computer component

The component in the system unit.

•          Ports and connectors

•          Buses

•          Bay

•          Power supply

•          What are ports and connectors?

•          Port connects external devices to system unit

•          Connector joins cable to peripheral

•          Available in one of two genders : Male and Female

What is a serial port ?

v  Transmits one bit of data at a time

v  Connects slow-speed devices, such as mouse, keyboard and mode

•          What is a parallel port?

•          Connects devices that can transfer more than one bit at a time, such as a print

What are USB port ?

v  USB (Universal Serial Bus) port can connect up to 127 different peripherals together with a single connector type

v  PCs typically have two to four USB ports on front or back of the system unit

v  Single USB port can be used to attach multiple peripherals in a daisy chain

Ø  First USB device connects to USB port on computer

Ø  Second USB device connects to first USB device

Ø  Third USB device connects to second USB device, and so on

What are special-purpose ports?

v  Allow users to attach specialized peripherals (digital video cameras, colour printers, scanners and disk drives) or transmit data to wireless devices

Ø  FireWire port

Ø  MIDI (Musical Instrumental Digital Interface) port

Ø  SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) port

Ø  IrDA (Infrared Data Association) port

Ø  BluetoothTM port

What is a bus?

v  Channel that allows devices inside computer to communicate with each other

Ø  System bus connects processor and RAM

Ø  Bus width determines number of bits transmitted at one time

Ø  Word size is the number of bits processor can interpret and execute at a given time

What is an expansion bus?

  Allows processor to communicate with peripherals

•           What is a bay?

•          Open area inside system unit used to install additional equipment

•          Drive bays typically hold disk drives

What is power supply?

v  Converts Alternating Current (AC) to Direct Current (DC)

v  Some peripheral devices have AC adapter

v  Requires a fan to cool off the heat generated by the CPU and other electronic components