What do you, dear reader, know about a computer? Of course, the completeness and depth of your answer will depend on many factors. Some of you will involuntarily turn to the superficial knowledge from the school curriculum acquired in computer science lessons. And it’s unlikely that the average user would think about what is hidden under the protective casing of the system unit. As a rule, a housewife's knowledge is based on a visual understanding of the subject of our discussion: an iron or plastic box, a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. And we should agree with this, since the objectivity of such an opinion really characterizes a standard configuration PC in general terms. However, the components of a computer are more than the simplicity and limitations of the visible body parts of the system unit and some connected to it. Reading promises to be fascinating, and the material in the article is guaranteed to become a starting point for your curiosity.

The main components of a computer: what a housewife sees

No matter how much we would like it, we simply cannot do without computer terminology. So be prepared to become familiar with some specialized words. By the way, this will save you a lot of time in the future. Now let's move directly to the fascinating theory and consider the basic configuration of a desktop PC as an introductory list.

• The system unit is the case in which the hardware of the computer is located.
• Monitor is a device for displaying graphic and symbolic information.
• A keyboard is a keyboard-based computer control device through which data and commands are entered.
• A mouse is a hand-held manipulator that converts mechanical movements into a control signal.

Design features of computing devices

The mentioned computer components are integral elements of desktop modifications. Laptops, tablets and pocket electronic devices are portable types of computing equipment. Such devices have a compact body. All basic hardware components are combined into a single device, resulting in maximum practicality of the device. The undeniable advantage of laptop computers is operational autonomy and mobility during use. There is another type of computer equipment - all-in-one computers. This type of computing device is a cross between desktop and mobile systems. The miniaturization of the hardware, borrowed from laptops, and the stationary “attachment” to the workplace of traditional PCs distinguish this type of equipment into a separately presented type of computing device.

Inside the protective case are located what ultimately is the hardware configuration of the PC. The main part of a computer is considered to be motherboard devices, since this element is a kind of spine electronic system, on which, in addition to the required components - a central processor and RAM strips - additional expansion modules can be installed. A special place in system unit allocated for information storage device - HDD. Computer components such as the cooling system and power supply are also located inside the PC case. However, portable devices receive power from external power supply devices. Typically, a personal computer is equipped optical drive for reading and writing data. The main interface panel is displayed outside.

Important parts of the computer: the processor is the “heart” of the PC

This chip performs the function of a computer center. Without a CPU, a computer simply won't work. CPU power is characterized by a clock frequency, which is measured in MHz. At the same time, the final performance indicator of the processor depends on the level of technology used. When performing multi-threaded operations (working two or more simultaneously used applications), CPUs with a multi-core architecture have an absolute advantage. This technical part of the computer - the processor - consists of a core and associated components: an input/output bus and an address bus. The processing speed of data between the specified CPU components is expressed in bit depth. The higher the mentioned indicator, the larger the CPU bus.

RAM: The CPU's Fast Helper

This is a volatile component of the system, which is a kind of intermediary between the central processor and hard drive. However, data exchange can also occur directly between the CPU and the computer's RAM. The RAM module is installed in a special bank slot on the motherboard. The performance of the OS depends on the amount of RAM, which is measured in information units (MB), as well as the throughput of the device’s system bus. Today there are several types of such memory:

• The outdated type of RAM is SIMM and DIMM.
• The most common are DDR, DDR2, DDR3.
• The new type of RAM is DDR4.

As you understand, the components of a computer must comply with a certain unified standard. When purchasing an additional one, you need to know exactly what type of RAM your motherboard supports.

Hard drive: “iron” memory

Unlike RAM, data written to the HDD can be stored for quite a long time. The operation of a hard drive is based on the principle of changing the magnetic field near the recording head. Storage device of this type is a mechanical device, the efficiency of which depends on its inherent characteristics:

• Nominal capacity - the amount of data that can be stored on the HDD.
• Random access time—performing a positioning operation on a random portion of disk space.
• The rotation speed of the central spindle is a parameter measured by the number of revolutions per minute.
• The buffer volume is intermediate memory, which is calculated in MB.
• Data transfer rate - the device's ability to read a certain amount of information in a second. Sequential access to a specific (meaning external and internal zones) disk part of a personal computer is taken into account.

