A complete list of the main devices of the PC. The composition and purpose of the main elements of a personal computer, their characteristics

personal computer is a universal computing system, the architecture of which is focused on individual use. Personal computers can be installed at any workplace, they are often used as workstations and as servers for managing small computer networks. Operating systems and packages were created for personal computers office programs with a visual GUI understandable and accessible to the widest range of users. In addition, a large number of professional and educational software packages, as well as a wide variety of games, have been developed for the PC. First commercially distributed The Altair-8800 PC based on the Intel-8080 microprocessor appeared in early 1975. At present, the IBM PC and Macintosh personal computers are the most famous and widespread.

Any personal computer requires a processor to function. random access memory, input and output devices. The processor performs all calculations and controls other devices; memory is used to store programs, initial data and results of calculations; the input device allows you to enter program commands and source data; the output device makes it possible to display the results of calculations.

In practice, there is a concept basic configuration, including the minimum set of devices necessary for normal operation PC. The basic composition of modern personal computers includes four devices:

- system unit;

– monitor (display);

- keyboard;

- mouse manipulator.

Below is a simplified structural scheme personal computer IBM PC.

System unit is the main component of the PC. He contains CPU And basic (internal) memory. In all modern PCs, the system unit also includes magnetic disk drives ( external memory). The capabilities of computers (their performance) depend on the type and speed of the processor, as well as on the amount of operational (internal) and long-term (external) memory. Devices that are inside the system unit are called internal, and devices connected to the system unit from the outside are called external additional devices or peripheral.

System blocks are produced with various body shapes: in a horizontal ( desktop) and vertical ( tower) execution. Vertical enclosures can be full size, medium-sized And small. Among the buildings with a horizontal design, there are flat And extra flat. In addition to the shape, an important parameter for the body is called form factor. The requirements for hosted devices depend on this parameter. The former chassis standard was the AT form factor, nowadays most cases are used ATX form factor. PC cases are shipped with power supply. The power supply converts the mains power into D.C. low voltage, which is supplied to the electronic circuits of the PC. Power supply power is one of the hull parameters. For mass PC models, a power of 250-300 watts is sufficient.

Monitor- this is the main (standard) output device based on the use of a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a flat liquid crystal (LCD) screen. The main characteristics of monitors are diagonal screen size, measured in inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm), and resolution, which is determined by the number of dots displayed on the screen horizontally and vertically. Modern monitors have a screen size of 15, 17 or more inches, and a resolution of 1024x768 or 1600x1200 pixels. Another important feature of the monitor is frame rate, which affects the visible flickering of the screen. The image on the screen is formed by reading the contents of the video memory and displaying it on the screen. The frame rate is directly related to the rate at which the image on the screen is read and refreshed. The normative frequency is considered to be 85 updates per second (85 Hz), and comfortable - 100 Hz. For comparison, we can say that the frame rate in the cinema is 24 frames per second (24 Hz).

Keyboard- standard keyboard input device and PC control. The combination of monitor and keyboard provides simplest interface user. A typical modern keyboard has, as a rule, 104 keys, among which there are alphanumeric keys necessary for entering text, cursor keys and a number of special and control keys. The standard layout of the keys has a QWERTY layout, which corresponds to the domestic YTsUKEN layout. It is customary to name the layout according to the symbols assigned to the first keys of the upper line of the alphabetic group.

Mouse manipulator – manipulator type control device, which facilitates user interaction with the PC. Mouse movement on a flat surface is synchronized with the movement of a graphic object on the monitor screen, called mouse pointer. Actions on the object, on which the mouse pointer is set, are determined by short-term pressing (clicks) on one of the mouse buttons (left or right). The monitor and mouse combination provides the most up-to-date user interface, which is called graphic.

Internal devices of the system unit

WITH

The system unit is the central part of the computer. It contains a number of interconnected devices necessary for the functioning of a computer. The main elements of the system unit are:

- motherboard;

– external disk memory;

– expansion boards (cards).

IN system unit are also located power unit And battery. The power supply contains fan for cooling the system unit. Connected to battery timer- in-machine electronic clock that provides indications of the current time (date and time). The timer continues to run even when the computer is disconnected from the network.

System (motherboard) board– main hardware component modern computer, on the reliability of which the operation of the computer system depends. The type of motherboard installed determines the overall performance of the system, as well as the ability to upgrade the computer and connect additional devices.

The system board is a printed circuit board that contains all the main elements of a computer, connection lines and connectors for connecting external devices. The following is the main set of elements, which in one form or another is located on the system board:

- processor - the main chip for processing data and controlling the operation of all computer devices;

- random access memory (random access memory, RAM) - a chipset for temporary data storage when the computer is turned on;

- ROM (Read Only Memory) - a microcircuit for long-term storage of data even when the computer is turned off;

– microprocessor set ( chipset) - a set of chips that ensure the interaction of all computer devices;

– tires – a set of conductors (lines) for data exchange;

– connectors for connecting external memory;

– serial and parallel ports for connection peripherals;

– connectors ( slots) for connecting RAM modules and expansion cards.

In order to save space and increase the number of free slots, video adapters, sound and network cards, etc. are installed on some motherboards. Such devices are called integrated or built-in.

Motherboards differ by manufacturer and by the type of processors that can be installed on them. They contain special jumpers - jumpers, allowing you to customize the motherboard for the type of processor and other devices installed on it.

CPU(microprocessor, or central processing unit) is the main working component of a computer that performs most of the mathematical and logical operations specified by the program located in RAM, controls the computing process and coordinates the work of all computer devices. In hardware, the processor is implemented on a very large integrated circuit (VLSI), which is a flat semiconductor wafer enclosed in a plastic case with a number of metal contacts (pins). The IBM PC uses processors from the company Intel. In low-end computers by Intel 8086, 80286, 80386 and 80486 processors were used, and in older models - Pentium series processors: Pentium, Pentium II, Pentium III, etc. Macintosh personal computers use processors from the company Motorola. Currently, the computer market is the most common two series of processors: Intel Pentium and AMD Athlon.

Structurally, the processor is microprocessor memory(MPP), which is built on registers. During operation, the processor serves the data in its registers, in the cells of the RAM, and also in the external ports of the processor. It interprets part of the data as direct data, part as address data, and part as commands. The exchange of information between the processor and other devices is carried out through input-output ports.

Under processor architecture understand the principle of its operation, the composition of the registers, the command system, the configuration and interconnection of its main nodes. Processor instruction set is the collection of all possible commands that the processor can execute on the data. The wider the set system commands, the more complex the processor architecture. Depending on the instruction set, two different approaches to processor architecture are used.

RISC ( Reduced Instruction Set Computer) is the concept of building processors according to the following principle: more compact and simple instructions (commands) are executed faster. RISC processors have abbreviated instruction set. A simple architecture allows you to reduce the cost of the processor, increase the clock frequency, and also parallelize the execution of commands between several blocks. The first RISC processors were developed in the mid-1980s at Stanford and California Universities in the USA. They executed a small (50-100) set of commands. Currently, RISC processors are used in specialized computing systems or devices focused on performing uniform operations.

