Introducing hardware found in a computer
Random Access Memory
When you are looking at websites or playing a game, the computer is remembering the website or game on RAM. If there is a power cut, RAM will forget everything. When the power comes back on, the computer will not go back to the website or remember exactly which point the game was at. RAM comes in different sizes, the best games will need 16 or 32 gigabyte of RAM. Also, if your computer only has 2 or 4 gigabytes of RAM, try opening as many different websites/games/programs as possible. This will fill up your RAM...what do you think will happen to the computer if you keep opening programs?
RAM is known as primary storage while a magnetic hard disk drive, solid state or optical drive is known as secondary storage.
RAM is known as primary storage while a magnetic hard disk drive, solid state or optical drive is known as secondary storage.
Magnetic Hard Disk Drive
We like it when we can save games/work/pictures/music/files to our computers. When you click "save" on your computer, you have the option to store your files onto the magnetic hard disk drive that is inside your computer. These days, magnetic hard disk drives allow your to store lots of files, in computer science we wold say they have a "large storage capacity"
Solid State Drive
The SSD is new technology. It is a replacement for the magnetic hard disk drive. The function of the SSD is as a secondary storage device that allows a computer owner to save work/music/pictures on to their computer. The SSD is better than the Magnetic hard disk drive (HDD) because it is faster, has no moving parts, generates less heat, smaller and more robust than the HDD.
Building a computer
The outside of the computer is called a tower or case and inside it you put the motherboard. You then attach all the other components to the motherboard, including a graphics card (to play the best games), sound card (to improve sound quality), Network interface card (to access the internet) etc. You then close the case, buy a screen (monitor) and then plug in your computer. You will then have to buy and operating system (like windows) and load it on to the computer before it is ready for use.
Test your knowledge
Loading Input, output or storage device
Loading Name that hardware
Loading Name that function
Loading KS3 - The CPU and logic