Computer Hardware Basics
In our modern society the computer is an integrated & depended on resource. Because they have been in our homes for awhile now plenty of companies & individuals similar think that humans are “born” with computer knowledge. If you are age 25 or younger this may metaphorically be true but for the rest of us computers can be a challenge.
I am going to cover the bare basics of your computer here. It is going to cover the Hardware of your computer (Hardware meaning the hard items you can touch, pick up, & manipulate. Program on the other hand is referring to the programs on your computer...you can’t touch these per se. Examples are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel etc.).
Your Computer’s Hardware & Its Parts:
Your computer is comprised of 4 major parts they all know (this is not including printers, camera docks,etc) : the monitor, tower, keyboard, & mouse. The keyboard & mouse won't covered in this article because if you didn’t know what they were you wouldn’t be reading this!
The screen you are looking at right now is the monitors function. It shows the visual information from your computer. A few key words related to your monitor are resolution & viewing size. Resolution refers to the shape & size of your monitors screen & how it processes the pixels which comprise the visual information you see in front of you. If you have a giant screen then you will have more resolution (ability to process more amounts of visual information) than a smaller monitor. For instance, if you visit a web-site with a smaller monitor you may have a scroll bar appear at the bottom. You would move this bar to the right to be able to see the whole screen. Whereas if you view the same site with a larger monitor that scroll bar won't appear because you have a larger pixel resolution & see more information. Viewing Size is a term related to how massive your monitors screen is. It is measured diagonally. Take a ruler or measuring tape & hold six finish to the top right of the screen & finish measuring at the bottom left of the screen. You ought to come up with a number like 14.9 or 16.9. 14.9 means you have a 15 inch viewing size screen. 16.9 means you have a 17 inch viewing size screen.
The Monitor:
The tower takes on several different names such as CPU, Hard Drive, or Computer. Technically the “tower” is the case that holds your computers brains (I DO NOT recommend opening the case to see what I am referring to!). This is the outer box of your computer. Inside of the tower there's a lot of wires, circuits, & foreign looking items. They are only going to cover the essentials. The actual “brains” of your computer are screwed inside the tower & it is called the “motherboard”. If you have ever seen the inside of a computer you have seen it - it is the largest item in there. On this motherboard sits a chip called the “CPU”. CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. Technically it is the “brain” that runs the motherboard & controls the technical settings of your computer. It is a small chip that is usually placed in the midst of the motherboard. If you happen to open the case & require to see what I am talking about DO NOT touch or manipulate this chip – you WILL ruin your computer!
The Tower:
This article should give you some basic knowledge about your computer’s hardware. If you wish to learn more this should give a foundation for further research. Next time we’ll cover Program so stay tuned!
There's other parts that connect to the motherboard which are removeable & be changed out when they “go bad”. Your Sound Card (how you get sound from the computer to your speakers) is connected to the motherboard & can be replaced when it goes out. Your Ethernet card (connects your computer to the net by a special phone line that plugs in the back of the computer to your wall or DSL modem) is connected to the motherboard & can be replaced also. Your computer’s memory connects to the motherboard . These can all be replaced by novices but I must warn you - talk to a professional first to find out the correct tools to use. Six static charge from your hand without being “grounded“ can short out your computer & it will be un-useable!
I am going to cover the bare basics of your computer here. It is going to cover the Hardware of your computer (Hardware meaning the hard items you can touch, pick up, & manipulate. Program on the other hand is referring to the programs on your computer...you can’t touch these per se. Examples are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel etc.).
Your Computer’s Hardware & Its Parts:
Your computer is comprised of 4 major parts they all know (this is not including printers, camera docks,etc) : the monitor, tower, keyboard, & mouse. The keyboard & mouse won't covered in this article because if you didn’t know what they were you wouldn’t be reading this!
The screen you are looking at right now is the monitors function. It shows the visual information from your computer. A few key words related to your monitor are resolution & viewing size. Resolution refers to the shape & size of your monitors screen & how it processes the pixels which comprise the visual information you see in front of you. If you have a giant screen then you will have more resolution (ability to process more amounts of visual information) than a smaller monitor. For instance, if you visit a web-site with a smaller monitor you may have a scroll bar appear at the bottom. You would move this bar to the right to be able to see the whole screen. Whereas if you view the same site with a larger monitor that scroll bar won't appear because you have a larger pixel resolution & see more information. Viewing Size is a term related to how massive your monitors screen is. It is measured diagonally. Take a ruler or measuring tape & hold six finish to the top right of the screen & finish measuring at the bottom left of the screen. You ought to come up with a number like 14.9 or 16.9. 14.9 means you have a 15 inch viewing size screen. 16.9 means you have a 17 inch viewing size screen.
The Monitor:
The tower takes on several different names such as CPU, Hard Drive, or Computer. Technically the “tower” is the case that holds your computers brains (I DO NOT recommend opening the case to see what I am referring to!). This is the outer box of your computer. Inside of the tower there's a lot of wires, circuits, & foreign looking items. They are only going to cover the essentials. The actual “brains” of your computer are screwed inside the tower & it is called the “motherboard”. If you have ever seen the inside of a computer you have seen it - it is the largest item in there. On this motherboard sits a chip called the “CPU”. CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. Technically it is the “brain” that runs the motherboard & controls the technical settings of your computer. It is a small chip that is usually placed in the midst of the motherboard. If you happen to open the case & require to see what I am talking about DO NOT touch or manipulate this chip – you WILL ruin your computer!
The Tower:
This article should give you some basic knowledge about your computer’s hardware. If you wish to learn more this should give a foundation for further research. Next time we’ll cover Program so stay tuned!
There's other parts that connect to the motherboard which are removeable & be changed out when they “go bad”. Your Sound Card (how you get sound from the computer to your speakers) is connected to the motherboard & can be replaced when it goes out. Your Ethernet card (connects your computer to the net by a special phone line that plugs in the back of the computer to your wall or DSL modem) is connected to the motherboard & can be replaced also. Your computer’s memory connects to the motherboard . These can all be replaced by novices but I must warn you - talk to a professional first to find out the correct tools to use. Six static charge from your hand without being “grounded“ can short out your computer & it will be un-useable!