CISC ( Complex Instruction Set Computing) is the concept of processor design, which is characterized by extended command system with the following set of properties: unfixed command length value; coding of arithmetic operations in one instruction; a small number of registers, each of which performs a strictly defined function. CISC processors are used in mainframe computing systems. Personal computers of the IBM PC platform up to the Pentium IV are also focused on the use of CISC processors.

If two processors have the same instruction set, then they are fully compatible at the software level. A group of processors having limited (incomplete) compatibility is considered as processor families. So, for example, Intel processors belong to the x86 family and are compatible with principle « top down". This means that every new processor of this family "understands" the commands of its predecessors, but not vice versa. Processors belonging to different families differ in instruction system and are not interchangeable.

The main characteristics of the processor are operating voltage, clock frequency, bit depth, built-in cache.

Working voltage – important parameter processor. Reducing the operating voltage from 5 V for early models to 2 V or less for modern processors made it possible to reduce the distance between the elements in the processor chip without fear of electrical breakdown. In proportion to the square of the voltage, the heat dissipation in the processor decreased, and this made it possible to increase its performance without the threat of overheating.

Clock frequency characterizes the speed (performance) of the computer, which is determined by the number of operations (commands) performed by the processor per second. The speed of modern personal computers is tens and even hundreds of millions of operations per second. The speed of instruction execution is directly related to the clock frequency. The execution time of each command takes a certain number of cycles and is called machine cycle. In a PC, clock pulses are generated by a special microcircuit ( clock generator) included in the chipset. The higher the frequency of clock pulses, the more instructions the processor can execute per unit of time, and, consequently, the higher its performance. For most processors, clock speed is measured in megahertz (1 MHz = 1 million cycles per second). To date, the frequency of some processors already exceeds 3 billion cycles per second (3 GHz). More advanced processors execute not one, but several instructions per machine cycle.

Bit depth The processor indicates how many bits of data it can process in its registers in one clock cycle. The bitness of the processor is determined by the bitness command bus. Processors with a higher bit depth, when using the corresponding operating system, have higher performance. The first processors of the x86 family were 16-bit. Starting with the 80836 processor and continuing to the present, all processors have a 32-bit architecture.

Built-in cache size significantly affects the performance of the processor. The processor has a central part - processor core, which operates at a frequency higher than the frequency of other devices. To reduce the number of accesses to RAM, a buffer area is created inside the processor - “super-fast” cache memory running at the frequency of the processor core. To obtain data, the processor first accesses the cache memory, and if the necessary data is not there, it accesses the main memory. "Successful" cache accesses are called cache hits. The larger the cache, the higher the hit percentage and, as a result, the higher the processor performance.

Tires- This is a collection of several groups of conductors (lines) used to connect all computer devices. conductors through which data is exchanged between the components and devices of a computer are called information bus or simply tire (Bus). The most important property of the bus is the possibility of parallel connection of several external devices. If the bus connects only two devices, then it is called port.

The bus provides three directions for information transfer:

– between the processor and the main memory;

– between the processor and I/O ports of peripheral devices;

– between main memory and I/O ports of peripheral devices.

Depending on the type of data transmitted, the bus lines are divided into three groups: data bus, address bus, control bus(commands).

Data bus designed to exchange data between the processor, RAM and external devices. A PC with an Intel Pentium processor uses a 64-bit data bus. This means that in one cycle, 8 bytes are immediately processed for processing.

address bus is used to address a PC device. Each PC component, RAM cell or I/O port has its own address (unique identification code) and is included in the general address space of the PC. The maximum number of addresses generated by the processor on the address bus depends on the width of the address bus. Obviously, the amount of addressable RAM should not exceed 2 n, Where n– bit width of the address bus. For example, on an Intel Pentium processor, the address bus consists of 32 parallel wires. This means that a 32-bit address is formed in the address bus, pointing to the RAM cell to which the processor is connected to read data into one of its registers, or, conversely, to write data from the processor register to this cell.

Command (control) bus used to transfer instruction codes from RAM to the processor. The control bus also carries exchange control signals, interrupt requests, synchronization signals, etc. In most modern processors, the command bus is 32-bit, although there are 64-bit and even 128-bit ones.

Depending on the functional purpose in the PC, there are system bus And I/O buses.

System bus used by chipset chips to exchange information between the processor, memory and other devices.

I/O buses branches off the system bus and specializes in servicing devices of a certain type. They are subdivided into local And standard.

local bus input-output is a high-speed bus designed for data exchange between high-speed devices (video adapters, network cards, scanner cards, etc.) and the system bus. Currently, the PCI bus is the most widely used as a local bus. It has 32- or 64-bit bits and provides a frequency of up to 66 MHz. For input/output of video data when processing three-dimensional images, Intel has developed a special high-speed AGP bus, which is actually a port, since it connects only two devices (video adapter and RAM).

standard tire I/Os are used to connect slower devices (eg mice, keyboards, modems). Currently, LPC and USB buses are used as this bus.

The entire set of I/O buses is not limited to the buses mentioned above. Modern PCs may have SCSI, Fire Wire (IEEE 1394) buses installed in expansion slots or integrated into the motherboard.

Devices are connected to the buses via bus interface. A bus interface is understood as a set of characteristics of the connected device (electrical and timing parameters), a set of control signals, a data exchange protocol, and design features connections. However, data exchange is possible only if compatibility their interfaces, which implies interface standardization individual PC components. In case of incompatible interfaces (for example, the system bus interface and the hard drive interface), the controllers, which provide control over the data exchange process. In addition, the flexibility and unification of the system is provided by the introduction standard serial interfaces And parallel data transfer necessary for the operation of such important I / O peripherals as a keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer. These devices are connected to parallel(LPT) and consecutive(COM) ports, the connectors of which are brought to back panel system block.

Distinguish systemic(interior) interface And external interfaces (interfaces of peripheral equipment). System interface sets the rules for connecting modules to system bus, and external interfaces define the rules for pairing with I / O devices using I/O buses.

The main tire parameters are bit depth And throughput. The bus width is determined the maximum number simultaneously transmitted bits of information. Today there are 16-, 32- and 64-bit buses. The higher the bit depth, the more data it can transfer per unit of time. Data transmission over the bus is carried out in the form of electrical impulses not continuously, but in cycles. The number of bus cycles per unit time is called frequency. The bus frequency is measured in hertz. The bandwidth of a bus is determined by the amount of information transferred on the bus per second. For example, for a 64-bit 133 MHz system bus, the throughput is
(64 bit ´ 133 MHz) / 8 = 1064 MB/s.

