This document provides information about various computer components for both new and experienced computer users. It discusses the CPU, RAM, hard drives, adapter cards, and input/output devices. The CPU is described as the "brain" that controls the computer's actions. RAM allows the computer to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Hard drives are where files are stored and come in various types like SSD, SATA, and PATA. Adapter cards connect computers to devices like graphics cards, audio cards, and network cards. Common input devices include keyboards, mice, webcams, and microphones, while output devices are printers, monitors, projectors, and speakers.

1. COMPUTER
COMPONENTS
for the computer literate and the new user.
By Chris Nicholson DA8

2. CPU (NEW USER)
the CPU is like the brain of the computer because it
controls all of the computers actions and commands,
like a human brain would to a body.
CPU stands for central processing unit.

3. CPU (COMPUTER
LITERATE USER)
CPU stands for central processing unit and can hav
multiple speeds in which it controls the computer,
these speeds are:
300Mhz and 550Mhz
CPU’s can have different cores, these are:
the multi core, dual core and single core.

4. RAM (NEW USER)
RAM stands for random access memory
RAM allows the computer to do multiple things at
once, meaning the more RAM the computer has, the
more things the computer can do at one time.

5. RAM (COMPUTER
LITERATE USER)
RAM or random access memory comes in different
types such as:
SDRAM
DDR (double data rate SDRAM)
Rambus DRAM (RDRAM)
DRAM comes in two major for factors which are
DIMMs and RIMMs.

6. HARD DRIVE (NEW USER)
HDD stands for hard disk drive and is the memory
on the computer, this is where everything you save is
stored and is the largest amount of memory in the
computer.

7. HARD DRIVES
there are a few different types of storage devices:
solid state drive
SCSI
PATA
SATA
you can have either an internal or an external hard
drive.

8. HARD DRIVES
PATA hard drives are connected by PATA cables and
are now stating to be replaced by SATA.
SATA hard drives are 7200-RPM and are connected
using a thinner, SATA cable.
SCSI hard drives are connected with a SCSI cable
which can be either 50-pin, 68-pin or 80-pin and can
connect to a wider range of devices
solid state drives give a faster performance than
others and have no moving parts so are more reliable.

9. HARD DISK DRIVE
(COMPUTER LITERATE)
there are different types of hard drive, these include:
SATA
PATA
SSD
SCSI
hard drive’s are the solid memory of the computer, this
is where files can be saved, stored and re- accessed.

10. ADAPTER CARDS
the different types of adapter cards are:
graphics card
audio card
NIC
wireless NIC
TV tuner cards

11. ADAPTER CARDS
PCI adapters connect computers to other devices
PCIe do the same as PCI adapters but can connect
more updated versions of the devices and can usually
connect more devices overall, therefore PCIe adapters
should replace PCI.
an onboard graphics card is when the graphics card is
integrated to the motherboard.

12. ADAPTER CARDS
the main company that makes PC cards are PCMCIA,
these now make more compatible products as they
have expanded their standards a few times, allowing
them to connect to more devices.
the standard PC card PCMCIA develop is a 32-bit
card called a cardbus.

13. INPUT DEVICES
keyboard: allows you to type out letters and words
on the computer, can be used to send e-mails.
mouse: is used to navigate a pointer around the
computer monitor, to select things.
webcam: allows you to film or record yourself or
things around you using an either internal or external
webcam, can be used to video call.
microphone: allows you to record yourself talking or
singing etc, can be used for speech making/ phone
calls

14. OUTPUT DEVICES
printer: can be used to print out images or letters etc.
in colour or black and white.
monitor: used to view what you are doing on the
computer. (screen.)
projector: can be used to project images or what you
are viewing on the monitor in a larger form or to an
audience.
speakers: are used to listen to recordings or sounds
from your computer.