Computer Components
What Are They?
Hard Disc Drives (HDD)
A hard disk drive (HD, or HDD) is a device that stores and retrieves information. A hard drive can be used to store just about any type of data, including pictures, music, videos, and text documents. Computers have a hard drive and use it to store files for the and software that run on the computer, as well as files created or downloaded to the computer by a user.
Optical Drive (OD)
An optical drive is a type of computer disk drive that reads and writes data from optical disks through laser beaming technology. This type of drive allows a user to retrieve, edit and delete the content from optical disks such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray disks. Optical drives are among the most common computer components. Optical drives work by rotating the inserted disk at a constant speed, calculated in revolutions per minute (RPM), which generally go from 1,600- 4,000 RPM, where speeds provide faster data reading time. The rotating disk in an optical drive is read with a laser beam propagated using the lens embedded within the optical drive’s head. Optical drives mainly use an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) bus or a Serial ATA bus, along with Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) to send and receive data from the computer.
Monitor
Monitors are things that show the image that they are producing. Monitors are on TV's, phones, computers and more. Also a monitor is used for observing, checking, or keeping a continuous record of something.
CPU
The CPU retrieves information from the computer's memory and conducts operations on that information. The CPU thus operates like the working memory of a person's brain. It takes information from storage when it is needed for immediate processing. In this way, the CPU operates as a information processor, which can accommodate different types of information from other parts of the computer.
RAM
RAM is faster than other types of memory because a computer can access any bit of information instantly. With serial access memory, which is the other primary type of memory, the computer must access each bit of information in the order in which it was stored.
Motherboards
A Motherboard is the spine of your PC, it is the link between all the different components inside your computer. One of the major functions of a motherboard is to act as the “hub” to which other computer devices connect. A board can come in many formations to fit different needs and budgets.
Inputs/Outputs
Any information or data that is sent to a computer for processing is considered input. Input or user input is most often sent to the computer using an input device such as a keyboard or mouse. The picture is an example of input being sent from the computer keyboard to the computer.
Touch Screens
Touch screens are devices that you are able to touch to make the image on the screen move or to make it change what is on the screen. Long before Nintendo released its highly popular DS handheld gaming system, Sega was reportedly working on a similar touchscreen-based gaming system. Dubbed “Project Nomad,” it was intended to be the successor to the Sega Game Gear. Unlike the Game Gear, however, it features a fully functional touchscreen interface, allowing users to input commands by touching the display. Unfortunately, the project never took off due to the high cost of touchscreen components at the time, and it wasn’t until the Nintendo DS was released when gamers saw an actual touchscreen gaming system on the market.
Operating Systems / Other Software
An operating system