In addition to the information bus, the system unit has power rail And ground bus. Power rail supplies power to all units connected to the main. Ground bus is a conductor with a sufficiently large cross section. The corresponding output of each microcircuit located on a board, for example, on a system board, is connected to the ground bus.

Expansion slots are unified connectors located on the system board into which controller electronic boards to connect additional devices, expansion boards having special appointment(RAM expansion, disk drive management, video card, sound card). The controller, when inserted into the slot, is connected to the corresponding interface bus, which performs data transfer between the RAM and an external device. Different PC users need a different set of controllers, so the motherboard contains multiple slots. Boards that are inserted into slots are called "daughter boards". Their presence and quantity is a characteristic of the motherboard. This is how the principle of open architecture is implemented.

microprocessor kit ( chipset) is a set of microcircuits (chips) on the basis of which motherboards are executed. Using buses, the chips are connected to each other and to ports (connectors for connecting external devices). Chipset parameters determine the properties of the motherboard to the greatest extent. The most important characteristics of the motherboard - baud rate, number of processor models supported, base type and parameters of RAM operation and some others are directly dependent on the type of chipset.

Most motherboard chipsets include two main chips: a RAM controller called north bridge, and external device controller - south bridge.

north bridge provides data exchange between the processor and RAM via the system bus. In addition, a PCI bus is connected to the north bridge, which provides data exchange between the processor, RAM, and peripheral device controllers. To connect the video adapter with the processor and RAM, a special AGP bus is used, connected to the north bridge and having a higher throughput by transmitting multiple signals in one cycle.

south bridge provides data exchange between the north bridge and ports for connecting peripheral equipment. Information storage devices (hard, floppy and laser disks) are connected to the south bridge via the UDMA bus. The mouse and external modem are connected using serial COM ports. The printer is connected to the LPT parallel port, which provides a higher data transfer rate, since it can simultaneously transfer one byte of information. One of the latest innovations in motherboard architecture is the use of USB bus. It allows you to connect to the south bridge up to 256 various devices having a serial interface. The performance of the USB bus is quite sufficient for connecting devices such as a keyboard, mouse, modem, scanner, joystick, printer, plotter, WEB-camera, etc. The convenience of the bus lies in the fact that it allows you to connect and disconnect devices in "hot mode" without turning off the computer. In addition, using the USB bus, you can connect several computers in local network without the use of special equipment and software.

Peripheral controllers are used to connect devices external to the processor to the bus. Connecting peripheral devices to the bus not directly, but through their controllers, provides interface matching. This is what made it possible to use a common bus for communication between individual functional modules of the PC. Upon a control signal from the central processor, the controller creates a channel for data exchange, and further data transfer is carried out directly under the control of the controller. Therefore, the controller can be considered as specialized processor, which controls the operation of the corresponding external device according to special built-in programs. Structurally, controllers are implemented either on separate electronic boards (expansion cards), often called adapters(converters) of devices, or in the form of microcircuits integrated into the motherboard chipset. For example, network adapters used to interface a PC with a physical data link. Built-in (integrated) controllers include, for example, keyboard and disk drive controllers, communication port adapters.

For IBM-compatible PCs, the most important is the DMA controller ( Direct Memory Access), which provides direct access of high-speed devices to RAM without loading the processor and system bus. The program execution process and data transfer are carried out simultaneously, which, in turn, reduces the program execution time and increases the processor performance. This mode is most effective when high speed is required to transfer a large amount of information, for example, when loading data into RAM from a CD and vice versa. Currently, the DMA controller is integrated into the mainboard chipset.

The most important role in the operation of the PC is played by interrupt controller. It maintains interrupt procedures, receives interrupt requests from external devices, determines the priority of requests, and issues an interrupt signal to the processor according to the priority level. The processor pauses the execution of the current program and proceeds to execute special program interrupt service, after which the execution of the interrupted program is resumed.

Video adapter(video card) is a device that is made as a separate ( subsidiary) board inserted into one of the unified connectors ( slots) system board. On this moment two standard connector types are used: AGP, used in low-cost PCs, and PCI-E (PCI-Express), a modern high-speed connector type. The video adapter may be built into the system board itself. Such video adapters are typical for inexpensive "budget" PCs, as they lose in performance to removable video adapters. During the existence of the PC, several video adapter standards have changed: MDA (monochrome), CGA (4 colors), EGA (16 colors), VGA (256 colors). Currently, SVGA (Super VGA) video adapters are used that provide reproduction of up to 16.7 million colors with the possibility of arbitrary selection of screen resolution and a standard range of values ​​​​(640´480, 800´600, 1024´768, 1152´864, 1280´1024 pixels etc.).

The video adapter performs all operations related to controlling the monitor screen. Currently, it is a device that implements the functions of video memory, video controller and video processor. video memory designed to store graphic data about the image. video controller reads from the video memory data on the brightness of individual points (pixels) of the screen and, in accordance with them, controls the sweep of the horizontal beam of the monitor's electron gun. video processor serves to control the construction and updating of images. Together with the monitor, the video card forms video subsystem PC. The main parameters of the video subsystem are: screen resolution, color resolution And video acceleration.

Screen resolution determines the number of dots placed on the monitor screen horizontally and vertically. Each monitor size has its own optimal screen resolution that the video adapter must provide. Currently, for working with documents and Internet services, the resolution of 1024x768 pixels is optimal, which corresponds to the size of CRT monitors of 17 inches. Almost the same resolution is provided by 15-inch LCD monitors. Screen sizes greater than 17 inches and resolutions greater than 1024×768 are used when working with computer graphics, computer-aided design systems and computer layout systems for publications. Screen resolution also depends on grain size, which refers to the minimum pixel size obtained in this monitor (measured in mm).

Color Resolution (color depth) determines the number of different shades that a single point on the screen can take on. The color depth depends on the screen resolution and the amount of video memory. With a high screen resolution, each point in the image has to be allocated less space in the video memory, and, consequently, color information will be more limited. The minimum color depth requirement today is 256 colors, although most programs require at least 65K colors (High Color mode). The most comfortable work is achieved in full color mode (True Color) with a color depth of 16.7 million colors. Using the high resolution True Color mode requires a significant amount of video memory. The amount of video memory is determined by the frame buffer and additional operations associated with image processing. Today, the amount of video memory is 32-128 MB.

video acceleration- one of the properties of the video adapter, which lies in the fact that part mathematical operations imaging is performed without a processor, purely in hardware using a microcircuit called video accelerator (graphics accelerator). If the video adapter includes a video accelerator, then in such cases they say that the video card has the functions hardware acceleration. Modern video cards have two types of video accelerators - flat (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) graphics accelerators. 3D type accelerators are focused on the operation of multimedia entertainment programs (games) and professional programs three-dimensional graphics. Video adapters with a graphics accelerator allow you to play both static and dynamic images, for example, to show cartoons.

