Computer Components | PCs

Basic concepts of IT (Information Technology)

Let’s look at the basic concepts of IT before looking at the computer components. The term Information Technology is used to describe the use of computers in business, education and everyday life.

Hardware and Software

In very simple terms, computers are machines that process data (or information) and supply results. Each computer system consists of both hardware and software.

Hardware

Is the generic name for all the pieces of physical equipment used in computing. It’s the physical components of a computer system. These include the central processing unit (CPU) and the peripheral devices. The peripheral devices are grouped into output and input devices. They are the devices connected to the computer system and helps to input and display data information.

Software

Is the generic name for the different programs that enable you to use a computer to carry out a variety of tasks and includes applications and operating system software. One example of an operating system is Microsoft Windows 10.

History of Computers

First Generation Computers

They were developed in 1948 and were in use in the early 50’s. They had the following characteristics:

They were built or developed using vacuum tubes or thermionic values. They were very bulky, they consumed a lot of energy or power, they had very limited computing power and hence they were very slow in data manipulation or processing, they occupied very large space, and were unreliable. An example of such computers is the UNIVAC computers.

Second-Generation Computers

They were developed in the late 50’s and were in use in the early 60’s. They had the following characteristics: They were developed using transistor technology hence they were faster in data execution, they held large computing power as compared to the fast generation, they consumed relatively much less power and they were also relatively smaller in size and occupied less space.

Third Generation Computers

Third generation computers were developed using transistor technology. The technology incorporated linear circuits integrated concepts. They were developed in late 60’s and used SSI (Small scale integration), and MSI (Medium scale integration). They had the following characteristics: They were refereed to as Silicon chip or IC’s Computers.

Computer Components

A computer is a collection of modular electronic components, i.e. components that can be replaced by other components that may have different characteristics that are capable of running computer programs.

The material components of the computer are structured around a main board that is made up of a few integrated circuits and many electronic components such as capacitors, resistors, etc. All these components are fused to the board and are linked by circuit board connections and by a large number of connectors. This board is called the motherboard.

The motherboard is housed in a casing (or frame) that comprises slots for memory peripherals on the front, buttons that allow you to switch the computer on and off, as well as a certain number of indicator lights that allow you to verify the computer's operating state and the activity of the hard drives. On the back, the casing has openings facing the expansion boards and the I/O(input/output) interfaces, which are connected to the motherboard.

Finally, the casing houses an electrical power supply (commonly called the power pack), which is in charge of providing a stable and continuous electrical current to all of the elements that make up the computer. The power supply converts alternating current from the power grid (220 or 110 volts) into a direct voltage of 5 volts for the computer components and 12 volts for some internal peripherals (drives, CD-ROM drives, etc.). How powerful the electrical supply is determines how many peripherals the computer is capable of supplying. The power supply is generally between 200 and 450 Watts.

The "central processing unit" includes the casing and all the elements it contains. The external elements of the central processing unit are called peripherals. The CPU is the silicon chip which functions as the real 'brain' of the computer. The system case, which contains the computer's chips and circuits, is often incorrectly referred to as the CPU.