Computer Hardware

Vocabulary

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Computer

Electronic device that 1) takes in data and instructions (input)

2) works with the data (processing)

3) puts out information (output),

Consists of hardware and software.

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Hardware

Parts of a computer system that you can touch.

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Input device

Hardware used to input data, Examples: Keyboard, mouse

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Output device

Hardware used to output information, Examples: Printers and monitors

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Storage device

Hardware used to store data, Examples:

Hard drive, floppy drive, CD drive.

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Hard drive (HD)

Storage device built into a computer, sometimes external.

Holds data files and program files, even when the computer crashes or is turned off.

40 MB and bigger.

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Motherboard

Plain board, contains the computer's basic circuits

and parts, like the CPU, the RAM, the BIOS, expansion slots and buses.

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CPU/ (Micro-)Processor

most important part of a computer. brain of the computer, processes data and instructions, Central Processing Unit

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ALU

part of the CPU, performs arithmetic and logic operations

like additions, comparisons, etc. Arithmetic Logic Unit

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Clock rate

Speed of the processor to execute instructions,

measured in megahertz (MHz =Million clock cycles per second) or gigahertz (GHz =Billion clock cycles per second).

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BIOS

Basic Input Output System, wakes up the computer when you turn it

on, starts the operating system.

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ROM

The BIOS resides on a such a memory chip,

Read Only Memory.

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Boot process

Sequence of events that happens after turning a computer on and

before it gets ready.

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RAM

Everything disappears here when power is off

holds data and programs while the CPU uses them,

Random access memory, Types: SDRAM, RDRAM.

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Bus

Path for data on the motherboard.

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Expansion Card

Special purpose circuit board to expand the capability of a computer,

Example: video card.

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Expansion Slots

Slots on the motherboard for expansion cards

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Chip

Tiny piece of silicon with electronic circuits,

CPU and memory (RAM and ROM) live on those,

Integrated circuit.