Sound card- installed in one of the system board slots in the form subsidiary boards and performs computational operations related to the processing of sound, speech and music. Sound is played through external sound speakers connected to the output sound card. There is also a microphone connector at the output of the sound card, with which you can record speech and music, save them to your hard drive for further processing and use. Devices compatible with the device have become the standard for sound reproduction sound blaster Creative Labs. In the absence of increased requirements for sound quality, integrated sound systems , in which the sound processing functions are performed by the processor and microcircuits of the motherboard. In this case, the speakers are connected to the sockets installed directly on the system board. Many sound cards have a special game port (GAME port) to which game controllers (joysticks) are connected.

The main parameter of a sound card is bit depth, which determines the number of bits used when converting signals from analog to digital form and vice versa. The higher the bit depth, the lower the conversion error, and, consequently, the higher the sound quality. At present, the minimum requirement is
16 digits, and the most widespread
32 and 64 bit devices.

Additional Peripherals
personal computer

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modern personal computers can be connected to a variety of additional peripherals . Peripheral devices are connected using special interfaces and are designed to perform auxiliary operations that expand the functionality of the PC. According to their purpose, peripheral devices are divided into:

– data input-output devices;

– data storage devices;

– data exchange devices.

To additional input devices include special keyboards, special manipulators (trackballs, penmauses, infrared mice, etc.), scanners, graphics tablets (digitizers), digital cameras.

As output devices, additional to the monitor, various printing devices (printers) are widely used.

For external storage use devices that use magnetic, magneto-optical and electronic media: streamers, drives on removable magnetic disks, magneto-optical removable drives, flash drives.

TO communication devices between remote computers communication channels include modems and fax modems. Under communication channel understand physical lines(wired, fiber optic, cable, RF), how to use them(switched and dedicated) and data transfer method(digital or analog signals).

By using modem (MO dulator + DEM dulator) personal computers can be connected to other computers, as well as enter into various telecommunication computer networks. By design, modems are internal(in the form of an electronic board inserted into one of the system board slots) and external– as a separate device connected to a PC through one of the external ports. The modem contains a specialized microprocessor that controls its operation, operative and permanent memory, elements of sound and light signaling about its operating modes and characteristics of the communication channel used. Non-volatile memory is used to remember the modem's configuration when the power is turned off and can be reprogrammed.

Modems connected to dial-up telephone communication channels have found wide application. The digital data coming from the computer is converted in the modem by modulation V analog signal according to the relevant standard ( protocol) and transmitted to the telephone line. The receiver modem performs inverse transformation (demodulation) according to the chosen protocol and sends the recovered digital data to the computer. The main characteristic of data transmission over lines telephone communication is transmission speed, which is measured in bauds and kilobauds. One baud rate is the transmission of one bit per second. There are also modems for optical lines connections that convert electrical signals into light signals and vice versa.

The main consumer parameters of modems include: performance(bps) supported protocols communication and error correction, bus interface for internal modems (ISA or PCI). The amount of data transferred per unit of time depends on performance. The supported protocols determine the effectiveness of the interaction between the transmitting modem and the receiving modem, that is, the likelihood that they will interact with each other when optimal settings. The ease of installation and configuration of the modem depends on the bus interface. Most modern modems operate at 14400-33600 bps and support error correction and data compression (V.42 and V 42bis standards).

Fax modems- devices that combine the capabilities of a modem and means for exchanging facsimile images with other fax modems and conventional telephones. Some fax modems have voice capabilities and can, for example, be used as an answering machine. Currently, all modems are available with facsimile capabilities.

Additional peripherals include uninterruptable power source, which protects equipment from power surges and allows safe operation during short-term power outages. During prolonged power outages, uninterruptible power supplies turn off the entire computing system.

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    • Purpose, composition and main characteristics of the computer. The personal computer is complex technical device, which is better not to climb into, or an apparatus that is quite accessible for understanding and evaluating, which everyone can understand?

    Consider a personal computer from the point of view of the layman, who is interested in certain functions performed by the computer. To do this, we will try to understand what the computer consists of and which components are required, which are desirable (in connection with the intended use of the device), and which can be omitted when purchasing (or upgrading) your electronic assistant.

    So, any personal computer consists of a system unit, monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. This is something that can be seen in most computer owners. There are also printers, modems, camcorders, gamepads and others. similar devices connected to personal computers.

    Let's clarify right away that we are trying to show a certain minimum of devices that will allow you to fully use an expensive device for your personal or home interests. To do this, you have enough monitor, system unit, keyboard, mouse and speakers.

    Monitor is a means of visualizing the information exchange that takes place between you (as a user) and computing system- computer. Monitors vary in size, matrix performance, color gamut, etc. Basically, a monitor can be compared to a TV.

    In addition, modern TVs and monitors are completely interchangeable.

    Keyboard and mouse - a means of entering information and commands into a computer. They do not require any special explanation. Note that keyboards are full-size and abbreviated, and mice differ in the shape and number of function keys.

    speakers- Devices for reproducing sounds. Differ appearance and the power of the reproduced sounds. Currently, speakers can be equipped with monitors.

    The main counting device (for the user, the most significant is the program execution function) device of a personal computer is the system unit. The system unit itself is a metal-plastic box on which a number of buttons and connectors are located.

    Buttons include: power and reset buttons, as well as buttons for opening / closing various devices. Connectors for headphones, microphones, external drives information. Of greatest interest are the internal components of the system unit.

    The composition of the system unit:

    1) motherboard;

    2) processor;

    3) HDD;

    4) power supply;

    5) RAM;

    6) input devices with external media(CD, DVD, BD drives, USB connectors, floppy drives may also be found in older models);

    7) in addition, an audio card, a video card, a TV tuner, a network card, a card reader, etc. may be included.

    Motherboard - the largest and most visible part of the system block (after the block itself, of course). The main purpose of the motherboard is to combine all the components of the computer into a single whole, into a workable device. The motherboard houses all the devices included in the system unit (with the exception of the power supply), which are connected to each other through special input connectors, called cables and slots, and electronic conductive tracks.

    The brain of a computer is CPU- This is the most important and main element of your device. The main purpose of the processor is to solve the tasks assigned to the computer. In this regard, the main task of the processor becomes problem solving.

    Many, when they see the word “solve”, assume the solution of mathematical problems. But the processor, solving just mathematical problems, helps to realize any kind of activity: write texts, play games, communicate in in social networks, create drawings, edit photos, listen to music, etc.

    A feature of the processor is its architecture and socket type. The architecture determines the size of the processor, the order in which it processes commands, and the way tasks are performed. Socket is the type of socket that the processor is connected to. Note that the socket of the processor and the motherboard must match.

    HDD or permanent memory. Sometimes you can still see the name "hard drive", after the name of the first company that created a long-term memory device built into a computer. Main purpose hard drive – long-term storage information.

    Information here means everything: a program (in fact, any program is a list of commands that the processor needs to execute), and a photograph, and text file. In addition, it is installed on the hard disk (and actually permanently stored) operating system and programs. It is the hard drive that creates the appearance of the best organizer for a person from a computer.

