Chapter 1 - Types and components of computer systems

The physical components that make up a typical computer system

1. Motherboard

2. Central processing unit (CPU)

3. Random access memory (RAM)

4. Read - only memory (ROM)

5. Graphics card

6. Sound card

7. Network interface card (NIC)

8. Internal storage devices ( hard disk drive and solid state drive)

A printed circuit board found in all computers

An electronic circuit board in a computer

1. A sheet of non-conductive material ( e.g hard plastic)

2. Several sockets and slots to connect to the other components

Where arithmetic and logical operations are carried out

Which takes instructions, the decodes and executes the instructions

An internal chip where data is stored temporarily when running applications.

A memory used to stored information that needs to be permanent such as configuration data for a computer system.

• can be altered as it it written to and read from

• contents are lost when power to the computer is turned off

Allows the computer to send graphical information to a video display devices such as monitor, television, or a projector

• a processing unit

• memory unit ( usually RAM)

• a cooling mechanism ( since these cards generate a lot of heat)

• connections to a display unit

An integrated circuit board that provides a computer with the ability to produce sounds

• allows a user to record sound input from a microphone

• manipulate sound

A component that allows a computer or any other device to be connected to a network. Can be wired or wireless.

The programs that control the computer system and process data

Provides the services that the user requires to solve a given task.

• word processing

• spreadsheet

• database

• control and measurement software

• apps and applets

• video editing

• graphics editing

• audio editing

• computer-aided design (CAD)

design to provide a platform on who all other software can run.

• compilers

• linkers

• device drivers

• operating systems

• utilities

A computer program that translates a program, written in a high-level language (HLL) into machine code (code that is understood by the computer)

The source code

Object code

• Java, Visual Basic, Python , Fortran, C++ and Algol

Computer program that takes one or more object files produced by a compiler, and combine them into a single program that can be run on a computer

Software that enables one or more hardware devices to communicate with the computer’s operating system