PORTS AND PC COMPONENTS

11901 VGA PORTS

Found in many computers, projectors, video cards and High Definition TVs

The main interface between computers and older CRT monitors

The modern LCD and LED monitors support VGA ports but the picture quality is reduced

VGA carries analogue video signals up to a resolution of 648X480.

download SERIAL PORT

Used for external modems and older computer mouse

Two versions: 9 pin, 25 pin model

Data travels at 115 kilobits per second

paralell Parallel port

Used for scanners and printers

Also called printer port

25 pin model

IEEE 1284-compliant Centronics port

usbUniversal Serial Bus (USB)

It can connect all kinds of external USB devices such as external hard disk, printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard, etc.

It was introduced in 1997.

Most of the computers provide two USB ports as minimum.

Data travels at 12 megabits per seconds.

USB compliant devices can get power from a USB port.

firewireFirewire Ports

Transfers large amount of data at very fast speed.

Connects camcorders and video equipment to the computer.

Data travels at 400 to 800 megabits per seconds.

Invented by Apple.

It has three variants: 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector, 6-Pin FireWire 400 connector, and 9-Pin FireWire 800 connector.

Ethernet Ethernet Port

Connects to a network and high speed Internet.

Connects the network cable to a computer.

This port resides on an Ethernet Card.

Data travels at 10 megabits to 1000 megabits per seconds depending upon the network bandwidth.

cpu CPU

Memory or Storage Unit

FUNCTIONS

It stores all the data and the instructions required for processing.

It stores intermediate results of processing.

It stores the final results of processing before these results are released to an output device.

All inputs and outputs are transmitted through the main memory.

Control Unit

FUNCTIONS

It is responsible for controlling the transfer of data and instructions among other units of a computer.

It manages and coordinates all the units of the computer.

It obtains the instructions from the memory, interprets them, and directs the operation of the computer.

It communicates with Input/Output devices for transfer of data or results from storage.

It does not process or store data.

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

Arithmetic Section

Logic Section

Perform arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

Perform logic operations such as comparing, selecting, matching, and merging of data.

gpu Graphic Card

Type of display adapter or video card installed within most computing devices to display graphical data with high clarity, color, definition and overall appearance

Provides high-quality visual display by processing and executing graphical data using advanced graphical techniques, features and functions.

Known as a graphics adapter, graphics controller, graphics accelerator card or graphics board

hard drives Hard Drives

Non-volatile memory hardware device that permanently stores and retrieves data on a computer.

A hard drive is a secondary storage device that consists of one or more platters to which data is written using a magnetic head, all inside of an air-sealed casing

All computers have a hard drive installed in them, which is used to store files for the operating system, software programs, and a user's personal files.

A computer cannot function without a hard drive installed, as it requires one to function properly.

Sony-Internal-PC-DVD-Drive-OpenedOptical Drives

An optical drive is a type of computer disk drive that reads and writes data from optical disks through laser beaming technology.

This type of drive allows a user to retrieve, edit and delete the content from optical disks such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray disks. Optical drives are among the most common computer components.

An optical drive may also be known as an optical disk drive (ODD).