Basics of a Computer
What is the general purpose of a computer?
To store and manipulate information or data
What does the computer case do?
It contains the main components of a computer within.
What does the power button do?
It turns on and off the computer.
What is the purpose of a motherboard?
The motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that holds the CPU, memory, connectors for the hard drive and optical drives, expansion cards to control the video and audio, and connections to your computer's ports (such as USB ports). The motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer.
What is an example of a type of a computer? Explain what it is.
Laptop - A more portable battery-operated computer
PCs - Traditional computers that usually have a tower and are used for personal use or business use
Tablets - Handheld computers with a touch-sensitive screen
What is the main difference between hardware and software?
Hardware refers to physical parts of a computer, software refers to programs with a set of instructions on how hardware should act.
What is a benefit of using an all-in-one computer over a traditional desktop with a tower case?
The all-in-one computer has its internal components all in one place, inside it. Whereas, a traditional desktop has its components in another location, aka the case.
What does the Audio In/Out support?
It supports devices such as headphones or microphones to allow for audio communication or audio recording.
What is the purpose of the CPU?
To execute instructions on a computer, it is the "brains"
You want to plug in a pair of headphones. What port MAY you use to do so?
Audio In/Out port OR USB-C
What can laptops do VERY EASILY that desktops cannot necessarily do as well?
They can be moved
What does the monitor do?
It is an output device that outputs images and text to the screen.
What does an HDMI port do?
It allows for an HDMI cable to be plugged in to accept audio/video from another source and stream it into a computer.
What is the purpose of a heatsink?
To absorb the heat that comes off from the CPU
What converts electricity from the wall into usable power?
The power supply
What is the purpose of a server?
To serve information up from a network to another computer
Give an example of a keyboard shortcut.
Ctrl+C copies information.
What is the Optical Disc Drive used for?
To read objects such as CDs into the computer.
What is the primary difference between RAM and Hard Drive?
RAM is random access memory and is stored temporarily whereas hard-drive is memory that is stored forever.
Why would a keyboard shortcut be useful to know? Explain.
CTRL+C allows you to copy massive amounts of data which may be needed for a project.
What is a key difference in Mac vs. a traditional PC?
What is the difference between a touchpad and trackball?
A touchpad uses a flat pad that let you control the pointer without a traditional mouse, but a trackball is a ball that allows for rotation to move the mouse.
What is the point of an Ethernet port?
To allow for a wired-connection to the Internet or networking.
What is the video card responsible for?
Outputting graphics to the screen.
What are the purpose of expansion slots?
To allow you to upgrade hardware within a computer.