Main PC devices and their characteristics. The main components of the computer

By its purpose, a computer is a universal device for working with information. According to the principles of its device, a computer is a model of a person working with information.

Personal Computer  (PC) is a computer designed to serve one workstation. According to its characteristics, it may differ from large computers, but is functionally capable of performing similar operations. By the method of operation, they distinguish between desktop (desktop), portable (laptop and notebook) and pocket (palmtop) PC models.

Hardware.  Since a computer provides all three classes of information methods for working with data (hardware, software, and natural), it is customary to talk about a computer system as consisting of hardware and software that work together. The nodes that make up the hardware of a computer are called hardware. They perform all physical work with data: registration, storage, transportation and transformation both in form and in content, and also present them in a form convenient for interaction with natural information methods of a person.

The set of computer hardware is called its hardware configuration.

YouTube video

Software.  Programs can be in two states: active and passive. In a passive state, the program does not work and looks like data, the content of which is information. In this state, the contents of the program can be "read" using other programs, like books are read, and modified. From it you can find out the purpose of the program and the principle of its operation. In a passive state, programs are created, edited, stored and transported. The process of creating and editing programs is called programming.

When a program is in an active state, the substantial part of its data is considered as a command, according to which the computer hardware works. To change the order of their work, it is enough to interrupt the execution of one program and start the execution of another, containing a different set of commands.

A set of programs stored on a computer forms its software. The set of programs prepared for work is called installed software. A set of programs running at one time or another is called a software configuration.

Computer device.  Any computer (even the largest) consists of four parts:

information input devices

information processing devices

storage devices

information output devices.

Structurally, these parts can be combined in a single case the size of a book, or each part can consist of several rather bulky devices

Basic PC hardware configuration. The basic hardware configuration of a personal computer is called the minimum set of hardware sufficient to start working with a computer. Over time, the concept of basic configuration is gradually changing.

Most often, a personal computer consists of the following devices:

System unit

Monitor

Keyboard

Mouse

Additionally, other input and output devices, such as speakers, a printer, a scanner, can be connected ...

System unit- The main unit of a computer system. It contains devices that are considered internal. Devices connected to the system unit from the outside are considered external. For external devices, the term peripheral equipment is also used.
  Monitor- a device for the visual reproduction of symbolic and graphic information. Serves as an output device. For desktop PCs, the most common are cathode ray tube based monitors. They remotely resemble household televisions.
  Keyboard- a keyboard device designed to control the operation of the computer and enter information into it. Information is entered in the form of alphanumeric character data.
  Mouse- a device of "graphic" control.

Internal devices of a personal computer.
  Internal devices are those located in the system unit. Access to some of them is available on the front panel, which is convenient for quick change of information media, such as floppy disks. The connectors of some devices are displayed on the rear wall - they are used to connect peripheral equipment. Access to some devices of the system unit is not provided - it is not required for normal operation.

  CPU. Microprocessor - The main chip of a personal computer. All calculations are performed in it. The main characteristic of the processor is the clock frequency (measured in megahertz, MHz). The higher the clock speed, the higher the processor performance. So, for example, at a clock speed of 500 MHz the processor can change its
  fortune 500 million times. For most operations, one clock cycle is not enough, so the number of operations that the processor can perform per second depends not only on the clock frequency, but also on the complexity of the operations.

The only device about which the processor “knows from birth” is RAM - it works together with it. Data and commands come from there. The data is copied to the processor cells (they are called registers), and then converted in accordance with the contents of the commands. A more complete picture of how the processor interacts with RAM, you will get in the chapters on the basics of programming.

RAM.  RAM can be thought of as an extensive array of cells that store numerical data and commands while the computer is on. The amount of RAM is measured in millions of bytes - megabytes (MB).

The processor can refer to any memory cell (byte), because it has a unique numerical address. The processor cannot access the individual bit of RAM, because the bit has no address. At the same time, the processor can change the state of any bit, but this requires several actions.

Motherboard.  The motherboard is the largest personal computer board. On it are the highways connecting the processor with RAM, the so-called buses. A distinction is made between a data bus through which the processor copies data from memory cells, an address bus through which it connects to specific memory cells, and a command bus through which commands from programs are received by the processor. All other internal computer devices are also connected to the motherboard buses. The microprocessor chipset - the so-called chipset - controls the operation of the motherboard.

Video adapter Video adapter - an internal device that is installed in one of the connectors on the motherboard. In the first personal computers, there were no video adapters. Instead, a small area for storing video data was allocated in the RAM. A special microcircuit (video controller) read data from the video memory cells and controlled the monitor in accordance with them.

