Basic Computer Components

Unit 2
What is a computer?
 A computer is an
electronic device
that accepts raw
data and processes
it into information
that is useful.
Parts of a Desktop Computer
 Parts of a Laptop Computer

Monitor
Keyboard
Speakers

Touchpad
Information Processing Cycle
 The Cycle has four main
functions:
 Input
 Processing
 Output
 Storage
Input
 Devices used to enter data into the
computer
 Examples of Input devices
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Scanner
 Joystick
 Microphone
Processing
 A hardware device that processes
data into useful form.
 Also called CPU (Central Processing
Unit) – This is the “brain” of the
computer.
Output
 A hardware device that lets the user
see the data being input.
 Examples of output devices
 Monitor
 Printer
 Speakers
 Headphones
Storage
 A hardware device that stores large
amounts of information.
 Examples of storage devices.

Flash Drive Disk CD-ROM

Hard Drive
Combined Input & Output
Devices
 There are devices that are both input
& output.
 Examples
 Smartphones
 Tablets
Memory
 Memory is where data and instructions
are stored.
 Two types of Memory
 RAM – (Random Access Memory) memory
that is lost when the power is off.
 ROM – (Read-only memory) memory that is
Not lost when power is off.
Bytes
 A unit of measurement of memory
 Memory Units
 1 Byte – 8 bits
 Kilobyte – (KB) 1 thousand bytes
 Megabyte – (MB) 1 million bytes
 Gigabyte – (GB) 1 billion bytes
 Terabyte – (TB) 1 trillion bytes
Data
 Numbers,
words, symbols,
or alphabetic
characters that
are put into the
computer.
Hardware
 Computer
equipment that
can be seen or
touched.
 Examples
 Keyboard
 Monitor
 printer
Software
 Programs or
instructions that
tell the computer
what to do.
 Examples
 Microsoft
PowerPoint
 Excel
 Video games