Upgrading a PC, compact computing device and service equipment is often associated with increasing performance operating system. And appeared quite recently solid state drives can solve the speed problems of any computing technology in the best possible way. However, the relatively small amount of disk space at the high price of an SSD device is, to put it mildly, an unacceptable solution for many users.

Video card: visual representation

What components of a computer are responsible for graphics? The answer to this question is quite simple. First of all, this is the video card, then - CPU, and after that - RAM PC. It is worth noting that graphics adapters can be discrete or integrated. Therefore, it is necessary to consider in more detail the issue of the differences in this type of equipment.

Graphics chip built into the motherboard

As a rule, low-end computers price category equipped with integrated video controllers. As you understand, such chips do not have special performance. However, for solving office tasks, viewing multimedia material, and even running a non-resource-intensive gaming application, this option is quite acceptable. Please note: the video adapter built into the chipset physically cannot be considered a separate element of the package.

Discrete type of video cards

To date this is the most effective method increase graphic capabilities PC. This graphics module is inserted into a special PCI expansion slot on the motherboard. A monitor is connected via an interface connector, which is located on the video card itself and brought out to the outside of the system unit. Video memory capacity and throughput its buses, as well as core frequency, texture and pixel fill rate are the main indicators graphics performance specified PC component. Now, if someone asks you: “List the components of a computer,” you must take into account that, unlike an integrated graphics chip, it is a separately presented module.

PC configuration: expansion of functionality and modernization

After you have learned or refreshed previously received information about what is inside the PC system unit, let's touch on the issue of how it relates to the topic of the presented article.

So, additional parts of the computer are not only peripheral devices: printers, scanners, web cameras, etc., connected to any interface connector or connected via wireless technology from a PC, but also some system components, which are usually called basic. For example, a user can always add operational resources to his computer by installing additional RAM modules in the free bank slots of the system board. Avid Gamers They often install two powerful video cards on their computers. Audio capabilities can be significantly expanded if you connect a sophisticated sound adapter. Network and DVB cards, various readers and TV tuners, as well as a lot of other equipment - all this can become elements of modernization, that is, a PC upgrade. The only limitation for the flight of user imagination may be the insufficient level of technology of the motherboard.

Before I finish

Now you won't be caught off guard if you're asked, "List the parts of a computer." However, to fully understand the structure of a PC, there are still a few things you need to understand. After all, in the previous paragraphs only a passing mention was made of the communication capabilities of the computer. Meanwhile, the PC motherboard is equipped with various interface connectors, among which the main ones can be distinguished:

• PS/2 - for connecting a mouse and keyboard.
• USB is a universal port for connecting to peripheral devices.
• VGA - monitor connector.
• RJ45 - for connecting a network connector.

Today, modern equipment is equipped with various wireless modules. Developers are giving PCs new communication properties. Manufacturers are introducing revolutionary technologies that seemed fantastic just yesterday. Electronics is rapidly expanding the boundaries of its influence. However, the human thinking process will always be the basis for computer technology. Because no one and nothing in the world can think the way a person thinks.

Technical epilogue

You can confidently assume that you now know what the parts of a computer are called. However, the information presented is only a drop from the ocean of information on the topic raised, since talking about the structure of a computer in general terms means not saying anything! Therefore, as mentioned earlier, it is necessary to show curiosity and approach the issue of studying the computer structure more seriously. Rest assured, such knowledge will make you much richer. After all, the computer is the future!

| How does a personal computer work? Basic characteristics of a personal computer

Lesson 7
The device of a personal computer and its main characteristics. Familiarization with the configuration of PC devices, connecting external devices

§7. How does a personal computer work?
§8. Basic characteristics of a personal computer

How does a personal computer work?

Main topics of the paragraph:

What is a PC;
- basic PC devices;
- the main principle of interaction between PC devices.

Questions studied:

What is PC

In § 5 we got acquainted with the basic devices of a computer - an electronic computer (computer). Modern computers are very different: from large ones that occupy an entire room, to small ones that fit on a table, in a briefcase, and even in a pocket. Different computers are used for different purposes. Today, the most popular type of computer is personal computers. Personal computers (PCs) are intended for personal (personal) use. Exist Various types PCs: stationary (desktops) and mobile (laptops, tablets, pocket PCs).

