Webquest Basic Computer Components

Webquest Basic Computer Components

1. Explain BIOS

BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. The BIOS setup program above is used to setup a computer's hardware. Without any disks, or even a hard drive, the BIOS program is always available, written permanently on the BIOS chip. The BIOS chip contains enough information to operate the computer all by itself. When the computer is first turned on, (or booted), the BIOS program is in control. After performing a few system checks, the BIOS program turns the computer over to an operating system like Windows XP.

2. Chipset

The chipset is the chip, or set of chips, that direct the motherboard's flow of information from one point to another. Just like a traffic cop, they make sure that the information, (also called data), arrives at the proper place. Each chip in a chipset has its own particular job. One chip may control the data traffic between the processor and the video card, while the other chip directs the traffic for the sound card and the other expansion cards. The picture below shows an example of the traffic for a chipset with 2 chips. Chipset chip 1's traffic is shown in red. Chipset chip 2's traffic is shown in blue. The paths between each location are called "buses." A bus is a small metal path or wire that connects the items on a motherboard together, just like roads connect cities together.

3. Microprocessor/CPU

The picture above shows the inside of a microprocessor at work. The microprocessor, (also called the central processing unit), is the brain of the computer. The central processing unit, (or CPU), with it's level 1 cache memory, contains the control unit and the arithmetic/logic unit, both working together as a team to process the computer's commands. The control unit fetches instructions from memory and decodes them into commands that the computer can understand. The arithmetic/logic unit takes these commands and executes them, storing the results back into memory. These 4 steps, (fetch, decode, execute, and store), are what's called the "machine cycle" of a computer. Newer computers can complete over 3 billion of these each and every second! The CPU's level 1 cache memory is located inside of the CPU. Level 2 cache memory is further away and slower than level 1 cache memory. The CPU can use the cache memory much faster than having to use the other memory. The clock driver is also inside of the CPU. It is what sets the pace for the computer. Below is a top and bottom picture of a CPU. Below that is another picture of a CPU with its fan and heatsink. The CPU needs a fan and heatsink to keep from getting too hot.

4. Drive Bays

Drive bays are where the computer's drives are installed. CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives can only play disks. CD R/RW and DVD R/RW drives can both play and record to disks. These drives are normally called "burners." You can erase and record again with RW disks, but R disks will only allow you to record one time. Hard drives have larger storage areas than the other drives. Their disks are sealed and cannot be removed. The hard drive is where the computer's operating system, (like Windows XP), is kept. Sometimes people confuse the hard drive with memory, but the hard drive does not have anything to do with memory. It is for storage only. Floppy drives do not hold very much information, but they are handy to use for smaller files. Zip drives and tape drives are good to use for backing up a lot of files. Drives with removable disks are handy for taking files to other computers.

5. Case Fan

Computer's can build up quite a bit of heat. Heat is bad for computers. They need to be kept as cool as possible. The case fan is in charge of keeping the computer cool. Many people do not think the fan is that important, but it is the key to the life of a computer. Most computer cases have places to install extra fans.

6. Motherboard

The motherboard is like a big city with many streets and highways that connect all of the buildings together. Instead of streets and highways, the motherboard uses tiny electrical paths to connect everything together. These paths are called "buses." The more buses that connect to something, the faster it can operate. Larger buses are able to operate faster than smaller buses. Buses work just like highways. Wider highways and highways with more lanes are able to carry more traffic than smaller highways and highways with less lanes. Like a traffic cop, the chipset manages and directs the flow of information between each item. The BIOS is where the computer's settings are stored and changed. In the first picture of the motherboard above, you can see most of the connecting slots, ports, and connectors. Some are labeled to show what they are. Below is a picture of a more recent motherboard.

7. Memory

A memory module has several memory chips. The computer uses this memory constantly to temporarily store information, (or data), while it is working with it. If a computer has a lot of memory, it can store more temporary information and operate faster. People with good memories also "store" more information and do things faster, because they don't waste a lot of time trying to remember things. Memory modules come in several different sizes. Each is able to hold different amounts of data. Everything stored on a memory module is erased as soon as the computer is turned off. Hard drives and removable disks are used to store information that needs to be saved permanently.

8. Modem

A modem normally has it's own speaker. When you connect to the Internet and hear the modem dialing, it is this speaker that you hear the sound coming from. Computers only understand digital information, (pulse or non-continuous). Phone lines only transmit analog information, (continuous). Modems change a computer's digital information into analog waves that can travel through the phone lines to another computer. The other computer's modem then changes the analog waves back into digital information, so that the other computer can understand it. Modems are rated by how many bits of information they can receive in one second. Just because a modem is rated at 56Kbps does not always mean that it is going to be able to receive at that speed. Phone lines and your Internet service provider also play a big part in how fast your computer can receive information over the Internet. Some phone lines can only transmitting at about 28Kbps. For that reason, even though most Internet providers offer a 56Kbps connection, you're only going to be able to use their service at 28Kbps if your phone lines limit your connection speed.

9. Power Supply

The power supply supplies the electrical power for a computer. It supplies power to the motherboard, drives, and some expansion cards. It normally has at least one fan that helps to cool the power supply and also helps to cool the computer. Some power supplies have an additional outlet on the back that can be used to provide power to the monitor.

10. Sound Card

The sound card is what handles the computer's sound. It has it's own processor. When you hear music coming from your computer's speakers, the sound card's processor is at work along with it's digital-to-analog converter, processing and changing digital information into analog information that can be played through the speakers. When you talk into your computer's microphone, the sound card's processor is working along with it's analog-to-digital converter to process and change the analog information received from the microphone into digital information. Better sound cards have better sound.

11. Video Card

Video cards, like the one shown above, plug into a slot on the motherboard and connect a monitor or other video display device to a computer. The video card and the monitor are what determine the quality of a computer's video display. The video card has its own processor, responsible for making the computer's video decisions. It is hidden under a fan and heatsink in the picture above, so that it will stay cool and not overheat.