Leyenda

IMPORTANTE EJEMPLOS

NOMBRES USOS/CARACTERÍSTICAS

UNIT 1
COMPUTERS
 COMPUTERS
The computer is an electronic machine that
receives data, processes them and produces
information. It is basically composed of hardware
and software.
Computers can be classified according to their
size, utility and mobility in:
Supercomputers
Desktop computers
Laptops
Smartphones
 SUPERCOMPUTERS
Computers with high performance that can process
massive amount of information. They are used for
investigation and development in areas like astronomy,
meteorology … etc.
A computer is an electric machine that
receives and progress data and
produces information. It’s composed
by the hardware and the software.
This types of machines can be
classified by their size, utility and
mobility.
We can have supercomputers which
are computer with high performance
that can process big amounts of
information and they can be used for
investigation or development areas
like in astronomy or meteorology.
 TIPOS DE ORDENADORES
PUEDEN SER:
DE SOBREMESA
TODO EN UNO ESTO DEPENDE DE
MAC SU TAMAÑO Y
NETTON MOVILIDAD
PORTÁTIL
MINIPORTATIL
TABLETS
LIBROS ELECTRÓNICOS (eBOOKS)
MÓVILES INTELIGENTES
 COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
Computer architecture is based on Von Neumann
model:
COMPUTER COMPONENTS
 COMPUTER COMPONENTS
The main computer components are:
Motherboard
Microprocessor or CPU (Central Processor Unit)
Main memory or RAM
Hard disk
Peripherals

They are all interconnected by cables called BUSES.

PIEZAS PRINCIPALES Y MÁS IMPORTANTES DE UN ORDENADOR
MOTHERBOARD. LA TARJETA MADRE

MICROPROCESSOR OR CPU
(CENTRAL PROCESSOR
UNIT).
MICROPROCESADOR.

MAIN MEMORY OR RAM (RANDOM-

ACCESS MEMORY). MEMORIA RAM

HARD DISK. DISCO DURO

PERIPHERAL. PERIFÉRICO
 MOTHERBOARD
This is a printed circuit board where the rest of the
components are connected, directly or through the
expansion slots.
It contains the following elements:
CPU socket: it provides the connection for the
microprocessor and the cooling fan.
RAM slots: where RAM cards are introduced. They can
be different types: DIMM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3... Taking
into account that they must be compatible with the speed
of the motherboard (1333 MHz, 1600 MHz...).
 MOTHERBOARD
Chipset: To help the microprocessor with the control of the
computer components.
They are two: the northbridge chipset that manages the
RAM, the microprocessor and the GPU (graphics
processing unit), it is located near the microprocessor, and
the southbridge chipset for the storage units and
peripherals.
BIOS and CMOS: BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
initializes and tests the hardware of the computer. It also
allows to make changes on hardware configuration that are
saved in the CMOS memory, together with more system
information as the computer date. CMOS is provided with a
battery.
 MOTHERBOARD
Expansion slots: Connectors for expansion cards that
provide additional functionality to the computer.
Nowadays motherboards contain network, sound and
video cards. We can use the expansion slots to connect
more powerful ones.
There are PCI expansion slots but for video cards AGP
and PCIExpress are more frequently used. They provide
better data rate.
IDE and SATA connectors: For hard disks and storage
units. Now SATA are more used, they evolve with their
data rate SATA2 (300MB/s), SATA3 (600MB/s).
 MOTHERBOARD
Power supply connector: It is called ATX. They are also
other connectors for hard disks and optical units.
Input/Output Ports: To connect the peripherals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGknqrIlhXc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLxGK0O7HPg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80MX6i6T9tM
MOTHERBOARD COMPONENTS
 MICROPROCESSOR
It is the most important integrated circuit in the computer. It
contains millions of transistors that execute all the logical and
arithmetic operations to run the software.
Most important features:
Word size: number of bits that can be simultaneously
processed. Currently 64 bits.
Number of cores: They allow parallel processing (dualcore,
quadcore, octacore...).
Cache memory: a faster memory that allows to reduce the
time to access data.
Clock rate: It indicates the number of operations that the
microprocessor can execute per second.
 CPU SPEED
Is the number of instructions that the processor can execute in 1
second.
1 Hertz (Hz) = 1 instruction / 1 second