    RAM - a special device designed for temporary storage of information in the process of computing. On the one hand, it can be assumed that RAM is an optional element of a computer, but this is not so. In fact, any calculation assumes intermediate results.

    It is for the storage of these intermediate results that RAM is intended. A feature of RAM, or "RAM" as they say in computer slang, is its frequency. The frequency of the RAM must match the frequency of the motherboard connector.

    power unit- the main source of electricity for all elements of the computer system unit. Nowadays, the power supply is included in the system unit, but sometimes it has to be purchased separately.

    This feature can be useful when a specialized computer is purchased, for example, for audio processing or a server. The power supply is supplied with external electricity, which through motherboard distributed to other consumers.

    Input devices for external information . The main purpose of these devices does not require special explanation. It can only be noted that it is necessary to understand what external devices you will use. Currently, DVD and USB drives are the most popular.

    However, CDs have not lost their relevance either. In addition, most of the audio files are recorded on CDs. Note, however, that DVD drives They read CDs quite easily. The same can be said about BluRay (BD) drives. They can read both DVDs and CDs. Besides, naturally, and BD disks.

    USB or flash drives are now the most widespread. This is easy to explain from the point of view of logic, since they are small in size, have large amounts of memory and a fairly high speed of information exchange with a computer.

    We note one feature: the presence of a USB input on the case of the system unit does not mean at all that you can use it. This requires that the motherboard inserted into your system unit has an appropriate connector connected to these USB inputs.

    All the main devices necessary for the operation of a personal computer have been listed. Now let's focus on additional components, such as an audio and video card, a network card, a card reader and a TV tuner.

    Audio and video card , as a rule, is now built into the motherboard. But, in order to save both the resources of the motherboard itself and the buyer's funds, they have weak characteristics. Of course, they are enough to play games or listen to an album of your favorite artist.

    But, if you are going to process musical compositions, photos or videos, play resource-intensive games with high quality, watch movies in HD or 3D quality, then the built-in capabilities will not be enough. In this case, it is necessary to install an audio and (or) video card that has greater performance, its own RAM and often its own processor. Note that the motherboard always has connectors for additional audio and video cards.

    LAN card, as well as an audio (video) card, is also built into the motherboard. Modern motherboards are quite powerful in terms of network equipment, so there is no particular need to purchase an additional network card. However, if you feel (or know) that the built-in capabilities are not enough, you can always install additional hardware.

    At the same time, do not forget that each additional equipment requires its own power supply. Therefore, when buying each new board, do not forget to evaluate the adequacy of the power that your power supply produces.

    card reader- a special device for reading information from removable media such as SD, microSD, etc. These mini and micro media are usually used in portable devices (photos, video cameras, telephones, players, etc.).

    In order to exchange information between your computer and these devices without connecting the devices themselves, card readers were invented. As it is already clear, the card reader is connected to the rest of the computer elements through the motherboard using a special connector.

    TV tuner designed to receive television or radio signals. It connects to the motherboard. Sometimes a TV tuner is built into the video card (as well as into the motherboard itself).

    In conclusion, we note that we have considered the main components of a personal computer. It is very common to see many other devices plugged into or inserted into a computer. But, in order to fully use your device at home, these devices are quite enough.

    System unit is the central part of the PC. Inside the case of the system unit there are electronic circuits mounted on several printed circuit boards. In addition, the system unit contains power unit , which converts the input from the network alternating current voltage 220v, low voltage direct current, fan, hard magnetic disk, magnetic floppy disk drives, devices for reading/writing CD (DVD) disks.

    Motherboard- refers to the structural part of the computer and is the main board of the PC. It contains: a processor, a microprocessor kit, tires, RAM, ROM, connectors for connecting additional devices. The motherboard is designed for the interaction of its devices and the exchange of information between them.

    Central processing unit (CPU)- a functional part of a computer that performs the basic operations of data processing and control of the operation of other blocks. The central processing unit (microprocessor) is designed to provide general control of the computer.

    This is the most complex component of a computer, both in terms of electronics and functionality. The central processing unit consists of the following interconnected components: arithmetic logic unit, control unit and registers.

    Microprocessor made in the form of VLSI (extra large integrated circuit), contains about 10 6 or more elements.

    The central processing unit is the “brain” of the computer, the main microcircuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations and controls other computer devices.

    The main characteristics of the processor are:

    - bit depth shows how many bits of data it can receive and process in its registers in one cycle;



    - operating clock frequency is the number of operations per second (Hz). The operating frequency of some processors exceeds 3 billion cycles per second

    - clock frequency internal multiplication factor can reach from 10 to 20 and above;

    - cache size: there is a buffer area inside the processor to increase the speed of data processing - this is the cache memory.

    Arithmetic logic unit(ALU) is part of the processor,

    performs the main work of processing information stored in RAM. It performs arithmetic and logical operations.

    Operations are performed using electronic circuits, each of which consists of several thousand elements.

    Control device (CU) is a functional part of the central processor. It generates a sequence of control signals, providing

    fetching and executing commands.

    Memory devices: classification, principle of operation, main characteristics

    Memory devices (memory) are used to store programs. The memory of a personal computer PC is divided into internal and external. Internal memory is divided into:

    1) operational; 2) permanent; 3) buffer.

    Table 11 presents the main characteristics, the purpose of each type of memory.

    Table 11 - Main characteristics of computer memory

    ROM is read only memory.

    Slow memory is needed to start the computer when turned on, non-volatile.

    RAM is random access memory or random access memory (RAM).

    Access time is the defining characteristic of random access memory (RAM). It is measured in billionths of a second (nanoseconds, ns). Units ns - for modern memory modules. The memory consists of a finite number of cells, each of which has its own unique number or address. Access to the cell osu-

    is marked with its address.

    cache-memory-advanced memory: located between the processor and RAM. When the microprocessor accesses the memory, it first searches for the desired data in the cache memory, thereby reducing the average memory access time.

    Part of the RAM is allocated for storing images received on the monitor screen, and is called video memory . The more video memory, the more complex and quality images can be seen on the display.

    RAM, CASH are volatile, i.e. cleared when the power is turned off.

    VZU - external storage device (non-volatile)

    VZU types:

    Winchester is a hard disk drive. The principle of writing data to a hard drive is to magnetize the surface of the disk;

    Floppy disks - floppy disk drives;

    Laser discs: example: a compact disc (CD) is an optical disc, information from which is read by a laser beam;

    Flash memory (Flash) – removable data drives, which differ in the amount of memory that is constantly growing from one model to another.

