Even the most inexperienced users know that a personal computer is a system unit, a monitor, a keyboard, speakers and a mouse. But not everyone knows about the device and the principle of operation of each element. Let's try to look inside each component of the PC to understand not only what a computer is, but what it consists of (depending on what kinds of computers are talking about, some details are different - for a laptop, for example, unlike " classic "desktop machine, the system unit no, and its elements and their analogs are located inside the shell).
Hardware and software
Supercomputers are very expensive and are used for specialized applications that require huge mathematical calculations. For example, a supercomputer is required for weather forecasting. Other applications of supercomputers in scientific simulations, graphs, liquid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, electronic design and analysis of geological data.
The mainframe was a term originally called a cabinet containing a central processing unit or the "main frame" of the stone age room apparatus filling the room. Today, a mainframe is a very large and expensive computer that can simultaneously support hundreds or even thousands of users. The main difference between a supercomputer and a mainframe is that the supercomputer directs all its power to run several programs as quickly as possible, while the mainframe uses its power to run many programs at the same time.
The desktop system unit is the most important part. Its components depend on how the computer works. The cases of modern desktop system blocks look quite intimidating, but if you look inside, the device "stuffing" is unlikely to seem the same.
In a sense, mainframes are more powerful than supercomputers because they support more simultaneous programs. But supercomputers can run one program faster than a mainframe. The difference between small mainframes and minicomputers is uncertain, depending on how the manufacturer wants to sell their machines.
However, in the last decade, the difference between large minicomputers and small mainframes has blurred, as has the difference between small minicomputers and workstations. But in general, the minicomputer is a multiprocessor system that can simultaneously support up to 200 users.
The first thing that we pay attention to is the power supply. Its task is to provide the system with electricity. The performance will depend on the power factor.
An important element of the internal device is a rigid magnetic disk drive HDD. In a simple way, it is called a "screw" or a "hard drive". The amount of memory is measured in gigabytes. The average capacity at modern computers, regardless of the type, ranges from 512 GB to several terabytes.
This is the type of computer that is used for engineering applications, desktop publishing, development software and other types of applications that require moderate processing power and relatively high-quality graphics capabilities. Most workstations also have a mass storage device, such as a floppy drive, but a special workstation called a diskless workstation is shipped without a disk drive. Like personal computers, most workstations are single-user computers.
The next important element is an optical disk drive. With it, the computer can read CDs of DVD or CD formats. In addition to reading, using CD-DVD-ROM, you can record the necessary information on these media. Currently, users use mostly DVD-ROM drives, since they are much more voluminous than CD-ROM drives. On DVD-media can record up to 17 GB of information. Whereas on CD only up to 700 MB. In addition, a ROM drive, recording information on a DVD, shortens the length of its own waves. Thus, the density of the recording increases. Modern DVD media can also be two-sided, so their volume will be more than double.
However, workstations, as a rule, are connected with each other, forming local area network, although they can also be used as standalone systems. It can be a workstation or a personal computer. It can be defined as a small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user. In prices, personal computers range from a few hundred pounds to more than five thousand pounds. At home, the most popular for personal computers is the game for games and recently for surfing the Internet.
To connect peripherals to a personal computer, there are special ports located on the back of the system unit. There are both parallel and serial connectors. From the serial ports there are fewer wires, and to them, as a rule, connect a mouse, keyboard or various modems. As for parallel ports, there is a larger amount of data on them, so more wires pass from them. In this case, the principle "one wire - one bit" works. To these ports an external hDD or, for example, a printer. USB ports are universal universal serial ports, and anything can be connected to them, right up to the second computer, if necessary for data exchange.
The main characteristics of personal computers are that they are single-user systems and are based on microprocessors. However, although personal computers are designed as single-user systems, it is common to link them together to form a network. From the point of view of power, there is a great variety. At the upper end, the differences between personal computers and workstations disappeared.
A chassis or body is a metal frame that serves as structural support for electronic components. For each computer system, at least one chassis is required to accommodate the printed circuit boards and wiring. The chassis also contains slots for expansion cards. If you want to insert more boards than there are slots, you will need an expansion chassis that provides additional slots. There are two main chassis design options: desktop models and tower models, but there are many variations of these two basic types.
