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1
Module 2
How Computers Work
• The instructions and data in the ROM chip that control the boot
process and the computer hardware are known as the basic
input/output system (BIOS), sometimes called firmware.
• The ROM chip that contains the firmware is called the ROM BIOS
chip.
• EPROM and EEPROM are ROM chips that can be erased and
reprogrammed.
• There are three major system bus types that can be identified
based on the type of information they carry.
1. address bus (a uni-directional pathway for data flow)
2. data bus (a bi-directional pathway for data flow)
3. control bus (carries the control and timing signals needed
to coordinate the activities of the entire computer)
Memory Components
RAM
• There are two classes of RAM that are commonly used today.
These are Static RAM (SRAM) and Dynamic RAM (DRAM).
• Hard Drive
Components include:
disk platters, read/write
heads, head actuator
assembly, spindle
motor, logic/circuit
board, bezel/faceplate,
configuration jumpers,
and interface
connectors.
The Hard Drive (cont.)
• Notebook computers
incorporate the system unit,
input unit, and output unit
into a single, lightweight
package, that can be
carried around by the user.
• They are also called
portables, laptop
computers, palmtops, or
personal digital assistant
(PDA), depending on their
size and what they can do.
Portable Hardware