Moniter

Moniter

A computer monitor is an essential part of the machine. A computer monitor displays the output from the hard drive, video card and CDROM. Without a monitor, a computer is not operational. There are several types of monitors similar to a regular television. Flat-screen monitors with enhanced technology make it easier for users to install the device onto their computer. These monitors have replaced old tube screens that take up more space and are harder to install

Size

• Sizes vary among monitor types. Smaller monitors like 19-inch displays are used by people who only need a simple view of spreadsheets and documents. Wide-screen 22-inch displays are the most beneficial for gamers. Even larger monitors are available for people who like a flashy display with a high-powered machine.
• Cheaper monitors are advantageous for people who don’t need high-quality graphics for games or multimedia. Affordable monitors are available in a $100-$200 range. The next step in monitors are about $250. These are used for games and multimedia. These monitors give extensive graphics in wide-screen LSD displays.
• Resolution adds to the crisp, detailed display of images through monitors. Resolution is measured in pixels. Pixels are the tiny dots that display the image to the viewer. The more pixels, the higher the resolution and the better the detail of the graphics. High-resolution monitors are dependent on video cards for the best detailed images.
• Contrast and brightness defines the light and dark settings of the monitor. Again, this is important for gamers who need more defined images. People who only use a computer for desktop applications don’t need to spend moreMONEY on contrast and brightness.

Cables and Connections

• The connection from the monitor to the computer uses a specific cable. The cable comes with the monitor. The other side of the connector cable is usually color-coded on the computer so that users know where to attach the cable to the motherboard. Additionally, a monitor comes with a power cable. These two cables are the only wires needed when installing a new monitor on a computer.

Random access memory (RAM)

Random access memory (RAM)

is the best known form of computer memory. RAM is considered “random access” because you can access any memory cell directly if you know the row and column that intersect at that cell.

The opposite of RAM is serial access memory (SAM). SAM stores data as a series of memory cells that can only be accessed sequentially (like a cassette tape). If the data is not in the current location, each memory cell is checked until the needed data is found. SAM works very well for memory buffers, where the data is normally stored in the order in which it will be used (a good example is the texture buffer memory on a video card). RAM data, on the other hand, can be accessed in any order.

Similar to a microprocessor, a memory chip is an integrated circuit(IC) made of millions of transistors and capacitors. In the most common form of computer memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a transistor and a capacitor are paired to create amemory cell, which represents a single bit of data. The capacitor holds the bit of information — a 0 or a 1 (see How Bits and Bytes Work for information on bits). The transistor acts as a switch that lets the control circuitry on the memory chip read the capacitor or change its state.

A capacitor is like a small bucket­ that is able to store electrons. To store a 1 in the memory cell, the bucket is filled with electrons. To store a 0, it is emptied. The problem with the capacitor’s bucket is that it has a leak. In a matter of a few milliseconds a full bucket becomes empty. Therefore, for dynamic memory to work, either the CPU or the memory controller has to come along and recharge all of the capacitors holding a 1 before they discharge. To do this, the mem­ory controller reads the memory and then writes it right back. This refresh operation happens automatically thousands of times per second.­

The capacitor in a dynamic RAM memory cell is like a leaky bucket. It needs to be refreshed periodically or it will discharge to 0. This refresh operation is where dynamic RAM gets its name. Dynamic RAM has to be dynamically refreshed all of the time or it forgets what it is holding. The downside of all of this refreshing is that it takes time and slows down the memory.

 

Keyboard

One of the primary input devices used with a computer, the keyboard looks very similar to the keyboards of electric typewriters, with some additional keys. Keyboards allow a computer user to input letters, numbers, and other symbols into a computer and is what allows you to write an e-mail and is what you used to visit this web page. Below is an example of a Saitek keyboard with indicators pointing to each of the major sections of the keyboard.

 

Keyboard section

Keyboard

The keyboard is the primary portion of the keyboard that contains all alphanumeric and symbol keys. Today most users use the QWERTY style keyboards, as shown in the below graphic illustration.

Function keys

The Function keys or F1 through F12 keys are used in programs as shortcut keys to performed frequently performed tasks. For example, the F1 key is the key to open the online help for most programs.

Control Keys

The Control keys are what give you additional control of a document. See our Control keys definition for additional information and further examples of control keys.

Keypad

Although not available on all computer keyboards, especially laptops; the keypad gives the user a quick access to numbers and math functions such as plus, divide, times, and subtract. See the keypad definition for further information, pictures, and related links.

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Arrow keys

Finally, the arrow keys are four directional arrow keys that allow the user to move their cursor and position on a page. See our arrow keys definition for further information on this term and related links.

Mouse

A mouse is a hardware input device that was invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1963 while working at Xerox PARC, who at the time was working at the Stanford Research Institute, which was a think tank sponsored by Stanford University. The picture is of a Microsoft IntelliMouse and is an example of what a computer mouse may look like.

The mouse allows an individual to control a pointer in a graphical user interface (GUI) and manipulate on-screen objects such as icons, files, and folders. By using a mouse the user doesn’t have to memorize commands, like those used in a text-based command line environment such asMS-DOS. For example, in MS-DOS a user would have to know the cd command and dir command to navigate to a folder and view the files. However, in Windows the user only has to double-click on the folder to view all the files.

The Mouse was originally referred to as an X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System.Xerox later applied the mouse to its revolutionary Alto computer system in 1973. However, because of Alto’s unfortunate success, it was first widely used in the Apple Lisa computer. Today, a pointing device is found on virtually every computer.

