Computer Structure - Hardware Parts
Hardware components such as a central processor unit (CPU), random-access memory (RAM), hard disk drive (HDD), and others make up computer systems. Usually connecting to a motherboard, this is referred to as internal hardware. Peripherals are external devices such as printers, scanners, keyboards, mouse, cameras, and so on. Additionally, there is removable storage that is meant to be portable, including memory cards, USB sticks, and external hard drives. Hardware Types The casing of a desktop computer contains all of the internal components. External hardware is what's located outside the case and is referred to as peripherals. Internal Hardware Hardware found inside the computer casing is referred to as internal hardware. Examples include the hard drive, graphics card, RAM, CPU, or processor. External hardware / Perioherals The most common peripherals are Monitors Printers Keyboards Mice Scanners Cameras These all sit outside the case and connect to your computer via USB cable or similar. Some familiar ones are pictured below. Here, you have a computer monitor and printer. These are sometimes called output devices.
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Computer Structure - Utilities
Utilities are small programs that are designed to configure, analyse, optimise or maintain a computer, such as antivirus, scandisk or defrag. Windows comes pre-installed with Windows Defender which is an antivirus program. Computer Structure - Applications & Apps
Applications are huge software packages that were initially intended to operate on desktop computers. A keyboard and mouse are used to interact with the application. Applications such as the Adobe Creative Suite, which includes Photoshop, Premiere, and Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and the Microsoft Office Suite are examples. The program and its UI are made with the understanding that you use a keyboard and mouse to interact with the system. An illustration of a desktop program is this one. A laptop could possibly be running this application. The App is a more modern version of software. Apps are typically made with a touch screen in mind and have a smaller file size. You use your finger to directly manipulate the screen with various finger motions, such as tapping, dragging, and pointing. This is taken into consideration when designing the interface, as larger icons allow you to tap on them with your finger. Computer Structure - Operating Systems
Software is required for the computer to function in addition to all the hardware and accessories. An operating system is the first component of required software. This might be: On a PC, Windows 10 or 11 If using a Mac computer, use MacOS. If you use a ChromeBook, use ChromeOS; if you use a tablet, use Android and iPadOS. These appear to be comparable to the ones shown below. Both MacOS and Windows 11 are visible here. We can see iOS running on an iPhone in the image below. Instead of use a mouse, the iPhone's operating system enables users to interact with the system by tapping on icons. As you can see, the operating system offers a user interface through which you can carry out tasks using a variety of instruments known as programs or software. One software program suite that enables you to produce documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other types of files is Microsoft Office. Photoshop is an image editing application. Computer Structure - Software for Computers
Now let's quickly review the various kinds of computer software that enable a computer to function. There are several distinct types of computer software, including Applications, Apps, Utilities, and System Software. Large software packages known as applications were first created to run on desktop computers; a keyboard and mouse are used to interface with the program. Examples of software include the Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, and others. The App is a more modern version of software. Apps are typically made with a touch screen in mind and have a smaller file size. Facebook, for instance, offers an app. To go along with its desktop application counterparts, Microsoft Office Suite also offers app versions of its program. Small software applications like antivirus, scandisc, and defrag are examples of utilities. They are made to analyze, configure, optimize, and maintain a computer. The operating system, which can be Windows 10/11, MacOS, ChromeOS, iOS, Android, or Linux, is the most crucial piece of software. We refer to this as system software. computer Structure - Printer’s Common Terms
The standard unit of measurement for print speed is pages per minute (ppm). When printing in large quantities, a faster print speed is advantageous. Print Quality: Most printers will produce acceptable text documents. A high print resolution printer—measured in dots per inch, or dpi—is what you'll need if you want to print high-quality images or graphics. improved DPI corresponds to improved print quality. Color or Monochrome: A monochrome (black and white) printer can be all you need if you only need to print text documents. However, a color printer is required if you need to print color documents or images. Printer Type: Inkjet and laser printers are the most often used varieties. Inkjet printers can print both text documents and high-quality images, and they are usually less expensive initially. Fast, large-volume printing is typically more affordable with laser printers. Connectivity: Printers can be linked to your computer wirelessly via WiFi, Ethernet, or USB. Additionally, some more recent models allow mobile printing solutions like Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint. Ink/Toner: Ink is used by inkjet printers, whereas toner is used by laser printers. While some printers use a single cartridge to print in every color, others use different cartridges for each color. Computer Structure – Computer ‘s common terminology
