Types of Computers
and Computer Storage
Computer Technology
Created by M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High
Spring 2003
Modified by M. Corbett
Fall 2010
Types of Computers
Microcomputer
 A personal computer;
designed to meet the
computer needs of an
individual.
 Provides access to a
wide variety of
computing applications,
such as word
processing, photo
editing, e-mail, and
internet.
Desktop Microcomputer
 A microcomputer that
fits on a desk and runs
on power from an
electrical wall outlet.
 The CPU can be
housed in either a
vertical or a horizontal
case.
 Has separate
components (keyboard,
mouse, etc.) that are
each plugged into the
computer.
Laptop Computer
 A portable, compact
computer that can run
on an electrical wall
outlet or a battery unit.
 All components
(keyboard, mouse, etc.)
are in one compact unit.
 Usually more expensive
than a comparable
desktop.
 Sometimes called a
Notebook.
Workstation
 Powerful desktop computer designed for
specialized tasks.
 Can tackle tasks that require a lot of
processing speed.
 Often is an ordinary personal computer
attached to a LAN (local area network) so that
common resources can be shared OR
common projects can be worked on.
Supercomputer
 A computer that was the fastest in the world
at the time it was constructed.
 Can tackle tasks that would not be practical
for other computers.

Typical uses


Breaking codes
Modeling weather systems
Mainframe
 Large expensive
computer capable of
simultaneously
processing data for
hundreds or thousands
of users.
 Used to store, manage,
and process large
amounts of data that
need to be reliable,
secure, and centralized.
 Usually housed in a
closet sized cabinet.
Server
 Purpose is to “serve.”
 A computer that has the
purpose of supplying its
users with data; usually
through the use of a
LAN (local area
network).
Handheld Computer
 Also called a PDA (Personal
Digital Assistant).
 A computer that fits into a
pocket, runs on batteries,
and is used while holding the
unit in your hand.
 Typically used as an
appointment book, address
book, calculator, and
notepad.
 Can be synchronized with a
personal microcomputer as a
backup.
Tablet Computer
 a portable computer that
uses an integral flat panel
display screen or touch
screen for primary input and
primary display
 It is the size of a notebook
computer
 The Ipad is an example of a
tablet computer
System unit
 Case that holds the power supply, storage devices,
and the circuit boards (including the motherboard).
Motherboard
The motherboard is the main circuit board of the
computer.
• It includes the Central
Processing Unit (CPU)
or microprocessor chip,
RAM and ROM chips,
interface sockets and/or
slots, and other
input/output (I/O) ports.
Circuits
 The path from one
component of a computer
to another that data uses
to travel.
 Circuits run between
different components on
a circuit board
Examples:
 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 (megahertz or gigahertz)
 A measurement used to
describe the speed of the
system clock.
 A megahertz (MHZ) is
equal to one million cycles
(or pulses) per second.
 1.3 gigahertz (GHz)
means that the
microprocessor’s clock
operates at a speed of 1.3
BILLION cycles per
second.
Microprocessor Chip
 Our computers have
the Intel Dual-core
processing chip

Other generations of
Intel processors
were called





80-88
286
386
486
Pentium
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
Binary Code or Base 2
Byte
 A byte is equal to 8
bits

any combination of
8 1s and/or 0s
 A byte is the amount
of memory it takes
to store one
character
EXAMPLES
A – 01000001
Z – 01111010
Memory Measurements

Bit


Byte




Approximately 1 million
bytes
Exactly 1,048,576 bytes
Gigabyte (GB)


Approximately 1,000 bytes
Exactly 1,024 bytes
Megabyte (MB)


8 bits
Kilobyte (KB)


Each 0 or 1
Approximately 1 billion
bytes
Terabyte (TB)

Approximately 1 trillion
bytes
Secondary Storage
 Secondary storage is needed to store data
and programs when the computers power is
off.
 There are currently 3 types of secondary
storage



Magnetic Storage
Optical Storage
Flash Storage/Memory
Magnetic Storage
 any storage medium in
which different patterns
of magnetization are
used to represent
stored bits or bytes of
information
 Magnetic storage
currently come in 3 forms



Magnetic Tape
Floppy Disks
Hard Disks
Optical Storage
 A 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
Types of CDs
 CD-ROM
 Cds that can be read but
not written to
 Examples

Computer games or music
cds
 CD-R (writeable)
 Cds that can be written to
once – about 800 MB
 CD-RW (rewriteable)
 Cds that can be rewritten to
up to about 100” – about
800 MB
Types of DVDs (Digital Video Disks)
 DVD-ROM
DVDs that can be read but not written
to
 Examples
 Movies or PC games that you buy
 DVD-R (writeable)
 DVDs that can be rewritten to once –
about 4.7 GB

 DVD+R DL (writeable)
 DVDs that can be rewritten to once –
about 8.5 GB
 DVD-RW (rewriteable)
 DVDs that can be rewritten to up to
about 100” – about 8.5 GB
Flash Storage
 Nonvolatile storage that can
be electrically erased and
programmed anew and that
retains its data without a
power supply
 Great for digital cameras and
cell phones because they
retain image data even when
batteries go "dead“.
Resources
Parsons, June Jamrich, and Dan Oja. Computer
Concepts. Boston: Course Technology Thompson Learning, 2002.