Despite the variety of PC models, there are many similarities in their design. These general properties will now be discussed.

Basic PC devices

The main “part” of a personal computer is the microprocessor (MP). It's miniature electronic circuit, created through very complex technology, performing the function of a computer processor.

A personal computer is a collection of interconnected devices. In a desktop PC, the central device is the system unit. The system unit contains the “brain” of the machine: a microprocessor and internal memory. The following are also located there: the power supply unit, disk drives, and external device controllers. The system unit is equipped with fans to cool elements that heat up during operation.

On the outside of the system unit there is a power switch, a computer reset button, connectors (called ports) for connecting external devices, and a pull-out tray for installing an optical drive.

Connected to the system unit are a keyboard (keyboard device), a monitor (another name is a display) and a mouse (manipulator). Sometimes other types of manipulators are used: joystick, trackball, etc. In addition to the PC, the following can be connected: a printer (printing device), a modem (for access to computer network) and other devices (Fig. 2.7).

Figure 2.7 shows a stationary PC model, Fig. 2.8 - laptop.

In a laptop, all the necessary components are combined in one case, which folds like a book (hence the name of the computer).

All devices external memory, as well as input/output devices interact with the PC processor through special blocks called controllers (from English controller - controller, manager). There is a disk drive controller, a monitor controller, a printer controller, etc.

Relatively recently, a universal controller appeared as part of the PC, allowing you to connect via a universal connector (USB) different kinds devices: printer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.

The main principle of interaction between PC devices

The principle by which information communication between computer devices is organized is called the backbone principle of interaction. The processor communicates with other devices through a multi-wire line called a trunk (another name is a bus) (Fig. 2.9).

Each device connected to a PC receives its own number, which serves as the address of this device. Information transmitted from the processor to the device is accompanied by its address and supplied to the controller. Next, the operation of the device is controlled by the controller.

The typical organization of the bus is as follows: one group of wires (data bus) transmits the information being processed, and another (address bus) carries the addresses of memory or external devices accessed by the processor. There is also a third part of the highway - the control bus; control signals are transmitted through it (for example, checking the device’s readiness for operation, a signal to start the device’s operation, etc.).

Briefly about the main thing

The system unit includes: microprocessor, internal memory, disk drives, power supply, external device controllers.

External devices(input/output devices, external memory devices) interact with the PC processor through controllers.

All PC devices are connected to each other via a multi-wire line called information highway, or tire.

Each external device has its own address(number). The information transmitted to it via the data bus is accompanied by the device address, which is transmitted via the address bus.

Questions and tasks

1. Name the minimum set of devices that make up a personal computer and take photographs of these devices.

2. What devices are included in the system unit?

3. What is a controller? What function does it perform?

4. How are they physically connected to each other? various devices PC?

5. How does information transmitted over the bus get to the desired device?

Basic characteristics of a personal computer

Main topics of the paragraph:

Microprocessor characteristics;
- volume of internal (RAM) memory;
- characteristics of external memory devices;
- input/output devices.

Questions studied:

Personal computer – a computer for personal use.
- Basic devices of a personal computer.
- Minimum set of devices.
- The main principle of interaction between personal computer devices.
- Microprocessor characteristics: clock frequency, bit depth.
- Volume is the main characteristic of RAM.
- Characteristics of external memory devices.

Increasingly, personal computers are used not only in production and in educational institutions, but also at home. You can buy them in the store the same way you buy them household appliances. When purchasing any product, it is advisable to know its main characteristics in order to purchase exactly what you need. PCs also have these basic characteristics.

Microprocessor Specifications

There are different models of microprocessors produced by different companies. The main characteristics of MP are processor clock speed and bit depth.

The operating mode of the microprocessor and other associated devices is set by a microcircuit called a clock generator. This is a kind of metronome inside the computer. The processor is allocated a certain number of clock cycles to perform each operation. It is clear that if the metronome “knocks” faster, then the processor works faster. Clock frequency is measured in megahertz - MHz. A frequency of 1 MHz corresponds to a million clock cycles per second. Here are some typical microprocessor clock frequencies: 600, 800, 1000 MHz. The last value is called gigahertz - GHz. Modern microprocessor models operate at clock speeds of several gigahertz.

