COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

Basic Components of a Computer
1. Hardware - the physical parts of a computer. This is the tangible component of the computer system.
2. Software - the sets of instructions also known as program.  This is the intangible component of the computer system.
3.  Peopleware - the users of the computer.

Hardware Components
1.  Input Devices - the device used for entering data, issuing commands and receiving data and information to the computer system.
         Basic  Examples:
                            Keyboard - use for data entry.
                                              Data entry is the process of entering data into the computer.

                            Mouse - use for issuing a command.
                           Scanner - captures pictures to the computer.
2.  Output Devices - the device used for producing hard copy and soft copy output.
         Basic Examples:
                           Monitor - displays a soft copy output.
                           Printer - produce an output printed on paper.
                           Speaker - produce sound output.
                                            2 Forms of Output
                                            1.  Hard copy - an output printed of paper.  It is hard in the sense that
                                                 it  can be touched.   
                                            2.  Soft copy - the output displayed in the monitor screen, a sound the gets
                                                out the speaker.
                                             
There are still several examples of an input and output devices that are not mentioned.

3.  System Unit -  The main part of a personal computer which  includes the case, microprocessor, random access memory (RAM), bus, and ports.

              Basic Examples
               Central Processing Unit(CPU) - the brain of the computer. It has the arithmetic logic unit
               (ALU) which is responsible for addition, multiplication, division, and subtraction.
               Moreover,  thehan, lesser than ALU also performs logical operations such as greater than,
               lesser than, greater or equal, lesser or equal and equal to. Logical means comparison.
               Motherboard -also known as the main circuit board since all other parts are connected to it. 
               Since cpu is the brain, the motherboard is the central nervous system of the computer.
               Memory - the generic term that describes the storage device of a computer.


               Types of Primary Memory

               Random Access Memory  (RAM) - is the main memory of the computer.  Data and
               instructions  are temporarily stored in to it.  The data and instructions stored in the RAM can
               be changed, deleted and manipulated.  If the computer is turned of the data and instructions
               that are stored in RAM will be lost.
               Read Only Memory (ROM) - a primary storage device wherein the instructions are stored
               permanently.
               Cache Memory - pronounced as "cash". A special high-speed storage device. It is either a
               reserved section of main memory or an independent high-speed storage device.

              Types of Secondary Memory
              Hard Disks -  a magnetic storage device use to store data and instructions permanently.  The 
              term hard is used to distinguish this kind of storage from floppy disks.
              Flash Disks , Floppy Disks, Compact Disks (terms for update)