Term | Definition |
Computer Case | A computer case holds, protects and ventilates all the parts of a computer. It comes in desktop or tower versions. |
Power Supply | The power supply uses A.C. Current to power all the parts of a computer. It is a wire that connects from your wall or outlet to your computer. |
Motherboard | The motherboard ties all the essential parts in the computer together. It has plug-ins for your CPU, memory, power supply, video card, keyboard, mouse and anything else you need. |
Central Processing Unit(CPU) | The CPU is the chip that performs the majority of calculations and instructions needed to make the computer run. |
Memory-Random Access Memory(RAM) | Memory is a short-term computer chip that temporarily stores information while the computer is in use. Usually computers have a minimum of 128 megabytes of memory. |
Video Card | The video card is not essential, but it will give very high performance for your video on your monitor. It is either already attached to your motherboard or you can buy one to put on your motherboard. |
Hard Drive | The hard drive is the main storage area in your computer that stores your computer's operating system, programs installed on your computer and most of your files.(usually called C:drive and has a minimum of 20 gigabytes of storage) |
Compact Disk Read-Only Memory-CD-ROM | The CD-ROM is a removable disk that can store large amounts of information, but you can't edit or save that information since it is 'Read-Only.' It can hold a minimum of 650-800 megabytes of information. |
Monitor | The screen that is connected to your computer, so you can search the Internet, type word documents and basically see what you are doing on the computer(similar to a T.V. screen). |
Keyboard | You can connect a keyboard to your computer, so you can type things into your computer to show up on your monitor. |
Mouse | You can connect a mouse to your computer, so it is easier for you to interact with things on your monitor. |
Sound Card | The sound card can reproduce almost any sound. |
Modem | The modem translates data from your computer into a form that can be sent to other computers through phone lines. It can also receive signals from other computers and convert them to a form that your computer can understand. It is usually used to connect |
Floppy Disk | The floppy disk is a 3.5" square with a magnetic flexible disc that holds information or data. It can only hold 1.44 megabytes of memory. |
Printer | Your computer can be connected to a printer, so you can print information off your computer and onto a piece of paper(e.g.-pictures, word processing documents etc...). |