CAD Software & Hardware
System Unit
(Chassis) Main part of a microcomputer. Includes the motherboard, microprocessor, memory chips, buses, ports, expansion slots, and cards.
Digitizer Tablet
(Graphics Tablet) Graphics drawing tablet for sketching new images/tracing old ones. For writing/drawing on surface with wire/less pen or puck.
Hard Disk Drive
(Hard Drive) Magnetic storage device inside the computer. Permanent storage for data. Windows: configures HDD to C: drive which contains OS and apps.
Central Processing Unit
(Processor) Brain. Where most of 'computing' takes place. Performs all instructions and calculations to manage the flow of info. (Ex.: Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Athlon)
System Hardware
CPU, Keyboard, Monitor, Primary Storage Memory (RAM), and Secondary Storage Memory.
Types of Monitor
CRT, LCD, LED
Types of Optical Drive
Compact Disc, Digital Versatile Disc, Blu-ray Disc.
Video Card
Determines screen resolution and number of colors the monitor can display.
Peripherals
Disk drives, Mouse, Digitizers, Printers/Plotters, etc.
Mouse
Hand-held device for controlling cursor/crosshair on screen. For selecting item by pointing and clicking.
Types of Printer
Ink-jet, Laser, LCD, Line, Thermal, 3D.
Two Main Groups of Software
OS and Application.
Printer
Output device for printing info processed by comp.
Plotter
Output device for producing better quality drawings compared to printer. Slower than printer.
Hardware
Physical equipment of the computer system. Divided into system hardware and peripherals.
Keyboard
Principal device for communicating with your computer. Letter keys, punctuation keys, spacebar, functions, numeric keys, arrow keys, alt, ctrl, & enter keys.
OS Software
Provides various levels of interaction (interface) between comp. and user. (Also between comp. and app software)
Monitor
Screen that displays info. Color monitor won't display color unless there's a video card.
Software
Set of programs, applications, procedures, and related documentation associated with the computer system.
Optical Drive
Storage device that uses lasers to read data on optical media.
Puck
Tablet Cursor. Mistakenly called a mouse.