Summary
Highlights
A computer is defined as a combination of electronic and electromechanical devices capable of accepting, processing, storing, and providing output of data or information under the control of programs.
Input devices are used to send data and information into the system. Common examples include keyboards, sensors, joysticks, mice, scanners, microphones, light pens, web cameras, and touchscreens.
The processing device, also known as the processor, is the brain of the computer system. It works on data from input devices and forms the Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU consists of the control unit, arithmetic logic unit (ALU), and memory unit. It is housed in a system unit on a motherboard.
The control unit coordinates and directs system activities, while the arithmetic and logic unit performs arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). The memory unit stores data and instructions for processing.
Primary manufacturers of microprocessors are Intel (Celeron, Pentium, Core) and AMD. Processors have a clock speed (measured in gigahertz), a front side bus connecting to RAM, and cache memory for buffering data between RAM and the processor.
A processor is a silicon chip containing millions of transistors that process instructions in executable computer programs. Processing rate depends on processor speed and available RAM size.
Output devices display or provide the results of processed inputs. Examples include monitors, printers, projectors, plotters, and multimedia speakers.
Key hardware components include the monitor, motherboard, CPU, RAM, expansion cards, power supply, optical disc drive, hard disk, keyboard, and mouse.