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What's
Inside Your Computer: Nuts 'n Bolts
by my-tech-guide.com
Many
people never bother to think about what is actually inside
their computer. The nuts and bolts of what’s in
a computer could baffle them, but it really isn’t that
complicated when you look at it. That little box on your
desk isn’t magic, it is technology and technology can always
be explained.
The
brain of your computer is the CPU or central processing
unit. The CPU sits on the motherboard and is the
most important part of the computer because it is literally
the brain and without the CPU your computer would make
an adequate boat anchor or a large paperweight, but it
would not be a computer. The motherboard connects to other
boards and outside devices with special functions. These
include the graphics card which processes graphic video,
and the sound card which process and translates audio.
The motherboard is also where the data storage devices
are connected. These commonly include a hard drive, a 3.5
inch floppy drive, a CD drive (for compact disk) and a
DVD drive, though most DVD drives will also handle CD’s,
and many computer makes are phasing out 3.5 inch floppy
disk drives. The mother board also contains the RAM or
random access memory, the memory the CPU needs to make
the computer function.
The
computer will probably also contain a network card and
a modem. The modem allows dial up Internet access,
and often includes a fax. The network card allows the computer
to network with other computers and with high speed Internet
access the network connection is usually used to connect
to a T1, DSL or a cable modem.
The
motherboard will also contain connectors to the
keyboard and the mouse for data input and to the monitor
to allow the user to see data on a screen. The monitor
may be a traditional type using a CRT, or one of the newer
flat screen monitors that are either LCD or plasma based.
Some monitors are touch screen capable and also serve as
input devices, or even replace the mouse and keyboard.
Your
computer will also contain a variety of ports,
or connecting points of various types. These include the
parallel, or printer cable port, the USB port, the USB2
port in some newer computers, the Fire wire port in some,
and even the serial port in some older computers. All of
these ports allow peripherals to be connected to the computer
to get full use out of it. The peripherals include printers,
fax machines, scanners, digital cameras, light pens, plotters,
video cameras, and many other devices.
In
this way you can see that when a computer is discussed we
are really talking about many devices all working together
to create one machine, a whole greater than the sum of it’s
parts, because all of the parts are worthless without the
other parts to connect to and make a whole computer.
All
of these parts are the hardware part of your computer. The
nuts and bolts of your computer includes a softer side
also, the world of software. If your computer
is to be more than an expensive desk ornament it needs
an operating system. Modern home computers usually use
a version of Microsoft Windows, which
could be version XP, ME, NT, 2000, 98, 95, or in a really
old computer perhaps 3.1. Some computers use alternative
operating systems like Linex. All of these operating systems
use a graphical user interface, which makes them easy to
use and operation – some would say intuitive. Before the
new operating systems came along most home computers used
MS-DOS, the first operating system to set a standard for
home computers. MS-DOS was text based and most people considered
it harder to learn. It was also limited in the amount of
memory it could address, limiting applications.
Other
types of software in your computer are varied, but probably
include a web browser, and an office suite with word
processing, database management and financial spreadsheet
applications. Other software in your computer will
probably be chosen by you for your personal needs, whether
it be video editing, game playing, music, genealogy or any
other interests you might have. Your computer is personal,
and while many of the nuts and bolts remain the same from
computer to computer, many are chosen by the user according
to individual lifestyles.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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