Next characteristic - processor capacity. Bit capacity is the maximum length of binary code that can be processed or transmitted by the processor as a whole. The processor capacity on the first PC models was 8 bits. Then 16-bit processors appeared. Modern PCs most often use 32-bit processors. The highest bit capacity of modern microprocessors used in PCs is 64 bits.

Volume of internal (RAM) memory

We have already talked about computer memory. It is divided into operational (internal) and long-term (external) memory. Machine performance is highly dependent on volume internal memory. If there is not enough internal memory to run some programs, the computer begins to transfer some of the data to external memory, which sharply reduces its performance. The speed of reading/writing data into RAM is several orders of magnitude higher than into external memory.

The amount of RAM affects the performance of your computer. Modern programs require hundreds or thousands of megabytes (gigabytes) of RAM to run efficiently.

Purpose of cache memory

To reduce program execution time, the PC includes a special type of internal memory called cache memory. This is a small section of computer memory that has the shortest read/write time. Cache memory duplicates the data and instructions from RAM that the processor accesses most frequently when executing a program. Therefore, the processor initially looks for the required information in the cache memory, and only if it does not find it there, it turns to the slower RAM.

Characteristics of external memory devices

External memory devices are magnetic and laser drives, flash memory. Magnetic disks built into the system unit are called hard drives, or hard drives. This is a very important part of the computer because it is where all the programs necessary for the computer to operate are stored. Reading/writing to a hard drive is faster than to all other types of external media, but still slower than to RAM. The larger the volume hard drive, all the better. Installed on modern PCs hard disks, the volume of which is measured in gigabytes: tens and hundreds of gigabytes. When you buy a computer, you also purchase the necessary set of programs on your hard drive. Typically, the buyer himself orders the computer software.

All other external memory media are removable, i.e. they can be inserted into and removed from the drive. These include optical discs such as CDs (compact discs) and DVDs. Their properties were discussed in § 6. Disks are convenient for long-term storage of programs and data, as well as for transferring information from one computer to another.

The required set of a modern PC includes optical drives for working with CD and DVD. Distributed on these media software. The capacity of a CD-ROM is hundreds of megabytes (standard volume is 700 MB). The information capacity of DVD is calculated in gigabytes (4.7; 8.5; 17 GB). Video films are often recorded onto DVDs. On one disc you can fit a two-hour video with several soundtracks different languages.

Writeable optical drives allow you to write and rewrite information on CD-RW and DVD-RW.

Recently, flash memory has become the main means of transferring information from one computer to another. Flash memory is electronic device external memory used to read and write information to file format. Flash memory, like disks, is a non-volatile device. The storage capacity ranges from hundreds of megabytes to several gigabytes. And the speed of reading and writing data to flash media is approaching the speed of reading and writing to a hard drive.

I/O Devices

All other device types are classified as number of input/output devices. Mandatory ones are a keyboard, monitor and manipulator (mouse; on mobile PCs: trackball, touchpad, joystick, etc.). Additional devices: printer, modem, scanner, sound system and some others. The choice of these devices depends on the needs and financial capabilities of the buyer. You can always find sources of reference information about the models of such devices and their operational properties.

Briefly about the main thing

Main characteristics of the microprocessor: clock frequency and bit depth. The higher the clock frequency, the higher the speed of the processor. Increasing the bit depth leads to an increase in the amount of data processed by the computer per unit of time.

RAM capacity affects computer performance. Modern programs require hundreds or thousands of megabytes (gigabytes) of RAM to run efficiently.

Hard magnetic disk- a mandatory external memory device included in the computer.

Removable media are optical disks and flash memory.

Required set of input/output devices: keyboard, pointing device, monitor.

Additional I/O Devices: printer, scanner, modem, acoustic system and etc.

Questions and tasks

1. What characteristics of a computer determine its performance?

2. What order of information volume do hard drives, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs have?

3. Which memory devices are built-in and which are removable?

4. Which input/output devices are required for a PC, and which are optional?

Electronic lesson supplement

Download lesson materials

So, what does our ordinary personal computer (PC) that we use at home or at work consist of?