    Ports

    Ports are devices through which peripheral devices are connected to the system unit. Hardware ports are implemented in the form of connectors on the rear wall of the system unit. Typically, the following types of ports are distinguished:

    Serial port (COM, PS / 2) - carries out the transfer of data characters by one bit. A mouse and a modem are connected through the COM ports, and a keyboard and mouse are connected through the PS / 2 port;

    Parallel port (LPT) - one byte of data is transmitted simultaneously. Used for printers and scanners. USB port- a universal port to which you can connect up to 127 external devices that support the USB standard. It can be a printer, scanner, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.

    In addition to these ports, there are others.

    Main characteristics computer science

    The main characteristics of computer technology include:

    Speed, which is measured by the number of elementary operations performed central processing unit per second (hertz). Depending on the field of application, computers are produced with a speed of several hundred thousand to billions of operations per second;

    The amount of RAM is determined by the maximum amount of information that can be placed in the computer's memory;

    The accuracy of calculations depends on the number of digits (bits) used to represent a single number. Modern computers are equipped with 32- or 64-bit microprocessors, which is quite enough to ensure high accuracy of calculations in a wide variety of applications.

    The reliability of a computer is the ability of a machine to maintain its properties under given operating conditions for a certain period of time.

    Questions for self-control

    1.Basic principles of computer construction, formulated by John von Neumann.

    2. External devices of a personal computer for entering information.

    3. External devices of a personal computer for information output.

    4. The main characteristics of the central processor.

    5. VZU types.

    6. Arithmetic logic unit (ALU), structure and purpose

    7. The main components of any computer.

    8. Appointment of the central processor.

    9. Types of computer memory and purpose.

    10. Differences between external and internal memory.

    11.Characteristics of the microprocessor.

    12.Main characteristics of computer technology

    Software computer

    Software(Software) is a collection of all programs and the documentation necessary for their operation.

    Computer software is designed to process a variety of information in order to solve various problems.

    So, what does our usual personal computer (PC) consist of, which we use at home or at work.

    Consider its hardware (“hardware”):

    • system unit (that big box that is on your desk or under the desk, on the side of it, etc.). It contains all the main components of the computer.
    • peripherals(such as monitor, keyboard, mouse, modem, scanner, etc.).

    The system unit in the computer is the "master". If you carefully unscrew the screws from its back wall, remove sidebar and look inside, then only in appearance its device will seem complicated. Now I will briefly describe its device, and then I will describe the main elements in the most understandable language.

    The following elements are placed in the system block (not necessarily all at once):

    - Power unit

    - Hard disk drive (HDD)

    - Floppy Disk Drive (FDD)

    - CD or DVD drive (CD/DVD ROM)

    - Connectors for additional devices (ports) on the rear (sometimes on the front) panel, etc.

    - System board (it is more often called motherboard), which, in turn, contains:

    • microprocessor;
    • math coprocessor;
    • clock pulse generator;
    • memory chips(RAM, ROM, Cache, CMOS)
    • controllers (adapters) of devices: keyboards, drives, etc.
    • sound, video and network card ;
    • timer, etc.

    All of them are connected to the motherboard using connectors (slots). Its elements highlighted in bold are discussed below.

    And now, in order about the system unit:

    1 . Everything is clear with the power supply: it powers the computer. Let me just say that the higher its power rating, the cooler it is.

    2. A hard disk drive (HDD - hard disk drive) is commonly called a hard drive.

    This nickname originated from the slang name for the first 16 KB hard drive (IBM, 1973), which had 30 tracks of 30 sectors, which coincidentally coincided with the 30/30 caliber of the famous Winchester hunting rifle. The capacity of this drive is usually measured in gigabytes: from 20 GB (on older computers) to several Terabytes (1TB = 1024 GB). The most common hard drive capacity is 250-500 GB. The speed of operations depends on the rotational speed (5400-10000 rpm). Depending on the type of hard drive connection with motherboard distinguish between ATA and IDE.

    3 . A floppy disk drive (FDD) is nothing more than floppy disk drive. Their standard capacity is 1.44 MB with a diameter of 3.5 "(89 mm). As a storage medium, magnetic disks use magnetic materials with special properties that allow fixing two magnetic states, each of which is associated with binary digits: 0 and 1.

    4 . Drives on optical discs(CD-ROM) come in different diameters (3.5" and 5.25") and capacities. The most common of them - with a capacity of 700 MB. It happens that CD discs can be used for recording only 1 time (then they are called R), and it is more profitable to use rewritable RW discs.

    DVD originally stood for Digital Video Disk. Despite the name, you can burn anything to DVDs, from music to data. Therefore, in recent years, another decoding of this name is increasingly common - Digital Versatile Disk, loosely translated meaning "digital universal disk". The main difference between DVDs and CDs is the amount of information that can be recorded on such a medium. A DVD disc can contain from 4.7 to 13, and even up to 17 Gb. This is achieved in several ways. Firstly, a laser with a shorter wavelength is used to read DVDs than to read CDs, which has significantly increased the recording density. Secondly, the standard provides for the so-called dual-layer discs, in which data is recorded on one side in two layers, with one layer translucent, and the second layer is read "through" the first. This made it possible to write data to both sides of DVDs, thus doubling their capacity, which is sometimes done.

    5 . Other additional devices can be connected to the personal computer ( mouse, printer, scanner and other). Connection is made through ports - special connectors on the rear panel.

    Ports are parallel (LPT), serial (COM), and universal serial (USB). On a serial port, information is transmitted bit by bit (more slowly) over a small number of wires. A mouse and a modem are connected to the serial port. A parallel port transmits information simultaneously over a large number of wires corresponding to the number of bits. A printer and an external hard drive are connected to the parallel port. The USB port is used to connect a wide range of peripheral devices - from a mouse to a printer. It is also possible to exchange data between computers.

    6. The main computer devices (processor, RAM, etc.) are located on motherboard.

    Microprocessor (simpler - processor) - the central unit of a PC, designed to control the operation of all blocks of the machine and to perform arithmetic and logical operations on information.

    Its main characteristics are bit depth (the higher it is, the higher the computer performance) and clock frequency (largely determines the speed of the computer). The clock frequency indicates how many elementary operations (cycles) the processor performs in one second.
    Intel Pentium processors and its economy version Celeron are respected on the market, and their competitors are also valued - AMD Athlon with Duron economy variant. Intel processors are characterized by high reliability in operation, low heat generation and compatibility with all software and hardware. And AMD show great speed with graphics and games, but are less reliable.

    Computer memory can be internal or external. External memory devices include the already considered HDD, FDD, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM. TO internal memory refers to permanent memory (ROM, ROM English), random access memory (RAM, RAM English), CASH.

    ROM is designed to store permanent software and background information(BIOS - Basic Input-Output System - basic input-output system).

    RAM has a high speed and is used by the processor for short-term storage of information while the computer is running.

    When the power supply is turned off, no information is stored in RAM. For the normal functioning of a computer these days, it is desirable to have from 1 GB to 3 GB of RAM.

    Cache memory is an operational super-fast intermediate memory.