How do I use a mouse?

Move – Using your right or left hand drag the mouse up, down, left, or right to move the mouse pointer on the screen. If you reach the edge of your mouse pad, pick up the mouse and move it to the opposite side and then continue dragging the mouse in the direction you want the mouse pointer to move.

Select – When your mouse pointer is on top of an object on your screen (e.g. an icon) click the mouse left button once to highlight the item. If you want to select text, click the left-button at the end of the text you want to select and then while continuing to hold down the button drag to the mouse to the left.

Open – Click the left mouse button twice quickly (double-click) to open the icon, program or document.

Viewing properties – To view the properties of anything on the computer select the object or text with your left mouse button and then click with your right mouse button (right-click) to view the properties. If you view the properties of text you’ll be given a menu with options such as cut, copy, and paste.

Types of computer mice

• Cordless (Wireless)
• Footmouse
• IntelliMouse (Wheel mouse)
• J mouse
• Joystick
• Mechanical
• Optical
• Touchpad (Glidepoint)
• Trackball
• TrackPoint

SMPS

SMPS means Switch Mode Power Supply.As the name suggests it is used to switch the Alternating Current(AC) voltage into Direct current (DC) voltage which is required for our computer systems to work.It is placed inside the C.P.U of our computer and from this SMPS connections are given to the CD/DVD drive,Hard disk and to all parts of the computer.

Function of SMPS is similar to the transformers that are seen on the streets near our houses.These transformers also convert AC into DC voltage and supply it to our houses.But we cannot place a transformer in our computers as space occupied is too large.So,SMPS are introduced in the place of transformers.It is very efficient and very low heat is produced by this.

in general it is highly reliable and can guarantee you an efficient work up to 5 years.But if there is any fluctuation in your power line that will directly effect your SMPS and it may be damaged.

Hope you got required information about SMPS you needed.

A switched-mode power supply, or SMPS, is an electronic power supply unit (PSU) that incorporates a switching regulator — an internal control circuit that switches the load current rapidly on and off in order to stabilise the output voltage. Switching regulators are used as replacements for simpler linear regulators when higher efficiency, smaller size or lighter weight are required. They are, however, more complicated and more expensive, their switching currents can cause noise problems if not carefully suppressed, and simple designs can have a poor power factor.

SMPS can also be classified into four types according to the input and output waveforms, as follows.

AC in, DC out: rectifier, off-line converter
DC in, DC out: voltage converter, or current converter, or DC to DC converter
AC in, AC out: frequency changer, cycloconverter
DC in, AC out: inverter
AC and DC are abbreviations for alternating current and direct current.

MotherBoard

MotherBoard

Alternatively referred to as the mb, mainboard, mobo, mobd, backplane board,base board, main circuit board, planar board, system board, or a logic board on Apple computers. The motherboard is a printed circuit board that is the foundation of a computer, located at the bottom of the computer case. It allocates power to theCPU, RAM, and all other computer hardware components and allows them to communicate with one another.

Below is a graphic illustration of the ASUS P5AD2-E motherboard and some basic explanations of each of the major portions of the motherboard. Clicking on the image below gives you a larger more detailed version of the picture below.

Motherboard components

Below is a listing of links that describe each of the above mentioned motherboard components in additional detail. Links are listed in clockwise order going from the top-left corner of the image. Components not listed above or found on other motherboards are listed in the next section.

• Expansion slots (PCI Express, PCI, and AGP)
• 3-pin case fan connectors
• Back pane connectors
• Heatsink
• 4-Pin (P4) power connector
• Inductor
• Capacitor
• CPU Socket
• Northbridge
• Screw hole
• Memory slot
• Super I/O
• Floppy connection
• ATA (IDE) disk drive primary connection
• 24-pin ATX power Supply connector
• Serial ATA connections
• Coin cell battery (CMOS backup battery)
• RAID
• System panel connectors
• FWH
• Southbridge
• Serial port connector
• USB headers
• Jumpers
• Integrated circuit
• 1394 headers
• SPDIF
• CD-IN

 

Hard Disk

What is a Hard Disk Drive?
The hard disk drive is the main, and usually largest, data storage hardware device in a computer.
The operating system, software titles and most other files are stored in the hard disk drive.
Important Hard Disk Drive Facts
The hard drive is sometimes referred to as the “C drive” due to the fact that Microsoft Windows designates the “C” drive letter to the primary partition on the primary hard drive in a computer by default.
While this is not a technically correct term to use, it is still common. For example, some computers have multiple drive letters (e.g. C, D, E) representing areas across one or more hard drives.

Popular Hard Disk Drive Manufacturers
Western Digital, Hitachi
Hard Disk Drive Description
A hard drive is usually the size of a paperback book but much heavier.
The sides of the hard drive have pre drilled, threaded holes for easy mounting in the 3.5 inch drive bay in the computer case. Mounting is also possible in a larger 5.25 inch drive bay with an adapter. The hard drive is mounted so the end with the connections faces inside the computer.
The back end of the hard drive contains a port for a cable that connects to the motherboard. The type of cable used will depend on the type of drive but is almost always included with a hard drive purchase. Also here is a connection for power from the power supply.
Most hard drives also have jumper settings on the back end that define how the motherboard is to recognize the drive when more than one is present. These settings vary from drive to drive so check with your hard drive manufacturer for details.