Let's look at its hardware (“hardware”):

• system unit (that large box that stands on your table or under the table, on the side of it, etc.). It contains all the main components of the computer.
• peripherals(such as a monitor, keyboard, mouse, modem, scanner, etc.).

The system unit in a computer is the “main” unit. If you carefully unscrew the screws from its back wall, remove sidebar and look inside, then only at first glance its structure will seem complicated. Now I will briefly describe its structure, and then I will describe the main elements in the most understandable language.

The system unit contains the following elements (not necessarily all at once):

- Power unit

— Hard drive magnetic disk(HDD)

— Floppy disk drive (FDD)

— CD or DVD drive (CD/DVD ROM)

— Connectors for additional devices (ports) on the rear (sometimes also on the front) panel, etc.

— Motherboard(it is more often called maternal), which, in turn, contains:

• microprocessor;
• mathematical coprocessor;
• clock generator;
• memory chips(RAM, ROM, cache memory, CMOS memory)
• controllers (adapters) of devices: keyboards, disks, etc.
• sound, video and network cards ;
• timer, etc.

All of them are connected to the motherboard using connectors (slots). We will look at its elements in bold below.

And now, in order, about the system unit:

1 . Everything is clear with the power supply: it powers the computer. Let me just say that the higher its power rating, the cooler it is.

2. A hard disk drive (HDD - hard disk drive) is popularly called a hard drive.

This nickname arose from the slang name for the first model of a 16 KB hard drive (IBM, 1973), which had 30 tracks of 30 sectors, which coincidentally coincided with the “30/30” caliber of the famous Winchester hunting rifle. The capacity of this drive is usually measured in gigabytes: from 20 GB (on old computers) to several Terrabytes (1 TB = 1024 GB). The most common hard drive capacity is 250-500 GB. The speed of operations depends on the rotation speed (5400-10000 rpm). Depending on the type of connection between the hard drive and motherboard distinguish between ATA and IDE.

3. A floppy disk drive (FDD - floppy disk drive) is nothing more than floppy disk drive. Their standard capacity is 1.44 MB with a diameter of 3.5" (89 mm). Magnetic disks use magnetic materials with special properties as a storage medium that allows them to record two magnetic states, each of which is assigned binary digits: 0 and 1.

4 . Drives on optical disks(CD-ROM) come in different diameters (3.5" and 5.25") and capacities. The most common of them are with a capacity of 700 MB. It happens that CD discs can be used for recording only once (then they are called R), and it is more profitable to use repeatedly rewritable RW discs.

DVD originally stood for Digital Video Disk. Despite the name, DVDs can record anything from music to data. Therefore, recently another decoding of this name has become increasingly common - Digital Versatile Disk, loosely translated meaning “digital universal disk”. The main difference between DVDs and CDs is the amount of information that can be recorded on such media. From 4.7 to 13, and even up to 17 Gb can be recorded on a DVD disc. This is achieved in several ways. First, reading DVDs uses a laser with a shorter wavelength than reading CDs, which has significantly increased recording density. Secondly, the standard provides for so-called double-layer discs, in which on one side the data is recorded in two layers, while one layer is translucent, and the second layer is read “through” the first. This made it possible to write data to both sides of DVDs, thereby doubling their capacity, which is sometimes done.

5 . TO personal computer Other additional devices can be connected ( mouse, printer, scanner and other). The connection is made through ports - special connectors on the rear panel.

There are parallel (LPT), serial (COM) and universal serial (USB) ports. A serial port transmits information bit by bit (slower) over a small number of wires. A mouse and modem are connected to the serial port. Through a parallel port, information is transmitted simultaneously over a large number of wires corresponding to the number of bits. A printer and an external hard drive are connected to the parallel port. The USB port is used to connect a wide range of peripheral devices- from mouse to printer. Data exchange between computers is also possible.

6. The main computer devices (processor, RAM, etc.) are located on motherboard.

Microprocessor (simpler - processor) is the central unit of a PC, designed to control the operation of all units of the machine and to perform arithmetic and logical operations over information.

