Internal hardware Unit 1 IGCSE BIST

1. Internal Hardware Section 1: Types and components of computer systems Jessica Pinijarom 10A

3. It controls the computer systems. There is a tiny quartz clock inside, every time it ticks an instruction is made. The more time it ticks per second, things get done faster.The speed of the CPU is carried in Megaherts (MHz) or Gigaherts (GHz). 1 Megahert carries one million instructions per second and one Gigahert carries 1 billion instructions per second

4. The R.A.M R.A.M stands for Random Access Memory, it temporarily stores the instructions that the computer is running and the data it is processing. It is a volatile storage device, which means when the computer is turned off, the contents of the RAM are lost. RAM plugs its socket into the motherboard (like a CPU). When the computer is on the RAM will contain The operating system software The application software currently being used Any data that is being processed

5. The R.O.M The R.O.M stands for Read-Only Memory. It is used to hold a small special program called the ‘boot up’ program. The software runs when the computer is switched on, or the ‘boot up’. It checks the hardware and then it loads the operating system. The ROM is a non-volatile storage, which means that nothing gets lost even when the computer is switched off, everything saved there is permanently there.

7. A processor decides what to do with each pixel shown on the screen (image).

8. Memory to keep information in each of the pixel and temporarily store the completed pictures.

10. Sound Card The Sound card is like a expansion card for the computer to send audio information to audio devices such as speakers, or headphones. The sound card is also known as an audio card, audio adapter and sound adapter.

11. Network Interface card The Network Interface Card (NIC), is a hardware, it connects a computer to a computer network. NICs were commonly on expansion cards that plugs into the computer bus. Now, newer computers have a built in NIC on the mother board.

12. Internal fan The internal fan is inside or attached to a computer case for cooling down the computer. It draws cooler air into the case from the outside. Its purpose is to cool the computer.