As the graphic capabilities of computers improved, the video memory area was separated from the main RAM and, together with the video controller, was allocated to a separate device, which was called a video adapter. Modern video adapters have their own computing processor (video processor), which reduced the load on the main processor when building complex images. The video processor plays a particularly important role when building three-dimensional images on a flat screen. During such operations, he has to perform especially many mathematical calculations.

In some models of motherboards, the functions of the video adapter are performed by the chipset chips - in this case, they say that the video adapter is integrated with the motherboard. If the video adapter is designed as a separate device, it is called a video card. The video card connector is displayed on the rear wall. A monitor is connected to it.

Sound adapter  For IBM PC computers, audio was not initially provided. The first ten years of existence, computers on this platform were considered office equipment and dispensed with sound devices. Currently, tools for working with sound are considered standard. To do this, a sound adapter is installed on the motherboard. It can be integrated into the chipset of the motherboard or made as a separate plug-in board, which is called a sound card.
  Sound card connectors are routed to the back of the computer. To play sound, speakers or headphones are connected to them. A separate jack is for connecting a microphone. With a special program, this allows you to record sound. There is also a connector (line output) for connecting to external recording or reproducing equipment (tape recorders, amplifiers, etc.).

  HDD.  Since the computer’s RAM is cleared when the power is turned off, a device is needed for long-term storage of data and programs. Currently, the so-called hard drives are widely used for these purposes.
  The principle of operation of a hard disk is based on recording changes in the magnetic field near the recording head.

The main parameter of a hard disk is the capacity, measured in gigabytes (billions of bytes), GB. The average size of a modern hard drive is 80 - 160 GB, and this parameter is growing steadily.

Floppy drive. To transport data between remote computers use the so-called floppy disks. A standard floppy disk (diskette) has a relatively small capacity of 1.44 MB. By modern standards, this is not enough for most data storage and transportation tasks, but the low cost of storage media and a high degree of readiness for work have made floppy disks the most common storage media.

To write and read data located on floppy disks, a special device is used - a drive. The drive’s receiving hole is displayed on the front panel of the system unit.

CD-ROM drive.It is convenient to use CD-ROMs to transport large amounts of data. These discs only allow you to read previously recorded data - you cannot write to them. The capacity of one disk is about 650-700 MB.

CD-ROM drives are used to read CDs. The main parameter of the CD-ROM drive is read speed. It is measured in multiple units. The reading speed approved in the mid-80s is taken as a unit. for music CDs (audio CDs). Modern CD-ROM drives provide read speeds of 40x - 52x.
  The main disadvantage of CD-ROM drives - the inability to burn discs - is overcome in modern write-once devices - CD-R. There are also CD-RW devices that allow multiple recording.

The principle of storing data on compact discs is not magnetic, like floppy disks, but optical.

Communication ports. To communicate with other devices, such as a printer, scanner, keyboard, mouse, etc., the computer is equipped with so-called ports. A port is not just a connector for connecting external equipment, although the port ends with a connector. A port is a more complex device than just a connector, which has its own microcircuits and is controlled by software.

Network adapter  Network adapters are necessary for computers so that they can exchange data with each other. This device ensures that the processor does not submit a new batch of data to the external port until the network adapter of the neighboring computer has copied the previous batch to itself. After that, the processor is given a signal that the data has been taken and new ones can be submitted. So the transfer is carried out.

When the network adapter “learns” from the neighboring adapter that it has a chunk of data, it copies them to itself, and then checks to see if it is addressed to it. If so, it passes them to the processor. If not, he puts them on the output port, from where the network adapter of the next neighboring computer will pick them up. So the data is moved between computers until it reaches the destination.

Network adapters can be built into the motherboard, but more often they are installed separately, in the form of additional cards, called network cards.

PERSONAL COMPUTER EXTERNAL DEVICES. THEIR PURPOSE AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

External (peripheral) devices of a personal computer are an essential part of any computing complex. The cost of external devices on average is about 80-85% of the cost of our complex. External devices allow the computer to interact with the environment — users, control objects, and other computers.

External devices are connected to the computer through special input-output connectors. BB portsoda-output are of the following types:

•   parallel (designated LPT1 - LPT4) - are usually used to connect printers;
•   serial (denoted by СОМ1 - COM4) - usually a mouse, modem and other devices are connected to themroyals.

TO external devices   relate:

•   information input devices;
•   information output devices;
•   user dialog tools;
•   communications and telecommunications.