    CMOS memory - CMOS RAM (Complementary Metall-Oxide Semiconductor RAM). It stores computer configuration settings that are checked each time the system is turned on. To change the configuration settings for your computer, the BIOS contains the computer configuration program, SETUP.

    Sound, video and network cards can be either built into the motherboard or external. External boards can always be replaced, while if the integrated graphics card fails, you will have to change the entire motherboard. From video cards, I trust ATI Radeon and Nvidia. The higher the video card memory, the better.

    Peripherals

    The computer consists of 6 groups of keys:

    • Alphanumeric;
    • Controls (Enter, Backspace, Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Tab, Esc, Caps Lock, Num Lock, Scroll Lock, Pause, Print Screen);
    • Functional (F1-F12);
    • Numeric keypad;
    • Cursor control (->,<-, Page Up, Page Down, Home, End, Delete, Insert);
    • Light indicators of functions (Caps Lock, Num Lock, Scroll Lock).

    Mouse (mechanical, optical). Most programs use two of the three mouse buttons. The left key is the main one, it controls the computer. It plays the role of the Enter key. The functions of the right key depend on the program. In the middle is a scroll wheel, which you quickly get used to.

    The modem is a network adapter. It can be both external and internal.

    The scanner automatically reads from paper media and enters any printed texts and images into the PC.

    The microphone is used to input sound into the computer.

    (display) is designed to display information on the screen. Most often, modern PCs use SVGA monitors with a resolution (the number of dots placed horizontally and vertically on the monitor screen) of 800 * 600, 1024 * 768, 1280 * 1024, 1600 * 1200 with up to 16.8 million colors.

    Monitor screen size is 15 to 22 inches diagonally, but 17 inches (35.5 cm) is most common. Dot size (grain) - from 0.32 mm to 0.21 mm. The smaller it is, the better.

    PCs equipped with television monitors (CRTs) are no longer as popular. Of these, monitors with low radiation levels (Low Radiation) should be preferred. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are more secure and most computers have one.

    Designed for printing text and graphics. Printers are dot matrix, inkjet and laser. In dot matrix printers, the image is formed from dots in an impact way. Inkjet printers in the print head instead of needles have thin tubes - nozzles through which tiny droplets of ink are ejected onto the paper. Inkjet printers also perform color printing by mixing primary colors. Dignity - high quality printing, disadvantage - the danger of drying ink, the high cost of consumables.

    Laser printers use electrographic imaging. The laser is used to create an ultra-thin light beam that traces the contours of an invisible dot electronic image on the surface of a pre-charged photosensitive drum. After developing the electronic image with dye (toner) powder adhering to the discharged areas, printing is performed - transferring the toner from the drum to paper and fixing the image on paper by heating the toner until it melts. Laser printers provide the most high quality printing at high speeds. Color laser printers are widely used.

    Speakers output sound. The sound quality depends - again - on the power of the speakers and the material from which the cabinets are made (preferably wood) and its volume. An important role is played by the presence of a phase inverter (a hole on the front panel) and the number of bands of reproducible frequencies (high, medium and low speakers on each speaker).

    USB flash drives, in my opinion, have become the most versatile means of transferring information. This miniature device is smaller and weighs less than a lighter. It has high mechanical strength, is not afraid of electromagnetic radiation, heat and cold, dust and dirt.

    The most sensitive part of the drive is the connector covered with a cap. These devices range from 256 MB to 32 GB, allowing you to choose the storage capacity you need according to your needs. Thanks to the interface, the USB drive can be connected to any modern computer. It works with Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP/Vista/7, Mac OS 8.6 ~ 10.1, Linux 2.4 operating systems. In Windows, you don’t even need to install any drivers: plug it into a USB port and work.

    Needed to enter a dynamic image into a computer and sound (for communication and the possibility of creating teleconferencing).

    Uninterruptable power source needed in the event of a power outage.

    Phuff, well, in my opinion, that's all the main thing that I wanted to tell you about the computer hardware, the so-called hardware.

    The article "Computer Device" was written quite a long time ago. Therefore, if you find an error or find some inaccuracy, please write about it using the comment form. We will be very grateful to you!

    The modern world is so mobile that a computer is absolutely indispensable. An electronic computer has appeared in various fields of human activity, therefore, for full-fledged work, you need to competently approach the choice of this device.

    Personal computer device

    To understand what a computer consists of, you need to look at the standard set of devices. However, it is worth distinguishing several types of electronic computers:

    So, the main components of the architecture of a personal computer are the processor, internal memory, video system, input-output devices. It must be recalled that this characteristic applies to stationary machines. More specifically, the following components can be distinguished:

    • monitor (display, screen);
    • system unit;
    • keyboard;
    • manipulators:
      • mouse,
      • joystick,
      • trackball;
    • I/O devices:
      • scanner;
      • Webcam;
      • tablet;
      • microphone;
      • Printer;
      • acoustic system.

    Of course, the monitor, keyboard and manipulators are included in the category of input-output devices, but they are distinguished as the main parts of a computer, because no stationary computer can do without them.


    System unit

    To understand what the system unit of a computer consists of, you need to clarify that it contains all the electronic stuffing of the computer:

    • motherboard;
    • disk drives;
    • hard drives;
    • adapters and controllers;
    • power unit.

    There are also such types of drives and hard drives:

    • floppy disk drives;
    • drives on hard drives (non-removable hard drives);
    • removable hard drives;
    • optical disk drives;
    • flash drives.

    What do you need to "build" your computer?

    If you want to “create” your own computer yourself, you need to know how to assemble the system unit in the first place. First you need to determine what type of device the “created” machine will belong to: a budget option, a productive one, or an advanced one. The first category includes a computer that will perform all the tasks of a novice user: watching videos, playing games, browsing the Internet and office programs. The second point includes models that are able to perform the same tasks, but with greater performance. Naturally, such a PC can be improved for the time being, since the main components will become obsolete and will be replaced by new ones. The third category includes machines that are particularly powerful. The disadvantage of such computers is their high cost.


    Motherboard

    The motherboard is the main component of the computer, since the rest of the computer is connected to it. When choosing a motherboard, you need to pay maximum attention, since the performance of the system and the possibility of improving it depend on it. The motherboard can be considered as a "collection" of devices, such as:

    • CPU;
    • memory;
    • mathematical processor;
    • expansion slots;
    • chipset.

    Usually on this component of the computer you can find built-in elements, for example, a network, sound and video card. This situation should not cause any concern, because at any moment you can replace the integrated device with an external one. After all, when assembling a computer, you need to take into account what the computer consists of, since each type of it needs different parts. In some cases, the use of integrated elements is unacceptable. The manufacturer cannot foresee what one user needs in terms of performance, and what another. Therefore, motherboards are equipped with special expansion slots, thanks to which it becomes possible to improve the computer.


