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Computer Hardware
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Desktop PC | A flat computer that usually sits on a desk. The original design for a home computer. |
Tower PC | An upright computer. "desktop" is sometimes used as a name for both the flat design style and the tower design. |
Monitor | A specialized, high-resolution screen,that is is made up of red, green and blue dots. many times a second,your video card sends signals to your monitor which controls what dots are lit up and their brightness, which determines the picture. |
Keyboard | A set of keys, usually arranged in tiers, for operating a your computer. |
Mouse | An input device that allows the user to “point and click” or “drag and drop”. |
Mother Board | The main circuit board inside the computer. The big green panel that sits on the bottom of a Desktop PC or along the side of a tower. |
Processor (CPU) | The chip that performs the majority of calculations and instructions needed to make your computer run. The processor is attached to the motherboard. often called "brain" |
Memory (RAM) | (Random Access Memory) Fast computer chips that temporarily store information while a PC is in use.the computer's short-term memory used to run applications ( at least 128 megabytes of memory) |
Hard Drive | main storage area inside your computer (usually called a C: drive). The hard disk or hard drive stores your computer's operating system, the programs that are installed on your computer, and most of your files. (at least 20 gigabytes of memory.) |
Floppy Disk | A 3.5" square holding a flexible magnetic disc that holds information or data. Requires a floppy drive to read the floppy. (1.44 megabytes). it is portable and allows you to make extra copies of your files. |
CD-ROM | (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory) A removable disk which can store large amounts of information. Information cannot be saved to it.Requires a CD-ROM drive to read the information.(650 - 800 megabytes) |
Sound Card | A device that can reproduce almost any sound, including music, speech, and sound effects. A computer must contain a Sound Card in order to produce sounds. You can attach speakers and/or a microphone to the sound card. |
Modem | A device that translates data from your PC into a form that can be sent to other computers over regular phone lines. It receives signals from other computers and converts them into something your computer can understand. A device most home computers use t |