TO input devices   Information include:

•   keyboard - a device for manually entering numeric, textual and control information into a computer;
•   graphic tablets (digitizers) - for manual input of graphic information, images by moving a special pointer (pen) on the tablet; when moving the pen, the coordinates of its location are automatically read and these coordinates are entered into the computer;
•   scanners (reading machines) - for automatic reading from paper and entering typewritten texts, graphs, drawings, drawings into a computer;
•   pointing devices (graphic manipulators) - for entering graphical information onto a monitor screen by controlling the movement of the cursor on the screen, followed by coding of the cursor coordinates and entering them into a computer (joystick, mouse, trackball, light pen);
•   touch screens - for entering individual image elements, programs or commands from the split-screen display into a computer).

TO output devices information include:

•   plotters (plotters) - to display graphical information on paper;
•   printers - printing devices for outputting information on paper.

The main types of printers:

•   matrix - the image is formed from dots that are printed with thin needles that hit the paper through the ink ribbon. Characters in a line are printed sequentially. The number of needles in the print head determines the print quality. Inexpensive drivers have 9 needles. More advanced dot matrix printers have 18 and 24 needles;
•   inkjet - there are thin tubes in the print head - nozzles through which tiny droplets of ink are thrown onto the paper. The print head array typically contains 12 to 64 nozzles. At present, inkjet printers provide a resolution of up to 50 dots per millimeter and a print speed of up to 500 characters per second with excellent print quality approaching the quality of laser printing. Inkjet printers also perform color printing, but the resolution is reduced by about half;
•   laser - an electrographic method of imaging is used. The laser is used to create an ultra-thin light beam, drawing on the surface of a pre-charged photosensitive drum the contours of an invisible point electron image. After the manifestation of electronic Imagination by a dye (toner) powder sticking to the discharged areas, printing is performed — transfer the toner from the drum to the paper and fix the image on the paper by heating the toner until it is melted. Laser printers provide the highest quality, fastest printing. Widely used color laser printers.

TO user dialog facilities   relate:

• video terminals (monitors) - devices for displaying input and output information. The video terminal consists of a video monitor (display) and a video controller (video adapter). Video controllers are part of the computer system unit (located on the video card installed in the connector on the motherboard). Video monitors are external computer devices. The main characteristic of the monitor is the resolution, which is determined by the maximum number of points placed horizontally and vertically on the monitor screen. Modern monitors have standard resolution values \u200b\u200bfrom 640 X 480 to 1600 x 1200, but there may actually be other values. Both color and monochrome monitors can be used;
•   devices of speech input-output information. These include various microphone acoustic systems, as well as various sound synthesizers that convert digital codes into letters and words reproduced through speakers or speakers connected to a computer.

Communication and telecommunication facilities   used to connect a computer to communication channels, other computers and computer networks. This group primarily includes network adapters. As a network adapter, modems (modulator-demodulator) are most often used.

Many of the above devices belong to the conditionally allocated group - multimedia.

Multimedia tools   - it is a complex of hardware and software that allows a person to communicate with a computer using a variety of natural environments: sound, video, graphics, texts, animation, etc. Media tools include:

•   speech input and output devices;
•   microphones and video cameras, acoustic and video reproducing systems with amplifiers, speakers, large video screens;
•   sound and video cards, video capture cards that capture the image from a VCR or camcorders and entering it into the computer;
•   scanners
•   large capacity optical disk drives often used for recordingand sound and video information.

In this article, which was prepared for novice users, we will consider computer device. We also learn the main characteristics of the devices and what functions they perform.

The ordinary personal computer that we use in our daily lives consists of the following parts:

System unit;

Monitor;

Keyboards and mice;

Additional devices (printer, scanner, webcam, etc.)

The device of a personal computer. The content of the article:

System unit

The system unit is the central part of the computer in which all the most important components are located. Everything that makes the computer work. A variety of system units are available, which vary in size, design and assembly method.

The main elements of the system unit:

• RAM;
• Video card;
• HDD;
• Optical drive (DVD, Blu-ray);
• Power Supply

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

A motherboard is the largest system unit board. The main computer devices are installed on it: processor, RAM, video card, slots (connectors), BIOS, with the help of cables and cables, a DVD drive, hard disk, keyboard, mouse, etc. are connected to the motherboard. The main task of the motherboard is to connect everything these devices and make them work as one. In addition, there are controllers on it. Controllers are electronic boards inserted into connectors (slots) on the motherboard, they control devices connected to a computer. Some controllers are part of the motherboard. Such controllers are called integrated or integrated. So mouse and keyboard controllers are always built-in. By adding and replacing controller boards, you can expand the capabilities of the computer and customize it to your requirements. For example, a user can add an additional sound card that can work with new multi-channel speakers.

