CC101: [HARDWARE]

LESSON 4:
HARDWARE

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the student is expected to:
✓ Have a thorough understanding of the definition of hardware
✓ Identify specific hardware according to workings or functions in relation to the basic
operations of computer
✓ Describe the categories of input device and identify sample device that compose a
particular category
✓ Describe the functions of the different output device available in the market
✓ Be familiar with the Central Processing Unit(CPU), its components and the operations
its performs
✓ Describe Secondary Storage and the processes associated with it

INTRODUCTION

R egardless of size, modern digital computers are all conceptually similar. Nevertheless, they can be divided into
several categories on the basis of cost and performance. Also, issue pertaining hardware is always a matter of
consideration.

HARDWARE

All the physical equipment and machinery associated with the computer system is called the hardware. We
are able to perform numerous tasks and finish various projects using a particular application because
hardware exists. Some may not be aware of this, but in layman’s term, the hardware is the part of the
computer you can see or touch. It is the computer itself.

Enumerated below are specific hardware’s that corresponds

to the four phases of data processing.
Peripheral Device – any piece of hardware that
In general, computer hardware falls into is connected to a computer.
five categories:
▪ Input Hardware
▪ Output Hardware
▪ Processing and Memory
▪ Secondary Storage Hardware
▪ Communications Hardware

FIVE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF HARDWARE

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1. INPUT HARDWARE – consists of devices that allow people to put data into the computer in a form that the
computer can use.

1.1 KEYBOARD – originally used for all user control, they are now used mainly for
text entry, menu accelerators, modifying mouse controls and visually impaired
users.

Composition of Keyboard

Standard typewriter keys – Typewriter keys are the same familiar

QWERTY arrangement of letter, number and punctuation keys
found in any typewriter. The space bar and shift, tab, and Caps lock
keys do the same things on the computer that they do on a
typewriter. The enter key sometimes called the return key
is used to enter commands in the computer. QWERTY – refers to the order of alphabet
keys in the top left row on a
Cursor movement keys – The cursor is the symbol on the standard typewriter keyboard
display screen that shows where data maybe entered next.
The cursor movement keys, or arrow keys are used to Delete – to erase characters at the right of
move around the text area on the screen. the insertion point

Numeric Keys – A separate set of keys, 0 to 9, known as the Backspace – to erase characters at the left
numeric keypad, is laid out like the keys on a calculator. of the insertion point
The numeric keypad has two purposes: First, When
Numlock Key is off, The numeric keys may be used as arrow
Escape (ESC).- to cancel a given command
keys for cursor movement. Second, When the Numlock
Key is on, the keys may be used for typing numbers, as on a
calculator.

Function Keys – are the keys labeled with an F and a number, such as F1 and F2 that are used for tasks
that occur frequently.

Special Purpose Keys – Special purpose keys include Backspace, Del., Ins., Esc., Ctrl., Alt., Windows key
& etc.

1.2 POINTING DEVICES – used to move objects on screen.

Common Pointing Devices

Mouse – is a device that can be rolled on a desktop to direct a pointer (cursor) on the
computers display screen. This was invented by Douglas Engelbart.

Trackball – is a movable ball, on top of a stationary device, that is rotated with a

finger or the palm of the hand to move the cursor.

Joystick – is a small lever that can be moved in any direction to move

an object on-screen.

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Touchpad – A small, touch-sensitive pad used as a pointing device on

some portable computers. By moving a finger or other object along the
pad, you can move the pointer on the display screen. And you click by
tapping the pad.

Stylus and Touch Screen – is a video display that has been sensitized to receive input
from the touch of a screen

Light pen – is a light sensitive stylus o r pen-like device connected by a wire

1.3 DIRECT INPUT DEVICES

Digital Cameras and Digital Video VCR – convert the

captured photograph directly into a digital image and store
it locally inside the camera for later download to a
computer.

They are a bit like a hand held video camera, except they can only take a limited
number of frames. Some cameras support multiple frames. The number of pictures that can be
stored depends upon the memory available within the camera and the size of each image.

1.4 SCANNING DEVICES – translates images of texts, drawings, photos and the like into digital form.

Common Scanning Devices

Image Scanners – converts a printed or

photographic image on paper into Bar Code – are the vertical
electronic signals. These signals can then zebra-striped marks
be stored in a computer and manipulated. you can see on most
manufactured retail
products.
Bar code readers – photo electronic scanners
that interpret the bar code symbols into digital forms

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) – reads the strange looking numbers
printed at the bottom of checks.