Its main characteristics are the bit depth (the higher it is, the higher the computer’s performance) and clock frequency (largely determines the speed of the computer). The clock speed indicates how many elementary operations (cycles) the processor performs in one second.
Processors are respected in the market Intel Pentium and its economy version Celeron, and also appreciate their competitors - AMD Athlon with economy version Duron. Intel processors characterized by high operational reliability, low heat generation and compatibility with all software and hardware. And AMD shows greater speed with graphics and games, but is less reliable.

Computer memory can be internal or external. External memory devices include the already discussed HDD, FDD, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM. Internal memory includes permanent storage (ROM, ROM), random access memory (RAM), Cache.

ROM is designed to store permanent program and reference information (BIOS - Basic Input-Output System - basic input-output system).

RAM is fast and is used by the processor for short-term storage of information while the computer is running.

When the power source is turned off, the information in RAM is not saved. For the normal functioning of a computer these days, it is advisable to have from 1 GB to 3 GB of RAM.

Cache memory is an ultra-high-speed intermediate memory.

CMOS memory - CMOS RAM (Complementary Metall-Oxide Semiconductor RAM). It stores computer configuration settings that are checked every time the system is turned on. To change computer configuration settings, the BIOS contains a computer configuration program - SETUP.

Sound, video and network cards can be either built into the motherboard or external. External boards can always be replaced, whereas if the built-in video card fails, you will have to replace the entire motherboard. For video cards, I trust ATI Radeon and Nvidia. The higher the video card memory, the better.

Peripherals

The computer consists of 6 groups of keys:

• Alphanumeric;
• Controls (Enter, Backspace, Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Tab, Esc, Caps Lock, Num Lock, Scroll Lock, Pause, Print Screen);
• Functional (F1-F12);
• Numeric keypad;
• Cursor controls (->,<-, Page Up, Page Down, Home, End, Delete, Insert);
• Function indicator lights (Caps Lock, Num Lock, Scroll Lock).

Mouse (mechanical, optical). Most programs use two of the three mouse keys. The left key is the main one, it controls the computer. It plays the role of the Enter key. The functions of the right key vary depending on the program. In the middle there is a scroll wheel, which you quickly get used to.

Modem - network adapter. It can be both external and internal.

The scanner automatically reads from paper media and enters any printed texts and images into the PC.

The microphone is used to input sound into the computer.

(display) is designed to display information on the screen. Most often, modern PCs use SVGA monitors with a resolution (the number of dots located horizontally and vertically on the monitor screen) of 800*600, 1024*768, 1280*1024, 1600*1200 when transmitting up to 16.8 million colors.

The monitor screen size ranges from 15 to 22 inches diagonally, but most often it is 17 inches (35.5 cm). Dot (grain) size - from 0.32 mm to 0.21 mm. The smaller it is, the better.

PCs that are equipped with television monitors (CRT) are no longer so popular. Of these, preference should be given to monitors with low radiation levels (Low Radiation). Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are safer, and most computers have one.

Designed for printing text and graphic images. Printers are dot matrix, inkjet and laser. In dot matrix printers, the image is formed from dots using the impact method. Inkjet printers have thin tubes in the print head instead of needles - nozzles, through which tiny droplets of ink are thrown onto the paper. Inkjet printers also produce color printing by mixing base colors. The advantage is high print quality, the disadvantage is the danger of ink drying out and the high cost of consumables.

Laser printers use the electrographic method of image formation. The laser is used to create an ultra-thin beam of light that traces the contours of an invisible dotted electronic image on the surface of a pre-charged light-sensitive drum. After developing the electronic image with dye (toner) powder adhering to the discharged areas, printing is performed - transferring the toner from the drum to paper and fixing the image on the paper by heating the toner until it melts. Laser printers provide the highest quality printing with high speed. Color laser printers are widely used.

Speakers output sound. The sound quality depends - again - on the power of the speakers and the material from which the cabinets are made (preferably wood) and its volume. An important role is played by the presence of a bass reflex (hole on the front panel) and the number of reproduced frequency bands (high, mid and low speakers on each speaker).

USB flash drives, in my opinion, have become the most universal means of transferring information. This miniature device is smaller in size and weight than a lighter. It has high mechanical strength and is not afraid of electromagnetic radiation, heat and cold, dust and dirt.