The central processing unit (CPU, CPU) is the main element of the computer, its “brain”. He is responsible for all calculations and information processing. In addition, it manages all the devices on the computer. The speed of the computer and its capabilities depend on its power.

Main characteristics of the central processor:

• number of Cores
• clock frequency
• socket

Let's take a closer look at them.

Number of Cores

The more cores the processor has, the more operations it can perform at the same time. In fact, several cores are several processors that are located on the same chip or in the same package. In a single-core processor, the commands received at its input sequentially pass through the blocks necessary for their execution, that is, while the processor is executing the next command, the rest are waiting in line. In a multi-core processor, several separate streams of instructions and data come to the input and also separate output without affecting each other. Due to the parallel processing of several flows of instructions by the processor, computer performance increases. Today, usually 2-8 nuclear processors are installed on personal computers. However, not all programs are designed to use multiple cores.

Clock frequency

This characteristic indicates the speed of execution of commands by the central processor. A cycle is a period of time necessary for a processor to perform elementary operations.

In the recent past, the clock frequency of the central processor was identified directly with its performance, that is, the higher the clock speed of the processor, the more efficient it is. In practice, we have a situation where processors with the same frequency have different performance, because they can execute a different number of instructions in one clock cycle (depending on the core design, bus bandwidth, cache memory). Modern processors operate at frequencies from 1 to 4 GHz (Giga Hertz)

Cache

The cache is used to significantly speed up the calculations. This is an ultrafast memory built into the processor enclosure containing data that the processor often accesses. Cache memory can be the first (L1), second (L2) or third (L3) level.

Socket

A socket is a socket on the motherboard where the processor is installed. But when we say “processor socket”, we mean by this both a socket on the motherboard and support for this socket by certain processor models. The socket is needed precisely so that it is possible to easily replace a failed processor or upgrade a computer with a more powerful processor.

RAM

The next important element of the computer, which is located in the system unit - random access memory (RAM or RAM - random access memory). It is in it that the information processed by the processor and the programs launched by the user are stored. It is called operational because it provides the processor with quick access to data.

DDR2

DDR3

The main characteristics of RAM:

• volume  - measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB), significantly affects the performance of the computer. Due to insufficient RAM, many programs will either not load, or will run very slowly. In a typical modern computer, at least 1 GB of memory is used, although for convenient operation it is better to have 2 or 3 GB;
• bus frequency - measured in megahertz (MHz), also has a big impact on the speed of the computer. The larger it is, the faster the data transfer between the processor and the memory itself.
• type of memory  - indicates the generation to which the memory belongs. To date, you can find the following types of RAM (placed by appearance chronology):

DDR SDRAM (100 - 267 MHz)

DDR2 SDRAM (400 - 1066 MHz)

DDR3 SDRAM (800 - 2400 MHz)

DDR4 SDRAM (1600 - 2400 MHz)

Video card

Video card | Computer device

Video card - an electronic board that provides the formation of a video signal and thereby determines the image displayed by the monitor. Existing graphics cards have different capabilities. If office programs are used on the computer, then there are no special requirements for the video card. Another thing is a gaming computer, in which the video card takes over the main work, and the secondary processor plays a secondary role.

The main characteristics of the video card:

• the amount of video memory - measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB), affects the maximum resolution of the monitor, the number of colors and image processing speed. Currently, video card models are being produced with a video memory capacity of 256 MB to 6 GB. The optimal average amount of 512 MB or 1 GB;
• bit depth of the video memory bus - measured in bits, determines the amount of data that can be simultaneously transferred from the video memory (to memory). Standard bus width of modern video cards is 256 bit;
• video memory frequency - measured in megahertz (MHz), the higher the higher the overall performance of the video card.

Currently, video cards are based on the nVidia GeForce and ATI Radeon chipsets.

HDD

Hard disk | Computer device

Hard drive without top cover | Computer device

A hard disk, also called a hard drive or HDD, is designed for long-term storage of information. It is on the hard drive of your computer that all information is stored: the operating system, the necessary programs, documents, photos, films, music and other files. It is he who is the main atconstruction storage  information in the computer.

For the user, hard drives differ among themselves primarily by the following characteristics:

• capacity (volume) - measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB), determines how much information can be written to the hard drive. At the moment, the volume of a modern hard drive is measured from several hundred gigabytes to several terabytes;
• speed, which consists of the time of access to information and the speed of reading / writing information. Typical access time for modern drives is 5-10 ms (milliseconds), the average read / write speed is 150 MB / s (megabytes per second);
• interface - the type of controller to which the hard drive should be connected (most often EIDE and various SATA options).

