This document provides definitions for common computer hardware components including the hard drive, RAM, ROM, CMOS, video card, network card, processor, CD-ROM, cache, and motherboard. It explains that the hard drive permanently stores data on platters, RAM temporarily stores information for active programs and the operating system, and the motherboard allows communication between the CPU and other hardware components.

1. INTRODUCTION TO
OPERATING SYSTEMS AND
CLIENT/SERVER
ENVIRONMENTS
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT 2
(IT 140-1701A-03)
JASON LOPOMO
JANUARY 17, 2017
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2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Hard drive
• RAM (random access memory)
• ROM (read-only memory)
• CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor)
• Video card
• Network card
• Processor (CPU)
• CD-ROM
• Cache
• Motherboard
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3. HARDWARE
• A non-volatile
memory hardware device that
permanently stores and retrieves data
on a computer. A hard drive consists of
one or more platters to which data is
written using a magnetic head, all
inside of an air-sealed
casing. Internal hard disks reside in
a drive bay, connect to
the motherboard using an ATA, SCSI,
or SATA cable, and are powered by a
connection to the PSU (power supply
unit) (Computer Hope, 2017)
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4. RAM
(RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)
• Stores information on an integrated
circuit used by the operating system,
software, and hardware. DDR3 and
DDR4 are the most common used
RAM currently.
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5. ROM (READ-ONLY MEMORY)
• A stored medium used with
computers and other electronic
devices. One example of ROM is a
PS4 or Xbox video game cartridge.
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6. CMOS
(COMPLEMENTARY METAL-OXIDE
SEMICONDUCTOR)
• An on-board, battery
powered semiconductor chip
inside computers that stores
information. This
information ranges from the
system time and date to
system hardware settings for
your computer (Computer
Hope, 2017)
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7. VIDEO CARD
• What allows you to see
pictures on your monitor.
• Also known as a Display
Adapter, Video Adapter,
Graphics Card
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8. NETWORK CARD
• (NIC Card) is the piece of
hardware (expansion card)
that connects you to the
internet or network.
• They can either be a
hardwired (using an
Ethernet cable (CAT5) or
wireless).
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9. PROCESSOR
(CPU)
Central processing Unit, is the brain
of the computer. It handles all
instructions from hardware and
software running on the computer.
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10. CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
• Compact Disc Read-Only
Memory, is an optical disc which
contains audio or software data
whose memory is read only. You
need a CD-ROM Drive to be able
to use this media.
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11. CACHE
• A high-speed access area that
can be a reserved section of
main memory or storage device.
The two main types of cache
are memory cache and disk
cache.
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12. MOTHERBOARD
• A printed circuit board that is the
foundation of a computer, located
on the back side or at the bottom of
the computer chassis. It allocates
power and allows communication to
the CPU, RAM, and all other
computer hardware components.
(Computer Hope, 2017)
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13. References
Computer Hope. (2017). Hard drive. Retrieved from http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/harddriv.htm.
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