Finally... An Understandable Introduction To Computers

By: Roger A. Pendey

When you mention the word "technology," most people think about
computers. Virtually every facet of our lives has some
computerized component. The appliances in our homes have
microprocessors built into them, as do our televisions. Even our
cars have a computer. However, the computer that everyone thinks
of first is typically the personal computer, or PC.

It is a general-purpose tool, built around a microprocessor. A
PC has many different parts such as memories, a hard disk, a
modem, etc that work together. A PC is said to be "general
purpose" because you can do many different things with it like:
you can use it to type documents, send e-mail, browse the Web
and play games.

Let us look at the main components of a typical desktop computer.

Central processing unit (CPU): The microprocessor "brain" of the
computer system is referred to as the central processing unit.
The CPU oversees everything that a computer does.

Memory: This fast storage area is for storing data and is
connected directly to the microprocessor. That's why it is fast.
There are various types of memory in a computer system:

Random-access memory (RAM): Used to temporarily store
information that the computer is currently working with.

Read-only memory (ROM): It refers to computer memory chips,
containing permanent or semi-permanent data that does not change.

Basic Input/Output: Required to establish the basic
communication when the system is turned on. It is directly
connected to the motherboard.

Caching: The storing of frequently used data in extremely fast
RAM that connects directly to the CPU.

Virtual memory: Used to temporarily store data and swap it in
and out of the RAM.

Motherboard: This is the main board in the computer that has the
processor, the RAM, the BIOS ROM, the timing and control, the
interrupt and direct memory access hardware and the keyboard
interface on it which are connected to it through the secondary
connection.

Soundcard: this device attaches to the motherboard with a socket
called PCI, which allows the computer to play CD's or music
files, or MP3 CD's. All soundcards have speakers and connectors.
The quality of sound depends upon the quality of the card.

Hard drive: This is the main storage device of a computer. It
stores information including the OS that allows you to access it
all. Most common OS for PCs is Microsoft Windows. And Apple
computers use the Macintosh operating system.

Other drives: Most computers are also complete with floppy disk
and CD drives. These vary from system to system, however all
work in same way. They read information stored on disks. These
are necessary for maintaining and updating the computer's
software and operating system.

That's the components that create the average computer. Although
there are many different systems, and configura- tions, it is
difficult to imagine our lives without them.



About the author:
Roger A. Pendey is founder of All About Computers an
excellent resource site dedicated to information about computers.