DVD drive

DVD drive | Computer device

A DVD drive is used to read DVDs and CDs. If the name has the prefix “RW”, then the drive can not only read, but also write to discs. The drive is characterized by read / write speed and is indicated by a multiplier (1x, 2x, etc.). The unit of speed here is 1.385 megabytes per second (Mb / s). That is, when the speed value is 8x on the drive, the actual speed will be 8 * 1.385 Mb / s \u003d 11.08 Mb / s.

Blu-ray drive

Blu-ray Drive | Computer device

Blu-ray drives can be of three types: read, combo and writer. A Blu-ray reader can read CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. Combo can optionally burn CDs and DVDs. A Blu-ray writer can read and write all discs.

Power Supply

A power supply unit supplies electrical power to a computer device, and is usually sold with the chassis. Currently producing power supplies with 450, 550 and 750 watts. More powerful power supplies (up to 1500 watts) may need a computer with a powerful gaming graphics card.

Monitor

The monitor is designed to display images coming from a computer. It relates to computer information output devices.

Main characteristics of monitors:

• screen size  - measured in inches (1 inch \u003d 2.54 cm) diagonally. At the moment, the most popular are LCD monitors with a diagonal of 19 inches;
• screen format  (aspect ratio vertically and horizontally), now almost all monitors are sold in wide format: format 16: 9 and 16:10;
• matrix type  - The main part of the LCD monitor, on which its quality depends on 90%. In modern monitors, one of the three main types of matrices is used: TN-film (the simplest, cheapest and most common), S-IPS (have the best color rendering, used for professional image processing) and PVA / MVA (more expensive than TN-film and cheaper IPS, we can say that these matrices are a compromise between TN + Film and IPS.);
• screen resolution  - the number of dots (pixels) in width and in height of which the image consists. The most common 17 and 19-inch monitors have a resolution of 1280x1024 and 1600x1200 pixels. The higher the resolution, the naturally more detailed the image;
• connector type  used to connect to a computer, analog VGA (D-Sub) or digital connectors DVI, HDMI.

| How does a personal computer work? Key Features of a Personal Computer

Lesson 7
The device of a personal computer and its main characteristics. Acquaintance with a complete set of PC devices, connecting external devices

§7. How is a personal computer
§8. Key Features of a Personal Computer

How is a personal computer

The main topics of the paragraph:

What is a PC;
- main PC devices;
- The main principle of interaction between PC devices.

Study questions:

What is a PC?

In § 5 we became acquainted with the basic devices of a computer - an electronic computer (computer). Modern computers are very different: from large ones, which occupy the whole room, to small ones that fit on a table, in a briefcase and even in your pocket. Different computers are used for different purposes. Today, the most widespread form of computers are personal computers. Personal computers (PCs) are intended for personal (personal) use. There are various types of PCs: stationary (desktop) and mobile (laptops, tablets, PDAs).

Despite the variety of PC models, there is much in common in their device. These general properties will be discussed now.

PC main devices

The main "detail" of a personal computer is a microprocessor (MP). This is a miniature electronic circuit created by a very sophisticated technology that acts as a computer processor.

A personal computer is a set of interconnected devices. In a stationary PC, the central unit is the system unit. In the system unit is the "brain" of the machine: a microprocessor and internal memory. It also contains: power supply unit, disk drives, controllers of external devices. The system unit is equipped with fans for cooling heating elements during operation.

On the outside of the system unit there is a network switch, a computer reset button, connectors (which are called ports) for connecting external devices, a drawer tray for installing an optical disk.

A keyboard (keyboard device), a monitor (also known as a display), and a mouse (manipulator) are connected to the system unit. Sometimes other types of manipulators are used: a joystick, trackball, etc. In addition to a PC, a printer (printer), a modem (for accessing a computer network) and other devices can be connected (Fig. 2.7).

Figure 2.7 shows a stationary PC model, in fig. 2.8 - laptop.

In a laptop, all the necessary components are combined in one case, which folds like a book (hence the name of the computer).

All external memory devices, as well as input / output devices, interact with the PC processor through special blocks called controllers (from English controller - controller, manager). There are a drive controller, monitor controller, printer controller, etc.

More recently, a universal controller has appeared in the PC, which allows you to connect various types of devices through a universal connector (USB): printer, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.

