Being Computer Fluent

1
Being Computer Fluent

• Understanding how it works, what all its parts
  are, and what these parts do.

2
4 Major Functions of a Computer

• Gathers data (allows users to input data)
• Processes data into information
• Outputs data or information
• Stores data and information

3
General Facts on Computers

• Moores Law CPUs Processing Speed
• Gordon Moore, cofounder of Intel, predicts that
  the number of transistors inside a CPU will
  double every 18 months. These transistors
  determine how fast a computer processes data.
• RAM
• Increase about 60 every year.
• Hard Disks
• Storage capacity grows about 50 each year.

4
The Language of Computers

• Binary Language
• Bits (binary digit) a series of 0s and 1s that
  make up a byte
• Byte each letter of the alphabet, each number,
  and each special character consists of a unique
  combination of 8 bits, or a string of eight 0s
  and 1s.
• Example K 01001011

5
Larger series of bytes

• Kilobyte (KB) approx. 1,000 bytes
• Megabyte (MB) approx. million bytes
• Gigabyte (GB) approx. billion bytes

6
Computer Hardware

• System Unit metal or plastic case that holds
  all the physical parts of the computer together
• Central Processing Unit (CPU) the part of the
  system unit that is responsible for the
  processing of information the brains of the
  computer
• 2 Main Types
• Intel Processors PC computers
• G4 Macintosh computers

7
CPU Processing Speed

• CPU performs a program instruction by going
  through a series of steps called a machine cycle.
  These machine cycles are performed at a steady
  and constant pace known as clock speed.
• The speed is measured in units of
• Megahertz (MHz) 1 million hertz
• Gigahertz (GHz) 1 billion hertz
• Hertz (Hz) machine cycles per second

8
CPU Processing Speed

• Whats your current CPU Speed?
• Locate the My Computer icon on the desktop,
  right-click, and select Properties.
• How fast should my CPU be?
• Fast enough to handle the requirements of your
  systems software and hardware.
• Check your CPU usage by going to the taskbar,
  right-click and select Task Manager, click on the
  Performance tab. Over 90 will indicate the CPU
  is slowing your performance speed.

9
CPU Processing Speed

• Recommended Amount of Processing Speed
• Range can be from 1.6 GHz 3.5 GHz
• Different types of Processors for PCs
• Intel Pentium 4, Intel Celeron, Intel Pentium M,
  Intel Pentium D
• Are the fastest CPUs the best to use?
• Consider buying one that is not the most recently
  released with the fastest speed.
• Buying a slightly slower CPU invest the savings
  in other system components (RAM) will often
  result in a better performing system.

10
Additional Components

• Memory
• Random Access Memory (RAM) - located on
  motherboard, stores short term
• Right-click on My Computer, choose Properties to
  see how much RAM your system has.
• Input/output devices
• Ex keyboard, mouse
• Storage devices
• Ex CD, Flash drive

11
RAM

• How much RAM do I need?
• Depends on the software you plan on using on the
  computer.
• The larger the better. Always have more than the
  minimum amount.
• When upgrading, buy as much as you can afford or
  as much as your computer will hold.
• Recommended amount 1 GB
• Megabyte 1 million bytes
• Gigabyte 1 billion bytes

12
Computer Software

• Application Software the set of programs you
  use on a computer to help you carry out tasks
• System Software the set of programs that
  enables your computers hardware devices and
  application software to work together
• Most common Operating System (OS)

13
Hard Drive

• Largest and fastest storage and retrieval device
  on the computer.
• Hard drive is composed of several coated platters
  stacked onto a spindle.
• When data is saved, a pattern of magnetized spots
  are created on the iron oxide coating each
  platter.
• Each spot represents a 1 and each space
  represents a 0 and these 1s and 0s represent
  binary digits.
• The hard disk retrieves data by translating these
  patterns of magnetized spots into the data you
  have saved.

14
Hard Drive

• How do I know how much storage capacity I need?
• Look at the software requirements. EX Kernel
  Memory This is the amount of memory you need to
  run your operating system software (Windows).
• Think about the number of items and their sizes
  that you will be saving on your computer.
• Recommended Size 80 GB 600 GB
• Most common are in the 200-300 GB range.
• You want your hard disks speed to be high so you
  can access data quickly.

15
Current Hard Drive Size

• Go to MyComputer, (C) drive
• Used space what you have used up on the drive.
• Free space what is available to use up.
• Capacity total amount you have and the chart
  highlights used and free amounts on the drive.