Optical-mark Recognition (OMR) – uses a device that reads pencil marks and
converts them into computer-usable form.

Optical-character Recognition (OCR) – uses a device that reads special

preprinted characters and converts them into machine-readable form.

Fax machines – scans an image and sends it as electronic signals over

telephone lines to a receiving fax machine

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1.5 SMART AND OPTICAL CARDS – smart cards look like a credit card but contain a
microprocessor and a memory chip. Optical card is a plastic, laser-recordable card used
with an optical card reader

1.6 VOICE-RECOGNITION DEVICES – converts a person’s speech into digital code

1.7 AUDIO-INPUT DEVICES – records or plays analog/digital sound and translates it for digital storage and
processing

1.8 VIDEO-INPUT DEVICES – videos are in analog forms, video card is used to convert it in digital form

1.9 SENSORS – is a type of input device that collects specific kinds of data directly from environment

1.10 HUMAN-BIOLOGY INPUT DEVICES – characteristics and movements of the human body can be used as
input
Biometric Systems Or Biometric Security – devices identify a
person through a fingerprint, retina, voice information, or other
biological characteristics

Line-Of-Sight Systems – enable a person to use his or her eyes

“point” at the screen, used by physically handicapped people

Cyber Gloves And Body Suits – used in “virtual reality”, uses

sensors to detect body movements

Brainwave devices

2. PROCESSING & MEMORY HARDWARE – hardware that retrieves,

interprets and executes software instructions

2.1 CENTRAL PROCESING UNIT (CPU) - It controls and manipulates

data to produce information. In a microcomputer the CPU is usually
contained on a single integrated circuit or chip. This single chip is called a
microprocessor.
The processing or calculating function takes
Components of CPU place in the Central Processing Unit
Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU) – This is where (CPU).
operations such as addition, subtraction, division and
multiplication are performed. This is also where It is here that raw data are transformed into
logical operations are done such as the comparison meaningful information.
of two or more numbers.
The CPU is known as the brain or the nerve
Main Memory or Primary Storage Unit – This is
center of the computer
where instructions and data are stored while
processing is done. The main memory in the CPU is
called the “working memory of the computer”.

Control Unit – The control unit acts as the supervisor of all operations within the computer based on
the program instructions given.

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2.2 MEMORY – the computer’s “workspace”, where data and programs for immediate processing are held.
The memory is contained on one or more chips on the motherboard. This is sometimes called primary storage.

3. OUTPUT HARDWARE – consists of computer components/devices that convey information to a user.

3.1 PRINTER – An output device that produces text and

graphics on a physical medium such as paper or transparency Hardcopy – refers to printed output
film.
Softcopy – refers to output that is in the form of
Classification of Printer sound or displayed on a computer
screen
3.1.1 Impact Printer – the print head mechanism
strikes an inked ribbon located between the print
head and the paper.

Types of Impact Printer

Dot-matrix printers – form letters, numbers, and other images out of dots, using pins to
strike an inked ribbon against a paper

Line printers – Prints an entire line at a time

3.1.2 Non-Impact – the print head does not make contact with the paper, and no inked ribbon is
necessary

Types of Non Impact Printer

Laser printers – use a laser-beam source to create dot-like images

on a drum. These images are then treated with magnetically
charged ink-like toner and transferred from drum to paper. It
operates much like a copy machine. It has a very high quality
resolution which ranges from 300dpi to 1,200 dpi

Ink-jet printers – sprays one or more colors of small droplets of ink at

high speed onto paper.

Thermal Printers - Thermal printers are generally used in low cost

printers and fax machines. Some types use a silvery grey paper,
which is an aluminum surface coating. When the print head burns
away this layer, it exposes a dyed layer underneath. One
application for thermal printers is the production of bar codes.

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Plotters and Large Format Printers - Used for high-quality drawings such as blueprints,
maps, circuit diagrams, and signs

Special-purpose printers
Snapshot printer
-Photo lab quality pictures
Label printer

Major features of the Two Classifications of Printer

Impact Printer Non-Impact Printer

▪ uses force by applying hammer pins to
strike the paper
▪ slow speed in characters per second
▪ prints on most paper types
▪ transparencies not supported
▪ multiple copies may be printed at once
▪ print head does not make contact with
the paper
▪ higher speed in characters per second is
possible
▪ prints on most paper types but better
quality obtained with better paper
▪ transparencies usually supported

3.2 DISPLAY SCREENS – also called as monitors

.
Cathode Ray Tube/Video Display Terminal- is the display area of the computer
that uses an electron gun to emit a beam of electrons that illuminate phosphors
on-screen as the beam sweeps across the screed repeatedly.

