Central Processing Unit - also called The Chip, a

CPU, a processor or a microprocessor

Memory (RAM)
Storage Devices Input Devices Output Devices

CPU or microprocessor is often described as the brain of a computer CPU is an integrated circuit or chip which processes instructions and data. CPU speed or CPU performance is measured by the completed Instruction Cycles Per Second (IPS).
Currently, CPU speeds range from 600 megahertz (MHz or million cycles per second) to 4 gigahertz (GHz or billion cycles per second).

Processing performance of computers is increased by using

multi-core processors, which essentially is plugging two or more individual processors (called cores in this sense) into one integrated circuit. (Eg: Intel dual core, Athlon 64 X2, )

RAM or Random Access Memory

It is a volatile type of memory Holds instructions for processing data, processed data, and raw data. Ram is measured by:
Capacity (in Megabytes or Gigabytes) Speed (in Nanoseconds)

Amount of RAM installed will determine.

Which software applications will run

(efficiently)? How many software applications can be open simultaneously? (multitasking ability)

Types of RAM: SRAM(Static RAM) DRAM(Dynamic RAM)

Magnetic storage devices store data by magnetizing particles on a disk or tape. They have a limited life-span of 1 to 5 years, depending on the device. Optical storage devices store data as light and dark spots on the disk surface. They have an unlimited life-span.

Hard Disk Drives

Capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB or billions of bytes). Typically permanently installed. Used to store operating system, application software, utilities and data. Magnetic storage device.

Other Storage Devices : CD-ROM, DVD Floppy Disc Drive USB Flash Drive (Pen-drive or thumb-drive)

Input devices gather and translate data into a form the computer understands. Primary input device:
Keyboard - Most common input device; used to

type in commands and data. Mouse or trackball enhances users ability to input commands, manipulate text, images. Joystick useful in education as an adaptive or assistive input device.

Scanners are peripheral input devices which allow users to import:

Text

Graphics
Images

Monitors are the most commonly used output device.

Most monitors use a bitmap display.
Allows user to resize the display.
Divides the screen into a matrix of tiny square dots

called pixels. The more dots a screen can display, the higher the resolution of the monitor. For example: CRT(Cathode Ray Tube), LCD(Liquid Crystal Display)

Other output devices:

Projectors Speakers Headphones

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Thank You