The computer, also know as: computing machine or computing device, data processor, electronic computer, information processing system, is a data and information processing machine, according to a list of instructions known as programs. The computer that are free programmable and can process any kind of data / information are named general purpose computers. The actual computers are not only data processing machines, but devices which facilitates the communication between two or more users, for example: using text, numbers, images, sound or video, and all at once – multimedia. The science of information processing with the help of computers is named Computer Science. The technology necessary for its use is called Information Technology or IT. In principle, any computer which has a minimum set of functions may perform the functions of any other computer, whether it is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or any supercomputer.
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The computers today come in many shapes and sizes. Probably the most familiar is the personal computer and it’s portable version called laptop, notebook or netbook; but the most widespread form is the embedded computer.
Inside any computer there are many parts such as:
The motherboard: a complex hardware component on which are fitted all the other hardware components of a computer, or any other electronically device.
The processor: or the microprocessor is the central unit of information processing of a computer, which coordinates the system and which physically presents as an electronic chip. It controls the activities of the whole system and can process the user’s data. It’s the main element of a computer system; the chip, that is placed on the motherboard is very complex, and can reach up to millions of transistors. The microprocessor insures the data and instruction processing, both from the operating system as the ones from inside the user’s applications; it reads, process and control the applications and executes or supervises the information transfer and controls the general activity of the other components that make up the system.
The RAM: or the Random Access Memory, is the generic name for any type of memory that can be:
- random accessed, offering direct access to any of its location or address in any order, even randomly;
- usually implemented on electronic chips (and not on magnetic or optical devices as the hard disks or CDs).
The sound card: or the audio card, is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs.
The video card: or graphics accelerator card, is an expansion card whose function is to generate and output images to a display
The network interface card: or LAN adapter, is an expansion card designed for allowing the computers to connect to a network of computers.
The hard drive: or hard disc, is an electro-mechanical device for data storage or saving. Data saving is done on a magnetic surface on the rounded metalically cups.
The CD-ROM: or the Compact Disc Read-Only Memory: is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains accessible data to a computer for data storage and music playback. The CD-ROM doesn’t allow the computer to write anything to a CD.
These are the main parts of an ordinary computer. A computer can be upgraded with any other device such as: TV-tuner, 5.1 sound card, other hard discs, CD-RW, floppy disc, etc. So now you know what’s “hidden” inside a computer.
