Introduction to Computers [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

Introduction to Computers [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

Introduction to Computers, 10 a.m. Monday, July 23 - This class begin with the very basics, teaching new computer users important terms and basic functions including how to use the mouse. Introduction to the Internet, 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 24 ... Shawnee Public Library hosts four-day series of basic computer classes

Lecture 2: Operators and operands; statements; branching, conditionals, and iteration Instructors: Prof. Eric Grimson, Prof. John Guttag View the complete course at: ocw.mit.edu License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA More information at ocw.mit.edu More courses at ocw.mit.edu

aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com Lec 2 | MIT 6.00 Introduction to Computer Science and Programming, Fall 2008

Nothing has changed the modern world so much as the advent of computers in the past forty years. With a growing population and the creation of more wealth in the world, transactions have become so numerous that people cannot do it manually anymore.

In modern business information is very important - information about the business, its history, its performance, forecasts and budgets, its employees, its customers/clients, its creditors and suppliers, its investments etc.

Too many people would be required to record and process data manually into useful information. That is why the computer is so important today.

A computer is an electronic machine that stores and processes data. Processed data is called information. The first computer was built in America in 1945. It weighed 30 tons and occupied 138 square meters of floor space, which is about the size of an average house.

Today a large mainframe computer occupies only about 2-3 square meters and ca n process far more data far more quickly. The most important development came with the invention of the personal computer (PC) in 1980. In the computer industry hardware changes the fastest of all, newer and faster components are invented almost daily.

The first large computer could perform 5000 instructions per second; a small modern PC can process millions of instructions per second. A large computer like the Cray can process more than 1000 000 000 (billion) instructions per second...

PC Components and Technologies.

The following sections provide a quick overview of the components and technologies used in modern PCs.

Hardware Components.

One of the great strengths of the PC architecture is that it is extensible, allowing a great variety of components to be added, and thereby permitting the PC to perform functions its designers may never have envisioned. However, most PCs include a more-or-less standard set of components, including the following. (Remember when we discussed the Minimum components to POWER ON a Computer)

Motherboard.

The motherboard, is the heart of a PC. It serves as "Command Central" to coordinate the activities of the system. Its type largely determines system capabilities.

Voltage Regulator Module (VRM).

VRMs supply clean, tightly regulated voltage to the CPU. Faster CPUs draw more current. Good VRMs are expensive, so some motherboard makers use the lowest-rated VRM suitable for the fastest CPU the motherboard is designed to support.

Memory Slots.

The type and number of memory slots (along with chipset limitations) determine the type and amount of memory you can install in a PC. Memory differs from 168-pin SDRAM DIMMs or 168-pin or 184-pin Rambus RIMMs, 184-pin DDR-SDRAM DIMMs, DDR400, DDR2, DDR3. Older motherboards accept 30-pin and/or 72-pin SIMMs.

Expansion B us Slots.

The type and number of expansion bus slots determine the type and number of expansion cards you can add to the system. Common slots that are available are ISA (older and obsolete), PCI, AGP, PCI-Express.

Integrated Functions.

Modern motherboards often include embedded features, such as video and sound, LAN. The upsides to embedded components are reduced costs, better integration, and higher reliability. The downsides are that it may be difficult or impossible to upgrade embedded components, and that you have to pay for those embedded components whether you use them or not.

Integrated motherboards are often ideally suited for casual use, but most readers of this book will avoid them for high-performance systems and build a PC from discrete components.

Processor.

The processor or CPU is the engine that drives the PC. The CPU you use determines how fast the system runs and what operating sy stems and other software can run on it. Most PCs use processors from Intel or AMD. Processors vary in speed, efficiency at performing various functions, and in other respects.

Memory.

A PC uses random access memory (RAM), also called simply memory, to store the programs and data with which it is currently working. RAM is available in many different types, speeds, and physical packages. The amount and type of RAM a system can use depends on its chipset, the type and number of RAM slots available, and other factors.

The optimum amount of RAM depends on the operating system you run, how many and which programs you run simultaneously, and other considerations. Adding RAM is often a cost-effective upgrade for older systems.

Floppy Disk Drive.

The floppy disk drive (FDD) was formerly used for everything from booting the PC to storing data to running programs to making backups, but has now been largely relegated to suc h infrequent uses as making emergency boot disks, loading updated device drivers, running diagnostics programs, or "copying" documents to other systems. The FDD has been officially declared a "legacy" device, and many PCs manufactured after mid-2000 do not have one.

CD-ROM drive.

CD-ROM drives began to appear on mainstream PCs in the early '90s. CD-ROM discs store 700+ MB of data in read-only form and, because they are both capacious and cheap to produce, are commonly used to distribute software and data. CD-ROM drives can also play CD-DA (audio) discs and multimedia discs, which makes them popular for listening to music and playing games.

Hard Disk Drive.

The hard disk drive (HDD) is the primary storage device on any PC. Unlike RAM, which retains data only while power remains applied, data written to an HDD remains stored there until you delete it. HDD space was formerly a scarce resource that users went to great len gths to conserve.

Modern HDDs are so capacious (100+ GB-1.5 Terabite (1500+GB) and so inexpensive that most people now regard disk space as essentially free. On the downside, modern HDDs can be difficult to install and configure, particularly in older systems.

Video Adapter.

A video adapter, also called a graphics adapter (3D Acceleration), accepts video data from the computer and converts it into a form the monitor can display. In addition to image quality, the video adapter you use determines the sharpness, number of colors, and stability of the image your monitor displays.

Most recent video adapters display text and simple graphics adequately, but video adapters vary greatly in their suitability for use with graphics-intense software, including games.

Monitor.

The monitor you use ultimately determines the quality of the video you see. Monitors are available in a wide variety of sizes, capabilities, feat ures, and prices, and choosing the right one is not a trivial decision.

Sound Adapter and Speakers.

All PCs can produce basic warning sounds and audible prompts using their built-in speakers, but for listening to audio CDs, playing games, watching DVDs with full surround sound, using the Internet to make free long-distance telephone calls, using voice-recognition software, and other PC audio functions, you'll need a sound card (or embedded motherboard sound adapter) and speakers or headphones.

Keyboard and Mouse.

PCs use several types of devices to accept user input-keyboards for entering text; mice, trackballs, and other pointing devices for working in the Windows graphical environment; and game controllers for playing modern graphical computer games and simulations.

Communications Ports.

Communications ports allow a PC to connect to external peripherals such as printers, modems, and simi lar devices.

Case and Power Supply.

The case (or chassis) is the outer shell that contains the PC and all internal peripheral devices. The power supply provides regulated power to all system components and cooling air flow to keep components from overheating.

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