THE PURPOSE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM

Computer

·         A machine or device

·         Automatically accepts and processes data

·         Under instruction of a program

·         Presents the results of processing as information

Performance

·         Determined by the capabilities of the components, hardware and software

Components of a Computer System:

·         Hardware

·         Software

Hardware

Physical components of a computer system used for Input, Output, Storage, Processing (Peripherals)

Hardware Categories (General Components of a Computer System)

·         Input Device - Admitting external input data into a computer

·         Storage Device – Used to store data before, during and after processing (can be temporary or permanent)

·         Output Device – Presenting the result of processed data as information

·         Processing – transforms input data into information

A device with input and output functions combined is an Input/Output Device or I/O Device (e.g.Touchscreen)

Port Connectivity

·         Refers to how well a computer or device can connect to peripherals.

·         Involves types and number of available ports (e.g., USB, HDMI, Ethernet, audio jack).

·         Affects expandability and compatibility with external devices.

Speed

·         Measures how quickly a computer or device performs tasks.

·         Influenced by processor clock speed, RAM, storage type (e.g., SSD vs HDD).

·         Affects system responsiveness and execution time of programs.

Quality of Output

·         Refers to the standard or clarity of information produced by the computer.

·         Can apply to text, images, audio, or video output.

·         Influenced by hardware (e.g., printer resolution, monitor quality, speaker specs).