LCD display – a flat panel display which is used by handheld

computers, digital watches and calculators.

Gas plasma - Large displays of up to 42” of viewable area; Gas glows that produce pixels that form an
image

Data/Multimedia Projectors - Allows an audience to view output

3.3 AUDIO OUTPUT DEVICES – Many computers emit chirps and beeps. Some go beyond those noises and
contain sound processors and speakers that can play digital music or human like
speech.
Stereo Speakers and Woofers; Head Sets

4. SECONDARY STORAGE HARDWARE – consists of devices that store data and

programs permanently on disk or tape.

4.1 FLOPPY DISK – is a removable round, flexible disk that store data as magnetized spots. The disk is
contained in a square paper enveloped or plastic case to prevent the disk from being touch by human hands.
Two sizes of disk are commonly used for microcomputers. The older and larger size is 5 ¼ inches in diameter.
The smaller size, now the most popular is 3 ½ inches. Disk drive- is a device that holds, spins, and reads data
from and writes data to a floppy disk.

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Read- means that the data represented in the magnetized spots on the disk (or tape) is converted to
electronic signals and transmitted to the memory in the computer.

Write- means that the electronic information processed by the computer is recorded magnetically
onto disk.

4.2 HIGH-CAPACITY DISKS – A disk drive that uses disks with Media – refers to the material that stores data
capacities of 100 MB and greater

4.3 HARD DISK – is a non-removable disk made

out of metal and covered with a magnetic
recording surface. It holds data in the form of
magnetized spots. There are three significant
differences between a hard disk and a floppy
disk. First, Hard disk holds more data than floppy
disk do. Second, hard-disk drives are usually built into the system cabinet
and are not removable. Third, hard disks are faster than floppy disk. The
hard-disk drive is usually referred to as Drive C.

4.4 OPTICAL DISK- CD-ROM – is a flat, round, portable, metal storage medium that usually is 4.75 inches in
diameter and less than one-twentieth of an inch thick. It stands for Compact Disc Read Only Memory. It is an
optical disk format that is used to hold text, graphics, and sound.

4.5 MAGNETIC TAPES – is made of flexible plastic coated on one side with a magnetic material; data is
represented by magnetized spots. The magnetic tape used for computers is made from the same material
used for audio tape and videotape.

4.6 MAGNETIC DISKS – are circular platters coated with a substance that can be magnetized.

4.7 MINIATURE MOBILE STORAGE MEDIA - Handheld devices use miniature mobile storage media to augment
internal storage (e.g. Flash Drives)

5. COMMUNICATION HARDWARE – compose of devices that sends data, information or programs from one
computer or storage device to another

5.1 MODEM - allow you to communicate with other computers using a phone
line. Modem speeds are in bits per second (14.4, 28.8 and 56 thousand bits per
second are standard).

5.2 CABLE WIRES

5.3 FAX MODEM – Is a modem with fax capability that enables you to send signals directly from your
computer to someone else’s fax machines or complex fax modem

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UNITS OF MEASUREMENT FOR CAPACITY

Computers represent data in terms of 0s and 1s called bits.

Unit Abbreviation Approximate Value (bytes) Actual Value (bytes)

Kilobyte KB 1,000 (1 thousand) 1, 024
Megabyte MB 1,000,000 (1 million) 1,048,576
Gigabyte GB 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) 1,073,741,824
Terabyte TB 1,000,000,000,000 (1 trillion) 1,099,511,627,776

Bit – the smallest unit of data that can be used by a computer represented by a 1 and 0.
Byte – comprised of 8 bits.

THE SYSTEM UNIT

A system unit, also known as a base unit, is the main body of a desktop computer, typically consisting of a metal or
(rarely) plastic enclosure containing the motherboard, power supply, cooling fans, internal disk drives, and the
memory modules and expansion cards that are plugged into the motherboard, such as video and network cards.

The system unit or the base unit is just a container box before the PC has been assembled. Assembling of the PC refers
to the connecting of various required peripherals, electronic circuits or expansion cards.

COMPONENTS OF SYSTEM UNIT

MOTHERBOARD - It is the "body" or mainframe of the computer, through which all other components
interface. A motherboard is the central or primary printed circuit board (PCB) making up a complex electronic
system, such as a modern computer. It is also known as a main board, baseboard, system board, planar board.

