COMPUTER SYSTEMS
COMPONENTS
6th grade
BCSI-1: Students will identify
computer system components.



a) Identify and define the key functional
components (input devices, output devices,
processor, operating system, software applications,
memory, storage, etc.)
b) Understand the terms and units that are used to
describe major hardware components (RAM, ROM,
GHz, MHz, GB, MB, CD, DVD, RW, etc.)
c) Explain operating system software, application
software, and utility software, citing examples of
each.
a. Identify
and define the key
functional components.
input devices
output devices
processor
operating
system

software
applications
memory
storage

Input
Input-information entered
into a computer
Input Devices- mouse,
keyboard, scanner, digital
camera, and microphone.

Output
Output-the information the
computer delivers back to the
user
Output Devices-monitor,
headphones, printer, speakers,
and projector.

Processor

Processor- The Central Processing Unit
(CPU)- is the brains of the computer.
Sometimes referred to simply as the
central processor, but more commonly
called processor, the CPU is where most
calculations take place. In terms of
computing power, the CPU is the most
important element of a computer system.
Operating System

Operating system-the overall
program that controls all the other
software programs and allows
hardware devices to work
properly. Examples: Microsoft
Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OSX,
DOS
Software Applications
Application is a software
program. Examples-Microsoft
Office, Appleworks, &
Photoshop

Memory & Storage
memory –a unit of a
computer’s motherboard that
stores data
storage device-Hardware that
saves data onto a hard drive,
a server, or a flash drive

b) Understand the terms and units
that are used to describe major
hardware components.
RAM
 ROM
 GHz
 MHz

GB
 MB
 CD
 DVD
 RW

RAM & ROM
RAM-Random Access Memorythe temporary information that a
computer uses only when it works
with a particular file.
 ROM –Read Only Memory-the
permanent information on your
hard drive

GHz

Abbreviation for gigahertz. The
speed of microprocessors often is
measured in gigahertz. For
example, a microprocessor that
runs at 200 GHz executes 200
billion cycles per second
Megahertz

MHz - Abbreviation for megahertz.
One MHz represents one million
cycles per second. The speed of
microprocessors is measured in
megahertz. For example, a
microprocessor that runs at 200 MHz
executes 200 million cycles per
second
GB and MB
GB - The gigabyte is a multiple of the unit
byte for digital information storage. The
prefix giga means 109 in the International
System of Units(SI), therefore 1 gigabyte
is 1000000000 bytes
 MB-A megabyte in binary is 1,048,576
(220) bytes. In decimal it’s 1,000,000
bytes (106).

CD and CD-RW
CD - The Compact Disc (also
known as a CD) is an optical disc
used to store digital data.
 CD-RW- Short for CD-ReWritable
disk, a type of CD diskthat
enables you to write onto it in
multiple sessions.

DVD
DVD is an optical disc storage
media format. DVDs offer
higher storage capacity than
compact discs while having the
same dimensions

C) EXPLAIN OPERATING
SYSTEM SOFTWARE,
APPLICATION
SOFTWARE, AND UTILITY
SOFTWARE, CITING
EXAMPLES OF EACH.
Operating System
Operating System-The overall
program that controls all the other
software programs and allows
hardware devices to work properly.
Examples: Microsoft Windows, Linux,
Unix, Mac OSX, DOS
Application Software
Application software is computer
software designed to help the user to
perform singular or multiple related
specific tasks like writing reports.
 Examples include Web BrowsersInternet Explorer & Apple Safari; Email-Outlook & Eudora; Word
Processing-Word &WordPerfect; etc

Utility Software
Utility software is a kind of system
software designed to help analyze,
configure, optimize and maintain the
computer.
 Examples: Disk defragmenters,
System Profilers, Virus scanners,
Application launchers, network
managers, and encryption utilities
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Items needed
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Power Point
Worksheet 1B
Worksheet 2A