Example of Microprocessor → Intel® CoreTM i7-9700 Processor

 RAM MEMORY
RAM (Random Access Memory). It stores the data that are
going to be used or have been used by the CPU. It is deleted
when the computer is switched off.
If we have many applications running in the computer we can
run out of memory and the computer will be blocked.
Memory cards are composed of storage microchips. Nowadays
computers have from 8 to 24 GB of RAM.
 HARD DISK
The hard disk is a storage peripheral that allows the
organization and permanent storage of the information
using magnetic technology.
In a hard disk we can distinguish two different
structures, physical and logical. Physical structure
deals with the way data is physically stored in the hard
disk.
A magnetic hard disk is composed of several plates,
each one has two platters, and each platter is divided
in concentric circles called tracks. A track is also
divided in sectors. A sector is the smallest storage unit
that is addressable.
MAGNETIC HARD DISK
HARD DISK: PHYSICAL STRUCTURE
VIDEO → How hard disks work
HARD DISK: LOGICAL STRUCTURE
FILE SYSTEMS

Logical structure deals with the way that information is

organized in the hard disk.
Information is stored in files, the file system is the way in
which files are organised, stored and managed.
Different file systems are used in the Operating Systems:
Windows: FAT, FAT32, NTFS
Linux: ext2, ext3, ext4
Mac: HFS, HFS+
HARD DISK: LOGICAL STRUCTURE
PARTITIONS
A hard disk can be logically divided into partitions in such a
way that they are considered as different independent disks.
If we want to use different operating systems in the computer
we must have different disks (one for each) or several
partitions in one hard disk.
Partitions are formatted in a different way according to the
operating system.
They are named:
– In Windows: C, D, E...
– In Linux: sda1, sda2, sdb1… (a for first disk, b for second...)
 PARTITIONS
●
In Linux we need and additional partition called swap or virtual memory, it
is a part of the hard disk that is used as a memory extension.

20 GB 30 GB

C:
D:
LINUX
90 GB SWAP

100 GB
 PERIPHERALS
Peripherals are devices that allow the user to interact with the
computer. They are connected to the computer through ports.
Peripherals are classified in four groups:
Input: they allow the introduction of data into the computer
(mouse, keyboard, scanner, microphone, webcam...)
Output: they provide information to the user (monitor,
printer, loudspeakers...)
Storage: to save information permanently. They are input
and output (hard disk, CD/DVD unit, pendrive...)
Communication: they allow interconnection and data
exchange between computers and other devices (router,
switch, hub...)
 PORTS
SERIAL PORT:
mouse VGA: analogical
monitor

PARALLEL PORT:
printer
Ethernet (RJ45):
network cable
PS/2: mouse and keyboard

USB: pendrives,
printer, mouse… MINIJACK: audio
USB 2.0 (60MB/s)
USB 3.0 (600 MB/s)
 PORTS

DVI: digital monitor

FIREWIRE: digital camera

Display-Port: monitor, multimedia

equipment , television
PORTS

HDMI (high definition

multimedia interface):
monitor, television,
multimedia equipment.
PORTS

• SATA : Serial Advanced

Technology Attachment.

• It can be internal or
external (eSATA) , it is
used to connect the hard
disk and the CD/DVD unit.
INFORMATION MEASUREMENT UNITS

1 Byte = 8 bits

Divide
1024
Multiply
1024
 ACTIVITIES
Write all your answers in a document named Activities_Unit1.odt
Look on Internet for information related to the problem with electronic
equipment waste management and recycling. Develop them and add
things that you can do in your daily life to reduce this problem.
¿How many pictures of 2,5 MB each can you keep in a CD?
¿And in a DVD?
¿And in a Blu-ray?
Do you know what Moore's law says? Do you think that it is
happening? Write your answer in the same document.
Do the following test on Internet:
www.tinglado.net/?id=tests-sobre-componentes-del-pc
 ACTIVITIES
Go to www.educaplay.com and do the following activities:
https://es.educaplay.com/es/re
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https://www.educaplay.com/en/l
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