    CPU

    The processor is understood as the main device of the computer, which controls the operation of all components of the machine and processes all incoming information. The main characteristics and components of the CPU are:

    Processor bit depth refers to the amount of information that the CPU can process in one clock cycle. Today, most computers are equipped with processors that handle 64 bits, although 32-bit instances are also found. Cache memory is a kind of buffer for temporary storage of data that may be needed at any time by the processor. The CPU accesses such information much faster than information stored in internal memory. The system bus is responsible for combining the processor and RAM. Modern CPUs operate at a frequency that exceeds the performance of this board. The difference between the frequency of the processor and the system bus is called the multiplier. The larger the multiplier, the greater the ability to overclock the CPU.


    RAM

    The main purpose of RAM is the ability to temporarily store information and support running software. Another name for this device is RAM (Random Access Memory). So, RAM is also included in the list of what a computer consists of, and these components must be mandatory. Information from RAM is erased when the power is turned off or rebooted. RAM refers to dynamic RAM, referred to as DRAM. Today, DDR2 memory is the most popular, but soon its niche will be taken by DDR3, which is characterized by especially high bandwidth and low power consumption. However, its disadvantage can be called a fabulous price. Experienced users recommend purchasing a motherboard with DDR3 support so that in the future it will be possible to install this type of memory in the slot, although DDR2 does not differ much in performance from its descendant. It is also worth paying attention to the number of slots for RAM: there should be at least 4 of them. This arrangement of things will make it more expedient to increase the internal memory indicator. Today, for the normal operation of a computer, 2 GB is already required, and in the near future, all 4 GB may be needed.

    HDD

    The hard drive, known as HDD, hard drive and screw, is an indispensable computer device that is necessary for the permanent storage of numerous information. When the power is turned off, the information will not disappear anywhere. A hard drive is both an electronic and a mechanical device that is subject to wear and tear on some parts.

    To connect an HDD, one of three interfaces may be required:

    All three varieties are still in use, although the first two types were developed back in 1986. If you bought a new hard drive and it is already connected to your computer, you need to partition it into several logical partitions. There are several programs that will help to cope with the task. Their main functions include:

    • creating a new disk;
    • deleting a section;
    • dimension change;
    • formatting, etc.


    video card

    A special device of a personal computer that displays an image on a monitor is called a video card. We can say that it is the most important component. Other names for a video card: video card, video adapter, graphics adapter.

    The main parts of the device are:

    • video memory;
    • video processor;
    • digital-to-analog converter;
    • video card BIOS.

    Graphics adapters are divided into two types:


    The first type is built into the motherboard. In the event of a breakdown, it cannot be replaced by another integrated part. However, you can use an external video card, which is also inserted into a dedicated slot on the motherboard.

    The main characteristics of the graphics adapter include:

    • the amount of video memory;
    • RAMDAC frequency;
    • type of video memory;
    • bit depth of the memory bus;
    • clock frequency of the video processor;
    • connectors.

    Monitor

    To display graphical and textual information, a monitor is needed, known as a display, a screen. There are two types of this device: on liquid crystals; on cathode ray tubes. Recently, the first type of monitors has become very popular, because it is compact, less dangerous for vision, and gives greater image clarity.

    The main characteristics of any display are:

    • diagonal;
    • permission;
    • screen grain size;
    • regeneration frequency;
    • imaging;
    • color display accuracy;
    • viewing angle;
    • power consumption and radiation;
    • interface;
    • scope.

    In addition to the main types of monitors, there are others that are used in everyday life much less often:

    • plasma screens;
    • organic LED;
    • vacuum fluorescent;
    • electrostatic emission displays;
    • electroluminescent.


    Keyboard

    A keyboard is required to enter textual information and control the computer. In a stationary computer, it acts as a separate unit equipped with a main and additional module. The keyboard is included in the list of devices that determine what the computer consists of. You can work without a keyboard, but it is extremely inconvenient. In laptops, this device is built into the case. The modern device has 105 keys. If there are more buttons, then they are designed to control multimedia content.

    The keyboard connects to the computer using one of three methods:


    Some devices are equipped with a built-in touchpad, similar to the pointing device used in a laptop. In addition, you can look at the keyboard, the shape of which differs from the classic. The ergonomic device is divided into two parts, where the hands are located at a certain angle to each other.


    Mouse

    For convenient cursor control, the "mouse" manipulator is usually used. This device is classified according to the following criteria: by the number of buttons; by connection method; by way of action. According to the first attribute, mice are divided into two-button and three-button. According to the second - to devices connected via cable or wirelessly. According to the third, they are optical and mechanical. Recently, optical specimens equipped with a micro-camera from below have gained particular popularity. It is necessary to fix the position of the mouse so that the signal can be processed by the CPU in the future. Optical models are characterized by high accuracy, no need for periodic cleaning and the presence of a rug.


    Printer

    If you need to print information on paper, then you can not do without printers. These are external devices connected to the computer via a cable. As a rule, they are connected via a USB port. There are monochrome (black and white) and color devices. In addition, printers are dot-matrix, inkjet, laser. The first type is used extremely rarely today because of its numerous and significant drawbacks - high cost, low print quality, high noise, low print speed. Inkjet printers apply ink through nozzles (special holes), and under the influence of an electric current, the ink is fixed on paper. The disadvantages of this type include the low speed of operation, as well as the fact that when the ink dries in the matrix, it is necessary to replace the entire part. Laser printers print using heat-set toner. There is only one drawback of such a device: the relative high cost.


    Scanner

    The device needed to digitize information through image analysis is called a scanner. An ergonomic model for work is a tablet copy. It is understood that an object will be placed on the glass of the tablet. It must be placed with the side to be scanned down. The object is protected by a special cover. Under the glass of the tablet there is a mechanism developed from a set of mirrors and rulers. During operation, the platform moves and transmits a full-fledged image to the screen. The scanner is capable of digitizing photographs, text, film, barcodes, etc.

    This device has the following features:

    • hardware resolution;
    • optical resolution;
    • color depth;
    • type of optical system;
    • way to connect to a computer.

    How to choose a computer

    When choosing a computer, it is necessary to determine what tasks it should perform. There are three options for the purpose for which the selection of a computer is carried out:

    • viewing mail, film; listening to music; chatting in Internet;
    • games; viewing mail, film; listening to music; chatting in Internet;
    • work in powerful programs; watching high definition video.

    In each of the three situations, the computer will be selected in a special way. So, for the first case, it is necessary to choose computers that do not differ in special performance, with average characteristics. In the second situation, you need to consider the type of game. This is what determines how powerful the car should be. In the third case, you will need a powerful processor, a large amount of RAM, a powerful video card. When choosing any computer, you need to remember that the machine must be balanced. This means that all components should be approximately equal in performance. Otherwise, the computer will function incorrectly and irrationally.

    Conclusion

    Today, almost every home has a computer. Its role is difficult to overestimate, because the number of areas in which computers are used is constantly growing. Therefore, it becomes necessary to study its main components in order to understand the principle of operation of the technological achievement of mankind.



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