Memory is volatile (temporary).
Bios: Short for Basic Input Output System. This stores the program of what it has to do, previous processes and processes it has to do. When we boot the computer( startup the computer) we see the bios part. Interisting tip, my teacher says that if you press delete when you boot the computer it takes you to the set up.
Now to the memory part.
There are many kinds of RAM available like:
SIMM (the older one): Single In-line Memory Module
(will be writing more on this later)DIMM: Dual In-Line Memory Module
Picture of SIMM RAM ( taken from answers.com) click on link to access it.
(will be writing more on this later)
Hard drive parts :
Actuator Arm this is the part that reads the magnetic code.
Disk platter: The metal disk that revolves around
So what a hard drive does is ti spins around at high speeds and that's when tha actuator arm reads information, writes info etc.
How a cd (compact disk) works:
A cd has what is called pits and lands. If you look at shiny side of the cd you are going to realize that there are sort of lines on the cd (tip look near the edges) that stand out. These are the pits and lands. The pits are the parts that are burned(a cd burner creats pits and lands and puts infor in cd) and the lands are the parts that are flat. So when that laser in the cd drive (yes there is apparently a laser in the cd drive) goes over the spninning cd it can see reflictive parts and non reflective parts. Again we have two stages that the computer can recognize just like the binary code.
How a cd-rw (compact disk re-writable) works:
Well it works the same as the cd but just that the material that is used to create the cd can be melted again into a flat piece and you can use it again and again and again.
Interesing about cd's: If you have ever heard that never touch the shiny part of the disk then well, it's right. But did you know that touching or scratching the top side of the disk is also equally bad. Because this is the side that contains the thing that is like foil so if you damage it the cd is useless. Why is this? Because it ruins the reflictive quality of the cd. This means that no info can be stored. So you can harm cd's by scratching them or leaving finger prints. But you can't damage them using magnets unlike floppys.
CD's also contain more info usually 700MB. DVD's or digital videos, Blue Ray disks etc are the same as cd's but the have their pits and land closer.
Keyboard:
Even wonder how the information gets sent to the cpu?
Actually what happens is this:
There are two milar films with a circuit embidded into them. When we press a key the two milar films touch each other at one point, thus connecting the circuit and sending the signal to the cpu.
Mouse:
A mouse with a ball:
When a mouse turns there is a gear near the notch when the ball moves the gear moves and turns. This movement is detected by a a optical beam.
Laser mouses. More expensive and uses laser to move the cursor. (I will be adding more on this post later on.)
Networking!
Networking is a way of connecting computers. Usually a category 5 cable is used. RJ45 or the ethernet cable is used commonly. This cable looks just like a phone cable but is more thick and the plug is bigger. It has 8 wires in it twisted together in pairs. The telephone wire is called RJ11.
We also use 802.11 technology more commonly known as WI-FI (the short form of Wireless Fidility). This is a networking technology that connects computers using radio waves.
Interesting facts of today:
did you ever know that a previous processors work at 3 volts. I don't know about processors today though I'll have to look that up.
Did you know that AMD stood for Advanced Micro Devices. This is the company that produces microchips, justl like Intel.
More on this post later!
Source http://answers.com
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