PARTS OF A

COMPUTER

What is Computer?

is a device that accepts information (in the

form of digitalized data) and manipulates it for
some result based on a program or sequence
of instructions on how the data is to be
processed.

HARDWARE

It refers to objects that you can actually touch,

like disks, disk drives, display screens,
keyboards, printers, boards, and chips

System Unit

is the part of a
computer
that
houses the primary
devices that perform
operations
and
produce results for
complex
calculations.
Function: It serves
as the home for the
main
circuits
hardware of the
computer.

Motherboard

The main circuit

board of a computer.
It holds together
many of the crucial
components of a
computer, including
the CPU, memory
and connectors for
input and output
devices.

CPU (Central Processing

Unit)

The processor is the

main
brain
or
heart
of
a
computer system.
Function: It carries
out the instructions
of
a
computer
program.

Two (2) Types of Memory

ROM (Read Only Memory) ROM is nonvolatile, meaning it holds data even when the
power is ON or OFF.
RAM (Random Access Memory) RAM is
volatile, meaning it holds data only when the
power is on. When the power is off, RAM's
contents are lost.
NOTE:
It
is
a temporary storage area. It
holds
the
data
and
instructions that the Central
Processing Unit (CPU)

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

The basic function

of the power supply
is to convert the
type of electrical
power available at
the wall socket to
the
type
the
computer
circuitry
can use.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Also known as hard

drive, is a magnetic
storage device that
is installed inside
the computer. The
hard drive is used
as permanent
storage for data.

Optical Drive

An optical drive is a
storage device that
uses lasers to read
data on the optical
media. There are
three types of
optical drives:
Compact Disc (CD),
Digital Versatile Disc
(DVD) and Blu-ray
Disc (BD).

Automatic Voltage Regulator

(AVR)

It is designed to
automatically
maintain a constant
voltage level.

Uninterruptible Power Supply

(UPS)

is a device that
allows
your
computer to keep
running for at least a
short time when the
primary
power source is
lost. It also provides
protection
from power surges.

WHAT ARE THE INPUT

AND OUTPUT AND
STORAGE DEVICES OF A
COMPUTER?

INPUT DEVICES
is a hardware or peripheral
device used to send data to
a computer

Keyboard

is the set of typewriter-like keys used to enter

data into a computer.

Mouse

A
hand-operated
electronic
device
that controls the
coordinates of a
cursor
on
your
computer screen as
you move it around
on a pad.

Touch screen

A display screen
that is sensitive to
the touch of a finger
or stylus. Used in
myriad applications,
including
ATM
machines,
retail
point-of-sale
terminals,
car
navigation
and
industrial controls.

Digitizer Tablet

A graphics drawing
tablet
used
for
sketching
new
images or tracing
old ones. Also called
a "graphics tablet,"
the user contacts
the surface of the
device with a wired
or wireless pen or
puck.

Scanning Devices

A device that can

read
text
or
illustrations printed
on
paper
and
translates
the
information into a
form the computer
can use.

OUTPUT DEVICES
is any piece of computer hardware
equipment used to communicate the
results of data processing carried out
by a computer which converts the
electronically generated information
into human-readable form.

Computer Display Monitor

is the device that displays the information

produced by the video card

LCD Projector

is a specialized
computer
display
that projects an
enlarged image on a
movie screen.

Smart Board

A type of display
screen that has a
touch sensitive
transparent panel
covering the screen,
which is similar to a
touch screen.

Printer

A device that prints

illustrations on paper.
Examples:
Ink-jet

Printer
Line Printer
Thermal Printer

text

or

STORAGE DEVICES
a piece of computer equipment on
which information can be stored
permanently or semi-permanent.

Floppy diskette

is a random access,
removable data
storage medium that
can be used with
personal computers.
Also called a "3.5inch diskette," it can
store up to 1.44
megabytes (MB) of
data.

Compact disc (CD)

also called optical

disc is a
nonmagnetic,
polished metal disk
used to store digital
information.

Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)

an
optical
disc
technology with a
4.7 gigabyte storage
capacity on a singlesided, one-layered
disk,
which
is
enough for a 133minute movie.

Jump drive and USB flash

drive

is a plug-and-play portable storage device that

uses flash memory and is lightweight enough
to attach to a key chain.

Hard drive

It is used for storing

and retrieving digital
information
using
rapidly rotating disks
(platters)
coated
with
magnetic
material.
It is used to store
information
like
software and files.