Unit 1 : Computer Systems
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So what is a computer?
It is an electronic information processing system. It processes or converts information which can be text, video, audio, numerical or other sensory inputs and outputs. A computer has two types of parts, hardware and software. Hardware parts are all the physical parts of the computer and software can be application programs, operating systems, programs and data files.
It is an electronic information processing system. It processes or converts information which can be text, video, audio, numerical or other sensory inputs and outputs. A computer has two types of parts, hardware and software. Hardware parts are all the physical parts of the computer and software can be application programs, operating systems, programs and data files.
As a beginner in the course, I learned a lot about different hardware parts of a computer. The hardware research activity was very informative and helped me understand specifications clearly. Some other important things I learned in this unit were specifications and motherboard parts.
A specification is a detailed description or measurement related to the size, speed, connector (interface), and related information about a technology or product. They can be described by:
1. Data Storage/Capacity: KB, MB, GB, TB, PB ...
2. Data Transfer Speed: Kbps, MBps, GHz ...
3. Resolution: pixel width x number of lines or dots per pinch
4. Form Factor: physical shape and electrical connections of a device or interface
A specification is a detailed description or measurement related to the size, speed, connector (interface), and related information about a technology or product. They can be described by:
1. Data Storage/Capacity: KB, MB, GB, TB, PB ...
2. Data Transfer Speed: Kbps, MBps, GHz ...
3. Resolution: pixel width x number of lines or dots per pinch
4. Form Factor: physical shape and electrical connections of a device or interface
Basic Terminology
1. Hardware: all the physical parts of a computer
2. Software: a program that allows the computer to operate such as application programs, operating system programs and data files
3. Bytes: groupings of 8 bits that are translated to data
4. CPU: (Central Processing Unit) the main component in the computer that processes information
5. Resolution: the sharpness/clarity of an image
2. Software: a program that allows the computer to operate such as application programs, operating system programs and data files
3. Bytes: groupings of 8 bits that are translated to data
4. CPU: (Central Processing Unit) the main component in the computer that processes information
5. Resolution: the sharpness/clarity of an image
Hardware research
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As a class we shared with each other information on about 20 different computer hardware parts. One of them was a computer case with a cooling system included in it. Some specifications that I received on this case were:
1. Material: Plastic, Steel
2. Cooling system: 140 mm fan
3. Dimensions: 22.7" x 9" x 21.5"
4. Fan noise level: 19 dBA
5. Fan Voltage: 12 V DC
6. Fan Power Consumption: 1.8 W
7. Media Ports: 4 front USB ports, 1 front Firewire port
Some other examples are LCD/LED monitors, Hard disk drives (HDD), RAM, mouse, etc.
1. Material: Plastic, Steel
2. Cooling system: 140 mm fan
3. Dimensions: 22.7" x 9" x 21.5"
4. Fan noise level: 19 dBA
5. Fan Voltage: 12 V DC
6. Fan Power Consumption: 1.8 W
7. Media Ports: 4 front USB ports, 1 front Firewire port
Some other examples are LCD/LED monitors, Hard disk drives (HDD), RAM, mouse, etc.
Motherboard of a computer
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The motherboard of a computer contains some of the most important parts of a computer. The computer's processor, heat sink, RAM and PCI slots are on this hardware part. It also has many other slots which we use everyday on a computer such as USB, PS/2 keyboard slot, VGA port, DVI port, HDMI port, Ethernet port, microphone/Line-out jack, etc.