Lesson 2: Looking Inside a Computer 
Friday, June 09, 2023  1:01 PM 
1.) The Processor (a.k.a. central
processor, microprocessor, CPU
(Central Processing Unit))  Consists of 2 Parts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.) The Memory  2 Types of Memory
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.) Input and Output Devices  -Input devices – accept data and
 
 
 
 
 
4.)Storage Device  -designed to hold data permanently
-Handles all the instruction it receives   
 
 
• ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) -
responsible for all arithmetic
operations and logical
processes 
• Control Unit – supervises the
task of the CPU. It directs and
coordinates the operation of the
entire computer according to the  
instructions laid out in the  
program.   
 
-Storage that contains all the program
and data. 
1.) ROM (Read Only Memory) 
-known as Primary memory / main
-programs stored here cannot be
memory 
changed or deleted 
-measured by the byte – amount of
memory it takes to store a single
2.) RAM (Random Access
character. [ kilobyte(KB),
Memory) 
megabyte(MB), gigabyte(GB),
-non-permanent type of memory 
terabyte(TB) ] 
-more RAM the computer has, the
more it can do and the faster it can
perform a certain task 
  • Cache Memory 
  -special, very high-speed
  memory 
  -used to speed up and
  synchronize with a high-
  speed CPU 
  -acts as a buffer between
  RAM and the CPU 
 
instructions from the user or from  
another computer system   
-Output devices – return processed  
data to the user or to another  
computer system.   
   
• Memory and Storage are
-there is more room in storage
different from each other 
than memory 
-contents are retained in storage
when the computer is turned off, in
memory-data disappears when
you shut down the computer 
-storage is slower compared t
memory but cost a lot cheaper
than memory 
Storage Media Today 
• Flash Memory – replaced most
magnetic and optical media as it
becomes more cheaper
because it is the more efficient
and reliable solution. 
• Cloud Storage – storing data
online and in cloud storage is
becoming more popular as
people need access their data
from more than one device