How a Computer Works

1
How a Computer Works
2
The Elements of a PC (Personal Computer)

• The Central Unit is a box that contains the
  elements that make a computer function.
• Compartments of the internal mechanism- are the
  metal accommodations, that can incorporate plates
  in the internal mechanism.
• Fuel supply source- The mechanism that provides
  the correct voltage to the different parts of the
  central system.
• Electronic components- contains the motherboard,
  which can contain other boards that are called
  expansion cards. Expansion cards expand what a
  computer can normally do.

3
The Connection of the Mechanisms

• PS/2 Port- the connectors called Mini-Din (with 6
  contacts) connect the mouse/key board to the
  computer.
• Series Port- Uses 9 pins to connect male and
  female ports (DB-9). Used to send and receive
  data.
• Parallel Port- Uses 25 pins to connect male and
  female ports (DB-25). Used mainly to connect
  printers.
• USB Port (Universal Serial Bus)- Uses 4 male and
  female contacts in rectangles (type A) or squares
  (type B). Used for plug and play which means that
  the system can automatically understand what was
  plugged in. It transmits data quicker.
• IEEE Port 1394 or FireWire- Uses 4 or 6 male and
  female contacts to permit a quick connection.

4
The Operation of a Computer

• Computers operate with number data in codes of 2
  figures called Binary Code. The transmitted
  information is called digital information.
• The binary numbers are also called Bits which are
  the electric impulses 1on 0off.
• Bits are in groups of 8 called Bytes. The number
  increases by eights (8,16,32).
• The data allows arithmetic and logic operations
  to receive questions and let out a yes or no
  answer.

5
Logic Ports

• And- The port exit is only one if both of the
  entrances are 1. (car/gas/city)
• Or- Only one entrance needs to be one for the
  exit to be 1. (car/bike/city)
• No- The exit is 1 if the entrance is 0. The exit
  is 0 if the entrance is 1. (opposites)

6
The Motherboard

• Motherboard- (or base board) is a board of
  circuits that contain the electronic components
  of a computer. Contains
• Buses-passages for information (in bits) to move
  through the system.
• Data Bus- communicates the CPU with the rest of
  the components
• Address Bus- is in charge of taking the numbers
  to find the data inside of the memory.
• Control Bus- Takes the CPU instructions to eject.
• CPU- (Central Processing Unit) It is the chip
  that controls the computer.
• 2 types of microprocessors- Intel and AMD

7
Motherboard Continued

• Memory-The memory in this is measured in
  kilobytes (KB), Megabytes (MB), and Gigabytes
  (GB).
• ROM Memory- Read-Only Memory (cannot change data)
• RAM Memory- Random Access Memory (can change
  data)
• System Clock- Is the system that sends the
  electric impulses. The number of impulses per
  second is the velocity. It is measured in Hz and
  GHz.
• Slots- (expansion slots) are slots that allow a
  computer to be updated. For example Graphics,
  Sound, and Communication.
• 3 types PCI, PCI Express, and AGP
• Port Connections- The way to connect the
  electronic components.

8
Entrance Mechanisms

• Keyboard- Used to transmit letters, numbers, and
  symbols. Also, other special
• Mouse- is a box that controls the movements of a
  cursor on the screen.
• Ball Mouse- The movement of the ball will move
  the pins that is connected to discs. The LED
  light then captures the movement through little
  holes where the discs are.
• Optical Mouse- A light will emit LED over the
  surface that the mouse is on. A detector captures
  the light and is sent through digital signals to
  the computer.
• Cordless Mouse- Is like an Optical Mouse, but it
  has a radio in place of the cord that transmits
  the movement.
• Scanner- a mechanism that transforms images
  digitally for a computer to work with.
• Document Scanner- captures images on paper
• Photo Scanner- obtains negatives of photographs
  or of mechanisms
• Barcode Scanner- reads the barcodes

9
Exit Mechanisms

• Monitor- is a screen that shows the results of
  the operations of a computer.
• CRT Monitor- Uses a tube to images like a TV that
  is usually between 14 and 21 inches.
• LCD Monitor- Is a screen that uses a glass liquid
  that takes up less space that shows a less
  exhausted visual.
• Printer- copies onto paper what was on the
  screen.
• Ink-Jet Printer- Ink is ejected onto the paper.
  It can reproduce photographs.
• Laser Printer- Uses a toner that is put on paper
  from a laser ray. You can find laser printers in
  black and white and in color.

10
Storage Mechanisms

• The mechanism that saves information and data so
  that you will not lose any data when turning off
  your computer. The 3 types are
• Magnetic
• Floppy Disc
• HD (hard disc)
• Etc.
• Optic
• CD
• DVD
• Flash Memory
• Flash Drive
• Memory Card

11
Image and Sound Mechanisms

• The Motherboard allows certain audio and visual
  elements to be attached to the computer. Allows
  for such uses as
• Video camera
• Digital camera
• Web Camera