Also in the system unit is a cooler, cooling the "insides". Depending on the power of the computer, their number can reach up to two.
The motherboard of a personal computer
The motherboard deserves a separate point in our narrative about what a computer is, since it is it that hosts the most important devices of any computer. Let's start with the processor. The processor is a central unit that serves to control the functions of all other units. In addition, the processor processes information, performing actions of both logical and arithmetic nature. Devices are characterized by the bit depth and the clock frequency. The first indicator depends on the performance, the second - the speed of work.
Then come portable computers, whose computers are small enough to carry. The term refers to a computer in which power sources, motherboard and storage devices are stacked on top of each other in a cabinet. This differs from desktop models in which these components are housed in a more compact box. The main advantage of the tower models is that the space limitations are smaller, which simplifies the installation of additional storage devices.
A computer designed for comfortable placement on a desk, usually with a monitor sitting on top of the computer. Desktop computers are broad and low, whereas computers with computer towers are narrow and high. Because of their form, desktop computers are usually limited to three internal mass storage devices. Desktop models, developed very small, are sometimes called thin models.
In today's market there are two main competitors - the Intel Pentium and Athlon processors from AMD. Users are more prone to Pentium for a high degree of reliability in operation, as well as compatibility with any software or hardware. Powerful and productive Athlon is the real dream of any gamer, as the processors work excellently with complex graphics, however, the reliability index is lower. Each processor has its own "light version." Pentium has Celeron, Athlon has Duron.
Very light personal computer. Notebooks usually weigh less than 6 pounds and are small enough to fit easily into the portfolio. Besides the size, the main difference between a laptop and a personal computer is the display screen. Laptops use a variety of technologies, known as flat technologies, to create an easy and non-cumbersome display screen. The quality of laptop screens varies considerably. As for computing power, modern laptops are almost equivalent to personal computers.
However, all this capacity in a small package is expensive. Laptops cost about twice as much as equivalent computers of the usual size. Laptops come with battery packs that let you run them without connecting them. However, the batteries need to be recharged every few hours.
Another component of the motherboard is memory. About external memory we already said above, this hard disks and DVD-ROM drives. TO internal memory refers, first, ROM. Its task is to preserve reference and program data. This BIOS - basic system input and output of information.
A small portable computer is small enough that it can sit on your lap. Currently, laptops are more often called laptops. A laptop that is a little lighter and smaller than a full-sized laptop. Typically, subnotebook computers have a smaller keyboard and screen, but otherwise are equivalent to laptops.
A laptop that is small enough to hold in your hand. Although they are extremely convenient to carry, pocket computers have not replaced laptops due to their small keyboards and screens. Some manufacturers are trying to solve the problem with a small keyboard, replacing the keyboard with an electronic pen. However, these pen-based devices are based on handwriting recognition technologies that are still in their infancy.
RAM is RAM. The processor uses RAM for short-term data storage while the computer is running. If the computer is turned off, then the information in it is not saved. For normal computer operation it is desirable to have from 4 GB of RAM.
Another kind is CASH memory, which, in fact, is an intermediate random access memory, operating at ultrafast speed.
A small computer that literally fits into your palm. Compared to full-size computers, handheld computers are severely limited, but they are practical for certain functions, such as phone books and calendars. Because of their small size, most PDAs do not include disks.
This means that they also include handwriting recognition functions. Shortly thereafter, several other manufacturers offered similar products. Since it is believed that the brain plays a special role in the body, it was described with metaphors that corresponded to the relevant level of technology. Because it has to work as a mechanism, once, like communication tubes, connected to parts of the body, like a telephone exchange and now as a computer.
CMOS-RAM retains all the characteristics of the computer's configuration. All characteristics are checked regularly, every time the operating system is launched. Configuration parameters can be changed via SETUP. This section is located in the BIOS menu.
AT motherboard computer there are sound, network and video cards. But each of these elements can also be external. External cards can easily be replaced by following a simple algorithm. With built-in it's not so simple, because you have to change the "motherboard" entirely, if at least one component does not work.
We can say that the brain is an information processing system, and this is also a computer. But this already ended in similarity. We can already see this from the different "endowments" of the brain and computer. We struggle with the tasks that computers do in a split second: multiply large numbers, draw square roots. On the contrary, it is very difficult to realize what is easy for us, for example, planning actions or understanding the language, in computers.