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COMPUTER FAN – Used to lower the temperature of the computer; a fan is almost
always attached to the CPU, and the computer case will generally have several fans
to maintain a constant airflow. Liquid cooling can also be used to cool a computer,
though it focuses more on individual parts rather than the overall temperature
inside the chassis.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) – Fast – access memory that is cleared

when the computer is powered-down. RAM attaches directly to the
motherboard, and is used to store programs that are currently running. RAM is
a memory that the microprocessor uses to store data during processing. This
memory is volatile (loses its contents at power-down). When a software
application is launched, the executable program is loaded from hard drive to the RAM. The microprocessor
supplies address into the RAM to read instructions and data from it. RAM is needed because hard drives are
too slow to operate with the speed of a microprocessor.

Types of RAM

SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access

Memory) which is a type of solid state computer
memory.
SDRAM

DDRAM I (Double Data Rate-Synchronous Dram) – Supports data transfers on both edges of each
clock cycle (the rising and falling edges), effectively doubling the memory chip's data throughput.
DDR-SDRAM also consumes less power, which makes
it well-suited to notebook computers. DDR-SDRAM is
also called SDRAM II and DDRAM.

DDRAM

DDRAM II (Double-Data-Rate Two Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) - is a random

access memory technology used in electronic engineering for high speed storage of the working data
of a computer or other digital electronic device.

PCI (PERIPHERAL COMPONENT INTERCONNECT) – Specifies a computer bus for attaching peripheral devices
to a computer motherboard. The PCI bus is the most commonly used and found bus in computers today.

Typical PCI cards used in PCs include:

Network cards, Sound

cards, Modems, extra
ports such as USB or
serial, TV Tuner cards
and Disk Controllers.

PCI Slots Sound Card

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LAN CARDS A network card, network adapter, LAN Adapter or NIC (network interface card) is a piece
of computer hardware designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network.

Sound Card (also known as an audio card) is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and
output of audio signals to/from a computer under control of computer programs. Typical uses of
sound cards include providing the audio component for multimedia applications such as music
composition, editing video or audio, presentation/education, and entertainment (games). Many
computers have sound capabilities built in, while others require additional expansion cards to provide
for audio capability.

AGP Cards - or a video card, also referred to as a graphics accelerator card, display adapter, graphics
card, and numerous other terms, is an item of personal computer hardware whose function is to
generate and output images to a display. Also known as Accelerated Graphics Port Card.

UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB) – is a serial bus standard to interface devices. USB was designed to allow many
peripherals to be connected using a single standardized interface socket and to improve the plug-and-play
capabilities by allowing devices to be connected and disconnected without rebooting the computer (hot
swapping). Other convenient features include providing power to low-consumption devices without the need
for an external power supply and allowing many devices to be used without requiring manufacturer specific,
individual device drivers to be installed. It has been used for storage devices, printers, sound, mice, keyboards,
cameras, and even networking.

USB Connector in Desktop USB Connector in Laptop USB Add-in Card (PCI)
Computers

PS/2 – is used for connecting some keyboards and mice to a PC compatible

computer system. Its name comes from the IBM Personal System/2 series of
personal computers, with which it was introduced in 1987. The PS/2 mouse
connector generally replaced the older DE-9 RS-232 "serial mouse" connector,
while the keyboard connector replaced the larger 5-pin DIN used in the IBM
PC/AT design.
The color-coded PS/2
connection ports (purple for
keyboards and green for mice)
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POWER SUPPLY – is a reference to a source of electrical power. A device or system that

supplies electrical or other types of energy to an output load or group of loads is called a
power supply unit or PSU.

IDE (INTEGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONICS) - is a standard electronic interface used

between a computer motherboard's data paths or bus and the computer's disk storage
devices. The IDE interface is based on the IBM PC Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)
16-bit bus standard, but it is also used in computers that use other bus standards. Most
computers sold today use an enhanced version of IDE called Enhanced Integrated Drive
Electronics (EIDE). In today's computers, the IDE controller is often built into the
motherboard.

IDE CABLES – These cables are used by hard drives and optical drives to transfer data to and from the
motherboard Serial ATA (SATA)

IDE Cable on the left, with two motherboard IDE connectors on the center and IDE Cable and a Power
Cable connected to IDE Hard Drive.

SERIAL ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ATTACHMENT (SATA) – is a computer bus primarily designed for transfer of
data between a computer and mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives.

SATA Cables connected on

SATA Ports on Motherboard SATA Cable SATA Hard Drive

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