2. Hardware 101: Introduction
Definition- Any part of the computer you
can physically touch
Examples
Ports
RAM
Power supply
Hard drive
Motherboard
Adapter cards
Expansion slots
CPU
4. WHAT ARE PORTS?
Definition-a data connection in
a computer to which a
peripheral device or a
transmission line from a remote
terminal can be attached.
What it does- allows the user to
connect to a input device like a
printer or keyboard
What Someone Should Know-
How many ports are there and
what do they connect to? Are
they parallel or USB ports?
6. WHAT IS RAM? (THE ENGLISH VERSION)
Definition- the computer’s
temporary storage space or
short term memory
What it does- used to store
programs and data temporarily
while the computer is using
them
What One Should Know- How
much RAM should the
computer in question have?
How many applications can be
run with the current RAM? If
you wanted to buy more RAM,
which is compatible with your
computer’s motherboard?
8. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE POWER
SUPPLY IS?
Definition- a source of
electricity for a device, which
converts, regulates, and
transmits the external device
What it does- provides
electricity to the computer
What One Should Know About
It- How much power does it
supply? Is it linear or
switched? How efficient is it?
10. WHERE IS THE HARD DRIVE?
Definition- storage device for
digital data
What it does- stores data
electronically in order for it to
be processed/opened/used
later
What One Should Know About
It- How much data can it store?
How fast does it process the
information?
12. WHERE CAN MOTHERBOARD BE FOUND?
Definition- main circuit board of
your computer and is also
known as the mainboard or
logic board.
What It Does- provides all the
connections, pathways, and
“lines” connecting the different
components of the computer to
each other
What One Should Know About
It- The name of the
manufacturer, the model
number of motherboard, the
BIOS version that is on
motherboard, and the
motherboard manufacturer
website
14. WHAT ARE ADAPTER CARDS?
Definition- a device that allows
one system to connect to and
work with another
What It Does- inserted in a
computer to give it added
capabilities
What One Should Know About
It- How much it can support?
16. EXPANSION SLOTS?
Definition - type of port or plug
on a computer motherboard
that allows extra devices to
attach to the computer and add
new types of functionality to the
computer
What It Does- gives computers
flexibility and allows for
hardware upgrades.
What One Should Know About
It- what size your computer
needs. What kind of expansion
slots should you use for
different devices
18. WHAT ARE CPUS?
Definition- key component of a
computer system, which
contains the circuitry necessary
to interpret and execute
program instructions
What It Does- allows you to
operate software, run programs
by fetching instructions from
RAM
What One Should Know About
It- How much power does it
supply? Know that heatsink
and fan are very important.
