Topic 1: THE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM AND MODES OF USE

Topic 1.1. Types of hardware

Hardware

• Is the collective name given to all the devices that make up a computer system.
• Some examples of computer hardware are shown in figure below:

• Basically these devices may be split up into:

        - INPUT DEVICES: which are used to get the data into the computer.

        - CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT): - which is the brain of the computer.

        - BACKING STORAGE: - which consists of the disk drives used to store data when the power is switched off.

        - OUTPUT DEVICES: which include such units as printers and VDUs, which are used to provide output in the form of printouts, screen displays, etc.

• All devices external to the CPU and main memory are known as peripherals.
• A simple computer system is shown below:

• Below is a listing of different hardware devices in the computer and different methods of determining additional information about the hardware device.   

CD-ROM drive
Floppy disk drive
Hard disk drive
Memory
Modem
Monitor
Motherboard
Network Card
Printer
Scanner
Sound Card
Video Card

Resources:

(1) Stephen D., [Information Systems for you, 3rd. Edition], Nelson Thornes Ltd., 2001.

(2) [http://www.computerhope.com/index.htm], Computer Hope (tm), 1998.