Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Understanding Computer Hardware (1.1 Computer Hardware (Computer hardware…
Understanding Computer Hardware
1.1 Computer Hardware
Computer hardware is a physical device that you add onto a computer to allow it to operate. For example a monitor, keyboard or a mouse. There is input and output devices, an input device taes in the signal that user would like to input for example a mouse and keyboard. There are also output devices that give out the processed signal from the computer an example of this would be a speaker or a monitor.
1.2 Computer components
These are components inside a computer system and are ALL essential for the computer to operate. The 8 main components are...
MOTHERBOARD - This is the base in which you install all parts to. this is the largest component
CPU - This is the central processing unit otherwise known as the brain of the computer.
GRAPHICS CARD - This is the device that enables videos and other visual images to be shown. converts binary into pixels.
RAM - This is the device that holds all currently open programs and files, not the daft punk album.
POWER SUPPLY - This one is self explanatory as a computer needs electricity to operate and this would be the only way to supply that via the power supply.
HARD DISK - this is the hard drive that is the primary storage unit of the computer.
OPTICAL DRIVE - This would be where you can insert discs onto the computer system
1.3 Computer Systems
These are the different types of computer you can acquire
DESKTOP - This is a computer that is placed in a fixed location is usually more powerful and has more storage than other computers
TABLET - This is a portable device that is in the same shape as an ancient tablet. Not very powerful more designed for portability.
SMARTPHONE - This would be a mobile device that is based off the initial concept of a phone but with the capabilities of a computer along with access to the internet
EMBEDDED SYSTEM - This is a computer system that is inside a device that isn't a computer such as the computer inside a washing machine.
MAINFRAME - a central server that can be treated as the brain/core of a network
QUANTUM - A computer type that is still being developed. A computer operates in binary with 1 and 0 like on and off but a quantum computer works without these rules and allows a value to be both 1 and 0 at the same time.
1.4 Connectivity
This is the part of the subject based networks and the different types.
BUS - You have a single wire with different devices connected to it these devices act like bus stops hench the name bus topology. An issue with this is the effect of data collision as there is only a single wire for you to use this can mean that the network speed is slower as there is going to be more data in a single place as they struggle to get past each other.
RING - This is when all the devices are connected in a ring meaning all of the devices are connected to each other around a circle. This can be slow as the data must go through all the other devices on the network before it gets to where it needs to be. The whole network can be taken down if one of the devices breaks as the ring can no longer be completed but it then can become a bus network as its now technically in a straight line.
STAR - one main server with all of them connected to the main server, and if the server fails the whole network will go down, but if one of the nodes fails nothing will happen. This is the most common type of network and is very popular with people all over the world. Due to the fact it can be taken down easily and without a fuss makes it vulnerable
MESH - All devices on the network are connected together. This means all the devices must be connected through wires to each other which can be really expensive due to the high numbers of wires. An advantage of this network is that the data can go straight to the source instead of it having to go through other devices.
1.5 Communication hardware -
This is the physical objects that allow connections to be made between/inside networks.
LAN - Local Area Networks are networks over a small geographical area where you own the infrastructure.and is private and more secure
WAN - Wide Area Networks are networks over a large geographical area where you do not own the infrastructure.
ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, is the most common type of fast connection to the internet. This allows more data to be sent over already in place existing copper cables.
LEASED LINE - Businesses use this when they want to upload as they download which can increase the speed of the network. Faster upload speeds as well as faster download speeds. But this is also more expensive and requires physical installation.
MODEMS/ROUTERS - This is a device that connects your devices to the internet as opposed to the router which connects them to WI-FI
HUBS - It’s a common connection point for devices to a network. This contains multiple ports that take in the data packets from one port and share it all to the others.
SWITCHES- Switches are used to connect devices too. The switch tem connects to the router which connects you to the outside world
BRIDGES - These are used to connect two different networks together as in “bridging the gap” between the two.
1.6 Hardware troubleshooting
This is the process of reviewing, diagnosing and identifying operational or technical problems within a hardware device or equipment.
It aims to resolve physical and/or logical problems and issues within a piece of computer hardware. This is done by technical technicians
A technician should look to log the time, date and nature of the issue. You would then record how you resolved this problem for example.
13:45 - 03/22/12 - The computers speakers were broken
Troubleshooting methods
If the sound isn’t working, you can check the volume settings but if that’s a-ok you can plug in headphones to check if there is any sound then.
If mouse or keyboard isn’t operating unplug it and plug it in again.
If computer is frozen, you should restart windows.
If all the programs run slowly you should use the virus scanner to check if a virus is causing the issue or you can use the disk defragmenter
If the application is running slow, you need to close it down and reopen it or force quit if it’s frozen.
If the power button does not activate the computer, you should check that it is plugged in or if its plugged in check if the socket is broken
1.7 Units of measurement
1.8 Number systems
These range from numbers to letters mixed with numbers
Binary is represented in 1s and 0s like a light switch on and off. This is a base 2 number system. an example would be 01101101.
Decimal is just regular numbers that we use every single day.
hexadecimal is a base 16 number system and is represented in a fashion so it can be read easily by humans. an example of this would be 3A. It's an A second as from 10 up to 15 it's represented by letters to avoid large numbers from appearing and confusing the reader
1.9 Number Conversions
