IGCSE ICT

Types and
Components of
Computer Systems

Computer

an electronic device for storing and processing

data, typically in binary form, according to
instructions given to it in a variable program.

Computer
Hardware
and Software

Computer hardware

Refers to the physical parts of a computer

that we can see and touch.

Computer hardware
examples

LCD Monitors

Keyboard and Mouse

Speaker

Web camera

Computer software
Tells the computer what to do and how to do it.
It is also known as computer programs.
It consist of sets of instructions.

Computer software
examples

Windows 7

Windows 8

Microsoft word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Types of software
1. System Software
2. Application Software

System Software
is designed to operate computer hardware.
It includes many programs, but its major
component is the operating system.

Operating System

Microsoft Windows

Windows 7

Windows 8

Operating System

Mac OS

Operating System

Enable users to communicate with computer

systems,
Task:
Controlling the operation of the input, output and
backing storage devices.
Supervising the loading, running and storage of
applications programs.
Dealing with errors.
Maintaining security.
Maintaining a computer log.
Allowing communication between user and the
computer system

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application Software

is used for performing specific task.

it allows us to create documents or

presentations, view and edit images and
videos, play games and communicate with
others.

Examples of Application
Software

Word processors ( Microsoft Word, Notepad )

Spreadsheet Software ( Microsoft Excel )

Presentation graphic software ( Microsoft PowerPoint )

Web Browsers ( Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox,

Google Chrome )

Multimedia Software ( Windows Media Player,

Quicktime )

QUESTION

Types of Computer

Personal Computer
Are usually found in home.
Designed to be used by one person at a
time and perform task such as school
work, gaming,household
accounts,internet accessandemailing.

Personal Computer

Advantages(compared to
laptop)

Disadvantages(compared
to laptop)

You get abetter

Desktop PC's
specificationfor your money. arelargeandbulky.
(better components for the
same price)

(this makes them not very

portable)

Cheaperto buy due to

components being easier to
make.

They need aconstant power

supplyas they do not use
batteries.

Thekeyboard is easier to
Need to copy files onto
useas it is larger than a laptop portable storage (memory
keyboard.
stick) or send via email if you
need towork in a different
Design of casing allows
location.
forheat to escape.
This helps to keeps the PC
pretty cool.

Note:This is because they are

not portable and can't be
moved easily.

Laptop
Areportable computersand are small
enough to sit on your lap.
They can beused almost anywheredue
to theirsmall sizeand abuilt-in battery
which powers the laptop when there is no
access to a plug socket.
Modern laptops are generallyalmost as
powerful as a Desktop PCand are used
for similar tasks and purposes.

Laptop

Advantages(compared to
PC's)

Disadvantages(compared to
PC's)

Smallerandlighterand are
much easier to transport.
(portable)

Limited battery lifemeans

you need to recharge quite
frequently.

Laptop components uselowpower.

Smaller keyboardsare
sometimes hard to use.

Built-inrechargeable
batterymeans they will work
evenwithout a mains power
supply. (portable)

Laptops areprone to theftas

they are often used in public
places.

Usually come withbuilt-in Wi- Laptops arecompactand can

Fiwhich means they can access gethotterthan a desktop PC.
the internet from locations with
access.
No needto transfer files onto
portable storage if you need to
work in a different location. You
simply take the laptop with you.

Mainframes
Arevery large and expensiveand are capable
of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of
users at thesame time.
Are used in large organizations for processing
huge amounts of data to control massive
networks of computer.
Usemore than one processor(parallel
processing) which means they can processmany
jobs at the same time.
Early mainframes were thesize of a roomand
got their name because they were housed
inlarge metal frames.

Mainframes

Advantages
(compared to other
computers)

Disadvantages
(compared to other
computers)

They can processhuge

amounts of datavery
quickly.

Veryexpensiveto buy
(and to run).

Can performmillions and

millions of
calculationsper second.

They arevery largeand

so are almostimpossible
to transport.

Parallel
processingmeans they
can handle many tasks at
the same time.

They generatea lot of

heatand need to be in airconditioned rooms.

They can run and

They need ahigh-level of
managehuge networksof trainingfor people to be

Netbook
Areextremely small and lightversions of
laptops and typicallyweigh about 6
pounds.
Can be used forsimilar tasks to a
laptopbut they arenot as powerfuland
havemuch smaller screens.

Netbook

Advantages(compared to
laptop)

Disadvantages(compared to
laptop)

Much smaller and lighter...

means they are even easier to
transport.

Very small keyboardscan be

difficult to use.

Longer battery life(their lowpower components require less

energy).

Low performancemeans they

are not suitable for powerhungry tasks like video editing.

Cheaperbecause they do not

come with certain components
(such as CD/DVD drive).

Small screenmake images and

text difficult to see.
Very smallsize makes them
easy tomisplaceor getstolen.
Small hard diskdrives means
that they canstore less data.

