Assignment 2.1
- 1. System components Hard Disk– it is part of the unit called a disc drive, it stores and provides quick access to large amounts of data. Invented in the 1950’s
- 2. Started as a large disk which was approximately 20 inches in diameter. At this time this disk would only hold a few megabytes.
- 3. At a later date they were known as hard disks, this was so they could recognise them from floppy disks.
- 4. Hard disks use a magnetic recording technique to work. Floppy Disk – They are small removable devices that record and add data to a computer. It was used until the CD-Rom drive became a more popular way of adding data to the computer. -A floppy disk works by reading and writing data to a small round piece of metal coated plastic which is in the computer.-The disk was invented in 1967 by a man named Alan Shugart. The first one he invented was an 8 inch disk then later this disk became 5.25 inches which held 360 kilobytes.-Today they are 3.5 inch disks which hold 1.44 megabytes
- 5. Main Memory – it is also known as a RAM (Random Access Memory). It is the main memory system within the computer. -Nearly all forms of computer memory are only intended to store data for a period of time. -Computer memory is used frequently to find fast temporary ways of storage. So when any information is kept in storage in the memory the CPU can get to it much quicker than if it had to go via the hard drive to retrieve any information/data.
- 6. Processor – is also known as a CPU (central processing unit) -First invented in 1971 -There are many different brands and types.-A processor is the main element in a computer, the computer uses a processor to do all it’s work. -The very first processor to be invented could only add and subtract and could only do this at 4 bits at a time. -Now the processor is able to do things at a 32 bit at a time.-Within the next 10 years it will able to do 64 a bit.
- 7. Monitor – This is the most used output device.-This shows instantly on the screen text and graphic images that you may require. -They can be Liquid Crystal display (LCD) or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT).-Most laptops use LCD because they have a slim design. -Most desk top computer use CRT. -There are many different makes and sizes of monitors.
- 8. Keyboard – Is there to input information into the computer. You can type a document, access menus, play games, and do many other tasks with it.-There can be many different keys on a keyboard. This depends on who has manufactured it and can be different depending on whether the keyboard is attached to a desk top or a laptop computer.-The keys are always the same distance apart.-There are always between 80-100 keys on the keyboard.-These are: typing keys, numeric keypad, function keys and control keys
- 9. Motherboard – this is the most important part of the computer as it connects everything up so that the monitors, keyboard and mouse works. it’s the main part of the computer that connects everything together for it to function.
- 10. you can add multiple memory cards, graphics cards and additional hard drives in order to help the computer to perform better and improve on the quality of the graphics.Network Card – a network card is a piece of hardware that that designed to allow communication over networks. They can serve multiple servers.
- 11. you will need a network card when creating a large or small network, the network card is necessary component to consider. Graphics Card – it’s a piece of hardware that’s installed in the computer to enable an image to appear on the monitor. It consists of a graphics processing unit designed to help and process and display images, especially 3D graphics.
- 12. it helps take the processing strain off the main processor, and can contain their own memory to take the strain off the system RAM.