Understanding Computer Basics: Hardware, Software, and Components

Posted on Apr 18, 2025 in Computers

Understanding Computer Basics

Information: Part of the technology that deals with the automatic processing of information, necessary equipment, means of communication, and data storage. For information to be processed, there must be a transmitter, a receiver, a means, and a support.

Computer

A group of electronic devices whose function is the automatic processing of information. Computers are able to distinguish two states:

  • Open: When no current is present, represented by a 0.
  • Closed: When current is present, represented by a 1.

The computer only understands a language that consists of zeros and ones.

Binary Code

The single language that computers understand, composed of two elements: 0 and 1.

BIT

The minimum amount of information. 8 BITS = 1 BYTE

1TB = 103 GB = 106 MB = 109 KB = 1012 B

Converting Decimal to Binary

The decimal number is divided by 2 until the quotient is one. The binary number is the last quotient followed by all the remainders.

Converting Binary to Decimal

The binary number is expressed as powers of 2, starting with the figure on the right and 20.

Hardware

The physical devices comprising the computer.

Software

Instructions that control the hardware. This consists of zeros and ones.

Computer Elements

Core Unit

Power supply, motherboard (CPU and connectors), and internal peripherals.

External Peripherals

Keyboard, mouse, printer, monitor, scanner, plotter.

Central Unit

Metal box in front of which are located the on/off button and internal peripherals.

Power Supply

Circuits responsible for supplying the electrical current and voltage required by all devices in the computer. It is necessary to convert the AC voltage continuously and also lower the voltage from 220V to 12V and 5V.

Motherboard

The main part of a computer. A printed circuit board where the CPU resides and connectors (buses – copper wire from the motherboard. Types: data bus, address bus, and control bus).

CPU

Responsible for conducting all the operations required to interpret instructions and process data. Composed of:

Microprocessors

The computer’s brain.

Main Memory

Contains the instructions to be executed and the data for execution. Types:

  • ROM (Read-Only Memory): Memory whose information can only be read, never deleted or altered.
  • RAM (Random Access Memory): Random Access Memory. It can be read, written, and amended.

Input and Output

Supports communication between the CPU and external devices through connectors.

Connectors

Electric link elements for printed circuits or devices that interact with the input and output unit. Types: ISA, PCI, AGP, IDE, FDD, serial-ATA connector, parallel port, serial port, Firewire.

Internal Peripherals

Printed circuit boards housed inside the central unit enclosure.

External Peripherals

Located outside the central unit. Types:

Input Peripherals

Send information to the CPU:

  • Keyboard: ASCII, 256 characters.
  • Mouse: The CPU sends data movement in the X-axis and Y-axis.
Output Peripherals
  • Printer:
    • Martial: Equipped with a head with many needles hitting the paper and ink-soaked ribbon.
    • Inkjet: Uses four inks: black, magenta, cyan, and yellow.
    • Laser: Very fast and high quality.
  • Video Card
Input and Output Peripherals

Send data from the CPU and receive data by the CPU: MODEM.

  • Hard Disk: Device that stores information permanently. You can read and erase data.
  • Disk Drive
  • Network Card: Facilitates communication between multiple computers.
  • Sound Card
  • CD-ROM and DVD
  • Bluetooth: Allows the transmission of voice and data between devices that have it. It has a range of 10 meters.