UNDERSTANDING

THE COMPUTER
SYSTEM

As an aspiring computer technician, it is very

important to know the different components
of a computer system. These are the
hardware, software and peopleware. Each
component plays an important role, without
each other computer systems will not work
properly.

1.1 HARDWARE

the physical, touchable, electronic and

mechanical parts of a computer system.

A. MAJOR HARDWARE
COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM

1. System Unit- The main part of a

microcomputer, sometimes called the
chassis. It includes the following parts:
Motherboard, Microprocessor, Memory Chips,
Buses, Ports, Expansion Slots and Cards.

2. Motherboard / Mainboard / System

Board- The main circuit board of a computer.
It contains all the circuits and components
that run the computer.

3. CPU (Central Processing Unit) - The

processor is the main brain or heart of a
computer system. It performs all of the
instructions and calculations that are needed
and manages the flow of information through
a computer.

4. Primary storage- (internal storage, main

memory or memory) is the computer's working
storage space that holds data, instructions for
processing and processed data (information)
waiting to be sent to secondary storage.
Physically, primary storage is a collection of RAM
chips.

Two (2) Types of Memory

ROM (Read Only Memory) ROM is non-volatile,
meaning it holds data even when the power is ON
or OFF.
RAM (Random Access Memory) RAM is volatile,
meaning it holds data only when the power is on.
When the power is off, RAM's contents are lost.

5. Expansion Bus - A bus is a data pathway

between several hardware components inside
or outside a computer. It does not only
connect the parts of the CPU to each other,
but also links the CPU with other important
hardware.

6. Adapters- Printed-circuit boards (also

called interface cards) that enable the
computer to use a peripheral device for
which it does not have the necessary
connections or circuit boards. They are often
used to permit upgrading to a new different
hardware.

7. Power Supply Unit (PSU) - Installed in the

back corner of the PC case, next to the
motherboard. It converts 120vac (standard
house power) into DC voltages that are used
by other components in the PC.

8. Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - Also known as

hard drive, is a magnetic storage device that
is installed inside the computer. The hard
drive is used as permanent storage for data.
In a Windows computer, the hard drive is
usually configured as the C: drive and
contains the operating system and
applications.

9. Optical Drive- An optical drive is a storage

device that uses lasers to read data on the
optical media. There are three types of
optical drives: Compact Disc (CD), Digital
Versatile Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc (BD).

10. Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) - Designed

to optically access data stored on a DVD. A
laser moves back and forth near the disk
surface and accesses data at a very fast rate.

B. INPUT DEVICES

- Accepts data and instructions from the user

or from another computer system.

TWO (2) TYPES OF INPUT DEVICES

1. Keyboard Entry Data is inputted to the

computer through a keyboard.
Keyboard - The first input device developed
for the PC. Data is transferred to the PC over a
short cable with a circular 6-pin Mini-din
connector that plugs into the back of the
motherboard.
2. Direct Entry A form of input that does not
require data to be keyed by someone sitting at
a keyboard. Direct-entry devices create
machine-readable data on paper, or magnetic
media, or feed it directly into the computers
CPU.

Touch screen- A display screen that is

sensitive to the touch of a finger or stylus.
Used in myriad applications, including ATM
machines, retail point-of-sale terminals, car
navigation and industrial controls. The touch
screen became wildly popular for smart
phones and tablets.

Light Pen - A light-sensitive stylus wired to a

video terminal used to draw pictures or
select menu options. The user brings the pen
to the desired point on screen and presses
the pen button to make contact.

Digitizer Tablet - A graphics drawing tablet

used for sketching new images or tracing old
ones. Also called a "graphics tablet," the user
contacts the surface of the device with a
wired or wireless pen or puck. Often
mistakenly called a mouse, the puck is
officially the "tablet cursor."

THREE CATEGORIES OF DIRECT ENTRY DEVICES

1. Pointing Devices - An input device used to

move the pointer (cursor) on screen.
Mouse - The most common 'pointing device'
used in PCs. Every mouse has two buttons
and most have one or two scroll wheels.
2. Scanning Devices- Adevicethat can read
text or illustrations printed on paper and
translates the information into a form the
computer can use.

