Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
LO1 understanding computer hardware - Coggle Diagram
LO1 understanding computer hardware
1.1 Computer hardware
input devices
keyboard
allows a user to type into a computer
mouse
makes it a more user friendly experience to use devices because it allows for clicking and selecting in a gui
microphone
takes an audio in put and digitizes it using software within the microphone or downloaded onto the connected device
sensors
a range of other inputs that all sense something then either activates the device or sends a signal ect.
output devices
monitor
a device that displays a visual output from a device
speaker
an audio output device
printer
allows you to output a physical copy of a document etc
communication devices
hubs
used on a lan to send the packets to all devices
switches
used on lan to direct the packets of information
routers
connects together different networks using different protocols
wirless access point
acts as a bridge between wired and wireless devices
1.2 computer components
central processing unit
otherwise known as the CPU this handles the main processes and functions to be don the computer and directs data to where it needs to go
graphics processing unit
the graphics processing unit or gpu is not needed by some CPUs but is necessary if the user is planning on ding graphics heavy work flow or gaming to take stress of the CPU and have a dedicated graphics card to do the bulk off the functions ad free up the CPU
random access memory
otherwise known as ram it is very fast storage direct to the CPU that stores current and next processes to be handled by the CPU
storage
SSD
more expensive the the other storage types due to its speed and its reliability without any moving parts
Hard Disk Drive
a cheaper alternative to the SSD but it is slower due to data being stored on a moving disk and requires the occasional defragmentation to speed up
magnetic
cheap but is linear and slow to use good for an mainly used for backups
power supply
takes power and converts it into power usable by the computer and provides cables to be routed to the components that need it
1.3 Types of computer system
desktop / server
a workstation made up of a monitor computer and peripherals the most common computer other than the smartphone
tablet / hybrid / laptop
portable workstations or devices that allow you to be productive or entertained on the go
smartphone
portable computers that fit in you pocket and often have internet connectivity and allow you to send messages and calls as well as receive them
embedded system
computers that are built for one function or job within a device or system such as a built in satnav in your car
mainframe and quantum computers
mainframes - huge machines designed to solve scientific and engineers problems
quantum computers - experimental computers that can carry out data manipulations millions of times faster than current computers
1.4 connectivity
copper cables
a common but expensive way of connecting devices together is generally used for shorter distances nowadays due to fibre becoming the best method of long range data transfer
fibre cables
using light to transfer data at hyper fast speeds at long distances down sides are that its easy to break or stop working if any dust or other particles get in the wire
Bluetooth
a short range wireless connection generally between 0 and 10 meters can still transfer data through obstacles such as a wall or a coat often used in pans
laser
uses a laser to transmit data this can be interrupted or blocked physically
wifi
the most common connectivity method among all of them for transferring data
1.5 communications hardware
hub
mainly used in lans to send all packets to all devices
switch
directs packets mainly used in lans
wireless access point
acts as a bridge between wired and wireless devices used in lans mainly
1.6 hardware troubleshooting
Bleep codes