The most sensitive part of the drive is the connector, covered with a cap. The capacity of these devices ranges from 256 MB to 32 GB, which allows you to select a drive of the required capacity, in accordance with your needs. Thanks to the interface, the USB drive can be connected to any modern computer. It works with Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP/Vista/7, Mac OS 8.6 ~ 10.1, Linux 2.4 operating systems. In Windows you don’t even need to install any drivers: just plug it into a USB port and go.

Needed to input dynamic images into a computer and sound (for communication and the ability to create teleconferences).

Uninterruptable power source needed in case of a power outage.

Puff, well, in my opinion, that’s all the main thing I wanted to tell you about the computer hardware, the so-called hardware.

The article “Computer Design” was written quite a long time ago. Therefore, if you find an error or find some inaccuracy, please write about it using the comment form. We will be very grateful to you!

A thousand and one tips on home and everyday life Polivalina Lyubov Aleksandrovna

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Personal computers are produced in the following designs: desktop (stationary) and portable. The most common are desktop PCs, they allow you to quickly change the configuration.

A personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) is specialized for storing and processing information. The information can be text, pictures, sound recordings, videos, etc. Information storage and processing is carried out in digital form. The unit of measurement is a byte. 1b (one byte) is equal to approximately one text character. Larger units of information have also been introduced: KB (kilobytes), MB (megabytes), GB (gigabytes), TB (terabytes).

The PC has structural elements:

1) System unit;
2) Keyboard;
3) Monitor;
4) Mouse manipulator;
5) Scanner;
6) Printer.

In addition to the above, PC devices may include elements for recording sound, a plotter, a modem or fax modem, and other devices.

System unit

The most basic PC devices are located in the system unit, which stores and processes information. Responsible for processing information directly CPU , located on the motherboard in the system unit. The most important parameter of a processor is its speed, also called clock frequency. MHz (megahertz) is the unit of measurement for clock frequency. New PCs are now equipped with processors with clock speeds ranging from 1 to 1.3 GHz.

There, on the motherboard in the system unit, is located RAM , or random access memory. It is often referred to simply as RAM. It stores information that is being processed by the processor at a particular moment. It must be said that information in RAM is saved only when the PC is turned on. And after turning it off, it is erased from RAM. An important parameter of RAM is the amount of information stored. Today, PCs are equipped with RAM of 8-16 GB, and this, of course, is far from the limit.

Storing information on a permanent basis performs HDD , it is also called a “Winchester”. Its main parameter is the amount of information stored. Currently, PCs are equipped with a hard drive with a capacity of 1 to 10 or more TB.

The floppy disk drive is almost a thing of the past today, but the device that allows you to work with CDs is still popular. Although he is increasingly being “suppressed” USB port .

The system unit also has other devices that ensure the operation of the PC: video card, power supply, controllers, and other control boards.

Keyboard

A keyboard is a device for entering information and controlling a computer. A standard keyboard has alphanumeric keys needed to enter characters, numbers and letters. Their arrangement is completely consistent with a typical typewriter. Capital letters are entered while the Shift key is pressed. To switch the keyboard to uppercase, press the CapsLock key. To move the text to a new paragraph, press the Enter key. To cancel the execution of the previous command, press the Esc key. To move the cursor through the text, use keys such as PageUp, PageDown, End, Home. When deleting a character that is in the text to the left of the cursor, press the Backspace key. To delete the selected character(s) or to delete characters to the right of the cursor, press Delete. Keys such as Ctrl and Alt are usually used in combination with others.

Monitor

The purpose of the monitor is to display information. Modern monitors are color and equipped with matrix types - IPS and TN. 3D monitors are becoming increasingly popular.

The monitor has its own on and off button, as well as controls for adjusting image size, contrast, brightness, etc. The sizes of PC monitors today are very diverse.

Mouse manipulator

This device is necessary to move the cursor around the display and control various kinds of objects. Today, three-button mice are the most common. The third button is used to scroll the screen (scroll).

Scanner

A scanner is needed for entering and processing illustrations, photographs, and other images on a PC. It is not an integral part of a modern PC, but is widely used and popular among PC owners. One of the most important purposes of a scanner is the ability to transfer text materials to a computer.

Printer

Very often this device is used in offices and institutions. Without a printer, it is impossible to print out any document on paper. In modern offices, laser printers are most often used. They are very productive and provide good print quality.