Module 3: Computer Hardware
scanner
An input device that can change images into codes and an electronic file for input to the computer.
flash memory
Fast type of memory that typically is less expensive than some other types of RAM, and can retain its contents in the absence of power, nonvolatile
static RAM (SRAM)
Memory can be recharged less frequently than DRAM, but can be more expensive than DRAM, volatile
magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM)
Memory uses magnetic charges to store contents, and can retain its contents in the absence of power, nonvolatile
unicode
a 16 bit coding scheme that is an extension of ASCII and support more than 65,000 symbols and characters, including Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and other pictorial characters
video card
a circuit board that processes image signals
Central Processing Unit
a complex integrated circuit consisting of millions of electronic parts and is primarily responsible for converting input (data) into meaningful output (information)
surge suppressor
a device that prevents power fluctuations from damaging electronic components
touchpad
a flat surface that is touch-sensitive and you move your finger around the touch pad to move the pointers on the screen
Solid State Drive (SSD)
a hard drive without moving without moving parts and is faster and more durable than magnetic drives
binary system
a number system that has two digits, 0 and 1
device driver
a program that controls a device attached to your computer, such as a printer, monitor, or video card
uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
a short-term battery backup that comes on automatically in case of power loss
trackball
a stationary pointing device with a ball anchored inside a casing
benchmark
a test run by a laboratory or other organization to determine processor speed and other performance factors
ASCII
an 8-bit coding system, meaning 8 bits are used to represent uppercase and lowercase letters, mathmatical operators and logical operations
keyboard
an input device that contains keys you can press to enter letters, numbers, and symbols
touchscreen/multitouch screens
can respond to multiple fingers touching the screen simultaneously
input device
communicate instructions and commands to a computer (ex: keyboard, mouse)
output device
conveys information from the computer to the user (ex speakers, printers)
bus
data traveling in and out of the CPU
storage devices
designed to store data for extended periods of time, the type and amount of data helps to determine the most appropriate storage device to use
bus width/word size
determines the speed at which data travels
plug-and-play
devices that begin functioning properly as soon as you connect them to your computer
mouse
fits under your hand can connect to the computer with either a wire or wirelessly
Slide 17, 18,19
hardware to consider when purchasing a computer
Optical media
includes CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, but their use as storage as storage media is declining
cameras/webcams
input devices that can support adding pictures or videos to a computer
clock speed
measures the speed at which a processor can execute instructions
Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
memory needs to be constantly recharged or contents will be erased, volatile
digital pen
more capable than a stylus, because it has programmable buttons
read-only memory (ROM)
permanently installed on your computer and is attached to the mother board . the ROM chip contains the BIOS, which tells your how to start
virtual memory
process of optimizing RAM storage by borrowing hard drive space
stylus
small pen like device that you can use to touch and draw with an onscreen keyboard
Tablet
small, flat computer with a touch sensitive screen
random access memory (RAM)
stored on one or more chips connected to the main circuit board of the computer, also referred to as the mother board
power-on self test (POST)
tests all computer components for proper operation
swap file/paging file
the area of the hard drive temporarily used to store data that cannot fit in RAM
Bit
the smallest unit of data a computer can process
firmware
updated instructions on the ROM chip
microphone
used to enter voice or sound data into a computer
pointing device
used to point to and select specific objects on the computer screen
byte
when bits are group together