The brain, of course, does not work, as a classic digital computer, in which all stages of processing are performed in a row. In the brain, many processes are always parallel, and they travel far beyond the brain. But in order to improve the computer, researchers are now trying to reproduce some aspects of brain functioning in the computer. For example, in the form of artificial neural networks. These are programs that run on the computer and whose structure is copied from the neuron connection of the brain.
The sound card depends on the computer's capabilities in terms of sound reproduction. Thanks to the network cards, the computer can interact over the network with other computers or connect to the Internet.
But on video cards you need to pay special attention when building a system unit. Each video card has such an important indicator, as the amount of memory. It will depend on him the ability to play a variety of modern games or watch videos in ultra-high resolution. In today's market, there are such video cards as Nvidia GeForce and ATI Radeon.
They are not programmed, but are taught by examples, resulting in a weighting of the connections between components, like connections between neurons. Artificial neural networks can learn and deal with incomplete information, that is, recognize a person that is partially hidden. In addition, they are more reliable than classic computer programs, they are not immediately completely disabled if the component is faulty. There are also approaches, for example, in the context of the Human Brain Project, to create special computer chips that simulate the "shooting" of brain nerve cells with electrical capacitors.
All about the peripheral devices of a personal computer
One of the most important peripherals, without which the normal operation of a computer is almost impossible, is the keyboard, which is necessary for entering information. The vast majority of keyboards consists of several key groups:
However, the differences between the brain and the computer are still huge. In the brain complex, the processing processes occur at the level of individual cells, and not just "shooting" or "not burning". In addition, the brain includes about a hundred different types nerve cells, not just one. Another difference is that the brain is always active, the cortex is mainly associated with the self-generated activity, and not only with signals coming from the sense organs. On the other hand, the computer connects the input to the output, and when the input does not arrive, it does nothing.
- numbers and letters;
- control keys;
- function keys;
- separate numeric keys;
- keys that control the movement of the cursor;
- information LEDs.
With letters and numbers, everything is very clear. The control keys include Enter, Backspace, space bar, CapsLock, Alt, Shift and some others. The function keys are located in the range from F1 to F12. The cursor is controlled using the arrow keys, as well as PageUp, PageDown and others.
Nevertheless, there is a brain with a power of about 20 watts. The fastest supercomputer currently needs 18 million watts. And for a supercomputer that can mimic the work of the human brain, you will have to build your own power plant.
But most importantly, the brain does not work at all. It is an organ of the body with which it is closely and universal. And everything we think, plan, recognize, is accompanied by emotions. Although one can understand the assessments in approaches and in computers, it is not at all clear how consciousness can evolve from nervous activity. So, you can say: No, the brain does not function like a computer, but when the evolution of computers is focused on the human brain, the similarity increases.
Computer mouse
Mice are both mechanical and optical. On modern devices there are three keys, the middle of which is a wheel. The left key performs the input function. The right button function depends on the internal settings in this or that software. The wheel allows you to scroll the page up or down.
Monitor
The monitor serves to display information and display it on the monitor screen. On the market there are devices of the SVGA format. Their resolution is different (with a transfer of 16.8 million colors). The most common and popular screen size is 17 inches diagonally. But there are both smaller and larger diagonals.
In general, despite the convenience of large screens, it was the small screens that showed themselves on the best side. It's all about the size of a point, that is, a pixel. When the same image is displayed with the minimum number of points, its quality will be much higher. TV models of monitors are hardly anywhere. The most popular at the moment are liquid-crystal LED monitors, capable of transmitting images and video recordings in high-definition HD mode.
Scanners, microphones
Microphones for personal computer are responsible for entering voice and other audio information into the system.
Scanners are able to automatically read printed data from external, as a rule, paper carriers, translating data into digital form.
Printers
Printers are required for printing text and images. There are matrix, inkjet or laser. Matrix printers are not used almost anywhere. They are not very good and certainly do not work very fast. Image and text are produced here in a "shock" way by applying a large number of points with the help of needles in the head of the device.