The main principle of interaction between PC devices

The principle by which information communication between computer devices is organized is called the main principle of interaction. The processor through a multi-wire line, which is called the trunk (another name - the bus), communicates with other devices (Fig. 2.9).

Each device connected to a PC receives a number, which acts as the address of this device. Information transmitted from the processor to the device is accompanied by its address and is fed to the controller. Further, the operation of the device is controlled by the controller.

The typical organization of the trunk is as follows: on one group of wires (data bus) the processed information is transmitted, on the other (address bus) - the memory address or external devices that the processor is accessing. There is a third part of the highway - the control bus; control signals are transmitted along it (for example, checking that the device is ready for operation, a signal to start the operation of the device, etc.).

Briefly about the main thing

The system unit includes: microprocessor, internal memory, drives, power supply, external device controllers.

External devices  (I / O devices, external memory devices) interact with the PC processor through the controllers.

All PC devices are connected via a multi-wire line called information highway, or tire.

Each external device has its own address.  (number). The information transmitted to it via the data bus is accompanied by the address of the device, which is transmitted via the address bus.

Questions and Tasks

1. What is the minimum set of devices that make up a personal computer, and take photographs of these devices.

2. What devices are part of the system unit?

3. What is a controller? What function does it perform?

4. How are various PC devices physically interconnected?

5. How does the information transmitted on the bus get to the right device?

Key Features of a Personal Computer

The main topics of the paragraph:

Microprocessor specifications;
- the amount of internal (operational) memory;
- characteristics of external memory devices;
- input / output devices.

Study questions:

Personal computer - a computer for personal use.
- The main devices of a personal computer.
- Minimum set of devices.
- The main principle of interaction between personal computer devices.
- Microprocessor characteristics: clock frequency, bit depth.
- Volume - the main characteristic of RAM.
- Characteristics of external memory devices.

Increasingly, personal computers are used not only in production and in educational institutions, but also at home. You can buy them in the store just like buying household appliances. When buying any product, it is advisable to know its main characteristics in order to purchase exactly what you need. These are the main characteristics of a PC.

Microprocessor specifications

There are various models of microprocessors produced by different companies. The main characteristics of MP are processor clock speed.

The operating mode of the microprocessor and other related devices is set by a microcircuit called a clock generator. This is a kind of metronome inside the computer. A certain number of clock cycles is allocated to the processor to perform each operation. It is clear that if the metronome “knocks” faster, then the processor also works faster. Clock frequency is measured in megahertz - MHz. A frequency of 1 MHz corresponds to a million clock cycles in one second. Here are some typical microprocessor clock speeds: 600, 800, 1000 MHz. The last value is called gigahertz - GHz. Modern microprocessor models work with clock frequencies of several gigahertz.

The next characteristic is processor capacity. Bit depth is the maximum length of a binary code that can be processed or transmitted by the processor as a whole. The processor capacity on the first PC models was 8 bits. Then came the 16-bit processors. On modern PCs, 32-bit processors are most often used. The maximum capacity of modern microprocessors used in PCs is 64 bits.

The amount of internal (operational) memory

We have already talked about computer memory. She is divided into operational (internal) and long-term (external)  memory. Machine performance is very dependent on the amount of internal memory. If some programs do not have enough internal memory, then the computer begins to transfer part of the data to external memory, which dramatically reduces its performance. The speed of reading / writing data to RAM is several orders of magnitude higher than to external.

The amount of RAM affects the performance of the computer. For the effective operation of modern programs, RAM is required in the amount of hundreds and thousands of megabytes (gigabytes).

Cache assignment

To reduce the execution time of the program, the PC includes a special type of internal memory called cache memory. It is small in volume, but has the shortest read / write time section of the computer memory. The cache duplicates data and instructions from RAM, which the processor most often accesses when executing a program. Therefore, initially the processor searches for the required information in the cache memory, and only if it does not find it there, it turns to slower RAM.

External memory device specifications

External memory devices are magnetic and laser drives, flash memory. The magnetic disks built into the system unit are called hard disks, or hard drives. This is a very important part of the computer, because it is where all the programs necessary for the computer to work are stored. Reading / writing to the hard drive is faster than on all other types of external media, but still slower than in RAM. The larger the hard drive, the better. On modern PCs, hard drives are installed, the volume of which is measured in gigabytes: tens and hundreds of gigabytes. Buying a computer, you get the necessary set of programs on your hard drive. Typically, the buyer orders the composition of the computer software.

All other external storage media are removable, that is, they can be inserted into the drive and removed from the drive. These include optical discs such as CDs (compact discs) and DVDs. Their properties were described in § 6. Disks are convenient for long-term storage of programs and data, as well as for transferring information from one computer to another.

