COMPUTER PERFORMANCE & STORAGE DEVICES
Computer Technology Day 2 COMPUTER PERFORMANCE BOOT PROCESS
Sequence of events that occurs between the time you turn on a computer and the time that it becomes ready to accept commands.
Purposes Runs a diagnostic test to make sure everything is working. Loading the operating system, so the computer can carry out basic operations. 6 EVENTS OF THE BOOT PROCESS:
Power up
Start boot program
Power-on self-test
Identify peripheral devices
Load operation system
Check configuration and customization CIRCUITS
The path from one component of a computer to another that data uses to travel.
Circuits run between
RAM and the microprocessor
RAM and various storage devices SILICON CHIP
Silicon is melted sand.
What the circuits are embedded into to keep them together. HERTZ
A measurement used to describe the speed of the system clock.
A megahertz is equal to one million cycles (or pulses) per second.
1.3 GHz means that the microprocessor’s clock operates at a speed of 1.3 BILLION cycles per second. CORE PROCESSOR
Name of the CPU. Core is the 4th generation of the Intel processor. Other generations were called 80-88 286 386 486 Pentium Celeron RAM VS. ROM
RAM ROM
“Random Access Memory” “Read only memory”
Temporarily holds data when Chip on motherboard that the computer is on and allows has been prerecorded the computer to access the with data. information randomly Stores permanent instructions that the computer uses during Temporary Memory the boot process.
Constantly changing when Permanent Memory computer is on Never changes when computer Looses all data when computer is on is turned off. Remains intact when the computer is turned off BINARY NUMBER SYSTEM
A method for representing letters or numbers using only two digits, 0 and 1.
Bit Each 0 or 1
Byte 8 bits Also referred to as Base 2 Binary Code. MEMORY MEASUREMENTS
Bit
Each 0 or 1
Byte
8 bits
Kilobyte
Approximately 1,000 bytes
Exactly 1,024 bytes
Megabyte
Approximately 1 million bytes
Exactly 1,048,576 bytes
Gigabyte
Approximately 1 billion bytes
Terabyte
Approximately 1 trillion bytes STORAGE DEVICES
Used to keep data when the power to the computer is turned off. Medium/media Location where data is stored.
Different forms
Hard disk
CD-Writer
Flash Drive MAGNETIC STORAGE
Stores data as magnetized particles on Mylar, a plastic, which is then coated on both sides with a magnetic oxide coating Common magnetic storage devices
Hard disk
Floppy disk HARD DISK
Usually mounted inside the computer’s system unit. Can store billions of characters of data. Stated in forms of bytes: Megabytes or Gigabytes OPTICAL STORAGE
Means of recording data as light and dark spots on CD or DVD.
Reading is done through a low-power laser light.
Pits Dark spots
Lands Lighter, non-spotted surface areas CD-ROM
“CD – Read Only Memory”
You cannot record additional data onto them
Also called CD-R
Drives allow you to record data on a CD-R disk
Once the data is recorded, you cannot erase or modify it, but you can add new data to the disk, as long as the disk has not been finalized. CD-RW
“CD-Read Write”
A storage device that reads data from CD’s and also can write data to CD’s.
You can re-record onto a CD-RW DVD-ROM
“Digital Video Disks – Read Only Memory”
Reads data from CD’s (audio and data) and DVD’s (data or movie)
Cannot modify and save back to this medium. DVD/CD R’S VS DVD/CD RW’S
These types of storage These types of storage mediums DO NOT let you mediums DO let you modify modify and save back: and save back:
CD-R CD-RW
CD-ROM DVD-RW
DVD-R Hint: The fact that RW, meaning re-writable, is part of the name….this should give you an idea of what these storage mediums are capable of. FLASH
Flash Memory Similar to ROM except that it can be written to more than once. Flash Memory Cards Small, portable cards encased in hard plastic to which data can be written and rewritten Used in digital cameras, handheld computers, video game controllers, and other devices USB FLASH STORAGE
USB Drive - Flash Drive Popular type of flash memory
Available in a wide range of sizes from 1G to 200 GB Plug directly into the USB port of a personal computer RESOURCES
Parsons, June Jamrich, and Dan Oja. Computer Concepts. Boston: Course Technology - Thompson Learning, 2002.