Open the lid of a computer
A school computer will not start. The technician takes off the side panel.
Inside there is a board, some chips, a box with a fan and a few cables. Each part has one job. If you know the jobs, you can find the fault, or build a computer for a user.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can say what each main part inside a computer does.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Network | computers joined so they can share data |
| Component | one part inside a computer |
| CPU | the part that runs program instructions |
| RAM | fast memory for what you are using now |
| Motherboard | the main board that all parts plug into |
| Storage | where files are kept when the power is off |
| Expansion card | a small board that adds a feature |
| Power supply | the box that gives the parts safe power |
| Heat sink | a metal block that pulls heat away from a part |
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Starter
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Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The CPU and the motherboard
The CPU is the brain of the computer. It follows instructions from programs, billions of times each second.
The motherboard is a large flat board. The CPU, the memory and the storage all plug into it. Data travels between them along the board.
RAM and storage are not the same
RAM holds the programs and files you are using right now. It is very fast. When you switch off, RAM is emptied.
Storage keeps your files for good. It is slower than RAM but it keeps its data with the power off. You can think of RAM as your desk and storage as your cupboard.
Three kinds of storage
| Storage | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Hard disk drive | Spinning metal discs and a moving arm | Lots of space for a low price |
| Solid-state drive | Memory chips, no moving parts | Fast start-up and quiet running |
| Optical drive | A laser reads a CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc | Playing discs and installing old software |
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3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.