The required set of a modern PC includes optical drives for working with CD and DVD. Software is distributed on these media. The capacity of a CD-ROM is hundreds of megabytes (standard capacity is 700 MB). The information capacity of a DVD is calculated in gigabytes (4.7; 8.5; 17 GB). Often videos are recorded on DVD. On one disc, you can fit a two-hour video with several audio tracks in different languages.

Writing optical drives allow you to record and dub information on CD-RW and DVD-RW.

Recently, flash memory has become the main means of transferring information from one computer to another. Flash memory is an electronic external memory device used to read and write information in a file format. Flash memory, like disks, is a non-volatile device. Media capacity ranges from hundreds of megabytes to several gigabytes. And the speed of reading and writing data to a flash drive approaches the speed of reading and writing to a hard drive.

Input / output devices

All other device types are number of input / output devices. Mandatory of them are the keyboard, monitor and pointing device (mouse; on mobile PCs: trackball, touchpad, joystick, etc.). Additional devices: printer, modem, scanner, sound system and some others. The choice of these devices depends on the needs and financial capabilities of the buyer. You can always find sources of reference information on the models of such devices and their operational properties.

Briefly about the main thing

The main characteristics of the microprocessor: clock frequency and bit depth. The higher the clock frequency, the higher the processor speed. An increase in bit depth leads to an increase in the amount of data processed by a computer per unit time.

RAM size  affects computer performance. For the effective operation of modern programs, RAM is required in the amount of hundreds and thousands of megabytes (gigabytes).

Hard disk drive  - a mandatory external memory device in the computer.

Removable media  are optical disks, flash memory.

The required set of input / output devices: keyboard, manipulator, monitor.

Additional input / output devices: printer, scanner, modem, speaker system, etc.

Questions and Tasks

1. What characteristics of a computer determines its performance?

2. What kind of information volume do winchesters, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs have?

3. Which memory devices are built-in, which are removable?

4. Which I / O devices are required for the PC, which are optional?

Electronic lesson application

Download lesson materials

At press conferences and press tours, I often see reporters from other publications and have the opportunity to observe who uses which device. The statistics turned out to be rather funny and I decided to tell you about my observations in this release of the mobile environment. Why is it interesting to learn about the devices of journalists? The fact is that most of these people tested almost all the top-end devices and their choice can be called one of the most balanced. Agree that it would also be much easier for you to choose a smartphone if you could use it and all its competitors before buying.

Smartphones

Perhaps four out of five reviewers have Apple iPhone 5 or 5s smartphones. Honestly, such a selection surprised me very much, and I specifically asked my colleagues why they chose the iPhone. Most replied that it was simply more convenient for them, it was more pleasant to use, it had an excellent combination of dimensions, appearance, materials and technical characteristics. Many applications on the App Store and excellent speed.

Another argument often used is Android's fatigue at work. After all, the Android smartphones that we test are not only the top Samsung Galaxy S5 or HTC One M8. Most of them are various devices on MTK, budget or semi-budget models with varying degrees of stability. And the same iPhone in their background is a breath of fresh air.

Separately, I note that almost all iPhones were bought with their own money, and not received as a gift from Apple, as some readers might think. That is, this is the most informed choice.

The remaining 20% \u200b\u200bof users use various Android smartphones. Interestingly, these are not necessarily the flagship devices of the latest generation, last year’s models are also common. I can’t single out one smartphone, because the spread is very large - they go with Sony, Samsung, and HTC (although they are much less common with them).

By the way, a couple of years ago the very first Galaxy Note was very popular. Everyone was delighted with its huge quality screen, long battery life and built-in pen. However, over time, the number of Note owners among journalists gradually began to decrease (according to my observations).

But I rarely met smartphones on Windows Phone with Russian journalists, I think once or twice, and they explained to me that they took it as a second phone for offline maps or a good camera (in the case of Nokia 1020). By the way, at MWC 2012 I also managed to talk with foreign colleagues, where the attitude to WP is much better, people liked both the OS itself and the fact that Nokia launches its smartphones on it.

