What Makes Up a PC?

Objectives

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Identify the function of the processing devices
Processing Devices (System
Unit)
 Processing Devices (System Unit)

In a computer:
• Keyboard and the mouse are input devices
• Monitor and the printer are output devices
• The system unit is responsible for all the
processing required to convert the input to the
desired output
• The system unit can perform all kinds of
arithmetic and logical operations
 Motherboard

• A large board in the system unit

• Has a number of tiny electronic circuits and
other components
• The microprocessor is the most important
component of the motherboard
 Motherboard (Contd..)

The actual processing of data occurs

Data is received from the
in the input
The processed
device
microprocessor information is sent to the output device
 Video Card

• Plugs into a personal

computer to give it
display capabilities
• It enables the
representation of data
in a visual form
• It provides digital-to-
analog conversion
 Sound Card
• It is a device in the
system unit
• It enables a computer
to accept, process
and play sound
• It enables a computer
to record sound from
a microphone
• It manipulates sound
stored on a disk and
the sound is given as
output through
speakers
 Activity 2.6.1

1. The following table lists various processes and

processing devices. Discuss with your partner
and match each process with the appropriate
processing device.
Process Processing device
Cooking rice Juicer
Thinking Grinder
Grinding flour Sewing machine
Stitching a cloth The human brain
Making fruit juice Cooker
 Check Your Understanding 2.6.1

1. Explain the purpose of the system unit.

2. Why do you need a sound card?
3. What is the function of a microprocessor?
4. What is the difference between a video card
and a sound card?
 Test Your Knowledge

1. Which one of the following statements is true

about a dot matrix printer?
a. It can print 200-740 characters per second.
b. Its speed is measured in terms of characters
per second.
c. It prints fully formed characters.
 Test Your Knowledge (Contd..)

2. Special keys do not include

a. Control keys
b. Function keys
c. Alphanumeric keys
 Test Your Knowledge (Contd..)

3. Your students are playing a video racing game.

They have to drive the car so that it moves in
all directions - left, right, forward and
backward. Identify the easiest way to play the
game.
a. Using the arrow keys
b. Using the mouse
c. Using the function keys
 Test Your Knowledge (Contd..)

4. Statement A: A microprocessor performs the

actual processing of data in the system unit.
Statement B: A motherboard is a part of the
microprocessor.
a. Both the statements are true.
b. Statement A is true and Statement B is false.
c. Statement A is false and Statement B is true.
 Test Your Knowledge (Contd..)

5. Statement A: A modem can be external or

internal to the system unit.
Statement B: A modem is an input device.
a. Both the statements are true.
b. Statement A is true and Statement B is false.
c. Statement A is false and Statement B is true.
 Terms to Remember

• Motherboard
– It is a part of the system unit and houses several vital
components of the computer
• Microprocessor
– It is the most important component of the
motherboard that performs the actual processing of
data, that is, the arithmetic or logical operations on
the given data
 Terms to Remember (Contd..)

• Sound card
– A device in the system unit that enables a computer
to accept, process and play sound
• Video card
– Plugs into a personal computer to give it display
capabilities.
 Did You Know?

• In the late 1980s, a computer cost almost 1 lakh

rupees
• Today, a world class branded computer can be
purchased for about Rs. 24,000/-
• Previously, only the higher secondary schools
were able to afford computer laboratories
• Today, computer education is introduced at the
primary level in many institutions
 Recap

In this session, you have learnt about:

• The function of the processing devices
Chapter Objective Checklist