PDA

PDAs are handheld computers with

facilities including:
Personal organiser(birthdays, appointments
etc)
Internet browsing
Telephone calls
Multimedia(video, music etc)
etc

PDA

Advantages
(compared to other
computers)

Disadvantages
(compared to other
computers)

Smaller and lighter... means

they are very portable.

Very small keyboardscan be

difficult to use.

(they literally fit in your pocket)

Easy touse anywhere... even
standing on a train.

Some use astylus peninstead

of a keyboard.
(some people find these tricky to
use)

Can beused like a mobile

phoneto make calls.

Small screenmake images and

text difficult to see.
Very smallsize makes them
easy tomisplaceor getstolen.
Limited power... especially
compared to desktop PC's.

Palmtop

are verysimilar in computing power to

PDAsand are used for basic functions such
as:

Calendars
Phone number and address book lists
Internet access
Email

Palmtop

Advantages
(compared to other
computers)

Disadvantages
(compared to other
computers)

Smaller and lighter... means

they are very portable.

Very small keyboardscan be

difficult to use.

(they literally fit in your pocket)

Easy touse anywhere... even
standing on a train.

Some havebuilt in cameras

and microphones.
(useful for applications such as
Skype)

Less memorymeans they

cannot run powerful programs
(such as graphic editors)
Small screenmake images and
text difficult to see.
Very smallsize makes them
easy tomisplaceor getstolen.
Limited power... especially
compared to desktop PC's.

QUESTION

Main Components of
Computer Systems

Definition

Computer Components
All the different pieces of electrical hardware
that join together to make up the complete
computer system.

Computer System

Input devices
Output devices
Secondary storage devices
Processor and internal memory

Computer System

Internal Hardware Computer

Components
Internal computer components are designed
to fitINSIDEthe computer system and they
all carry out important roles.
Motherboard
Processor
Internal Memory
Video Card
Sound Card
Internal Hard Disk Drive

Motherboard

Processor (CPU)

Internal Memory

Types of internal memory

RAM
ROM

RAM (Random Access

Memory)

RAM is used totemporarily store informationthat

iscurrently in useby the computer.

RAM can beread from and written toand so the

information stored in RAM can change all the time (it
depends what tasks you are using the computer for).

RAM is afast memory. Data can be written to and read

from RAM very quickly.

RAM isVolatile Memory. This means that information

stored in RAM is deleted as soon as the computer is turned
off.

ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM is used topermanently store instructionsthat tell the computer how

toboot(start up). It alsoloads the operating system(e.g. Windows).

Information stored in ROM is known asREAD ONLY. This means that the contents
of ROM cannot be altered or added to by the user.

ROM isfast memory. Data stored in ROM can be accessed and read very quickly.

ROM isNon-Volatilememory.

Other examples of ROM includes:DVD/CD ROMSbought in stores containing prerecorded music and movie files. These are played back at home but cannot be
altered.

ROMin printers which is used to store different font types.

Video Card (aka Graphics

Card)

Graphics cards are hardware devices that

plug into the motherboard and enables the
computer todisplay images on the
monitor.

Graphics cards usually require

theinstallation of softwarealongside the
hardware. The softwareinstructs the
computer how to use the graphics
cardand also allows you to alter
settingsto change image quality and size.

Sound Card

Sound cards areinternal hardware

devicesthat plug into themotherboard.

A sound card's main function is to allow the

computer system toproduce soundbut
they also allow users toconnect
microphonesin order toinput
soundsinto the computer.

Sound cards are also useful in

theconversion of analogue data into
digitalandvice versa.

Sound card

Storage Device

Secondary storage devices are used to store

data that isnot instantly neededby the
computer.

Secondary storage devicespermanently

store dataand programsfor as long as
we need.

Temporary storagelikeRAMdoes not

hold data for long periods.

Storage Device

External Hardware Computer

Components

External computer components connect to a

computer system fromOUTSIDE.

Input Devices
Output Devices
Peripherals

Input Devices
Input devices are pieces of hardware that
get raw data into the computer read for
processing.
Processing involves taking raw data and
turning it into more useful information.

Input devices fall into two categories:

Manual Input Devices
Automatic Input Devices

Manual Input Devices

Automatic Input Devices

Output Devices
When inputted raw data has been
processed it becomesusable information.
Output devices are pieces of hardware that
send this usable informationout of the
computer.
Some output devices send information out
temporarily and some send information out
permanently:

Output Devices

Peripheral Devices
Almost all input and output devices are
known as'Peripheral devices
These are'non-essential'hardware
components that usually connect to the
system externally.
Peripherals are called non-essential
becausethe system can operate
without them.

Peripheral Devices

Keyboard

Mouse

Microphone

Web Cam

Scanner

Joystick

Speakers

Printer

QUESTION

QUIZ