SUBJECT: ICT FUNDAMENTALS

TOPIC: PARTS OF THE COMPUTER

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to:

Know what is Computer

Recognize and name the parts of the computer
Determine functions of each parts
Differentiate Hardware and software

What is Computer?
 A computer is an electronic device that executes the instruction in a program.
 Performs processes, calculations and operations based on instructions provided by a software or
hardware program.
 It has ability to accept data (input), process it, and then produce output.

What are the parts of Computer?

Hardware – the physical parts of the computer that you can actually touch.

 Printer
 Monitor
 Base Unit
 Speakers
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 And etc.

Software – is a computer program that is made up of certain instructions or codes that tell your
hardware, or computer, what to do. Software can be used to play games, write school papers, or even
sort email.

 Microsoft Word
 Microsoft Excel
 Netflix
 Google Drive
 Paint
 PDF and etc.
Operating System – is a large program made up of any smaller programs that control how the CPU
communicates with other hardware components. It also makes computer easier to operate by people
because it puts a face on the computer. In other words, Operating Systems make computers user
friendly.

 Unix
 MS DOS
 Android
 Mac OS
 Haiku
 Tails and etc.

Central Processing Unit (CPU) – brain of your computer. It does all the thinking for the computer and
processes all the information to be turned into files on your computer. The clocks speed of the
microprocessor measured in gigahertz (GHz).

 The higher the number; the quicker the information processed.

Random Access-Memory (RAM) – Temporarily stores date that the computer is currently working on. It
is the determining factor in how fast your applications or software run. The information in RAM goes
away once the computer is turned off, so it is important to save any work you want to keep.

 It is measured in megabytes (MBs)

 The Larger the size, the faster it functions.
Read Only Memory (ROM) – is the permanent type of memory the computer stores for information that
does not change. It stores the information even when the computer is shutdown. ROM is generally
installed by the manufacturer of the computer as part of the system.

How is Computer memory measured?

 Computer memory is measured in Bytes, which is a unit of storage capable of holding a single
character.
 Kilobyte = about 1000 bytes.
 Megabyte = about one million bytes.
 Gigabyte = about one billion bytes.

Motherboard - this is the main circuit board that connects all other internal components, such as CPU
and memory. It’s like the blood vessels inside the human body, which connect to all the vital organs.
Instead of blood vessels, the motherboard uses tiny electrical paths to connect each part of the
computer. One important part on the motherboard is BIOS, which is where the computer’s settings are
stored and change.

Basic Input/output System (BIOS) – when the computer is turned on (booted), the BIOS is responsible
for establishing basic communication with all the computer parts. It is the program which makes the
computer up when you turn it on and reminds each part what supposed to do. After booting and
performing a few system checks, it turns the computer over to your operating system.
Storage Devices - a hardware device which can be used to store digital data and applications which
maybe in the form of images, video, audio and etc.

 Compact Disc Re-Writable (CD-RW) – is a type of disk which enables you to write onto several
times. The storage capacity can vary, but it typically holds 700 MB of data.

 Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) - is a disk that enables you to write onto it once.
These are typically used to save music or data that does not change.

 Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) - is a type of disk that holds digital representations that combine
sound and graphic.

 Hard Drive - is a large capacity, permanent storage used to hold programs and documents. This
is stored inside your computer and holds the largest amount of data.

o External Hard Drive

o Internal Hard Drive

 Floppy Disk - is a portable magnetic disk that can hold up to 1.44 MB of data. This holds the
least amount of data.

 USB or Flash Disk - is a small portable flash memory card that plugs into a computer’s USB drive
and functions as a portable hard drive.

Peripherals - These are devices that connect to your computer, but are separate from it. These devices
can be categorized as either input or output.

 Input Devices - These are devices that input data in your computer such as:
o Keyboard
o Mouse
o Joystick
o Scanner
o Web Cam
o Microphone
o And etc.
 Output Devices - These are devices that output data into forms which people can use such as:
o Monitor
o Printer
o Speaker
o Projector
o Headphone
Power Supply - It provides components with electric power. The term usually pertains to devices
integrated within the component being powered. It contains fan that helps assist in the task of cooling
the computer. It comes in a variety of wattages.

 200 watt and 250 watt, are the most commonly used

Ports - Ports are located on the outside of a computer and ports are where you plug into other
hardware. On the inside of the case they are connected to the expansion cards. Today, most new
computers are USB ports.