Computer Performance & Storage Devices

1. Computer Performance& Storage Devices Computer Technology Part 2 Elk Ridge Middle

2. Computer Performance Elk Ridge Middle

3. 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. Elk Ridge Middle

4. 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 Elk Ridge Middle

5. 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 Elk Ridge Middle

6. Silicon Chip • Silicon is melted sand. • What the circuits are embedded into to keep them together. Elk Ridge Middle

7. Megahertz (mHz) • 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. Elk Ridge Middle

8. Pentium • Name of the CPU. • Pentium is the 5th generation of the Intel processor. • Other generations were called • 80-88 • 286 • 386 • 486 Elk Ridge Middle

9. RAM vs. ROM System Crash! ROM RAM Elk Ridge Middle

10. RAM vs. ROM RAM RAM • Read Only Memory • Permanent Storage • Where all your programs and files are saved—your hard drive. • The bigger your hard drive, the more you can save there. • Hard drives rarely crash—anything saved there is pretty safe—but it’s always good to have backups! • Random Access Memory • Temporary—content is lost if the device is powered off • Runs all currently open programs – the more open programs the slower your computer is • RAM is rather inexpensive—getting more RAM can speed up your computer. But there is a limit to how much RAM your computer can have. Elk Ridge Middle

11. 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. Elk Ridge Middle

12. 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 • Petabyte, Exabyte, Zettabyte, Zottabyte, Brontobyte Elk Ridge Middle

13. Storage Devices • Used to keep data when the power to the computer is turned off. • Medium/media • Location where data is stored. • Write-Protected - A disk that will not allow a user to make changes to files Elk Ridge Middle

14. 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 Elk Ridge Middle

15. Floppy Disk • Round piece of flexible Mylar plastic covered with a thin layer of magnetic oxide and sealed inside a protective covering. • May be referred to as a “floppy” • 3½ disk capacity is 1.44 MB or 1,440,000 bytes Elk Ridge Middle

16. Zip Disk • Floppy disk technology manufactured by Iomega. • Available in 100 MB and 250 MB versions Elk Ridge Middle

17. USB Flash Drive • Also known as a “Jump Drive.” • Typically removable and rewritable, physically smaller than a floppy. • Storage capacities can be as large as 256 GB. Most are 2 to 8 GB. • Smaller, faster, thousands more times capacity, and are more durable and reliable. • Plug right into a USB port. Elk Ridge Middle

18. Memory Card • Used for storing digital information, usually for digital camera, mobile phones, laptops, MP3 Players, and video game consoles. • Small, re-recordable and can retain data without power. • Usually store from 2 to 8 GB. Elk Ridge Middle

19. 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 Elk Ridge Middle

20. CD-ROM • “CD – Read Only Memory” • Also called CD-R • CD-Read • Storage device that uses laser technology to read data that is permanently stored on compact disks, cannot be used to write data to a disk. Elk Ridge Middle

21. CD-RW • “CD-Read Write” • A storage device that reads data from CD’s and also can write data to CD’s. • Similar to a CD-ROM, but has the ability to write to CD. Elk Ridge Middle

22. DVD-ROM • “Digital Video Disks – Read Only Memory” • Reads data from CD’s (audio and data) and DVD’s (data or movie) • Cannot be used to write data to a disk. Elk Ridge Middle

23. Resources Parsons, June Jamrich, and Dan Oja. Computer Concepts. Boston: Course Technology - Thompson Learning, 2002. Elk Ridge Middle