The processor (CPU), graphics card (GPU), hard drive (storage), and RAM (memory) are the main components to know. The central processing unit, sometimes known as the processor, is essentially the computer's brain. The majority of the computer's processing is done by it. The performance of the computer will be significantly impacted by the CPU's speed and number of cores. The graphics card, also known as the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), is especially crucial if you intend to use your computer for demanding graphical applications like graphic design, video editing, or gaming. Everything that is on your hard disk is stored there. This covers everything, including your operating system, files, and images. Solid-state drives (SSDs), which are quicker and more dependable than conventional hard disk drives (HDDs), are used in a lot of computers nowadays. This is not to be confused with RAM (memory). Computer short-term memory is called RAM (Random Access Memory). It speeds up the processing of information by temporarily storing data that the CPU uses on your computer. A smoother experience while running many applications at once is usually associated with more RAM. In addition to a keyboard and mouse, the majority of current computers also have an integrated WiFi connection. But make sure you constantly verify what's included. Computer Structure- Embedded Systems
A small computer with a specific function that is typically integrated into the device it controls is called an embedded system. Firmware is the term for the computer program that is typically stored in ROM or a type of flash memory. Digital cameras, smartphones, automobiles, and home appliances like microwaves, washing machines, DVD players, and smart TVs can all have these systems built in. Computer Structure - Mainframe Computer
High-performance devices, mainframe computers thrive at intensive, large-scale processing. They are frequently utilized for intricate and crucial tasks like processing enormous amounts of data, analyzing census information, doing statistical calculations, enterprise resource planning, and handling transactions for big organizations like banks and governments. They are renowned for their rapid speed, outstanding dependability, strong security, scalability, and capacity to accommodate a large number of peripherals and concurrent users, frequently in the tens of thousands or more. Mainframes are built to manage enormous volumes of data and computation because to their robust processing capability and big memory capacity. Because of their size and the accompanying ancillary equipment, mainframes typically take up huge spaces—sometimes an entire room or floor of a building. Even Nevertheless, current mainframes are still somewhat larger than the average server or laptop computer despite having greatly decreased size without sacrificing speed. Because of their capabilities and design, mainframes have a high uptime and are frequently utilized in settings where system availability is critical. To guarantee that they keep operating even in the event that part of their components fail, they are equipped with advanced software failover capabilities and redundant hardware components. Finally, mainframes remain a major player in several industries and applications because they continue to provide a level of performance and reliability that is difficult to match, even in the face of the emergence and spread of cloud computing. Computer Structure Macs and PCs The majority of retail outlets stock two main categories of computers: Windows-based PCs and Apple Macs. Price is one of the many factors that can determine whether you should buy a Mac or a PC. Although Macs often start out more expensive than many PCs, prices vary greatly between the two categories. There are high-end, high-priced PCs and low-cost Macs (such the Mac Mini). As a result, a person's decision may be influenced by their spending limit and unique computing requirements. While macOS, the operating system for Mac computers, functions more transparently, Apple is well-known for its stringent regulations regarding the App Store for iOS devices. Users are able to download and use any program that is compatible with macOS, regardless of whether Apple has approved it or not. On the other hand, a wider variety of PC software choices may be accessible given Windows' greater market penetration. Despite the widespread use of Macs in the creative sectors, PCs may still fulfill the same functions, despite popular opinion to the contrary. In their job, many creative professionals use PCs; in fact, certain high-end PCs are made with artistic uses in mind. In a same vein, Macs have become widely used in a wide range of enterprises despite the perception that PCs are more business-oriented. This is because Macs can run Microsoft Office and other complete office apps seamlessly on both Windows and Macs. |