SCANNING DEVICE

Bar Code Reader

3. Voice- Input Devices - Audio input devices

also known as speech or voice recognition
systems that allow a user to send audio
signals to a computer for processing,
recording, or carrying out commands. Audio
input devices such as microphones allow
users to speak to the computer in order to
record a voice message or navigate software.

C. Output Devices - Any piece of computer

hardware that displays results after the
computer has processed the input data that
has been entered.

1. Computer Display Monitor- It displays

information in visual form, using text and
graphics. The portion of the monitor that
displays the information is called the screen
or video display terminal.

TYPES OF MONITOR

CRT Monitors - Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) were the

only type of displays for use with desktop PCs.
They are relatively big (14" to 16" deep) and heavy
(over 15 lbs)
LCD Monitors - Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
technology has been used in laptops for some time.
It has recently been made commercially available
as monitors for desktop PCs
LED Monitors (LightEmittingDiode) - A display and
lighting technology used in almost every electrical
and electronic product on the market, from a tiny
on/off light to digital readouts, flashlights, traffic
lights and perimeter lighting.

2. LCD Projectors- utilize two sheets of

polarizing material with a liquid crystal
solution between them. An electric current
passed through the liquid causes the crystals
to align so that light cannot pass through
them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a
shutter, either allowing light to pass through
or blocking the light.

3. Smart Board - A type of display screen

that has a touch sensitive transparent panel
covering the screen, which is similar to a
touch screen.

4. Printer - A device that prints text or

illustrations on paper.

TYPES OF PRINTER

Ink-Jet or Bubble-Jet Printer - bprays ink at

a sheet of paper. Ink-jet printers produce
high-quality text and graphics.
Laser Printer - Uses the same technology as
copy machines. Laser printers produce very
high quality text and graphics.
LCD and LED Printer- Similar to a laser
printer, but uses liquid crystals or lightemitting diodes rather than a laser to
produce an image on the drum.

Line Printer - Contains a chain of characters

or pins that print an entire line at one time.
Line printers are very fast, but produce lowquality print.
Thermal Printer- An inexpensive printer that
works by pushing heated pins against heatsensitive paper. Thermal printers are widely
used in calculators and fax machines.

5. Speakers - Used to play sound. They may

be built into the system unit or connected
with cables. Speakers allow you to listen to
music and hear sound effects from your
computer.

D. Ports - External connecting sockets on the

outside of the computer. This is a pathway
into and out of the computer. A port lets
users plug in outside peripherals, such as
monitors, scanners and printers.

E. Cables and Wires- A cable is most often two or more

wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or
braided together to form a single assembly, but can also
refer to a heavy strong rope.

Table 2. The Cables and Connectors

1.2 Software is the set of instructions (also

called a program) that guides the hardware to
operate effectively. Software can be split into
two main types:

System Software Any software required to

support the production or execution of
application programs, but which is not
specific to any particular application.
Common operating systems include Windows,
the Macintosh OS, OS/2 and UNIX.

MAC

LINUX

1.2 APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Designed to help the user to perform singular or
multiple related tasks. Examples of application
software are as follows:

a. Word processing software - Creates, edits,

saves, and prints documents. Example: MS Word,
WordPerfect, Ami Pro, MacWrite.

b. Spreadsheet software - An electronic

spreadsheet consisting of rows and columns is
used to present and analyze data. Example: MS
Excel, Lotus 123, Quattro Pro.

c. Database management software - Used to

structure a database, a large collection of
computer programs. Data is organized as fields and
records for easy retrieval. Example: MS Access,
dBase, Fox Pro, Oracle

d. Graphic software - Graphics programs display

results of data manipulation for easier analysis and
presentation. Example: Macromedia Flash, Harvard
Graphics, 3D Studio Max, Adobe Photoshop

1.3 PEOPLE WARE

- Refers to people involved in the data

processing operations such as the system
administrator, office workers, students and
others.