Index of course materials Course designed by Gail Gruber, WNMU, Silver City, NM

Hardware

A computer requires four components in order to function.

Input An input device gives information to the computer system so that it can perform its tasks. Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone, Video Recorder, Scanner, Floppy Disk, Light Pen, Trackball, Trackpad, Joystick, Touch Screen, Bar Code Reader, Digital Camera, Graphics Tablet, Zip Disk, Modem or Network

Information Processor This unit changes the information that you input into the final form that you want to output. Central Processing Unit

Memory Some method of storage, both volatile and non-volatile. RAM, ROM, Hard Drive, CD-ROM, Floppy Disk, Magnetic Tape

Output The means by which you can see and/or hear how you have changed information. Monitor, Printer, VCR, Floppy Disk, Speech Synthesizer, Zip Disk, Modem or Network

As you can see, some devices are used for both input and output.

You must understand the difference between RAM and ROM in order to understand how your computer works. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. This type of memory is volatile (if you turn off the computer you lose what you have in RAM). ROM stands for Read Only Memory. ROM is non-volatile.

One way to understand the difference is this metaphor. Think of RAM as the black board in your room and ROM as the bookshelves. You can keep a certain amount of written material in your bookshelf until it is full. When it is full, you must remove something in order to fit in more books. The same is true for your black board. You write on it until all the space is full, at which time you must either quit writing or erase something. If you run out of blackboard space, it will not help to throw away books. OR - when you are low on RAM it will not help to throw away things you have stored on your hard drive. If you need more RAM, you may use Virtual Memory or buy RAM chips. Right now, it is not expensive to buy RAM and it is easy to add to your computer.

For more information check out the following sites:

The Computer Hardware Performance Site http://www.maximumhardware.com/

Price Track, Hardware Search Engine http://www.pricetrac.com/

HPC Hardware Guide http://hardware.pairnet.com/

Index of course materials Course designed by Gail Gruber, WNMU, Silver City, NM

Input	An input device gives information to the computer system so that it can perform its tasks.	Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone, Video Recorder, Scanner, Floppy Disk, Light Pen, Trackball, Trackpad, Joystick, Touch Screen, Bar Code Reader, Digital Camera, Graphics Tablet, Zip Disk, Modem or Network
Information Processor	This unit changes the information that you input into the final form that you want to output.	Central Processing Unit
Memory	Some method of storage, both volatile and non-volatile.	RAM, ROM, Hard Drive, CD-ROM, Floppy Disk, Magnetic Tape
Output	The means by which you can see and/or hear how you have changed information.	Monitor, Printer, VCR, Floppy Disk, Speech Synthesizer, Zip Disk, Modem or Network

The Computer Hardware Performance Site	http://www.maximumhardware.com/
Price Track, Hardware Search Engine	http://www.pricetrac.com/
HPC Hardware Guide	http://hardware.pairnet.com/