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Computer's Hardware Components

By: Priyank K Purohit

A typical computer system requires computer hardware to function and process data that the user inputs using the input devices.

Some of the typical hardware components found on a modern computer system today are,

  1. 1. Monitor
  2. 2. Keyboard
  3. 3. Mouse
  4. 4. Printer
  5. 5. Scanner
  6. 6. Central Processing Unit
    • a. Video Card
    • b. CD/DVD Drive
    • c. Internal Modem
    • d. Hard drive
    • e. Processor
    • f. Motherboard
    • g. RAM
    • h. ROM

Description

The following text summarizes the purpose, function, connection method and the cost of the above listed hardware.

  1. Monitor
    • Purpose: The main purpose of the monitor is to display the output of the information that the user inputs.
    • Features: In past, CRT monitors were used which were really big and hazardous to the human eyes. Now, the LCD technology has changed that. It is less hazardous and takes way less space compared to the CRT monitors.
    • Connection Port: RGB cable and RGB port.
    • Cost: CRT monitors: < $20; LCD monitors: $100 - $700.
  2. keyboard
    • Purpose: The main purpose of the keyboard in a computer system is to allow the user to input the information using the keys provided.
    • Features: The very early keyboards did not have the ergonomic design of the keys that they keyboards have today. For example, today's modern keys are arranged in a way so that if used to write English language, the fingers do not have to go far to reach for the common keys. Latest Laser Keyboards have drastically changed the way keyboards work! They see the movement of the fingers and send the signals to the CPU!
    • Connection Port: PC/2 port or USB port.
    • Cost: Basic keyboard costs about $50. The modern multimedia, wireless keyboard cost somewhere between $50 and $200.
  3. Mouse
    • Purpose: The main purpose of a mouse in a computer system is to allow the user to give the commands more easily by using the mouse to point and click on the buttons
    • Features: The very early mouse had two sensors and a ball. The sensors sensed the ball's movement vertically and horizontally and sent the signals. Today, the mouse use laser light to track its movement. In laptops, the mouse is replaced by the touch pads that can track the movement of the fingers on its surface!
    • Connection Port: PC/2 port or USB port.
    • Cost: The most basic mouse can cost about $20 while wireless mouse with programmable short cut keys can cost about $100!
  4. Printer
    • Purpose: A printer's main purpose in a computer system is to make the information available on a paper!
    • Features: Today's printers can print in different colors. When printers first evolved to serve as an output device, they can only output the data in black color! In order for a printer to print fast in black ink only, a laser printer is recommended! When you need to get rid of the wires needed to connect many computers to a single printer, the use of a wireless printer is most efficient.
    • Connection Port: USB port or wireless connection.
    • Cost: A simple color printer can cost anywhere between $30 and $150. While laser, wireless printers can cost between $200 and $1000
  5. Scanner
    • Purpose: A scanner's main purpose in a computer system is to store digital images of the information on a piece of paper.
    • Features: The early scanners used photomultiplier tubes to store the images. But, today the CCD technology has become an industry standard. Using special software can cause the scanner to become an input device where the user would scan the data to be inputted and the software will recognize the information on the scanner image!
    • Connection Port: USB port.
    • Cost: Today, simplest scanners can cost as much as $200. Most sophisticated and advanced scanners can cost up to $500!
  6. Central Processing Unit
    • Purpose: The CPU's main purpose is to process and output the results of the data that was inputted via the input devices!
    • Features: The most CPUs now have about 10X the RAM it had when it first became commercial product! Also, the speed at which the CPU can process the information has also increased! The concept of the cache has been introduced which caused the computer to become faster than what the RAM allows it to be!
    • Connection Port: It is the host to all the connection ports that different hardware parts can connect to!
    • Cost: A typical CPU intended for household usage can cost about $850! More powerful computer cores can cost as much as $5000! The most expensive computer in this world costs more than $250,000,000!

    Parts of CPU

    • CD/DVD drive: A CD/DVD drive is a component that is used to read or write data to the surface of a CD/DVD!
    • Hard drive: Hard drive is component device that can store information permanently using magnets. It is composed of many Hard disks.
    • Internal Modem: An internal modem is an input and output device that connects to a computer motherboard internally via an ISA, PCI or expansion slots.
    • Motherboard: A motherboard is the main circuit board inside the central processing unit's body that holds and connects all the other circuit boards and memory units.
    • Processor: The processor is a chip on the motherboard that overlooks all the other components of a computer system.
    • RAM: RAM or Randomly Accessed Memory is the most common memory accessed by a computer system while it is turned on. It is voltaic meaning it can not hold information after the power to the computer system is cut off.
    • ROM: ROM or Read Only Memory is a memory storage device that contains information that can be accessed and read but can not be changed. It usually contains information that a computer uses during the start up.
    • Video Card: A video card is a circuit board that is capable to better controlling the display on the monitor. It generates the signals to the monitor.

Parts List


Hardware Name Price
CPU XPS 630 $2999.99
CD/DVD Drive Dual drive 48X Combo + 16X DVD+-RW $199.99
Motherboard Intel. Desktop Board D975XBX2 $299.99
Processor Intel Core 2 Extreme Processor $1599.99
RAM Buffalo 2GB DDR2 Computer RAM $49.99
Hard drive Western Digital 160GB hard drive $99.99
Display Adaptor ATI Radeon HD 3650 1024MB PCI-E Video Card $169.99
Internal Modem Intel V.92 $199.99
Monitor Dell Ultra sharp 22" monitor $499.99
Mouse Microsoft Intellimouse 4.3 $29.99
Keyboard Logitech diNovo Edge Keyboard $149.99
Printer, Scanner and Photo-copier HP PCS 1510 $44.99
Speakers Altec lansing $99.99





References

1.     Wikipedia, Canada Computer Hardware. Retrieved September 18, 2008, from Wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_hardware

2.     Wikipedia, Canada Computer Software. Retrieved September 18, 2008, from Wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_software

3.     Bestbuy, Canada Computer Add-ons. Retrieved September 18, 2008, from Future shop Web site: http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/dept.asp?logon=&langid=EN&catid=18

4.     Tigerdirect.com (2008). Computers. Retrieved September 18, 2008, from Tiger Direct Web site: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/Category/category_tlcNEW.asp?CatId=6

5.     MicrosoftCanada (2008). Computer-RAM. Retrieved September 18, 2008, from Microsoft Canada Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555223




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