

1,099,511,627,776 (Trillion)Peta = 2^50 = 1,125,899,906,842,624 (Quadrillion)Exa = 2^60 = 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 (Quintillion)Zetta = 2^70 = 1,180,591,620,717,411,303,424

(Sextillion)Yotta = 2^80 = 1,208,925,819,614,629,174,706,176

(Septillion)

Binary Representation

Conventionsb is always bits. B is always BytesSome sources use small prefixes for 1000 and

capital prefixes for 1024 kB (1000 Bytes) KB (1024 Bytes)

Some use an “ib” in the prefix for 1024 (KibiByte = KiB = 1024 bytes) (KiloByte = KB = 1000 bytes)

Binary Representation

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibibyte

3. Binary Representation of Data (cont)

Communication measurements are almost always measured in bits Gbps (Gigabits per second)

Storage is almost always measured in bytes GB (Gigabytes of storage)

Stores almost always use 1000 rather than 1024

3. Binary Representation of Data (cont)

Pixel: The number of dots that can be displayed on a screen). This is the measurement of Screen Resolution

HZ (Hertz): The number of cycles per second For example: A 60Hz monitor refreshed 60 times per

second . A 1.8 GHz radio wave has 1.8 billion cycles per second.

4. Computer components and peripherals

Motherboard (also called System Board, or backplane). The main large board inside the case that has the CPU, chipset, and other components mounted on it

CPU (Central Processing Unit): The primary instruction chip that is the “brain” of the computer.

4. Computer components and peripherals (cont)

RAM (Random Access Memory): a Poorly named type of memory which electrically stores programs and data for immediate access by the CPU - and can be access in any sequence and erased instantly.

Front-side Bus (FSB): A set of traces (mounted wires) That carries information from the CPU to RAM

4. Computer components and peripherals (cont)

Adapter Cards Video

PCI, AGP, or PCIe Sound Network (NIC, or Network Adapter) Modem (Translates from analog to digital) Controller (provide data ports)

4. Computer components and peripherals (cont)

Communication medium types Copper Fiberoptic Wireless

4. Computer components and peripherals (cont)

Storage Types Magnetic (Hard Drive, Floppy Drive, Tape Drive) Optical (CD-R, DVD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RW, BD) Static (RAM, USB)

We will not get into specific types of CDs, DVDs, BDs here except for the following R = Read only: Write Once Read Many (WORM) RW = Rewritable: Write Many, Read Many ROM = Read Only: No Write Read Many

4. Computer components and peripherals (cont)

CD: holds about 720 MB of dataDVD Single layer: Holds about 4.7 GB of dataDVD Dual layer: Holds about 8 GB of dataBD: Holds about 22 GB of data

4. Computer components and peripherals (cont)

Peripheral devices One of four categories

Input (keyboard) Output (speaker) Storage (external drive) Network (modem)

4. Computer components and peripherals (cont)

Network Peripherals

Modem (Modulator/Demodulator): Translates between an analog signal and a digital signal

NIC (Network Interface Card): Translates digital data from computer to electrical or radio for a medium (wire or wireless)

5. Computer System Components

Supporting parts System Unit Case Power Supply Unit (PSU)

Converts AC to DC Surge Suppressors

Protects against varying voltage UPS (uninterruptable Power Supply)

Protects against varying voltage AND provides backup power

6. Installation Considerations

Installation considerations (Safety and Best Practices) Always back up data Always power off Always use a Wrist Strap for ESD protection Use ESD bags, mats, bare floor, etc. for static

protection Do not touch chips or connectors Do not move running hard drives Do not use pencils in the machine Do not put batteries on conductive surfaces