If we talk about our editorial office, then Sergey Kuzmin has been using the iPhone for a long time, periodically some device from Sony, or a tested device of a different brand, is added to it in pair. Artyom Lutfullin is a follower of HTC, largely due to the design, a good screen and shell, sometimes it comes with Meizu MX2 / MX3 or another device under test. Roman Bely has three main phones - iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One M7. Roma says that he holds three devices for comparing dimensions in review photos and the ability to make comparisons of the photos of these smartphones with the tested ones. Oh yes, I almost forgot: Roman also has a Nokia Lumia 1020, which he likes to shoot. Eldar Murtazin has long been using Samsung's flagship devices, with the advent of the Note line, Eldar usually has two main smartphones - the latest Galaxy S and the latest Galaxy Note. As for me, a couple of months ago I tried to “transfer” to the iPhone 5s, it seemed to me that after getting used to the iMac there would be no difficulties, but alas, oh, the iPhone didn’t take root, by the way, there was a separate article about it therefore I will not repeat.

Honestly, I'm now inclined to buy a new HTC One, or a fresh Nexus, if it appears. In One M8, I am confused only by the broken synchronization of contact photos. Its essence is that after “pulling up” contacts from Google, HTC does not download their high-quality photos (with the exception of “selected” contacts).

In fact, I try to use each tested device as the main one, in order to better understand its pros and cons, so the time to use my smartphone is practically. In those rare free moments, the main phone is the Meizu MX3, I can’t say that it is an ideal model, but at least it works quickly and it has an excellent screen.

Tablets

To begin with, it is worth noting that, in principle, there are not very many journalists using tablets. This is approximately 25-30% of all that I have seen. And if in the case of smartphones, 80% of iPhone colleagues, then in the tablet sector the absolute leader is the iPad (various versions). In fact, if the journalist has a tablet, then this is exactly the iPad. To tell you the truth, the only time I saw a person not with an iPad was MWC 2012 (Boris Vedensky had the first Nexus 7).

Unlike smartphones, I can perfectly understand the presence and choice of an iPad. This is really one of the best tablets at the moment - a lot of games, software, a convenient browser and a stunning screen, all this together with an aluminum case makes it a very attractive option.

In our editorial office, iPad has Sergey Kuzmin, Eldar Murtazin and Roman Belykh. Artyom Lutfullin keeps using the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 on trips.

Laptops and PCs

To dilute this “apple” shake a little, I will probably start with desktop computers. Most of the editors with whom I talked, if they already have a home computer, then they must have a sophisticated Windows system unit with a good quality monitor (for example, Artyom Lutfullin has Samsung SyncMaster S27A850D).

And yet, for many journalists, the main tool for work is a laptop. And, as you probably guessed, most use one or another modification of the MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. By the way, disputes about what is more convenient for Air 13 or Pro 13 Retina to work also often pop up in press tours.

I often see how some commentators are indignant under articles on Apple technology, any praise is perceived either as bias or as payment, but in fact, their laptops are currently most convenient for our field: typing, working with video, editing, processing of photos, with all this "MacBooks" cope perfectly. And game lovers use a separate device for them (PC or PlayStation / Xbox).

In our editorial staff, the situation is as follows: Eldar Murtazin has a 2011 MacBook Air, this is his main tool for work. Sergey Kuzmin uses the MacBook Pro Retina 15 to work in the office or at home, also (if I'm not mistaken) Sergey has a MacBook Air to work at exhibitions (MWC, CES, IFA). Roman Belykh uses the latest generation MacBook Air 13, in addition to him, Roma also has a regular computer, and it seems that he is more familiar with it on a PC so far. Artem Lutfullin, in addition to a full-fledged PC, takes Lenovo laptop with him on trips (to be honest, I don’t remember the model, it's some kind of compact powerful gaming laptop). As for me, in the last year I use the iMac 21.5 2012 Late (1 TB Fusion Drive + NVIDIA GeForce 640 + 8 GB RAM). This computer can be very convenient, but it requires you to get used to and give up the habits acquired on Windows.

As an optimal “marching” gadget, I try various options, from a regular ultrabook to a bunch of a tablet and a Bluetooth keyboard, but have not yet found the perfect option for myself.

Conclusion

Personally, it seemed funny to me that most browsers either already have an iPhone and / or MacBook, or they plan to get some of this. I decided to devote an entire article to this observation because such a sample is very revealing. This is the choice of people who have the money and the opportunity to get to know quite a lot of gadgets before buying, and you must admit that if most of them choose Apple, then there is probably something to it.

On the other hand, the fact that the Apple technique is convenient for journalists does not at all make it the best, for some users the same MacBook or iPhone will be either expensive or uncomfortable, and it makes no sense to overpay for them. By the way, commentators often write about this.

In the end, I’ll say that I like what Apple does on the laptop market, but the iPhone in the face of Android smartphones has a stronger competitor (than Windows 8 on OS X), and although many journalists prefer the iPhone, Android’s market share continues to grow. so the consumer does not always choose the same as the browsers.