Storage, Input, Processing, Output, Storage - ANSWER-Computers use these 5 steps
to operate.
System Unit - ANSWER-The full enclosure system that holds the motherboard, RAM,
GPU, PSU, harddrives, cooling, etc.
Monitor - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used to display output to the
user via a readable and/or interactive interface.
Keyboard - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used for input from the
user. It has many keys available to input in the form of alphabets, numerals, and
symbols.
Mouse - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used for input from the user
in the form of a handheld device that is moved around on top of a surface. It is used to
interact with the monitor. It moves a pointer on the screen.
Speaker - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used for auditory output to
the user.
Printer - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used to create hardcopy data.
Some types of these may also have built-in scanners, and/or fax. It is an output device.
Scanner - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used to create softcopies of
hardcopy data. It is an input device.
USB - ANSWER-This port comes in 3 different flavors and supports plug and play. It is
one of the most common port types today, replacing the older ports.
Ethernet - ANSWER-This port is used primarily with wired networks, using an 8-pin RJ-
45 connector.
ESATA - ANSWER-This port is used almost exclusively with external hard drives.
S/PDIF - ANSWER-This port is supported by fiber optic cabling, occasionally by a
coaxial-type connector that screws on. It is used for audio transfer.
, DVI - ANSWER-This port is used for monitors or projectors.
HDMI - ANSWER-This port is used for both audio and video, connecting to televisions
or any type of media receiver.
1/8 inch mini RCA jack - ANSWER-Used as direct links to microphones or speakers,
they are small round jacks used for audio transfer.
Power - ANSWER-This plug is located on the back of a PSU, used to transfer power
from a wall socket to the PC.
Firewire - ANSWER-A declining connector, this plug is mainly used in camcorders for
video/audio transfer.
mini DIN - ANSWER-A legacy connector, this connector is used for mouse and
keyboard inputs. May also be referred to as PS/2 connector, named after the first PC
that used them.
9 pin DB - ANSWER-A legacy connector with a D sub serial port, it was used with an
adapter to support mice, keyboards, printers, etc.
25 pin D sub - ANSWER-A legacy connector with a D sub parallel port, it was used
primarily with printers.
VGA - ANSWER-A legacy connector consisting of 3 rows of 5 pins each with a D sub
connector, it was used for monitors or projectors.
Power Supply - ANSWER-This box takes standard household current and converts it to
either 5v or 12v DC. It is used to power the system unit.
Video card - ANSWER-a printed circuit board controlling output to a display screen, it is
used to render graphics from a simple GUI to a complex 3d game. The more powerful
the card, the better the application that it can render.
RAM stick - ANSWER-These cards hold the computer memory. Any active program,
such as the OS, a game, or application, is stored here for quick access by the
processor.
CPU - ANSWER-This is the brains of a computer. It handles every process that goes
through from the hard drive to the motherboard, managing every element of a computer.
Motherboard - ANSWER-Every piece of the computer is connected either directly or
indirectly together from this central point. It is where the CPU is located, controlling
every element of the computer.
Optical drive - ANSWER-These play disk media, such as CD's, DVD's, or blu-ray disks,
or some can copy data to special disks in the form of burning data. It uses a laser to
read the data on the disk.
Hard drive - ANSWER-This uses platters to store data by means of magnetic force. It
uses actuator arms to record the data to the platters. It is where every element of a
program is permanently stored until otherwise deleted by the user, or by accidental
means.
Solid State Drive - ANSWER-This uses semiconductors to store data as electronic
means. It uses no moving parts, and can be generally quicker than the platter variants.
Like it's cousin, every element of a program is stored permanently here, until otherwise
deleted by the user, by accidental means, or simply by conductor burnout.
CPU - ANSWER-Abbreviate: Central Processing Unit
AMD, Intel - ANSWER-Two of the largest CPU manufacturers
CPU-Z - ANSWER-This program is available free on the internet. It allows the user to
see the specifications of their computer, from the CPU to the GPU.
to operate.