Inkjet printers do not have needles in their heads. Instead of blows, the head sends a thin ink drop to the paper, which can be of any color. Inkjet printers have a really high print quality. However, consumables are expensive, and printing speed is still not too great. Moreover, if you do not use the devices from time to time, the ink may dry out.
Laser printers create a very thin light beam, which puts the image on a special drum. The drum, in turn, transfers to the paper the data already developed with the aid of the dye. Printing, carried out with the help of laser printers, is characterized by the highest quality and high speed. The devices with the possibility of color printing are very popular.
Rest
Speakers are responsible for outputting audio data. The sound quality depends on the power of the device, as well as on the material from which they are made.
External USB drives are required to transfer data from the computer to the computer. Connect devices through the appropriate connector.
Webcams are required for dynamic image transmission to the system.
When working with a personal computer, it is advisable to have an uninterruptible power supply at hand. It protects the system and information in the event of an emergency power failure.
A computer Is an electronic device that works with information and data. It can store information, process, receive, transmit, etc. You probably already know that using a computer you can work with documents, e-mail, play games, browse the web, and also work with tables, presentations, watch videos and much more.
In this lesson we will answer the basic questions that beginners have, such as what a computer is and what kinds of computers there are.
Hardware and software
Before you go any further, you need to know about two important things: hardware of the computer or in other words "hardware", and software or simply programs with which we perform any tasks on the computer on a daily basis.
All your actions on the computer are related to hardware and software. For example, you are currently viewing this web page and learning the lesson with a web browser (software), and on your right hand you hold mouse (hardware), with which you can easily navigate through the pages.
Types and types of computers
When most people hear the word computer, they represent a personal computer or laptop. However, computers come in different shapes and sizes, and they perform different functions in our daily lives. When you withdraw cash at an ATM, when your products in the supermarket are conducted through a scanner determining the price, or when you use a calculator. All this is also computers, but only of a different type and purpose.
Desktop Computers
We use desktop computers at work, at home, at school, at the library, etc. They can be small, medium, large and they are usually on the table. It consists of a keyboard, a mouse, a monitor and a system unit. Details about what the computer consists of, read.
Most desktops are easy to upgrade and extend, or add new details. Another advantage of desktop computers is their cost. If you compare a desktop computer and a laptop with the same functionality, then most likely you will find that the desktop computer at a price will be lower.
Portable computers
The second type of computers are laptops. Their advantage is that they work on battery and are more compact, mobile and therefore they can be used almost anywhere.
Since the laptop is smaller than a desktop computer, it will be more difficult to gain access to internal components. This means - you can not update or add new parts as easily as in the case of a desktop computer.
Tablet computers
Tablet computers or just a "tablet". They are even more compact and mobile than laptops. Instead of a keyboard and a touchpad, a touch screen is used to dial and navigate. iPad is an example of a tablet computer.
The tablet can not completely replace your home computer or laptop, tk. run programs and work with documents will be more convenient yet on a laptop or desktop computer. But if you just want to play games, sit in in social networks, listen to music and watch videos, then the tablet for you can be an excellent replacement for your computer.
Servers
A server is a computer that serves other computers on the network. Many firms, enterprises have file servers for storing information. The server can look like a regular desktop computer, or it can be much larger.
Servers play an important role in the. They store web pages, websites, photos and videos. And they are responsible for their security and download time in the browser.
Other types of computers
There are many devices that are also mostly specialized computers, although we do not always think of them as computers. Here are a few examples:
- Cell phones: today they are able to provide you with a lot of functions that previously could only be performed on a computer, for example, such as games, watching movies, etc. Such phones are called smartphones.
- Gaming consoles: a specialized kind of computer that is used to play video games. Although they are not as full-featured as desktop computers, many of them can perform tasks such as browsing web pages and video on the Internet.
- Televisions: Many TVs now include programs and applications that allow you to go online or watch movies online.
Personal computers are of two types: PC and Mac. Both are fully functional, but outwardly different.
PC: The first such computer was called IBM PC, which was released in 1981. Then similar computers began to produce other companies. Today this is the most common type of PC and it uses operating system Microsoft Windows.
Mac: These computers began to be manufactured in 1984, by Apple Inc. They are the first computers with a graphical user interface (GUI). They use the operating system mac system OS X.