System Unit - ANSWER-The full enclosure system that holds the motherboard, RAM,
GPU, PSU, harddrives, cooling, etc.
Monitor - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used to display output to the
user via a readable and/or interactive interface.
Keyboard - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used for input from the
user. It has many keys available to input in the form of alphabets, numerals, and
symbols.
Mouse - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used for input from the user
in the form of a handheld device that is moved around on top of a surface. It is used to
interact with the monitor. It moves a pointer on the screen.
Speaker - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used for auditory output to
the user.
Printer - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used to create hardcopy data.
Some types of these may also have built-in scanners, and/or fax. It is an output device.
Scanner - ANSWER-This is a peripheral of the system unit, used to create softcopies of
hardcopy data. It is an input device.
USB - ANSWER-This port comes in 3 different flavors and supports plug and play. It is
one of the most common port types today, replacing the older ports.
Ethernet - ANSWER-This port is used primarily with wired networks, using an 8-pin RJ-
45 connector.
ESATA - ANSWER-This port is used almost exclusively with external hard drives.
S/PDIF - ANSWER-This port is supported by fiber optic cabling, occasionally by a
coaxial-type connector that screws on. It is used for audio transfer.
, DVI - ANSWER-This port is used for monitors or projectors.
HDMI - ANSWER-This port is used for both audio and video, connecting to televisions
or any type of media receiver.
1/8 inch mini RCA jack - ANSWER-Used as direct links to microphones or speakers,
they are small round jacks used for audio transfer.
Power - ANSWER-This plug is located on the back of a PSU, used to transfer power
from a wall socket to the PC.
Firewire - ANSWER-A declining connector, this plug is mainly used in camcorders for
video/audio transfer.
mini DIN - ANSWER-A legacy connector, this connector is used for mouse and
keyboard inputs. May also be referred to as PS/2 connector, named after the first PC
that used them.
9 pin DB - ANSWER-A legacy connector with a D sub serial port, it was used with an
adapter to support mice, keyboards, printers, etc.
25 pin D sub - ANSWER-A legacy connector with a D sub parallel port, it was used
primarily with printers.
VGA - ANSWER-A legacy connector consisting of 3 rows of 5 pins each with a D sub
connector, it was used for monitors or projectors.
Power Supply - ANSWER-This box takes standard household current and converts it to
either 5v or 12v DC. It is used to power the system unit.
Video card - ANSWER-a printed circuit board controlling output to a display screen, it is
used to render graphics from a simple GUI to a complex 3d game. The more powerful
the card, the better the application that it can render.
RAM stick - ANSWER-These cards hold the computer memory. Any active program,
such as the OS, a game, or application, is stored here for quick access by the
processor.
CPU - ANSWER-This is the brains of a computer. It handles every process that goes
through from the hard drive to the motherboard, managing every element of a computer.
Motherboard - ANSWER-Every piece of the computer is connected either directly or
indirectly together from this central point. It is where the CPU is located, controlling
every element of the computer.
Optical drive - ANSWER-These play disk media, such as CD's, DVD's, or blu-ray disks,
or some can copy data to special disks in the form of burning data. It uses a laser to
read the data on the disk.
Hard drive - ANSWER-This uses platters to store data by means of magnetic force. It
uses actuator arms to record the data to the platters. It is where every element of a
program is permanently stored until otherwise deleted by the user, or by accidental
means.
Solid State Drive - ANSWER-This uses semiconductors to store data as electronic
means. It uses no moving parts, and can be generally quicker than the platter variants.
Like it's cousin, every element of a program is stored permanently here, until otherwise
deleted by the user, by accidental means, or simply by conductor burnout.
CPU - ANSWER-Abbreviate: Central Processing Unit
AMD, Intel - ANSWER-Two of the largest CPU manufacturers
CPU-Z - ANSWER-This program is available free on the internet. It allows the user to
see the specifications of their computer, from the CPU to the GPU.
